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To add a notice to the board, please press the 'Contribute an answer' button at the bottom of this page (you may need to scroll down).

-- Jim Chapman (home@jim-chapman.net), March 16, 2002

Answers

Mobile phone transmitter - Quick action we can all take

Mobile phone transmitter - Quick action we can all take
If you are concerned about the proposed mobile phone base station on top of Gateway House, please do the following:
1) The consultants acting on behalf of Hutchison telecom, known as '3', have asked for comment in their letter to immediate residents. Doing so will have the benefit of putting you on their correspondence list for further developments. Send the note, as short as you like to:
alwyn.hoogendyk@monoconsultants.com
or phone Alwyn Hoogendyk on 020 7462 6940.
2) Speak directly to the Gateway House freeholder's agent - he has agreed to house the base station. His name is Peter Dove, the company is Millar Kitching and his number is 020 7808 3434.
Please pass the message to to your neighbours and ask them to do the same.
Kind regards
Jason (18 Aulton Place)

-- Jason (jasoninken@hotmail.com), March 16, 2005.

Kennington Gardens Society: Spring Flower Show: Saturday 19th March

Kennington Gardens Society
Spring Flower Show
Saturday 19th March
St Anselm’s Church Hall
Entries by 12,00 pm show opens at 2,30pm
Plants, flowers, cookery and handicraft competitions,
Bring and Buy, Plant stall, Local Honey, raffle and children’s competition
Details and information call Frances McKay 0207 582 2327

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 16, 2005.

See Kevin Spacey on stage for Ł5

See Kevin Spacey on stage for Ł5
Mary Stuart Masterson, Kevin Spacey, Steven Weber
in the British premiere of
NATIONAL ANTHEMS by Dennis McIntyre
at The Old Vic, The Cut, London SE1
TICKETS ARE JUST Ł5 FOR LAMBETH & SOUTHWARK RESIDENTS
Wednesdays 16, 23, 30 March and 6, 13, 20 April. Performances start at 2.30pm and last for 2 hours.
Tickets 0870 060 6628 (quote ‘local’) Ł2.50 booking fee per transaction
Set during the late 80s in a plush Detroit suburb, National Anthems chronicles the class clash between an affluent couple with social aspirations and the neighbour they grudgingly invite into their home. This parable of American materialism sees the action played out over real time, as tensions between the cast of three – Spacey's threatening stranger Ben and the Reeds – inevitably intensify.
‘Kevin Spacey is mesmerising… a dazzling performance’ Guardian
‘A classic new play in the mainstream tradition of American post-war drama… absolutely superb production’ Michael Coveney, Front Row
‘Spacey’s performance has the sense of danger and edge we associate with the double Oscar winner’ Variety
‘Mary Stuart Masterson and Steven Weber are excellent’ Financial Times
Visit www.oldvictheatre.com for further info on the production and to sign-up for news of forthcoming shows and casting updates.

-- Cathy (cathyvprece@aol.com), March 16, 2005.

Tube line closures?

Tube line closures?
Mar 15 2005
South London Press
COMMUTERS could face months without a Tube service if a plan for repairs is approved by train chiefs. Sections of the Northern line, serving stations between Kennington and Morden could be the first to close for track and signal improvements. London Underground's managing director, Tim O'Toole, told a London Assembly Transport Committee meeting about a move to close sections of the Northern line.
The work would be carried out by private firms Tube Lines and Metronet.
A London Underground spokesperson said: "Under the Public Private Partnership, engineering work can only be undertaken at night or during weekend closures.
"London Underground would consider closing sections of lines outside of these times to accelerate Tube improvements, but only if three preconditions can be met."
She said these are: that Tube Lines and Metronet have the resources to carry out the work; that any economic benefits are reinvested into the Tube; and if London Underground can arrange alternative travel arrangements.
She added that it could be months before the plans are approved.
A Tube Lines spokesman said: "We have put in a draft plan to London Underground for closures on the Northern line."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 16, 2005.

Tube closure bombshell

Evening Standard
10/03/05 - News and city section
Tube closure bombshell
By Dick Murray Transport Editor
Key sections of the Tube's busiest line could be shut for up to two months at a time.
Plans have been drawn up to close seven sections of the Northern line in turn to carry out repairs.
The line, from Morden in the south to High Barnet and Edgware in the north, carries 650,000 commuters a day.
Urgent large-scale engineering work is required at Bank, Old Street, Camden Town and Kennington making these sections most likely to be shut first.
Closure would be a massive undertaking for London Underground which would have to provide alternative travel, including designated bus services, in heavily-congested areas.
The move was revealed by Tube managing director Tim O'Toole to the London Assembly's transport committee. He said the situation on the City branch is so bad "it is driving us all nuts".
He said the drastic action was needed because night-time engineering work is failing to clear the backlog of vital repairs. Frequent overrunning of night work is also causing huge delays in the day. The most difficult section of the line to close is between Morden and Kennington. Commuters living along that stretch, which includes Balham and Tooting, have no other comparable public transport.
The Northern is the most unreliable line on the network with signal and track breakdowns virtually every day causing huge problems for commuters.
A spokesman for Tube Lines, in charge of maintenance and improvement, said: "We have put in a draft plan to LU for closures of the Northern line." Passenger watchdogs said they would only agree to the plan provided commuters were told months in advance of alternative arrangements and that LU would be able to guarantee that the closed sections would re-open on time.
Cynthia Hay, of Capital Transport, said there was "huge concern" that proper alternative travel arrangements would prove inadequate.
Ken Livingstone has already said that he does not think lines could be closed which serve heavily used shopping areas. However, closing sections at a time could get around the Mayor's fears. The idea is to complete much needed engineering work over a shorter time-scale than confining it to limited periods at night or weekends.
Metronet, in charge of two thirds of the network, is also understood to want to close sections of other lines.
* New measures to stop roadworks bringing London's busiest streets to a halt were announced today. Transport for London will set timetables for local authority roadworks ensuring that neighbouring areas do not carry out major works at the same time.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/17184815?version=1 ©2005 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Coke dealer gets five years

South London Press
Coke dealer gets five years
Feb 15 2005
A COCAINE dealer who turned his home into a drugs factory and hid thousands of pounds in his fridge has been jailed.
Adelino Lourenco, 42, was a middleman and drug mixer in a Ł100,000 plot.
But he claimed he only got involved after a blackmail threat and told police he had stomach cancer. Lourenco admitted conspiracy to supply a class-A drug and possessing criminal property.
He was jailed for five years at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court on Thursday.
The court heard that police raided Lourenco's home on November 3. He had hidden Ł14,000 cash in his fridge and in shoe boxes.
Police also found a 200g block of cocaine in his kitchen and several small bags of the drug. Lourenco confessed to officers: "I have stomach cancer and I've been selling cocaine for three months at Ł50 a wrap."
Lourenco, of Seaton Close in Kennington, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to supply a class-A drug between July 13 and November 3.
He pleaded guilty to a second count of possession of criminal property on November 3.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Fear for future

South London Press
Fear for future
Feb 15 2005
By Gareth Dorrian
THE founder of a historic youth club has demanded assurances about its future.
Fred Peters, a former piano player who once performed in front of Mick Jagger, set up Ethelred youth club in the wake of the Brixton riots 24 years ago.
But volunteers have not yet been able to secure a long-term lease that would help the organisation with future funding.
Mr Peters is unsure if Lambeth council wants to grant the lease.
More than 100 troubled kids in Kennington and further afield use the facility in Lollard Street every week for sport and a range of other activities.
Mr Peters said: "This has been going on for years. Some time ago it seemed that Lambeth wanted the place to build affordable housing.
"Developers told us about their intentions and we started a dialogue.
"But we were bulldozed with a barrage of bureaucracy and nothing was ever resolved."
Mr Peters, 58, added: "If a child comes to me and says he is hungry because he's fallen out with his parents, I'll give him some money for fish and chips and we can talk about it at the club.
"But things aren't simple like that with the council."
Mr Peters said a lease of less than seven years made it more difficult to get funding for equipment and repairs.
He added: "We need security and want to see the council embracing the organisation for its good work."
A council spokeswoman said: "We are proactively working with the club and its users to secure a long lease and to develop the surrounding areas in line with regeneration plans for the area so the facilities and venue can be fully utilised by the young community members."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

The Big Chill 2005

South London Press
The Big Chill 2005
Feb 18 2005
THE Big Chill festival favourites Punchdrunk are set to host a project incorporating art installations, live jazz, swing and dancing in a disused brick factory in Oval this month. Supported by The Big Chill, Punchdrunk's latest venture, The Firebird Ball, fuses Shakespeare's tragic play Romeo and Juliet with Stravinsky's mythical musical piece The Firebird to form a decadent romantic thriller.
The company transforms the cavernous depths of a long-disused edifice at Offley Works, not far from Kennington park Road, into a tangled wood - making a stage for 18 performers and musicians to perform on.
* The Firebird Ball is at Offley Works, Offley Road, Oval, SW9 until Sunday, March 27. Tickets cost Ł15/Ł12. Box office: www.bigchill.net.
Fact file
* The Big Chill is a multimedia festival, bar, club event and record label. The bar is at Dray Walk, off Brick Lane, E1 6QL. Tel: 0207 392 9180.
* The Big Chill festival takes place at Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Malvern Hills, Herefordshire from August 5 until August 7 2005. Tickets cost Ł112/28, under fives free, Ł25 for camper van passes. lineup in April
* The Bill Chill line up for 2005 is to be confirmed in April. Acts to have played the festival in the past include Gilles Peterson, Norman Jay, Coldcut, Mister Scruff, Lol Hammond, Ross Allen and Bent.
* The Big Chill was founded by Pete Lawrence and Katrina Larkin in 1994 - it started off as a Sunday all-dayer in Islington's Union Chapel. The following summer it moved to the Black Mountains on the Welsh borders. 700 people attended.
* In 1998 The Big Chill moved to Dorset. After a one-off event at Lulworth Castle in Dorset in 2001, The Big Chill moved to its new home, the Eastnor Castle Deer Park in the Malvern Hills in Herefordshire in 2002. These days around 27,000 people attend annually.
* Acts who received early exposure at The Big Chill and have gone on to success include Zero 7, Gotan Project, Royksopp, Tom Middleton, Mr Scruff, Lemon Jelly (above), Fila Brazillia, Talvin Singh, Bent, Amy Winehouse and Goldfrapp.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Brutal knife attack caught on CCTV

South London Press
Brutal knife attack caught on CCTV
Feb 22 2005
THIS is the terrifying moment a knifeman plunges a blade into a man on a double-decker bus, writes BEN ASHFORD.
The attacker sinks the weapon into the head and neck of his 21-year-victim and flees while he lies gasping in agony.
The CCTV shot - released by cops this week - captures the brazen attack on February 7 that took place in broad daylight and just a few feet from fellow passengers.
The victim is still recovering in hospital from multiple stab wounds and is said by police to be in a "very bad way".
Detective Sergeant John Freeman of Kennington CID said: "He has at least two large areas of scaring on his hairline and a four-inch scar across his neck. By luck, it didn't sever a main artery.
"It was a vicious attack, that seemed to be with the motive of robbing the victim of his phone."
Today, the South London Press is calling on readers to support the police in their battle to stem the tide of knife crime blighting South London.
The sickening attack took place on a 133 bus in Kennington.
Cops were called to reports of a stabbing on board the Elephant & Castle-bound bus outside the Guinness Trust buildings in Kennington Park Road at 11.50am The CCTV pictures show, the attacker, believed to be 16 or 17 years old, with a blade and then him lunging at his victim.
After the thug fled, an ambulance arrived and took the victim to hospital while cops moved in to investigate the attack.
DS Freeman added: "This was a serious assault where a young man was subjected to injuries that at first were believed to be life-threatening. The man is in a bad way.
"This attack happened just before noon on a Monday morning and I would urge anyone who was in the Kennington Park area or who was on the number 133 bus to contact us with information."
Call Kennington CID with information on 0202 8649 2436 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Puss footing around

South London Press
Puss footing around
Feb 24 2005
By Clare Casey, Streatham Post
THERE'S nothing unusual in a cat with nine lives - but one with six toes on each paw takes some licking.
This moggy has a grand total of 24 toes because of a rare genetic condition called polydactyly. A standard feline only has 16 toes - four on each paw.
Many pet lovers believe cats blessed with extra toes bring good luck.
Shirley Germain, a veterinary nurse at Streatham Hill Veterinary Surgery, said: "Cats normally have four toes on each paw and a central paw pad, but one with six toes is unusual.
"Years ago I used to have one myself, but I haven't seen many since then."
"Six-toes" Ziggy has been taken in by Streatham cat rescuer Dawn Travers.
His Kennington owner died last week and left him and a white three-legged cat homeless.
Dawn, of Hillside Road, is looking after them both.
She said: "Cats with six toes are very rare indeed and the only kind you ever get is a tabby.
"I have been taking in strays for 35 years and haven't seen one like this for ages. I would love to keep him but there's just not enough space here.
"I won't let him be parted from the other one - Snowy - so whoever decides to adopt them will have to take them both."
The condition does not hinder Ziggy in any way and, says Dawn, makes him all the more lovable.
* This week Dawn took in another two strays - KitKat and Rolo. The former had been attacked by a fox. To adopt a cat call Dawn on 020 8671 6358.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Cannabis march to be banned

South London Press
Cannabis march to be banned
Feb 25 2005
IT USED to be the home of the so-called 'softly-softly' approach to cannabis possession and for many it's the natural place for a festival calling for the drug to be legalised. For six years, thousands of revellers descended on Lambeth to back the campaign. CLARE CASEY finds out why the event has been banned
LOVE it or hate it, it was an established fixture in the cultural calender.
In less than a decade the annual Cannabis March and Festival in Lambeth became better known than the borough's country show.
But not any more. Lambeth council this week announced it would not let the event's organisers hold the festival at Brockwell Park in Herne Hill.
The authority has banned what would have been the seventh festival, alleging drug dealing took place in the Victorian park at last year's bash. The move has angered organisers who claim the decision was taken for political reasons. Thousands of people marched annually from Kennington to Brockwell Park for the festival in support of a global call to legalise cannabis. Similar events take place around the world to mark Cannabis Liberation Day.
But Lambeth's executive member for environment, Councillor Clare Whelan, said it would be "irresponsible" to let the festival go ahead.
The Conservative councillor told the South London Press: "Residents and council officers who went to last year's event were offered drugs by dealers.
"It is against the law to sell drugs and I was horrified to discover families - not just one or two but a substantial number - had been approached by dealers. Brockwell Park is council land and it is up to us to take a stand.
"We cannot condone letting an event go ahead where drug dealers operate, because that would be completely irresponsible.
I absolutely support liberty of speech and people campaigning for a change in the law but this is a different thing altogether.
Lambeth has had a reputation for turning a blind eye to cannabis smoking but we must remember it is still illegal."
This so-called "softly-softly" approach was undertaken in 2001 when Lambeth police pioneered a lenient approach to cannabis possession in which people caught with small amounts of the drug were cautioned rather than arrested. This is no longer the case.
Festival organiser and Green Party drugs spokesman Shane Collins claims the Liberal Democrat and Conservative-run council axed the event because of Cllr Whelan's political persuasion, an allegation Cllr Whelan denies.
Mr Collins said: "The council is making itself look foolish.
"Cllr Whelan is a Tory and that's why she doesn't want it to go ahead.
"I would be interested to see a list of all these residents who complained to her officers - I suspect it's very short.
"On the one hand the council bleats on about a sense of community and says it is really important to provide events for the people of Lambeth, but then they stop us doing just that.
"Thousands of people look forward to this free festival every year and to pull it with no explanation is a disgrace. It's a safe event which is all about people having fun.
"By stopping it they have made themselves look extremely stupid yet again."
The festival might be banned but Mr Collins said the march to the park, via Brixton, would go ahead as planned on Saturday, May 7.
On the same day similar protests calling for the legalisation of cannabis will take place around the world.
Residents neighbouring the park had mixed views about the festival ban.
Simon Cobban, of Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, was disappointed.
He said: "I have never seen any trouble and it's a good festival. It's not only the march but there's good food and it's a fun day out.
"It tends to attract the 'dogs on strings-type' but my only complaint is there are a lot of camper vans that park on this road for the couple of days surrounding the event."
A pensioner in Norwood Road, who asked not to be named, said: "I'm sure the council has stopped it with good reason.
"Sometimes the music is a bit loud - but not as bad as the megaphones you hear when the Lambeth Show is on.
"Those young ones don't cause any trouble but they leave a lot of litter."
Staff at Tanley's Irish bar in Dulwich Road said the ban would be bad for business and the community.
Full-time bar worker Evelyn McDonagh said: "I always choose to work when the cannabis festival is on because it's such a fun day.
"You get loads of people popping in for a couple of pints and it's a good atmosphere.
"I think it's a shame for everyone that it's not going ahead."

-- Cathy (cathyvprece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Cork pops for a 'weak' town hall

South London Press
Cork pops for a 'weak' town hall
Mar 3 2005
By Greg Truscott, Streatham Post
A CELEBRATORY champagne reception was thrown by the town hall because it received a "weak" rating for delivering services.
Politicians and bureaucrats quaffed bubbly and nibbled canapés at the plush event to celebrate a rise in Lambeth council's performance rating from "poor" to "weak", it has emerged.
Councillors joined chief executive Faith Boardman and her deputies to toast the result of the council's Comprehensive Performance Assessment - an audit into how well it works.
Local authorities are rated good, fair, weak or poor.
Furious opposition Labour councillors say the party should not have taken place because there was nothing to celebrate.
Labour leader Councillor Steve Reed said: "Despite huge Government investment and a 35 per cent increase in council tax, Lambeth council has failed to move up one single place in the league table of London's councils under the Lib-Dems and the Tories.
"The fact that they hold a champagne reception to celebrate the fact that Lambeth council is 'weak' tells you everything about the Lib Dem attitude."
Lambeth's Lib Dem leader, Councillor Peter Truesdale, has dismissed Cllr Reed's criticism of the reception, which was held at Lillian Bayliss School in Kennington in January.
It was paid for by council contractors Cleanaway and Focus Education.
Cllr Truesdale joked: "What's he going on about? The canapés were so small, I had to eat when I got home.
"I was also disappointed with the champagne. It was as fizzy as one of Cllr Reed's speeches."
He added: "We held the reception to bring all the people together who are helping to improve Lambeth."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Man denies killing soccer star's cousin

South London Press
Man denies killing soccer star's cousin
Mar 4 2005
A BRICKLAYER accused of killing a cousin of football legend Lou Macari in a drunken brawl told police he could only remember getting kicked in the face.
Scott Elliott, 21, was arrested after a policewoman saw him land a knockout blow to 28-year-old Joseph Macari outside a kebab shop, it is claimed.
Elliott said in interview he had only had three drinks at a friend's birthday party in a nearby bar and denied even noticing a brawl involving up to 20 people in Kennington Lane, Kennington, on November 2, 2003.
He said: "I was not drunk, I was not disorderly. I was sat on the kerb next to my girlfriend and I got kicked in the face.
"I remember just holding on to my girlfriend. As soon as I got hit the police were there and I was cuffed."
Asked about his swollen eye and marks on his right knuckles, he said: "I don't know how I got it."
Elliott admitted it was "possible" he had got in to a fight and hit someone but said he could not remember doing so.
He added: "No punching, kicking, scuffling, nothing. I would not have gone out there if there was a punch-up."
Tests later revealed both men had alcohol levels associated with "extreme drunkenness", the Old Bailey heard on Monday.
Mr Macari, a trainee policeman from Swansea, smashed his head against the pavement after being punched and was taken to hospital where he was found to have brain damage caused by a fractured skull.
His life support system was turned off the next day.
It is claimed Elliott tried to walk away from the scene of the brawl but was handcuffed by police after a struggle.
Elliott, of Elworth House, Oval Place, Oval, denies manslaughter.
The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Crossing woman is critical

South London Press
Crossing woman is critical
Mar 8 2005
A WOMAN is in critical condition after a hit and run early on Sunday morning.
She was crossing the road near traffic lights in Kennington Park Road, close to the junction with Kennington Lane, Kennington, at 3.15am. The woman, in her 40s, was taken to St Thomas' Hospital suffering from serious multiple injuries.
The vehicle, which is thought to be a silver Daewoo Matiz found near the scene, had not stopped.
It has damage to its front and a smashed windscreen.
Police investigating the collision are appealing for witnesses or anyone else who can help.
The crime is being investigated by the collision investigation unit based at Hampton Traffic Garage.
As we went to press, investigating officer Sergeant John McAree said no arrests had been made.
He added: "The car was found in a badly-damaged condition near the incident. The woman is still in a critical condition and her family are with her at St Thomas'."
Information to police on 020 8941 9011.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

West End bus is facing cuts

South London Press
West End bus is facing cuts
Mar 11 2005
By Clare Casey
A SHOCK proposal to reduce the number of buses on a well-used route has sparked anger.
Hundreds have signed a petition calling for bus chiefs to re-think plans for a cutback on the number 3 route.
It is one of only a few buses that go from Crystal Palace to the West End and is hailed by many as a lifeline.
It stops at West Dulwich, Herne Hill, Brixton and Kennington before crossing the river at Lambeth Bridge.
Lambeth councillor Russell A'Court said it would be a terrible loss.
"Residents of both Lambeth and Southwark have been outraged by this proposal," he said.
"Many people see the number 3 as a lifeline and want to see more of them, not fewer. To cut back on a route like this where there aren't many buses anyway would be a silly decision."
Transport for London (TfL) proposed a cut of 20 per cent to improve the service. That would mean buses every eight to 10 minutes rather than every four to six at peak times.
People living in South Croxted Road, West Dulwich, said they feared fewer buses would also mean they would travel at even greater speeds, something they have complained of for years.
Resident Ann Shaw, 61, said: "We have all complained about how fast they come down this road, often overtaking each other.
"I believe that if there are fewer buses they will come faster to try to get through the timetable and back to the depot more quickly.
"There are already great problems with them. We don't see one for about 20 minutes and then four will show at once."
Southwark councillor Kim Humphreys is one of those who has been collecting signatures for the petition.
He said: "People feel strongly about the loss of such a major bus and are hoping TfL sees sense."
A TfL spokesman said: "From April the number 3 will be reduced from Monday to Friday peak hours only, from a bus every six minutes to eight minutes.
"Our survey work shows that the service levels will still be sufficient for the number of passengers using the service. In addition we are introducing a number of other measures designed to improve service reliability on the number 3 which has, on occasions, been below the level TfL expects."
There will be an extra number 59 and 159 an hour to compensate. Anyone worried about the speed of buses should contact TfL customer services.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Estates may go private

South London Press
Estates may go private
Mar 11 2005
TWO estates are due to be transferred out of council ownership later this month.
The Kennington Park and Bridge estates in Oval, Lambeth, are to be transferred into the hands of a private housing association in just over a week.
Fifty-seven per cent of residents voted in favour of the "stock transfer" in June last year.
Tenants were more favourable of the transfer than leaseholders who had purchased their homes from the council under "right to buy" legislation.
The transfer plan goes before Lambeth council's executive on Monday for final approval. As soon as council leaders give the proposal the nod, an application will be sent to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister seeking consent to dispose of the estates.
The 848 homes will then be transferred to Hyde South-bank Homes on March 21. The housing association plans to invest Ł20million in the estates over three years.
The work programme includes new kitchens and bathrooms for each home, as well as upgraded security and environmental improvements. This is expected to bring estate homes up to the Government's "Decent Homes Standard", a mandatory target to insure social housing meets minimum standards.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE Tuesday 29th March 2005 at 7.00 p.m.

NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday 29th March 2005
at 7.00 p.m.
Pedlars Acre Community Hall, Opal Street, SE11
(close to Kennington Underground Station)
oOo
Come and hear about:
o Development of the Beaufoy Institute site
o Sports Action Zone in North Lambeth
o Local road and pavement repair programme
Agenda papers will be despatched and available on the website from 17th March 2005.
For further enquiries or information about questions/petitions to the area committee, contact:
Rita Chakraborty at the Town Hall
(T: 020 7926 2225 e: rchakraborty@lambeth.gov.uk)
Website www.lambeth.gov.uk
(link: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/services/government-democracy/democracy/committee-reports.shtml)
Date of next meeting
Thursday 12th May 2005

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2005.

Room available/London SE11

Room available/London SE11
Room for female lodger available in beautiful, light flat on peaceful street in central south London overlooking Georgian square with garden. Close to Elephant & Castle/Lambeth North tubes (Bakerloo and Northern lines), many buses and within walking distance of Soho, both Tates, South Bank. Vegetarian preferred. Gay friendly. Small room with double futon. Share the rest with with owner. Rent Ł90 per week plus share of bills. Tel 07753 677650

-- Lucy Kimbell (inbox@lucykimbell.com), February 09, 2005.

Frenzied stabbing after bus row

Frenzied stabbing after bus row
Evening Standard
08/02/05 - London news section
A man is seriously ill in hospital after being repeatedly stabbed by a youth during a frenzied attack on a London bus.
The stabbing occurred at about 11.50am yesterday on the top deck of a 133 bus in Kennington after a row, police said.
The victim, 21, was attacked as the bus, heading towards Brixton, entered Kennington Park Road. Police are hunting a black youth, aged 16 or 17, seen running off moments after the attack.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/16455503?version=1 ©2005 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 09, 2005.

Man knifed on double-decker

South London Press
Man knifed on double-decker
Feb 8 2005
A BUS passenger was yesterday fighting for his life after he was stabbed during a row upstairs on a double-decker.
The man, believed to be in his 20s, was attacked on the day the Met launched an operation to stamp out transport crime.
Cops were called shortly before noon following reports of a fight between two men on the southbound 133 in Kennington Park Road.
As we went to press, officers were hunting for the knifeman, who is thought to have fled through Othello Close into Kennington Lane.
A Met spokeswoman said yesterday: "We're not sure at this stage what the dispute was about.
"All we can confirm is that there appears to have been a stabbing on the 133 bus.
"A man is in hospital and his condition appears to be life-threatening.
"At the moment we're looking for a second man who appears to have fled the scene."
Cops sealed off the bus at a stop outside the Guinness Trust flats in Kennington Park Road.
Officers had also sealed off parts of Othello Close. A witness, who lives in nearby Cornwall Square, said: "The whole place is crawling with police.
"There's about 10 cars and a van. I think they're waiting for the sniffer dogs.
"The bloke must have run off from the bus and through here. I think he then headed off in the direction of Hurley Clinic [a doctor's surgery]."
The Met's Operation Chicago began yesterday, targeting robberies, thefts, ticket fraud and other offences committed on our transport system.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 09, 2005.

Have your say on London Parking

Have your say on London Parking
We are carrying out a survey on London parking, to co-incide with the GLA's enquiry, which is holding hearings shortly. Many London community websites have posted links to it, and the responses are rolling in.
See the text below, and the accompanying notes. The survey is now live, so if you do it as a test, make sure your answers are genuine and honest!
Richard Gaunt
Have your say on London Parking
The London Assembly is holding an enquiry into the parking regime in the capital. Are the restrictions needed, is the enforcement fair, are consultation processes working?
Tell us what you think, and we'll pass the message on to Ken, as well as sharing the results with our subscribers.
To do the survey, go to
http://optima.benchpoint.com/optima/SurveyPop.aspx?query=view&SurveyID=138&S S=YxAMobBOv
You can also email this link to your friends and invite them to take part
Note to London Website editors:
This is a web survey by Benchpoint(tm), a new system which delivers fully analysed results in real time. It is "branched" in that respondents follow different threads through the survey, depending on their answers. This means they do not have to answer irrelevant questions.
Respondents' responses to this are anonymous, and we cannot identify individuals.
The survey is "Unofficial", in that it has not been sponsored or financed by the Greater London Authority, or any other organisation. Its content follows the terms of reference of the Parking Enquiry. It will take a couple of minutes.
About Benchpoint
Although principally designed for the Corporate and Government measurement market, Benchpoint is an advanced tool for any sort of opinion polling.
With a general election on the horizon, we are developing some interesting survey ideas to shed some light on local constituency issues and identify if campaigns are driven by policies, parties or personalities, and we hope you would like to be involved.
Benchpoint(tm) can also host regular surveys where respondents' basic details are held on the system. When they return to do a survey, they do not need to re-enter their demographic data each time.
I would be happy to organise a demonstration to show you how it works, or answer any questions.
Contact:
Richard Gaunt
CEO
Benchpoint Ltd
138 Wellesley Road
London W4 3AP
Tel 0771 169 1928
gaunt@benchpoint.com
www.benchpoint.com

-- Richard Gaunt (gaunt@benchpoint.com), February 08, 2005.

Meeting re. Vauxhall Bus Interchange Station

The Vauxhall Society
and
Vision 4 Vauxhall
meeting
Vauxhall Bus Interchange Station
The Vauxhall Society and Vision 4 Vauxhall will be holding a meeting on TUESDAY 22nd FEBRUARY at Vauxhall St Peter's Heritage Centre, 310 Kennington Lane, commencing 7.0pm, for an update on the new Vauxhall Bus interchange station. Officers from TfL will be on hand to answer questions and listen to suggestions for improvements.
We also hope to have an update on the Cross River Tram project.
All are welcome - please spread the word!
Jim Nicolson

-- Jim Nicolson (jasnicolson@waitrose.com), February 08, 2005.

First Impressions

Financial Times / Arts & Weekend
First Impressions
By Sathnam Sanghera
Published: February 5 2005 02:00 | Last updated: February 5 2005 02:00
At my request, former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith is demonstrating a party trick: an impression of Kenneth Clarke. "I can't be bothered with this interview!" he exclaims, in a style vaguely reminiscent of the former Conservative chancellor. "I can't be bothered with this interview! Oooooh!"
Duncan Smith snorts, giggles and, encouraged by Tim Montgomery, the Tory minder sitting in on the interview, moves on to impersonating Lord Tebbit. "Did you listen to Norman on Today this morning?" he inquires. A short pause as he mimics Tebbit's sombre facial expression. "Well, Miss Montague ...I'd like to tell you, you are talking total nonsense ..."
That's a bit better than your Kenneth Clarke, I admit. Tim applauds and requests Edward Heath. Duncan Smith drops his chin and, in a voice that sounds a little like the former Tory prime minister and a little like Jade Goody, growls: "Oh, an absolute nightmare! An absolute nightmare! Oooh!" He switches from the baritone to a squeak. "And I wonder if you know who this one is? I speak like this and make my points very clearly because I am Enoch Powell ..."
It's a surreal end to our chat. But then the beginning is pretty surreal too. Duncan Smith arrives 20 minutes late, apologising profusely and declaring: "I've just come from playing football at West Ham." As Tim has already explained that the reason for his delay is that he has been having lunch with (another) national newspaper, I assume that Duncan Smith is making a (surreal) joke and laugh out loud.
I was told that IDS had no sense of humour, but he is actually very funny, I think to myself. Ha ha ha! But as I guffaw, Duncan Smith blinks back at me. "It's not a joke. I was at Upton Park, playing for the Parliamentary side. We were playing a team of the sons and grandsons and daughters of Holocaust survivors."
I am still laughing when he says this, but stop suddenly. The setting isn't helping make things feel less surreal: for some reason Duncan Smith has asked to meet in the middle of a church - between the pews of Christ Church in Kennington, to be precise. Getting my bearings, I have another stab at getting the conversation going, posing the most straightforward question I can think of: what's he doing with his time now that he isn't Leader of the Opposition?
"Well, I write," he replies. "About politics. And I've done some film reviews. As my children have got older, we've gone to watch more adult films." I suppress a snigger. "I don't mean top shelf adult films! Of the adult variety, that is and er ...I play sports. I'm also a constituency MP. Still. And a huge amount of my political input is through this, the Centre for Social Justice."
He gestures at the stained glass window and explains that this church has been the centre for non-conformist worship for more than two centuries. Wilberforce spoke here and the spire was donated by Abraham Lincoln's family to acknowledge its support for abolition. Now it is also the headquarters of his think-tank, the Centre for Social Justice, formed with private money. "It's not really a think-tank," he inserts, saying it is more concerned with the "practical application" of new approaches in various voluntary projects around the country than policy formulation. "Think-tanks are Westminster-based and sit in a nice atmosphere, writing pamphlets. We write pamphlets, but the CSJ is a way of life. It is about getting people, Conservatives particularly, to realise that what you do is more important than what you think. We are trying to draw attention to the plight of the worst off, from a Conservative standpoint. Essentially, we have taken the concept I had as leader and privatised it. The Conservative party has to decide if it wants it."
So, to summarise: Duncan Smith has set up a think-tank, that isn't really a think-tank because it is not about thinking but doing (though it does think as well), to persuade the Tories to become the party for Britain's underclass. It's a radical idea, but problematic for a number of reasons, not least because it is supposedly a manifestation of Duncan Smith's "legacy" to the Tory party and as he was leader for such a short amount of time (25 months), it's debatable whether he has very much of a legacy to preserve.
During his brief tenure he surprised everyone by not being the reactionary, hang'em and flog'em leader that everyone expected. But his policy initiatives were so drowned out by speculation about his leadership abilities that most people would now struggle to identify what they were. Most members of the public probably still see him as the rightwinger's rightwinger - the former army man who inherited Lord Tebbit's seat in Chingford and rebelled over Maastricht.
He rejects the analysis. "I think, such as it existed, that was a pretty temporary view of me. As leader I confounded that whole principle." But he's setting himself quite a task in trying to persuade the Tories, and then the public, that the Conservatives can be the party for Britain's underclass. "I never said these things could be done overnight. Over a number of years the Conservatives managed to get driven into a small box marked 'only for the selfish', which is not true. It is a caricature. We need to break out of that box."
As he says this, there seems to be a change in his mood. He glances at his pager. He taps his fingers on the table. Any warmth he may have exuded earlier has gone. I ask if he is bitter about how he was ejected as leader - after all, if things had gone well, he would have been leading his party into the general election right now. "Whatever I feel publicly or privately is generally kept to myself these days." An awkward pause. "It just happened and what happened is for other people to write about." What was the worst part of it? "The worst thing was the end really, the nature of the lies that were told about my wife. We were exonerated [by the inquiry into whether his wife Betsy earned her state funded pennies for secretarial work], but it took six months."
And it was an expensive process - apparently he has ratcheted up Ł300,000 in legal fees. Who will pay these? "My legal fees haven't been paid yet. As and when anybody assists me with them, that's up to them, or if the party assists me, then it's up to it. If and when that happens they'll be gratefully received." Might the party pay? "I've no idea, you'll have to ask the party that." Would he like the party to pay? "I'd love to have to not pay my costs, but who pays them is up to them." Is he asking the party to pay? "Well, if I was, I wouldn't tell you. But the answer to that is that nothing has been paid."
His mood doesn't improve as we move on to discussing the Conservative party's general election strategy. Yes, he supports Howard's asylum and spending plans. Yes, he thinks the Tories can win the election. Yes, there are lessons from Bush's victory in the US. "But without me listing them, you've got my recent pamphlet on the subject. I won't repeat all of that." Will he be involved in the general election campaign? "I guess I will be, but I haven't really discussed it with them yet. It's not really my problem."
We have 90 minutes to talk but if he carries on giving such brief, exasperated answers, we'll finish early, even with the late start. He sounds so annoyed now that I dare not ask him about his one man show (according to the papers, only 67 people attended an "audience with Duncan Smith" at Liverpool's Philharmonic). But I do risk inquiring about The Devil's Tune, his 400-page novel described by one newspaper as a "thriller-cum-wartime-mystery-cum-political-vendetta, set in London, New York, Washington and Italy". It was panned by the critics. "You won't get a copy of it, because it was sold out," he remarks after a sigh. "Never been remaindered either, by the way. I enjoyed writing it. But if a politician writes a book, people review the politician."
Is there going to be a paperback? "Yeah, I hope so." Does he have plans for other books? "Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm in the middle of doing some other stuff." I read that he wants to write a novel set in British politics. "I might do that one day. There's a couple of factual books I want to write." Such as? "Well, yes, historical stuff really." Biography? "Could be. I can't tell you any more than that. The point is that I will be writing more." A shrug. "I might do anything, which is basically what I'm saying to you."
Does the possibility of media punditry appeal? He's done bits of TV work. "Well, I'll do it if they want me to." Michael Portillo has made a career out of it, I observe cheerfully. "Yeeees. So far. We'll see where that takes him." A smile, revealing white, even, gritted teeth. "You know, there are lots of opportunities out there. I'm very upbeat about it all."
He doesn't sound upbeat at all. He sounds pissed off. I give up trying to get any more answers out of him. But before I leave, I've heard that he does a great impression of Kenneth Clarke ...
sathnam.sanghera@ft.com
Find this article at: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/591f9824-7692-11d9-b897-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=,s01=1.html

-- Cathy (cathyvprece@aol.com), February 07, 2005.

Trains, Bus Lanes, and Automobiles

Lambeth
Trains, Bus Lanes, and Automobiles
Transport Policy Shapes the Future
Join the debate
The Lambeth Transport Local Implementation Plan is how we will deliver the London Mayor's Transport Strategy and forms the basis for future funding bids for projects until 2011.
From 1st February to the 15th April 2005 Lambeth Council needs to hear what you think about our proposed transport policies.
We will be holding a series of workshops to discuss our plans for:
· Cars, Taxis, Buses, Trains, Trams and Tube
· Safety and Security
· Parking
· Cycling and Walking
· Disabled access and accessible transport
· Maintenance, sustainability and pollution
· Freight
Venue: Pedlar's Acre, Opal Street, London, SE11 4HZ
Date: Monday 21/02/05
Time: 7-9pm
*Light refreshments will be provided
For further details, please contact Faz Mussa on 020 7926 2827 or e-mail: lip@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Faz Mussa (lip@lambeth.gov.uk), February 06, 2005.

Local boxing hero Danny Williams tours Lambeth Schools

Lambeth

Local boxing hero Danny Williams tours Lambeth Schools
Schoolchildren from a handful of Lambeth schools are to benefit from a masterclass presented by world heavyweight boxing contender Danny Williams.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/030221.pdf
Released: February 2, 2005 11:29 AM
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 03, 2005.

Cherie writes off Paris

Evening Standard
03/02/05 - London news section
Cherie writes off Paris
By Patrick Sawer And Luke Leitch, Evening Standard
Olympic ambassador Cherie Blair has dismissed Paris's chances of winning the 2012 Games - and insisted they will come to the capital. At an event to encourage London's cultural elite to back the bid, Mrs Blair said London had nothing to fear from Paris, and lightheartedly rejected its claim of cultural superiority.
She said: "We are going to win the bid. Paris? What does Paris know about culture? New York? No contest. London is the cultural capital of the world. Of course we are going to win - how can we fail?"
Mrs Blair's words underlines a growing determination that London should emerge victorious when the host city is announced in Singapore on 6 July.
She was speaking at the Royal Festival Hall, in front of representatives from the Tate, the Rambert Dance Company, the Arts Council, The Royal Opera House, the South Bank and the Society of London Theatres. Guests included Michael Grade, Melvyn Bragg, Royal Court director Ian Rickson, and Orange Prize founder Kate Mosse.
Mrs Blair said: "I believe our full proposals - across sporting venues, transport, volunteering, culture and education - really will create an amazing Olympic and Paralympic Games. This is something that could reach out to every kid in London and say something positive to them."
Her comments came only 24 hours after Paris municipal chiefs revived the two cities' ancient rivalry with a series of barbed comments.
Unveiling their 20-year Local Urbanism Plan, the Parisian authorities said they wanted to prevent la Londonisation of their city - meaning an city sharply divided between the rich and poor.
Paris's councillor in charge of housing, Jean-Yves Mano, said: "I don't want Paris to look like London, with a very wealthy population on one side and a very poor population on the other."
Paris city council claims its central area is far livelier and more diverse, with a greater mix of shops, restaurants, cultural facilities and people. However, Londoners were quick to refute the claim that their inner city was only for the very rich or very poor.
The revival of Notting Hill, Kennington and other previously rundown areas has reversed the flight to the suburbs. "The Parisian view of London seems a bit out of date," said Darren Johnson, the Green Party group leader on the London Assembly.
Both cities have their share of problems, with the divide between rich and poor, expensive housing and the question of how to assimilate immigrants. But London tourist chiefs say only the British capital, with its noise, exuberance, inventiveness, glamour and eccentricity, can claim to be a true world city.
Taking food as an example, Richard Harden, of the Harden Food Guide, said: "London scores magnificently in the range and quality it offers of everyone else's national styles of cooking. In terms of scale and variety, its only obvious competitor is New York."
Meanwhile British people living in Paris said they loved their adopted city but could not deny its shortcomings.
Fashion designer Sara Reddin said: "When it comes to social matters Paris, and France in general, is in the early Eighties. They are starting to introduce reforms like equal rights watchdogs but I haven't seen any black politicians."
Additional reporting by Sam Lyon and Toby Rose.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/16342205?version=1 ©2005 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 03, 2005.

North Lambeth Area Committee: Wednesday 16th February 2005

North Lambeth Area Committee
Wednesday 16th February 2005
at 6.45 p.m.
Redfearn Centre, Ground Floor
Lilian Baylis Technology School
329 Kennington Lane SE11
(close to Vauxhall Underground Station)
oOo
Come and hear about
o Regeneration in North Lambeth
o Recycling in North Lambeth
o Local Implementation Plan for the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy
Agenda papers will be despatched and available on the website from 8th February 2005.
For further enquiries or information about questions/petitions to the area committee, contact: Rita Chakraborty at the Town Hall
(T: 020 7926 2225 e: rchakraborty@lambeth.gov.uk)
Website www.lambeth.gov.uk
(link: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/services/government-democracy/democracy/committee-reports.shtml)
Dates of future meetings
Tuesday 29th March 2005 Thursday 5th May 2005

-- Frances (fforrest@lambeth.gov.uk), February 03, 2005.

Northern line closed for weekend repairs

This is Local London
Northern line closed for weekend repairs
Extensive work to improve the Northern line means there will be no service between Camden and Kennington stations on the southbound Bank branch during three consecutive weekends in February and March.
The closures will take place during the following weekends: 19/20 February 2005, 26/27 February 2005, 5/6 March 2005.
The Charing Cross branch and the rest of the Northern line will be fully operating, including the northbound Bank branch. During the work Old Street station will be fully closed, with Moorgate station a 15 minute walk away. There are a number of bus services in this area including the 43, 141, 76 and 243. Valid London Underground tickets will be accepted on these services.
Passengers are advised to allow more time for their journeys during this important improvement work. For more information, check out the TfL website www.tfl.gov.uk or call London Travel Information on 020 7222 1234.
4:20pm Tuesday 1st February 2005
By James Stern

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 02, 2005.

Improving from what?

South London Press
Improving from what?
Jan 28 2005
I WRITE with regard to claims made in your paper by the Liberal Democrat and Tory leaders of Lambeth council. They proudly boasted that Lambeth is the "fastest improving council in London, according to the Audit Commission's ratings". I think they are in need of a little perspective. This claim stems from Lambeth's gain in points since the last inspection. But they neglect to mention that, after almost three years in office, the council has failed to move up one single place in the league table of London boroughs despite huge Government investment and a 30 per cent council tax rise.
It's like a football manager saying: "Well done boys. We're bottom of the league again, but this year we only got relegated by 20 points instead of 30." The Liberal Democrats and Tories should stop slapping themselves on the back and start sorting out the dire problems which I believe THEY have caused in parking, benefits and housing, to name but a few.
Stephen Richard Morgan Renfrew Road Kennington

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 31, 2005.

Ł15k violin snatched

South London Press
Ł15k violin snatched
Jan 28 2005
By Ben Ashford
IT WAS lovingly strung by master-craftsmen more than 100 years ago and has rested under the chin of generations of classical musicians.
But now the 1883 Gand and Bernadel violin - worth around Ł15,000 - has fallen into less-refined hands.
Owner, violinist Nick Pryce, 57, was on his way home from rehearsals for a small recital in South Kensington when muggers jumped him from behind and wrenched the rare instrument from his grip. He gave chase but the pair jumped into a getaway car and sped off.
Mr Pryce told the South London Press: "That violin was my baby. I'd had it for 10 years and treasured it because of its uniquely warm sound.
"It was a one-off handcrafted model from the 19th century and, without any insurance cover, there is no way I could afford to replace it."
The robbery happened at 8.30pm on January 11, at the corner of Cooks Road and Otto Street in Kennington.
Mr Pryce - a retired soloist - had gone into the nearby White Bear pub and was walking home when the thugs struck.
"I was 100 yards from my flat when a couple of guys jumped me. I chased them but they jumped in a car.
"I wasn't badly hurt but the shock was awful. I don't think they even realised what they had in their hands."
Police want music shops and musicians to lookout for people trying to sell the violin.
It has a distinctive red varnish with four ebony pins, and was kept inside a dark blue, canvas case with two violin bows.
The robbers were both about 25, 5ft 10in tall and wearing woolly hats.
Anyone with information should call PC Nishit Doshi of Walworth robbery squad on 020 7232 6267 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A small cash reward is on offer.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 28, 2005.

Local Transport: North Lambeth Workshop

Lambeth
BAC Local Transport
See Page 5 of this report about a North Lambeth Workshop taking place on 21st February at 7pm at Pedlar's Acre, Opal Street (off Kennington Lane), SE11
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/030041.pdf
Released: January 25, 2005 10:31 AM
Filesize: 36kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 27, 2005.

Bring our big top back

Bring our big top back
Jan 25 2005
By Ben Clover
South London Press
RUNNING away to join the circus is a tradition going back centuries.
But a Kennington-based troupe is running away to be re-united with a big top they had to leave in the south of France.
Bassline Circus had been booked for shows on the Continent last year but when the tour fell through the troupe couldn't afford to get their new Ł10,000 tent back home.
Performer Susannah Ford said the group was fighting back by mounting a fundraising night this Friday to go and get it back.
Susannah said: "We were distraught when we had to leave it behind. It's a beautiful big top and we need it for our bookings this year."
The Kennington performer, whose acts include the use of an angle-grinder and a pair of specially-made iron knickers, added: "We need to raise Ł1,000 to go and get it back.
"On the fundraising night there will be live music, fire eating, escapologists, acrobats, stilt-walking, hoop artists and more besides."
The 12 core members of Bassline Circus met on the London performance circuit and have been working together for the last 18 months.
This year the troupe's plans include appearances at Glastonbury and the Lewisham comedy festival, Spikefest.
The fundraising night is at Bar Lorca, Brixton Road, Brixton, from 9pm and costs Ł5.
For more information call 07899 771297.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2005.

Loutish copper jailed

South London Press
Loutish copper jailed
Jan 24 2005
By Clare Casey
A POLICEMAN who swore and lashed out at passengers on a late night train and then rang 999 claiming to be the victim has been jailed.
PC John Nicholson, 27, was sentenced to 60 days for abusing two passengers and then lying to cover up his behaviour.
Presiding at Bow Street Magistrates' Court, deputy district judge Nicholas Evans said he had no choice but to jail him.
He said: "According to reports from your superior, you are a hard working, responsible officer.
"But your drunken loutish behaviour caused immense fear to members of the public.
"It happened late at night on a train where people are effectively a captive audience and they were subject to your thoroughly objectionable behaviour.
'Touching'
"You first of all turned on a female passenger and called her a 'f***ing slut' and then bent down so your face was almost touching another passenger on the train, and said 'you f***ing c**t'.
"When he objected to your language you then swung at him with your fist and tried to kick him."
Mr Evans told the court on Thursday that had PC Nicholson not phoned 999 and blamed the other passenger he would have escaped a custodial sentence.
The incident happened when Nicholson, who was based at Kennington police station, was travel- ling home from London to his Bromley home on February 8, 2004.
The off-duty officer, who had pleaded not guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour, was arrested after getting off the train at Eden Park station.
Defending, Dean Luxton, said Nicholson regretted the "few moments of recklessness at the end of a drunken evening".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2005.

Hostess killer cops seek man

South London Press
Hostess killer cops seek man
Jan 24 2005
DETECTIVES hunting the killer of a club hostess have appealed for a man with "vital information" to come forward.
Camille Gordon, 23, was stabbed to death outside the Blue Bunny club, in Soho, on March 1 last year.
They launched a fresh appeal to find her killer this week and announced a Ł20,000 reward for information leading to his capture.
Camille spent time in Castaway's club, in Peckham High Street, the night before her death.
She was driven to her South Norwood home by a man who detectives are still trying to trace.
Days later a man walked into Kennington police station with "vital information" but cops lost contact with him and want to speak to him again.
Anyone with information should call detectives on 020 8358 0100 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (CATHYVPREECE@AOL.COM), January 25, 2005.

PC Tech Support: Frank Bornemann

PC Tech Support
I'd like to recommend to you a local PC Tech Support person:
Frank Bornemann
frank.bornemann@virgin.net
Tel: 020 7735 9830
Charges Ł25 callout
He said it is best to phone him because he gets so many emails it might take him a while to get back to you.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2005.

Business Letters

Times
January 23, 2005
Business Letters
MOVING MONEY: One topic that the interesting and informative report on the economic benefits of immigration (Special Report, Business, last week) did not address is that of the repatriation of immigrants' earnings. These transfer payments must surely have a substantial effect on the UK economy and the UK's balance of payments. Globally the value of immigrants' repatriated earnings exceeds that of aid payments.
Garth R A Wiseman
Kennington, London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2005.

FW Evans bike joins museum collection

London SE1 website team
FW Evans bike joins museum collection
20 January 2005
An Evans bicycle purchased in Kennington Road in 1929 is the newest vehicle to join the collection at London's Transport Museum.
The recent donation is from 95-year-old William Wagstaff who bought the bike in 1929 and has finally decided to hang up his bicycle clips for good.
Mr Wagstaff purchased the bicycle when he was 20 years old from FW Evans http://www.evanscycles.com/ in Kennington Road on 14 May 1929. For many years he was a member of the Cyclists' Touring Club and his spare time was spent cycling all over the country. The bicycle is still in full working order despite having covered thousands of miles.
In 1938 he married and moved to Shirley in Croydon. During World War II he commuted on the bicycle to the Bermondsey telephone exchange where he worked as an engineer. The museum has also been given the original Black Lucas 'Silver King' cycle lamp Mr Wagstaff used during this period, still half covered with hand-made blackout paper.
FW Evans no longer makes bicycles but it has a burgeoning chain of retail stores, including branches in The Cut, Waterloo Road and London Bridge. The original Kennington Road shop is now occupied by the Cam Pharmacy.
London's Transport Museum http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk/ in Covent Garden is about to begin a major redevelopment which will see the museum expand its displays to include the River Thames, cycling and congestion charging as well as buses, trams and the underground.
To see a photograph of Mr Wagstaff on his bicycle in his twenties, go to http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view.php?ArtID=1365

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2005.

Trickster Alert!

Trickster Alert!
Dear Neighbours
This morning we have received this warning from a member at the Lycee, opposite Kennington Green. Our police contact details are below.
Take care
Best wishes
Cathy
Cathy,
I remember last year you circulated local people about a bogus caller asking for money.
You might like to know that over the weekend the Lycee has had three visits from a woman asking for money. She is in her thirties, with a slight Asian look about her. Her story is that she has a sick daughter and the electricity meter has run out. She claims to live above Tony's Cafe on Kennington Green. On each of her visits to the Lycee she has mentioned the name of the last person she tricked to add to her credibility!
A neighbour alerted me to her scam this afternoon and by chance she buzzed on my door at about 10 pm asking for the exit code for the gate. I called a neighbour and we got the Police but she had escaped.
The Police have her description and will hopefully get cctv footage from here.
It might be worth letting people know about her because when such people start these games they tend to keep working the neighbourhood.
I doubt that she is dangerous but she is a nuisance and needs to be stopped.
Michael
Police contact details:
·         For Oval Ward we have PC Rob Ellison 756LX covering Vauxhall and Wyvill Estates and Mawbey Brough Estate. Also Oval PC 668LX Gerry Fox covering Oval station, Harleyford Road, Dorset Road Estates, and Fentiman Road. Also Paul Courtney 925LX (Paul.Courtney@met.police.uk 020 8649 2462) covering Kennington Park Estate and St Agnes Place.
·         In Princes Ward we have PC 710LX Jane Brown (Jane.Brown@met.police.uk 020 8649 2862) who covers Kennington Road, Cottington Close Estate, Penwith Manor Estate, Cotton Gardens Estate, Methley Street, Cleaver Square and Walcot Estate; and PC 448LX Errol Maile (errol.maile@met.police.uk 020 8649 2462) covering Spring Gardens, Vauxhall Gardens Estate, and the Embankment. PC Mark Collins covers the Ethelred Estate.
·         Bishops Ward is covered by PC 551LX Mark Sullivan for China Walk Estate, St Thomas’s and Lambeth Road, PC 699LX Mitrovich who covers Tanswell Estate, Lower Marsh and Waterloo (basically the area opposite the Old Vic Theatre) and PC Mick Lacey 740 LX for South bank and Waterloo
·         There are other officers covering the Vassall Ward and Myatts Field Estate, all contactable on the office number, 020 8721 3661

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), January 24, 2005.

See Kevin Spacey on stage for just Ł12!

The Old Vic Theatre Company
See Kevin Spacey on stage for just Ł12!
Following on from our “Aladdin” and “Cloaca” ticket offers, we have a new treat in-store for local residents. At the beginning of February, Kevin Spacey will return to the London stage after 7 years in The Old Vic's production of "National Anthems". A darkly comic critique of American materialism, Dennis McIntyre's play is set in Chicago and plays in real-time. The play co-stars Mary Stuart Masterson and Steven Weber.
RESIDENTS OF LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK CAN SEE THE PLAY IN THE BEST AVAILABLE SEATS FOR JUST Ł12 FOR THE MATINEE PERFORMANCES ON WEDS 2ND and SAT 5TH FEBRUARY. Top price seats are normally Ł40.
Simply call 0870 060 6628 and quote 'local community offer'. All tickets must be collected via Box Office and proof of residency must be shown.
Matinees are at 2.30pm. Tickets subject to availability. Further information available from www.oldvictheatre.com, where you can also register for email updates.
Do forward this to any local residents who would like to be included on future mailings.
--
Rachael Stevens
The Old Vic Theatre Company
The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Direct line: 0207 902 7582
rachael.stevens@oldvictheatre.com

-- Rachael Stevens (rachael.stevens@oldvictheatre.com), January 23, 2005.

PA: Gala Bingo, Kennington Road

Lambeth
PA - Report for meeting 1.02.05
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/029976.pdf
See Pages 78 to 100 regarding the Gala Bingo, Kennington Road SE11
Released: January 21, 2005 11:15 AM
Filesize: 3033kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 22, 2005.

KENNINGTON, OVAL & VAUXHALL FORUM Monday 31 January at 7pm at Saint Anselm's Church, Kennington Cross

Find out what's happening. Meet your elected representatives, make contacts & like-minded friends. Have your say, help make a difference at:
KENNINGTON, OVAL & VAUXHALL
FORUM
Monday 31 January at 7pm
at Saint Anselm's Church, Kennington Cross
286 Kennington Road - at the junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane
AGENDA: 1. Welcome 2. Apologies 3. Introductions 4. Minutes of last Forum, 28 Sept. 2004 5. Matters arising not covered in the agenda
6. TRAFFIC CALMING: Vauxhall Street north traffic calming and cycle scheme presentation: consultation questionnaire. Other areas with speeding problems ? Your input invited. Information on Fentiman Road, Richborne Terrace, and Dorset Rd from Mary Acland-Hood.
PRESENTATIONS BY KOV MEMBERS:
7. Lighthouse Community Consultation 2005: Tell us what you think. Help to shape new community projects and how programmes are delivered: Victor Jibuike
8. St Agnes Place Community Plans: Annette Spence, community development worker.
9. Jonathan Street Shops: Problems and Needs: Kennington Association and Jonathan Street Traders: Mr Jim Patel from Kunal Confectioners, 30 Vauxhall Street.
10. NEWS & UPDATES: (Including ongoing items & planning: Ian Adams, see below*)
10.1 Parks & Green Spaces: Friends of Kennington Park: chair, Mark Rogers, and Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space: chair, Diana Braithwaite.
10.2 Riverside Community Development Trust: News of joint working and projects in KOV & North Lambeth Riverside area: Vice Chair, Philip Moore.
10.3 Lambeth Riverside Festival 2005: the plans so far. Bring your ideas: Danielle Arnaud.
10.4 Arts for Kennington Cross lavatories: Friends of Kennington Cross: Celia Stothard.
10.5 KOV Chair's report: including: Winter Warmer Party and the character of KOV, all Lambeth Fora Chairs meetings, Review of Area Committees, Lambeth Community Strategy: Celia Stothard.
10.6 Area Committee items: Upcoming items for Area committee meeting on 16/02 plus. Your views and items sought: Rita Fitzgerald, KOV vice-chair.
11. NEWS FROM LAMBETH OFFICERS & COUNCILLORS:
11.1 Town Centre Manager's Report: including: Progress on Town Centre team's Service Plan and Review of Community Development Work.
11.2 Good News From Lambeth: The new Comprehensive Performance Assessment.
12. Any Other Business.
13. Date of Next Meeting: KOV AGM: Wednesday May 25 2005
14. Close of official Business: Refreshments, informal discussions, information exchange.
* Discuss ongoing items with KOV Forum & Board members: Planning, Business, Shops, Trees, roads, parking, transport, crime & community safety, housing, environment, schools.
Areas for information on your group, business, idea or initiative: bring materials, promote/network.
Info/contact: North Lambeth Town Centre Office, 20 Newburn Street, London SE11 5LR
Temporary information officer: Azom Mortuza: amortuza@lambeth.gov.uk 020 7926 8295

-- Frances (fforrest@lambeth.gov.uk), January 20, 2005.

The Durning Library: Reading Group: "The Master" by Colm Toibin

The Durning Library
The Book Reading Group
Wednesday 26th February at 7 pm
"The Master"
by Colm Toibin
The Reading Group meets at the Durning Library on Wednesday 26th February at 7 pm. The book this month is "The Master" by Colm Toibin.
http://www.colmtoibin.com/books/fiction/themaster/
New members welcome.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 20, 2005.

Courting couple parted after 76 years

Times
January 19, 2005
Courting couple parted after 76 years
By Alan Hamilton
A bicycle ride that began in 1929 has come to an end in London’s Transport Museum
WILLIAM WAGSTAFF and his trusty companion Evans were inseparable for 76 years. They went courting together, endured the Blitz and took memorable holidays in Cornwall and the Isle of Man.
Now they are parted, Mr Wagstaff at the age of 95 to a retirement home in East Sussex and a still-healthy Evans to London’s Transport Museum, to represent an earlier, gentler and more environmentally friendly age of travel.
On May 14, 1929, the 20-year-old apprentice telephone engineer walked into F. W. Evans’s cycle works in Kennington, South London, and exchanged his Ł13 life savings for a shiny black racer.
The faithful Evans ensured that Mr Wagstaff was never late for a date with his wife-to-be Gladys when the couple were courting in the 1930s.
More than seven decades, 50,000 miles, three saddles and numerous sets of tyres later, Evans was still going strong and in regular use.
Only when Mr Wagstaff, on a trip to the shops, had a brush with a motorist who knocked him and injured his confidence did he decide to donate his one-owner-from-new bike to the museum, where it will form part of a permanent display.
Jan Hibbard, 65, Mr Wagstaff’s daughter, said yesterday that her father had ridden Evans almost every day of his life until he was 93. “It has all the original parts, right down to the stainless steel wheel rims, which cost extra when it was new, and the oil-powered lamp, which is still covered with blackout paper from the war, when Dad used to ride 12 miles home to Croydon from his job at Bermondsey telephone exchange.”
The only non-original parts are the handlebars; as he grew older Mr Wagstaff exchanged the dropped racers for a more comfortable upright set.
Robert Excell, a curator at the museum in Covent Garden, said that the cycle still worked remarkably smoothly, despite some 76 years’ continuous use.
“Mr Wagstaff had soaked everything in oil to preserve it and even gave us the original saddlebag and toolkit, which he got with the Evans when it was new. It is made of a heavier metal than modern bicycles and that is partly why it has lasted so long,” he said.
The Evans company still exists, but no longer manu- factures frames and con- centrates, instead, on its chain of 17 specialist cycle shops.
Mark Smith, a director whose grandfather bought the company from the original Mr Evans, said: “It’s no longer efficient to manufacture frames here; I’m afraid the industry is now dominated by Taiwan. Evans used to have a good reputation for touring bikes, but that’s a dying side of the market. What people want now is mountain bikes.”
We shall have to wait until 2080 to discover whether today’s Taiwanese mountain steed has the life expectancy of an original Evans.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 20, 2005.

RIDE OF BRITAIN

Mirror
RIDE OF BRITAIN
Jan 19 2005
William rode bike for 75 years
By Tom Parry
WILLIAM Wagstaff has finally given up his bicycle - after riding it almost every day for 75 YEARS.
Mr Wagstaff, 95, spent his Ł14 life savings on the bike on May 14, 1929.
He named it Evans after the F.W. Evans cycle works in Kennington, South East London, where it was made, and went on to wear out three saddles and about 15 sets of tyres.
He biked from his home in Croydon, Surrey, to work in Bermondsey, South London, in the Blitz.
Cornwall and the Isle of Man were among other destinations as he totted up 50,000 miles in a lifetime's pedalling His daughter, Jan Hibbard, 65, said: "Even into his 90s he used it two or three times a week. But a car knocked him off and upset his confidence."
The bike has its original saddlebag and tool-kit and an oil lamp masked with blackout paper from the war.
Mr Wagstaff has given the bike to the Transport Museum in London.
Curator Robert Excell said: "It's remarkably well preserved, partly because they made them out of stronger steel in those days and partly because Mr Wagstaff soaked everything in oil to preserve it. It's a real gem."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 19, 2005.

76-year-old bike rides into history

The Scotsman
Wed 19 Jan 2005
76-year-old bike rides into history
KAREN MCVEIGH
IN A consumer-driven world where the latest technology faces obsolescence by the time it has left the production line, William Wagstaff’s bicycle serves as a reminder of an era when things were built to last.
He bought his hand-built black racer from the FW Evans cycle works in Kennington, south-east London, as a 20-year-old apprentice 76 years ago and has ridden it ever since.
The shop - which later spawned the Evans cycle store group - is no longer there, but Mr Wagstaff’s bike is still in full working order.
Until recently, Mr Wagstaff continued to ride his bicycle on a regular basis but at the age of 95, he has decided to hand in his bike clips for good and has found a new home for the bike he affectionately calls "Evans".
It is now an exhibit in London’s Transport Museum.
Mr Wagstaff, a retired telephone engineer, bought the bike for 12 guineas - or Ł12.60 - on 14 May, 1929, when he worked as an apprentice. It would have cost him a month or two’s wages. But it was money well spent.
Today, a similar bike from Evans - depending on components - could cost between Ł500 and Ł1,000.
In 76 years, Mr Wagstaff has covered an estimated 50,000 miles on Evans. A member of the Cyclists’ Touring Club, he has ridden his trusty bike as far afield as Cornwall and the Isle of Man.
It saw him through his courting days with wife-to-be Gladys in the 1930s and it transported him through the Blitz, when he would ride it to work.
But after a nasty brush with a motorist Mr Wagstaff, who now lives in a care home in Littlehampton, east Sussex, decided to donate the "one owner from new" machine to the museum.
His daughter, Jan Hibbard, 65, said yesterday: "He rode the bike almost every day of his life until he was 93, but he was knocked off during a shopping trip and it upset his confidence, so he decided to offer it to the museum.
"It has all the original parts, right down to the stainless steel wheel rims, which cost extra when it was new, and the oil-powered lamp, which is still covered with black-out paper from the war, when dad used to ride12 miles home to Croydon from his job at Bermondsey telephone exchange."
Robert Excell, a curator at London’s Transport Museum, said: "It is remarkable how smoothly it works considering the bike was in regular use for around 75 years.
"It is made of a much heavier gauge of metal than modern bicycles and that is partly why it has lasted so long."
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=65612005

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 19, 2005.

On This Day - January 18

"PA" News
Tue 18 Jan 2005
2:48am (UK)
On This Day - January 18
1778 Captain Cook discovered Hawaii.
1788 A penal settlement was established in Botany Bay, Australia.
1879 The first England-Wales football international was played at Kennington Oval in London, England winning 2-1.
1882 AA Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh, was born in St John’s Wood, London.
1911 US pilot Eugene Ely, in a Curtiss aircraft, made the first landing on the deck of a ship – the cruiser Pennsylvania moored in San Francisco Bay.
1912 British explorer Captain Scott reached the South Pole – only to find the Norwegian Amundsen had arrived 35 days earlier.
1933 The “bodyline bowling” row flared up in an Australian v England Test match in Adelaide.
1944 The 900-day siege of Leningrad ended.
1977 In the worst rail disaster in Australian history, 82 people died when a Sydney-bound train was derailed.
1989 Knuckledusters, hand claws and other offensive weapons were officially banned by the Home Office.
1992 Faced with a new outbreak of terrorism, the Government decided to send more troops to Northern Ireland.
ON THIS DAY LAST YEAR: Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay purchased Hollinger International for Ł260m to acquire Telegraph newspapers.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2005.

Harry's despicable Nazi stunt is an insult to us all

Sun
Harry's despicable Nazi stunt is an insult to us all
THE SUN has been bombarded with letters from all round the world about our picture showing Prince Harry sporting a German army uniform with swastika to a party.
Many came from readers who lost family members in Nazi atrocities and almost everyone was deeply offended by the 20-year-old royal’s thoughtless, insulting behaviour.
IF Prince Harry could not work out that dressing as a Nazi would upset everyone, then perhaps his level of intelligence is not as high as his er, dubious exam results suggest.
PAUL WHELAN
Kennington, SE London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 17, 2005.

Out and about

Observer : Gay London
Out and about
London is the gay capital of Europe, and a new Time Out gay and lesbian guide to the city tells you all the places it's in to be out. We pick some of the highlights
Sunday January 16, 2005
Even without a guidebook at their disposal, most gay visitors to London would soon find their way to the nearest gay bar. Call it gaydar if you must, but would those same visitors be as quick to locate the best venues for experimental gay theatre, or the nearest place for a night of camp comedy? Would they stumble across the gay-friendliest hotels and restaurants, and would they really make the most of all that gay London has to offer - or simply go on a gay pub crawl?
Over the past decade, the scene in London has grown at such a rate that it has become the gay capital of Europe, if not the world. For more than 20 years Time Out magazine has been providing London's gay and lesbian community with a weekly guide to what's on, and now it has decided to launch a dedicated guide.
The Time Out Gay & Lesbian London guide isn't simply a guide to those parts of London which proudly (and loudly) proclaim themselves as gay. Rather it's a guide to the entire city, viewed from a gay perspective. Here's a taster.
Where to stay
Rates are for a double room
For hanky panky
The Philbeach
http://www.philbeachhotel.freeserve.co.uk/
30-31 Philbeach Gardens SW5 (020 7373 1244)
From Ł63.
Long before Soho became So-Homo, Earl's Court was the gay capital of London. And if the walls could talk at the Philbeach, London's most in-your-face gay hotel, they'd have some saucy tales to tell. It's typically English B&B material, if a bit grubby. But people don't come here for the chintz. For the Philbeach has gained a reputation as a cruisy hotel: if you don't enjoy being propositioned in the bathroom, request a room with en suite facilities.
For Soho action
Clone Zone
http://www.clonezone.co.uk/
64 Old Compton Street W1 (020 7287 3530)
From Ł95
You've bought the clothes, the porn and the sex toys: now put them to good use by renting a crash pad right above the famous Soho shop. For a scene queen holiday, you don't get closer to the action than this: a couple of rooms even have a view of Old Compton Street. Bedrooms have faux-wooden floors and contemporary decor, plus cable TV, hi-fi, fridges, and wireless internet access.
For swimming with an MP
Dolphin Square Hotel
http://www.dolphinsquarehotel.co.uk/
Dolphin Square, Chichester Street SW1 (020 7798 8890)
From Ł260.
Dolphin Square is a London legend. This massive 1930s mansion block survived bombing during the war. Its posh flats are home to politicians, barristers and civil servants. And one wing of the building is devoted to an attractive hotel. Allium, the smart restaurant run by former Savoy chef Anton Edelmann, is complemented by a glam period cocktail bar; both overlook the indoor swimming pool.
For flashy fashionistas
The Baglioni
http://www.baglionihotellondon.com/
60 Hyde Park Gate SW7 (020 7368 5700)
From Ł300.
Attention, fashionistas. The Baglioni, part of an exclusive Italian group, has made a flamboyant foray into London. In a bold move, it has nixed the tired minimalist aesthetic and upped the glam. The fantastic lobby bar is part baroque, part Donatella Versace: spidery black chandeliers, burnished gold ceilings and gigantic vases filled with roses. The chic bedrooms are more masculine: dark wood floors, black lacquered tables and taupe walls. Ostentatious, yes. And about time too: when you're spending this kind of money, you want a good show.
For kitsch sake
Pavilion
http://www.pavilionhoteluk.com/
34-36 Sussex Gardens W2 (020 7262 0905)
From Ł85
In a row of dowdy hotels, the Pavilion is a shining star. Or more like a disco ball. When it comes to decor, this hilariously kitsch B&B has tongue firmly planted in cheek. The themed rooms are a riot: Casablanca Nights is a Moorish fantasy complete with Moroccan lanterns; the Highland Fling is a tartan theme park, with plaid bedspreads and stag antlers. Rock stars love the place: a favourite shag pad is Honky Tonk Afro, with its mirror ball, fuzzy dice and heart-shaped mirrored headboards.
Where to eat
For people watching
Yauatcha
15 Broadwick Street W1 (020 7494 8888)
Mains Ł3.50-Ł12
Costing Ł4.2 million, deeply chic Yauatcha is the latest venture from restaurateur Alan Yau. Taking up residence in the basement of Richard Rogers's new Ingeni building, it serves exquisite food. Oh, and there's a kick-ass tearoom on the ground floor.
For brunch
Christopher's
http://www.christophersgrill.com/
18 Wellington Street WC2 (020 7240 4222)
Mains Ł12-Ł28
This remains one of London's best restaurants for modern American cuisine, with a seasonally changing menu of delights. The decor of the first-floor restaurant is cool and contemporary, with cream and chocolate tones, and the ground-floor bar is excellent for cocktails.
For a sense of occasion
Zuma
http://www.zumarestaurant.com/
5 Raphael Street SW7 (020 7584 1010)
Mains Ł3.50-Ł28.50
Has Zuma taken over from Nobu as the capital's most glamorous dining spot? Possibly, if the wait (several weeks for dinner when we tried) for a reservation is anything to go by. Not to mention the strict two-hour sittings. Still, the food remains compellingly good, helped by service that is well informed and friendly.
Branch: Roka, 37 Charlotte Street W1 (020 7580 6464).
For old times' sake
First Out
http://www.firstoutcafebar.com/
52 St Giles High Street WC2 (020 7240 8042)
Mains Ł4.95-Ł5.95
London's first lesbian and gay cafe-bar is still going strong. A favoured West End meeting place for yonks: it used to be the only place to get a copy of the Pink Paper in daylight hours without having to get a dodgy massage as well. With soup and bread at Ł3.50, a lot of locals treat the place like a canteen. Despite the best efforts of the management to give First Out a frequent facelift, it's a bit like M&S knickers: not the trendiest, but affordable, comfortable and you know what you're going to get.
All night long
Balans
http://www.balans.co.uk/
60 Old Compton Street W1 (020 7439 2183)
Mains Ł9-Ł14
This stalwart is the only 24-hour gay venue in London that isn't a sauna. Food and service aren't always up to scratch, but it's a popular haunt and mostly delivers. The key to Balans's success is the diversity of the menu: it covers everything from steak and chips to generous salads, grilled fish to green curry.
Branches: 239 Old Brompton Road SW5 (7244 8838); 187 Kensington High Street W8 (7376 0115); Balans Cafe (24 hrs), 34 Old Compton Street W1 (7439 3309).
Where to party
In the thick of things
Compton's of Soho
http://www.comptons-of-soho.co.uk/
51-53 Old Compton Street, W1 (020 7479 7961)
A Soho institution, Compton's is popular with crowds of beer-drinking, blokey gay men in bomber jackets. The cruisey atmosphere extends to both floors. Shaved heads optional.
For warm evenings
The Yard
http://www.yardbar.co.uk/
57 Rupert Street W1 (020 7437 2652)
A gay men's bar with a courtyard, loft bar and food. It's very popular during the summer, when the courtyard comes into its own. The Yard attracts a slightly smarter, after-work crowd.
For members only
Shaun & Joe
http://www.shaunandjoe.com/
5 Goslett Yard WC2 (020 7734 9858)
Admission Ł10 to non-members after 10pm Fri, Sat (membership by invitation only)
A new members' bar and club from Shaun Given (ex-general manager of Shadow Lounge) and restaurateur Joseph McColgan. Similar in feel to the Shadow Lounge, Shaun & Joe has fabulous decor, great service, delicious cocktails and a superb food menu. Membership brings privileges, including free entry and the chance to jump the queue.
For glitz and glamour
Too 2 Much
http://www.too2much.com/
11-12 Walker's Court, off Brewer Street W1 (020 7437 4400)
Performances 7pm. Admission Ł7
A glitzy new lounge bar and club. The owners have spent millions refurbishing the old Revue Bar, a famous strip joint, and it shows. The entrance resembles the lobby to a grand hotel; old features like the banquettes and chandeliers have been lovingly restored.
For offbeat fun
Duckie
http://www.duckie.co.uk/
Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 373 Kennington Lane SE11 (020 7737 4043)
Admission Ł5
This legendary, offbeat club features 'post-gay vaudeville and post-punk pogoing'. Amy Lamé hosts; DJs the London Readers' Wifes play the best retro set in town.
Where to chill out
For doing as the Romans did
Chariots Shoreditch
http://www.gaysauna.co.uk/
1 Fairchild Street EC2 (020 7247 5333)
Admission Ł13; Ł11 concessions
London's biggest and busiest sauna is decked out like a Roman bath - and there's plenty of Roman-style debauchery. Search for your own gladiator in the swimming pool, two steam rooms, two saunas and Jacuzzi - and then tame him in a private cabin.
Branches: 292 Streatham High Road SW16 (8696 0929); 57 Cowcross Street EC1 (7251 5553); 574 Commercial Road E14 (7791 2808); 101 Lower Marsh SE1 (7401 8484).
For letting off steam
Sauna Bar
http://www.saunabar.com/
29 Endell Street WC2 (020 7836 2236)
Admission Ł13; Ł10 concessions
A comfortable bar, steam room, splash pool, showers and private rooms have all been crammed into this small, men-only sauna. There's also a 35-man Jacuzzi - the largest in the UK.
For working up a sweat
Oasis Sports Centre
http://www.camden.gov.uk/sport
32 Endell Street WC2 (020 7831 1804)
Non-members (gym) Ł5.90 each use. Induction fee Ł9.30. Admission pool only Ł3.20; Ł1.25 concessions
The Oasis, a gay mecca, is renowned for its palm-fringed sun terrace and outdoor heated swimming pool - a haven for sun-seekers and sturdy winter dippers alike. If you're less ballsy, try the adjacent indoor pool, which has swimming and aqua fitness classes.
For swimming in style
Tooting Bec Lido
Tooting Bec Common SW16 (020 8871 7198)
Closed September-April
On a sunny day, this south London lido evokes Miami Beach circa 1950, with its colourful Art Deco touches, sunbeds, palm trees and gaudy blue waters. It attracts a considerable gay constituency, though be warned: screaming kiddies are also out in full force.
For serious cruising
Hampstead Heath Ponds
http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/openspaces
NW5 (020 7485 4491)
Open May-September daily, 7am-7pm. Free
Surrounded by lush woodland, the secluded lakes are magical enclaves, the stuff of midsummer nights' dreams. The men's bathing pond is not exclusively gay but is very homoerotic: after all this is Hampstead Heath, the world's number one cruising ground. A sheltered concrete sundeck allows nude sunbathing and the changing rooms are full of smouldering glances. The ladies' bathing pond has a similarly sapphic appeal.
What to buy
Not just a book shop, also a haven for women, the Silver Moon Women's Bookshop (Third floor, Foyles, 113-119 Charing Cross Road WC2; 020 7437 5660) has the largest selection of lesbian titles of any bookshop in the country. For music, Blackmarket (25 D'Arblay Street W1; 020 7437 0478) is the focal point of the UK dance vinyl scene, with house imports the speciality.
But where London really excels is in fashion. The new Alexander McQueen http://www.alexandermcqueen.com/ store (4-5 Old Bond Street W1; 020 7355 0088) is a cross between a spaceship and a gallery. Ozwald Boateng http://www.ozwaldboateng.com/ (9 Vigo Street W1; 020 7437 0620) dresses Anthony Hopkins, Ray Winstone, Lennox Lewis and more with prices from around Ł900 for ready-to-wear. Paul Smith http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/ stores (40-44 Floral Street WC2; 020 7379 7133) have unpredictable but entertaining window displays, and similarly enjoyable clothes inside.
Coco de Mer http://www.coco-de-mer.co.uk/ (23 Monmouth Street WC2; 020 7836 8882) is the place for glamorous lesbians, with its sumptuous crimson interior, objet d'art dildos and peep-show changing rooms that allow your partner to 'spy' on you. One decadent lingerie shop. Myla http://www.myla.com/ (77 Lonsdale Road W11; 020 7221 9222) is best-known for its saucy lace-and-freshwater-pearl G-string, thanks to an episode of Sex and the City. Finally, Rio Beach (1A Earlham Street WC2; 020 7497 5259) has two floors of beachwear and swimwear with a brightly coloured ethos to live up to its Brazilian name. Also famous for its clubbing gear.
What to do
For queens who love queens
Kensington Palace
http://www.hrp.org.uk/
W8 (020 7937 9561)
Admission (LP) Ł10.80; Ł7.20 5-15s; Ł8.20 concessions
Princess Diana's legions of gay fans are among the hordes of tourists who pay a pilgrimage to her former residence. And, like the People's Princess, Kensington is far more warm and intimate than other, more regal palaces. A series of Diana's dresses, including the blue silk number in which she danced with John Travolta at the White House, are permanently displayed.
For edgy art
Whitechapel Art Gallery
http://www.whitechapel.org/
80-82 Whitechapel High Street E1 (020 7522 7888)
Admission free; one paying exhibition a year
An unexpected cultural treat in this bustling commercial area, Whitechapel Art Gallery has been exposing Eastenders to contemporary art for more than a century. The line-up this year includes amateur films by Polish factory workers, photographs by Richard Prince and a 'story of modern art' show with work by Manet, Bacon, Warhol and Cindy Sherman.
For design gurus
Design Museum
http://www.designmuseum.org/
28 Shad Thames SE1 (020 7403 6933)
Admission Ł6; Ł4 concessions
Formerly a warehouse, this 1930s-style building is now an acclaimed shrine to design. It's hard to ignore the shop's glossy design books and chic household accessories, but remember you're here for the exhibitions. On the first floor the Blueprint Café (a smart Modern British restaurant) has a balcony overlooking the Thames and Tower Bridge; the ground-floor café is run by the estimable Konditor & Cook.
For romantic views
Primrose Hill
NW1/NW3/NW8
To the north of Camden, with its gracious terraces, Primrose Hill is as pretty as the actors, pop stars and writers who live there. The main shopping street, Regent's Park Road, is a pleasant mix of cafes, quality gastropubs and restaurants, and smart shops.
For the fetish crowd
London Dungeon
http://www.thedungeons.com/
28-34 Tooley Street SE1 (020 7403 7221)
Admission Ł13.95
Warm up for a fetish club with a visit to the London Dungeon. Tucked away under the Victorian arches of London Bridge, this disturbing world of torture, death and disease attracts hordes of ghoulish visitors. Expect dry-ice fog, gravestones and hideously rotting corpses.
· The Time Out Gay & Lesbian London Guide published by Time Out is out now.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 16, 2005.

CUP FINAL TREBLES

Sky Sports > Experts
Tuesday 11th January 2005
The Sky Sports football team - led by commentator Martin Tyler and his first-class back-up crew of researchers and statisticians - pride themselves on being the best in the business.
This is your chance to use some of our expertise! Every Monday Martin will be on hand to answer your statistical posers and put the record straight where required.
CUP FINAL TREBLES
Dear Martin, Apart from Stan Mortensen's hat-trick in the "Matthews Final" of 1953, has anyone else achieved the same feat? Best Wishes for the New Year.
Srinivas J Rao, Bangalore
MARTIN SAYS: A happy New Year to you too Srinivas. I can tell you that apart from Stan Mortensen in 1953, two other players have managed to score hat-tricks in FA Cup finals, but neither of them in living memory. The first man to bag a treble in the final was Billy Townley of Blackburn Rovers, in the 6-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday at Kennington Oval back in 1890. The second was Notts County's Jimmy Logan, who scored three of Notts County's goals in the 4-1 win over Bolton Wanderers at Goodison Park in 1894. Mortensen of course did it as Blackpool beat Bolton 4-3 at Wembley some 59 years on. It is quite amazing that in another half-century no-one has managed to repeat the feat, even though we have had many players scoring twice in the final, including the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ian Wright, Michael Owen, Bryan Robson, Ricky Villa, Stuart McCall and Ian Rush, who did score twice in the final on two occasions - both against Everton.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 12, 2005.

Foreign territory

Telegraph : Money: City diary
By Robert Watts (Filed: 09/01/2005)
Foreign territory
Oliver Letwin, the jolly Shadow Chancellor, is penning a speech for Tuesday on international aid. This is something of a first for the chummy old Etonian, who is stumbling onto territory normally dominated by Gordon Brown. "It has been noticed that Letwin is giving this speech when the Chancellor is out of the country," grumbles our man at the Treasury.
So, at which prestigious venue will this important lecture be delivered? Mansion House? The Institute of Directors? Err, no. Letwin will hold forth in the rather low-profile offices of the Centre for Social Justice, a think-tank specialising in poverty issues, in Kennington Road, South East London. We were intrigued as to why the Shadow Chancellor is dragging the press to such a modest venue until we discover that a certain O Letwin lives on the very same road.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 09, 2005.

Flats too many ...

South London Press
Flats too many ...
Jan 7 2005
By Zara Bishop
A PETITION has been signed by 200 people against plans to replace almost 90 homes which had to be demolished after a gas explosion.
Residents of the Ethelred Estate in Kennington say proposals to replace the Kerrin Point tower block would see too many new homes on the site.
Ricky Rennalls, who has lived on the Ethelred Estate for five years, said: "People don't want this development for a number of reasons. They want to cram too much into the space. There is already the redevelopment of the former Gala Bingo Hall site."
Residents of 88 flats had to be rehoused after a gas explosion at Kerrin Point in June 1997.
The block was demolished in 1999 and temporarily replaced with a children's play area and outdoor sports facilities. Lambeth council now wants the site at the end of Hotspur Street to be sold off and used for at least 88 affordable and private homes.
The executive is expected to authorise a consultation on the plans at its meeting on Monday, with final approval expected to be given as early as April.
There is already permission to build 62 flats on the neighbouring former bingo hall site, on the corner of Kennington Road and Black Prince Road.
Does Ricky have a point? Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 07, 2005.

FA Cup trophy's sale to set football memorabilia record

Independent | News > UK > This Britain
FA Cup trophy's sale to set football memorabilia record
By Louise Jury, Arts Correspondent
07 January 2005
The FA Cup is the oldest football tournament in the world and today attracts global television audiences of 600 million.
Such is the interest in the coveted trophy that the auction house Christie's yesterday predicted that the sale of the oldest surviving FA Cup was likely to set a new world record for football memorabilia when it is sold in London on 19 May, two days before the cup final.
It is not the original FA Cup, which was stolen in 1895 and never recovered, but the lost trophy's replacement which has been put up for sale by heirs of Lord Kinnaird, the sportsman and FA president. It is expected to fetch up to Ł300,000, dwarfing the previous world record of about Ł158,000 for Pele's shirt from the 1970 World Cup final.
David Convery, the head of sporting memorabilia at Christie's, said: "I've been doing the sporting job at Christie's for 17 years now and we've sold some fantastic items in the past - and will do in the future, but this is the most historical piece I've ever sold. Being a football fan myself, to hold this trophy aloft and think of everyone who has won it, is wonderful. In terms of provenance and history, nothing comes close to it."
The FA Cup, which reaches its third-round stage this weekend when the big clubs join the competition, was founded in 1872. The original trophy was stolen in 1895 from the shop window of William Shillcock, a football and boot manufacturer in Birmingham, which had been proudly displaying it after Aston Villa won the final against West Bromwich Albion.
Although a Ł10 reward was offered for the recovery of the trophy, it was never seen again. Instead, Aston Villa was fined Ł25, which covered the cost of a replacement as close in design to the old cup as possible.
From 1896 to 1910, the replacement was awarded to teams including Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester City. It was presented to Lord Kinnaird in 1911 to mark his 21st anniversary as president of the Football Association, which he had helped develop after a long playing career. He remains the only footballer to have played in nine FA Cup finals, between 1873 and 1883, playing in a number of positions, from goalkeeper to forward.
Such was his popularity, that before one final members of the crowd released the horses from his carriage and pulled him the last few hundred yards to the ground at the Kennington Oval in London themselves. He spent 33 years as president of the FA until his death 1923 at the age of 75 and the trophy has been in his family since.
Mr Convery said it was a good time for the heirs to sell, as the market for football memorabilia was very strong. Golf memorabilia used to attract the most interest but key Japanese buyers disappeared after the Japanese economic collapse of the late 1990s.
Mr Convery said footballing memorabilia had taken over as the most sought-after. "Football is on everybody's television screens around the world. We are finding lots of new buyers and new vendors," he said.
As to who would buy such a famous trophy, Mr Convery noted that all the clubs who once held it high in victory might be interested. But there was bound to be interest from private individuals for such an unusual and rare item.
The trophy will go on show in Newcastle, Sheffield and Manchester at the beginning of February before being displayed at Christie's in London until May's auction.
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 07, 2005.

Treasured trophy to go under the hammer

Times
January 07, 2005
Treasured trophy to go under the hammer
By Jack Malvern
SPORTS enthusiasts with deep pockets will be given the chance to buy the FA Cup for an estimated Ł300,000, it was announced yesterday. The trophy is expected to become the world’s most expensive piece of football memorabilia when it is sold by Christie’s in May.
It is the oldest surviving version of the Cup, manufactured after the original was stolen from a Birmingham shop window in November 1895, and the only one likely to come on the market. The third version, a new design created in 1910, is held at the FA’s headquarters in Soho Square. The fourth is held by last season’s winners, Manchester United.
The second incarnation, made from sterling silver, shows the results of the early finals, when teams such as Bury, Sheffield United and Everton were the most skilled in the country. It is the only FA Cup held in private hands. The first Challenge Cup, created after a meeting of the FA on July 20, 1871, is believed to have been melted down by thieves to make counterfeit coins.
The thief snatched the trophy from a shop owned by William Shillcock, a football and boot manufacturer, after Aston Villa’s Cup Final victory over West Bromwich Albion in 1895. Despite a Ł10 reward (Ł706 in today’s money) the Cup was never seen again and Aston Villa were fined Ł25 (Ł1,765) to pay for a replica.
The new Cup lasted until 1910, when it was given to Arthur Fitzgerald Kinnaird, a chairman of the FA for 33 years. The Cup is now being sold by the Kinnaird family, which has passed it down from generation to generation.
Kinnaird was an eminent figure who became the main architect of the modern professional game. He played in nine FA Cup Finals and once for Scotland. His most memorable performance on the field was for Old Etonians, who beat Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup Final of 1882, three years before players were allowed to become professional.
A striking figure in his red beard, quartered cap and long white trousers, Kinnaird won an ovation from the crowd when he performed a victory handstand in front of the pavilion. His popularity grew so much that, before one Cup Final, members of the crowd released the horses from his carriage and pulled Kinnaird the last few yards to the pitch at the Kennington Oval.
He was a Liberal in the House of Lords until 1886, when he crossed the floor to become a Unionist.
Under his stewardship, football became the national sport, with crowds rising from 2,000 to 100,000 spectators. “I believe all right-minded people have good reason to thank God for the great progress of this popular national game,” he said.
Kinnaird died on January 30, 1923, aged 75. The peerage died out after his grandson, Kenneth Charles Kinnaird, died in 1997, leaving no male heir.
Likely buyers of the trophy include Manchester United, who won it in 1909 with a 1-0 victory against Bristol City, Tottenham Hotspur, who won in 1901 with a 3-1 replay victory over Sheffield United, and Newcastle United, who became the last winners of the trophy when they beat Barnsley 2-0 in 1910.
Bury, who won the FA Cup for the only times in 1900 and 1903, said that they would love to buy the trophy but would not be able to afford it. “We are fighting to keep the club alive at the moment,” a spokesman said. “So no.” The FA said that it would not be bidding because it already had a replica.
David Convery, the head of sporting memorabilia at Christie’s, said that the buyer would probably be a British individual. “We are confident that it will stay in England,” he said. “There isn’t much value for English football memorabilia overseas.” All England World Cup medals have been bought by British private buyers. The Cup is expected to beat the record for football memorabilia held by a replica of the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy, which sold for Ł254,500 at Sotheby’s in 1997.
Other top-priced football memorabilia includes Pele’s shirt from the 1970 World Cup final, which sold for Ł158,000 in 2002. The world record for a football medal is Ł125,000, set by Gordon Banks’s 1966 World Cup-winner’s medal in 2001.
The trophy will go under the hammer as part of the Football Memorabilia sale on May 19.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 07, 2005.

Captain Bligh exhibition at the Museum of Garden History

Parabola
Captain Bligh exhibition at the Museum of Garden History
Dead Reckoning : Captain Bligh
Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1
1 February – 1 April 2005
Presented by Parabola and the Museum of Garden History
Private View Thursday 3 February 6 – 9 pm
A temporary exhibition mounted in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the birth of Captain William Bligh, who is buried in the Museum of Garden History’s grounds and was a local resident in North Lambeth, Dead Reckoning links visual art practice, historical research and museological display with critical, investigative writing and curatorial practice.
Continuing Parabola and the Museum of Garden History’s dedication to producing multi disciplinary displays, publications and contemporary art commissions, the exhibition aims to explore both the fact and fantasy surrounding Bligh’s life. Artist David Cotterrell will construct a ‘simulation’ of Bligh’s historic 5,800km open boat journey taken in the HMS Bounty’s lifeboat. Directly informed by the anecdotal and navigational notes taken from Bligh’s log, Cotterrell’s panoramic first-person view, not unlike a flight simulator, will chart the shifting horizon witnessed by Bligh and his companions on their travels. This work will form the visual focal point of the exhibition. Displayed on a recently developed prismatic screen material that enables the viewer to see projections in full daylight, the installation will allow visitors to experience an immersive space merging with the several separate elements of the entirety of the exhibition.
Local Historian Jon Newman will research and develop a core text relating Bligh’s unique story for this exhibition. This writing will be developed for display alongside relevant archival images taken from collections at the Museum, the Minet Library, the RHS Lindley Library, the National Maritime Museum, London and the Mitchell Library, New South Wales, Australia. As well, some unusual artefacts will complement the projection, images and text. These will include XVIIIc. nautical instruments from HQS Wellington and two very rare American comic books detailing the Mutiny on the Bounty, which will add to the debate between historical fact and myth making.
Two small publications will be produced to further enrich the exhibition. One will fully document the exhibition, including the entirety of Newman’s text, images of ephemera and artefacts and documentation of Cotterrell’s artwork. The second booklet will be a re-print of a text owned by the Museum, Beloved, Respected and Lamented, by JE Chandler.
An Education and Outreach programme targeting local residents, schools and senior citizens will help to invigorate interest in the exhibition for local people. Working with Blackfriars Settlement and a number of local primary and secondary schools including the London Nautical School, Parabola and the Museum of Garden History see this proposed display as a turning point the Museum’s Local Heritage programming. The first in a series of Local Heritage temporary exhibitions, this display will inaugurate the Museum’s permanent Local Heritage display.
For more information, please contact: info@parabolatrust.org or Danielle Arnaud on 020 7735 8292

Supported by Arts Council England
123 Kennington Road London SE11 6SF UK T/F: +44 (0)20 7735 8292 www.parabolatrust.org info@parabolatrust.org

-- Danielle (info@parabolatrust.org), January 06, 2005.

Christmas Chips

Lambeth
Christmas Chips
The seasonal celebrations are drawing to a close and the question of how to dispose of your Christmas tree looms. Lambeth has the answer. Four recycling sites offering free tree chipping will be open between January 6 and 12.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/029647.pdf
Released: January 5, 2005 8:32 AM
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 05, 2005.

Analyse this

Telegraph : Arts
Analyse this
(Filed: 04/01/2005)
She’s a 57-year-old spinster with teddy bears in her bedroom, her mother in the spare room, and a loathing for introspection. So why is Ann Widdecombe, politician-cum-novelist, about to try her hand as a television agony aunt? By Nigel Farndale
Be honest, if left alone with Ann Widdecombe’s fridge, could you resist a peek inside? You could?
What if you arrived early for a meeting with her and she asked you to wait in the kitchen and help yourself to coffee, adding, ‘the milk is in the fridge’? Exactly. With a clear conscience, then, I can reveal that Ann Noreen Widdecombe keeps a well-stocked fridge.
There is single cream and lettuce. There are tomatoes, eggs and cartons of New Covent Garden soup. So far so healthy; she must be sticking to ITV’s Celebrity Fit Club diet, the one that so publicly helped her lose three stone in 2002.
But what’s this? Eight chocolate-chip brioche rolls? A couple of bottles of champagne? A tub of tiramisu?
Ann Widdecombe, the 57-year-old MP, novelist and incurable attention-seeker, lives in a terraced house in Kennington, south-east London. It has a lilac painted front door.
Although her 93-year-old mother Rita has lived here since 1999 – perhaps the tiramisu is hers – it is very much a single woman’s house. The mirror in the bathroom is placed low over the sink (she is 5ft 11/2in and, as she says, ‘don’t forget the half’), there is a bowl of sanitary pads on top of the lavatory – for guests? – and there are cats wandering in and out.
On one wall of the sitting-room there is a samurai sword alongside a ceremonial naval sword (her father was a senior civil servant in the Admiralty and for a few years was stationed in Singapore, where Widdecombe lived between the ages of five and nine).
There is also a framed photograph of Widdy, as she calls herself on her website – ‘the Widdy Web’ – with the Pope (she converted to Rome in 1993, in protest over the Anglican church allowing the ordination of women).
As we sit down on pale green leather sofas, I notice the crucifix around her neck. It reminds me that for all her frivolous appearances on television – she has done Louis Theroux and Basil Brush, as well as Celebrity Fit Club, and in February will star in her own agony-aunt show for the BBC (entitled Oh No! It’s Ann Widdecombe) – she considers herself to be a high-minded moralist.
The political subjects associated with her tend to be either coloured by her Catholicism (anti-abortion, anti-gay rights), or her aversion to libertarianism and liberalism (she is pro the ban on fox hunting and pro the reintroduction of the death penalty). She also writes serious novels which sell well and meet with favourable reviews.
Her first, The Clematis Tree, was about a family struggling to cope with a handicapped child and her second, An Act of Treachery, was a love story set in occupied France. Her third, Father Figure, which is published later this month, has a topical theme: the rights of fathers over their children.
I ask her, then, whether she thinks her flirtations with lowbrow television undermine her seriousness as a politician and novelist.
‘I often hear politicians complain that they can’t get their message across because they are unrecognisable,’ she says in her fluty voice. ‘Well, I always score high in recognition polls. Always. And when people recognise me, what they say is not, “Oh, you used to be the Shadow Home Secretary”, but, “You’re that MP from Fit Club.”
'If you appear on programmes such as that, the next time you are on television talking about politics, viewers pause to listen for three sentences instead of three words. But there are limits; I turned down Ruby Wax.’
As she talks she constantly blinks her pond-black eyes. It makes her seem vulnerable, which must be an illusion because, as she tells me, she has ‘no hang-ups’, never suffers nerves, never cries, and has no interest in analysing herself. Yet she doesn’t seem to mind analysing others.
Her new television programme, after all, sees her attempting to solve family crises, love quandaries and workplace spats and is, in turn, a spin-off from a bizarre, no-nonsense agony-aunt column she wrote for the Guardian called ‘Buck Up’.
But, looking for fissures in her armour-plating, I wonder whether Widdecombe’s mad whoring after applause is simply a matter of her raising her political profile, as she claims. Could there have been a degree of masochism in her agreeing to humiliate herself on Celebrity Fit Club?
‘I did it because I wanted to lose weight,’ she says matter-of-factly. So why not do that in private? ‘Because I had a serious point to make which is that our obsession with physical perfection is out of all proportion.
'I argued with the experts on that show most of the time about their “councils of perfection”. We marginalise the disabled, the disfigured, the odd, simply because we’ve got this image which now is entirely physical. I mean, the spiritual side of life is just being kicked to one side.
'People are willing to undergo the most horrendous operations for the sake of increasing their bust size and I think, “Is there nothing more important in this world?”’
Perhaps there isn’t, I suggest, given that cosmetic change is ultimately intended to help us procreate.
‘It’s nothing to do with procreation at all! If you think of the women’s magazines, television, all the programmes about losing weight, having face-lifts, the multimillion-pound business that is the cosmetics industry, I mean, the whole thing’s gone mad!
'Do you think the war generation thought for one second how straight their teeth were? I mean, it’s crazy!’ In terms of her appearance, there is little you can say about Ann Widdecombe that she hasn’t already said about herself. Her descriptions have included the words ‘short’, ‘fat’, ‘ugly’, ‘spinster’ and ‘crooked teeth’.
Presumably this was partly a defence mechanism: saying it before anyone else can. Also she may have reasoned that if she made no effort with her appearance she could justify being single, not only to herself but to the world. Yet she took it further, seemingly revelling in the mockery she received about her looks.
When she heard that her nickname around Westminster was Doris Karloff, for instance, she took to answering the phone by saying ‘Karloff here’. Now the black, pudding-bowl haircut has gone, along with the extra pounds. Was it belated vanity?
‘Now, look. I always said if ever there was a health reason for my losing weight, I would probably do it, but that I wasn’t interested in it for cosmetic reasons. And if I had been remotely interested in it for cosmetic reasons, I wouldn’t have gone all my political career with your profession being rude and spiteful and nasty – and just not minding. I would not have done it.
'So you are wrong to say it was vanity. It was, very straight-forwardly, backache. As for the hair, I see no reason why someone shouldn’t go blonde if they want to try it out.
'I had been keeping in my natural dark – dyeing the rest to match it – and the white was taking over. I mean, your lot in the press gallery of the Commons were talking about the zebra crossings in my hair as they looked down.’
Did she find that hurtful?
‘Oh, no. I didn’t. But I do occasionally find it irritating.’
Widdecombe did a documentary with Louis Theroux before she lost weight and went blonde. She seemed prickly and defensive in that. She seemed much more friendly and jolly when she did Fit Club some time afterwards. Was this because beginning to lose weight improved her self-esteem?
‘No. I was very wary of Louis Theroux. I mean we had a bust-up on day one because he asked questions which I’d said I wouldn’t answer.’
The questions were about her virginity. She doesn’t believe in sex before marriage and once threatened to sue a journalist who expressed doubts that she really was a virgin. I try a more tactful approach. How many times has she been in love?
‘Sorry, been…?’
In love.
‘In love? Er… once. In Oxford.’
She refers to her fellow student Colin Maltby, now a married banker. Their relationship was chaste and fizzled out after three years. So he was the one love of her life?
‘Yep.’
And does she ever look back and regret not having married him?
‘No, I don’t. I don’t think it would have been right for either of us. He is now very happily married. Successful man. Great family. I think both of us have been happy, as it turned out, not marrying each other.
'Um, if you’re asking me in the broader sense, do I wish I’d married, the answer is no. It was never a conscious decision not to marry. A lot of people say, “Oh, you put politics first,” well, tosh, I didn’t.
'It was chance, because Mr Right didn’t turn up. It was also choice because he was never a big enough priority to go out looking for.’
Was it partly that she had a low sex drive?
‘I don’t know, I’ve never bothered. You know, I’m very ha… I take myself as I am. If I was sitting here depressed that I hadn’t married, I might be asking myself those questions, or if I was sitting here with a failed marriage behind me, I might be asking myself those questions…’
Her mother calls from upstairs.
‘Oh, hang on. Yup! I’m down here! Hello!’
She disappears and returns a few minutes later.
‘Right, where were we?’ I ask about her mother. ‘I love having her here and I very much hope that I outlive her, because I wouldn’t like her to have to cope with losing me.’
It’s a strange comment, but I think I know what she means. Does she ever think about what it will be like to go back to living on her own?
‘No, but I mean, my Mum’s only lived with me since ’99, after Dad died.’
When she lived on her own and got home at night, did she ever wish someone was there? A companion?
‘It is that moment when I’m always grateful to be solo. It’s when I come in, after a dreadful day in politics, shut the doors, and there are no demands at all. I mean, there might be a cat crying for food [Widdecombe owns two], but that’s it.’
So she prefers her own company?
'I think that the brute truth is that I’ve enjoyed being alone. I love my own company. I’m the best company I know. I mean, I can make myself laugh uproariously.’
Not everyone in Widdecombe’s party finds her as funny as she claims to find herself. When I asked one senior Tory what he thought of her he said she was a ‘freak show’, a ‘dinosaur’, and ‘the political equivalent of the Taliban’.
Part of the ill feeling must stem from the unhelpful ‘something of the night’ comment she made about Michael Howard in May 1997. It undermined the future leader badly. As she will be fighting a Tory seat in a few months’ time, does she now feel any regret or guilt about what she said?
‘None at all. None at all. None at all.’
So she still thinks it?
‘I don’t take back a single word I said in 1997, including the famous phrase, but, that was 1997, and we are now in 2005.’
If she doesn’t retract it, it means she still believes it.
‘I’m not going to re-rehearse it, either. I’ve moved on, he’s moved on, the world has moved on and I’m living in 2005.’
Ann Widdecombe is a stranger to self-doubt. She has the masculine traits of literal mindedness, remorselessness and a bluff refusal to concede weakness. When I ask her about these traits she says, ‘No, they are not masculine traits they are human traits.’
From where does her political certainty come? The Bible?
‘I think the answer to that is, yes, to some extent, obviously. But if you take the pro-life issue, most people think I’m pro-life because I’m a Catholic. Actually, I’m probably a Catholic because I was pro-life.’
She goes to confession?
‘Of course.’
And she has vices to confess?
‘I think everybody does. I think people have… quick tempers, um… people have resentments.’
What does she think happens to people who have sex before marriage?
‘What do you mean?’
Well, do they go to hell?
‘We don’t know who goes to hell. But it’s not to do with totting up every single thing you’ve done and when you cross a certain line you’re dispatched off to the infernal region. I mean, come on! I have lots of friends who have done things I disapprove of.
'But I am not their judge. They know I disapprove and the interesting thing is they remain my friends.’
Although she is reluctant to analyse herself, she does concede that her doggedness and ambition probably come from her father; while her brother, Malcolm, a vicar who is ten years older than her, is more like her mother – more gentle and placid.
‘But I don’t analyse things in all this great depth. I mean, I know it’s very fashionable to look into every last possible motivation, and to think therapy is the answer to everything, but as far as I am concerned there were things I wanted to do, and I’ve managed to do most of them.’
There is something slightly otherworldly about Ann Widdecombe. She didn’t own a television until her mother moved in five years ago. Her speech is peppered with oddly outdated words such as ‘golly’, ‘darn’ and ‘bunkum’. And I notice the teddy bears in the room. Are they hers?
‘No, they’re mother’s. That’s mother’s corner there. We’ve even got a camel that sings.’
She picks up a fluffy camel and it starts singing an Arabic song.
‘Friends bring them. Those two were gifts from friends. That one I got at some exhibition. They get eaten by the cats and discarded and others come.’
The camel continues its song.
‘Sorry, he does shut up in the end.’
She stares at it in her hand.
‘I do have a fair collection of bears.’
Given her suspicion of therapy and analysis, presumably she doesn’t see anything regressive about an adult collecting teddy bears?
‘I don’t consciously collect bears. People give me bears, you know, and I’ve got bears – I mean, I’ve got bear plates, I find that very endearing. Most people find it quite yucky, and I say, “Doesn’t matter, you don’t have to look at it.” '
'You know, the whole world may laugh at my bear plates, but if I like them I’ll have them because it’s nothing to do with anybody else, and it does nobody an iota of harm that I have bear plates up there. If I want them there, I’ll have ’em there.’
‘Father Figure’ (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Ł12.99) by Ann Widdecombe is published on 13 January and is available from Telegraph Books Direct (0870 155 7222). Please add Ł2.25 for p&p

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 05, 2005.

NO 10 'NOT MY NUMBER'

Sky News
NO 10 'NOT MY NUMBER'
The Prime Minister of 1976, James Callaghan, was reluctant to move into Downing Street, according to files released for the first time.
Instead, the Labour politician wanted to stay put in his grace and favour residence at No 1 Carlton Gardens which overlooks the Mall and is home to the Foreign Secretary.
Callaghan, who had served as Foreign Secretary, was concerned that the Downing Street flat would be too "uncomfortable" for his wife Audrey.
Mr Callaghan was so against the idea of moving in to Number 10 that he threatened to go back to his own London flat in Kennington Park Road - a rundown area of south London.
Officials were worried about his security - and him staying in Carlton Gardens was not possible because it was needed for the new Foreign Secretary.
According to the documents released to the National Archives under the Freedom of Information Act, his defiance startled officials.
Shortly after Mr Callaghan was elected as PM, Sir Michael Palliser, a senior Foreign Office official, wrote to his counterparts in the Prime Minister's office seeking to raise the delicate issue.
Mr Callaghan was eventually persuaded to move into Number 10 although the papers do not give any indication as to what made him change his mind.
Last Updated: 09:23 UK, Tuesday January 04, 2005

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 05, 2005.

PAPERS REVEAL CALLAGHAN 'NO' TO No. 10

Mirror
PAPERS REVEAL CALLAGHAN 'NO' TO No. 10
Jan 4 2005
By Jane Kerr
JIM Callaghan was happy to be Prime Minister in 1976 but very put out over moving into 10 Downing Street, it was revealed today.
Previously Foreign Secretary, he tried desperately to hang on to the Carlton Gardens residence - overlooking The Mall and St James's Park - which went with that job.
Mr Callaghan complained of the "discomforts" a switch to the No10 quarters would cause wife Audrey and even threatened to live in his own South London flat as PM.
Finally he backed down - for unexplained reasons - and did make the move, say files released today under the new Freedom of Information Act.
On its first working day, 50,000 government papers were made public. Previously they would have been subject to the 30-year rule.
Constitutional Affairs minister Baroness Ashton of Upholland said it was "living, breathing proof" of the difference the act would make.
Labour's Mr Callaghan, now 92, took over as Premier from Harold Wilson, who sensationally quit in March 1976.
Letters between civil servants show Callaghan was at first determined not to force Downing Street on his wife.
Ken Stowe, the principal private secretary at No10, told the Foreign Office: "Since he was adamant that he was not prepared to inflict upon his wife the discomforts of living in No10, then he would have to live somewhere else."
If driven to it, he would elect to stay in his present flat in Kennington Park Road. Mr Stowe added: "I felt bound to say this was not sensible - operationally and for security purposes, it was necessary for him to have a self-contained and serviceable residence.
"He then said that in that case, he would live at 1 Carlton Gardens."
The files also contain Wilson's resignation speech to Cabinet, in which he said he had no "hidden" reason. When re-elected in 1974, he had decided to stay only two years.
Mr Callaghan was PM until the arrival of Mrs Thatcher in 1979.
Among off-beat snippets in the records, Ministry of Defence papers on UFOs simply list endless sightings by the public, rather than secret evidence of life out there.
The BBC, it emerged, was refused permission to film the TV comedy Porridge in a real jail.
Any major disclosures will probably have to wait for historians and journalists to seek their release. Files released today can be seen at the National Archives in Kew.
OTHER SECRETS REVEALED BY NEW LAW
ARMY KEPT RACE QUOTA
THE Army made a secret record of all non-white recruits to limit their numbers in the military.
Those with "Asiatic or Negroid features" had their files marked with a code by medical officers to distinguish them from whites.
Files show the data was used for almost two decades from 1957 to limit ethnic minority troops, designated "D factor" personnel.
A briefing paper written in 1972 for the Adjutant General of the Army and marked "In confidence" said: "Officially, we state we do not keep statistics of coloured soldiers. In fact we do... to ensure our assimilation levels are adhered to."
The system was so secret not even ministers were told, and when questioned the Army lied.
When, in 1972, the Institute of Race Relations requested a breakdown of "coloured" soldiers it was told no record was kept as all troops were treated alike.
Mediterraneans, Africans and even the odd "swarthy Frenchman" had their files marked D Factor as late as 1975, and possibly later.
The Army justified its denials in a 1975 memo that said: "Since it stems from medical records, this information should not be disclosed outside the department."
The data shows there were less than one or two per cent of non-white soldiers per unit.
'LET HUNGER STRIKERS DIE'
BRITAIN planned to let IRA hunger strikers die in prison.
Whitehall had plans to let them fade away five years before 10 Republicans died in the H-Block protests which started in 1981.
In his 2001 autobiography, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams accused the then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of being "the architect of the hunger strike deaths". But in a 1976 report, Northern Ireland Prisons chief Lyn Davies told Whitehall that giving in to hunger strikers would elevate their status above other inmates.
Mindful of the special privileges IRA prisoners won in a 1972 hunger strike, he wrote: "We should be resolute in our intention not to weaken". He said it should be made known hunger strikers would be allowed to die.
MINE STRIKE BREAK CRISIS
PRESSURES on both miners and pit bosses during the bitter strike of 1984/85 are revealed in National Coal Board files.
One report is from colliery manager, G Longmate, at Markham Main pit in Yorkshire.
He details the problems of managing working miners who crossed the picket line.
In February 1985 Graham Smith - one of the first of four miners to return to work at the pit - complained he was not getting enough protection after his house was vandalised.
In his memo to the NCB board justifying his treatment of Smith, Longmate insisted he had done all he could, while revealing the tensions which the strike caused.
In the report Longmate stated: "As a manager I spent a major part of my life at this time nursing Smith and other workers and attending to their every need."
As more men returned to work Smith's round-the-clock police protection had to be withdrawn.
Longmate wrote: "I explained that there were now more men to look after."
The files did not give any insight into behind-the-scenes political dealings during the battle between Margaret Thatcher's Tory government and the unions.
'NO JAIL' RULE FOR PORRIDGE
THE Home Office refused permission for popular BBC sitcom Porridge to be filmed in a prison.
Senior officials did not want the comedy starring Ronnie Barker to show what jails were really like.
In letters written during its 1975 heyday, they claimed it already used sets that were true to life.
The refusal followed a request by Porridge's producer Sydney Lotterby to film three short outdoor scenes in prison grounds.
He assured the Home Office no real prisoners would be involved.
And one Home Office broadcasting officer recommended the request be granted.
But his superior replied: "In view of the generally effective stage sets used in the programme thus far, we do not understand the apparent need to use a real prison."
WHITEHALL LET CAT OUT OF BAG
PETER, the Home Office cat, was in hot water after an "unfortunate incident" involving the Queen.
In 1962, a Whitehall official noted "humiliation" had been averted only in the nick of time.
A quick-thinking civil servant had thrown "a soiled doormat out of a window a few seconds before the appearance of HM". He added: "The offender was Peter."
Peter's crime was kept secret, however, allowing him to retain his public image - and dignity.
He had become a firm favourite after appearing in a television documentary about Whitehall in 1958 - and even had his own fans.
One who wanted to buy him a new collar was told "since Peter is an established civil servant, he cannot be allowed to receive gifts".
But he was just one in a succession of cats employed from 1929 as "mousers" to keep the halls of Whitehall rodent-free.
Bizarrely, it now seems they were the subject of many memos.
The most controversial cat came after Peter's death.
Peta - all the previous cats had been male and called Peter - certainly had the breeding.
The pedigree Manx was a gift from the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle Man, Sir Ronald Garvey.
Officials even suggested that Peta "being of nobler birth should be classified as a member of a non-industrial grade". But the Treasury insisted "mouse catching is an industrial activity and the post should be graded accordingly".
And in February 1967 one official, GJ Otton, noted she had become "inordinately fat", "lazy" and "a source of embarrassment".
Staff in turn were complaining that she was fouling their offices, which reeked of cat urine.
"May I make a plea for the cat to be put down?" one official fumed in a memo.
But the main problem was that Peta was never allowed out because of "the history and publicity of her appointment".
Otton in March 21, 1967, wrote: "Loss, death or injury would release a flood of press copy."
Peta was retired to the country in 1976. Unusually, she left without causing a stink.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 05, 2005.

PREMIER VOTED AGAINST NO 10

Daily Record
PREMIER VOTED AGAINST NO 10
Jan 4 2005
CALLAGHAN
JAMES Callaghan fought against moving into Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister in 1976.
He complained taking up residence at No 10 would cause 'discomfort' to his wife Audrey.
Files released today reveal he tried to stay at No 1 Carlton Gardens, his official London home as Foreign Secretary.
He was so set against living in Downing Street he threatened to use his own London flat instead.
His stand alarmed civil servants.
Sir Michael Palliser, a senior Foreign Office official, wrote to his counterparts in the PM's office over the issue.
He said he had to intervene for the sake of future foreign secretaries. He wrote: 'Since Ernest Bevin moved into No 1 Carlton Gardens in 1945, the house has been occupied by successive foreign secretaries, apart from the period during which it was under restoration.'
Ken Stowe, principal private secretary at No 10, was sympathetic.
He replied, saying he had tackled Callaghan about the issue.
But it seemed Callaghan was unmoved.
Stowe wrote: 'Since he was adamant that he was not prepared to inflict upon his wife the discomforts of living in No 10, then he would have to live somewhere else and, if driven to it, would elect to stay in his present flat in Kennington Park Road.
'I felt bound to say this was not sensible, operationally and for security purposes.'
How Callaghan was persuaded to move to No 10 is not recorded in the file.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 04, 2005.

Why Jim arrived so reluctantly - and Harold went so fast

Why Jim arrived so reluctantly - and Harold went so fast
Papers show Callaghan hated No 10, while Wilson feared conspiracy theories as he quit
Alan Travis, home affairs editor
Tuesday January 4, 2005
Guardian
Jim Callaghan refused to move into Downing Street when he became prime minister in April 1976, saying the flat at No 10 was so uncomfortable that he was not prepared to inflict it on his wife Audrey, according to files released under the Freedom of Information Act.
The Cabinet Office papers released today at the national archives in Kew also reveal for the first time the eight-page resignation statement that Harold Wilson made to the cabinet in which he tried hard to dispel speculation about the timing of his decision to step down.
Callaghan's reluctance to move into Downing Street is revealed in a "personal and confidential" note from Ken Stowe, the PM's principal private secretary, to his opposite number at the Foreign Office.
Stowe warned his colleague that Callaghan wanted to move into 1 Carlton Gardens, the well-appointed traditional "grace and favour" home of the foreign secretary.
He said he had raised the difficulties involved with the new prime minister: the problem of having two official residences at public expense; the fact that he would have to deprive his choice of foreign secretary of an official residence; and the fact that Carlton Gardens was a base for official entertainment.
"Since he was adamant that he was not prepared to inflict upon his wife the discomforts of living in No 10 then he would have to live somewhere else and, if driven to it, would elect to stay in his present flat in Kennington Park Road," Stowe reported.
"I felt bound to say that this was not sensible - operationally and for security purposes it was necessary for him to have a self-contained and serviceable residence as prime minister. He then said in that case he would live in No 1, Carlton Gardens."
Callaghan, who had been foreign secretary before getting the top job, said his successor could have the official flat in Admiralty House. Stowe said Callaghan was prepared to undertake to use Carlton Gardens only as a personal residence for himself and Mrs Callaghan, so it could be used for official purposes by the Foreign Office.
But the idea was enough to make the permanent secretary at the Foreign Office, Sir Michael Palliser, fume.
He told Downing Street that it was not on, pointing out that since Ernest Bevin had moved into Carlton Gardens in 1945 it had become established as the official residence of the foreign secretary.
The FO needed it for entertaining visitors such as Henry Kissinger, who had visited recently. The alternative of Lancaster House was "far from ideal".
The combined weight of opposition among the mandarins seems to have proved enough to crush a prime minister, as the file contains no further correspondence. Callaghan soon moved into the Downing Street flat.
His elevation to No 10 had been triggered by the sudden resignation of Harold Wilson, another event covered in the newly released documents. Wilson's decision came immediately after the Watergate revelations in the US and a banking crash in London, which triggered some speculation that his sudden departure was in some way forced.
So on the morning of March 16 1976, Wilson went out of his way to explain the timing of his decision to his cabinet colleagues. Barbara Castle is said to have sobbed when he broke the news.
Wilson told the cabinet that he had set out in a confidential statement in July 1974 that his preferred departure date as "party conference 1975". The summer's pay and inflation problems meant that he had revised his departure date to late December.
He said he had told the Queen on December 9 that he would go in mid or late March, and the audience he had with her had been arranged "some weeks ago". His timing, he stressed, "was not related to any recent events".
Turbulent years
Wilson's statement, released today for the first time, certainly gives no hint that the security services had anything to do with his decision, as some have speculated. It shows that he gave his colleagues four reasons for his decision to quit.
The first was that he had been "leader of this party for over 13 exciting and turbulent years - nearly eight of them in government. My period as prime minister has been longer than that of any of my peacetime predecessors in this country," he said.
He added that he had led four administrations and been on "one or other front bench" in the Commons for more than 30 years.
His second reason certainly fuelled Denis Healey's belief that the timing was designed to help Callaghan. "I have a clear duty to the country and to the party not to remain here so long that others are denied the chance to seek election to this post," Wilson said, adding that the cabinet contained the "most talented team this century" since Campbell-Bannerman's 1906 Liberal government.
Wilson denied that he was stepping down because of his age (he had just turned 60) and noted that Attlee, Churchill, Macmillan and Douglas-Home had all been a similar age when they became prime minister. Callaghan was 63 at the time.
His other two reasons were less significant: he felt his counter-inflation policy was safe, whoever succeeded him, and he felt there was a danger that decisions seemed to be coming round a second time.
"I want to make it quite clear... that these reasons represent the total explanation of my decision," he said, trying to dispel speculation that he was getting out before some hidden crisis emerged. "There are no impending problems or difficulties - economic or political - known to the cabinet, which are not known to the country and which are not already the subject of the political discussion of our times."
Historians will regard his claim that all his four administrations had been "happy cabinets" with amusement in the light of the infighting documented in the Crossman, Castle, and Benn diaries.
Wilson advised his successor, who he knew would somewhere in front of him around the cabinet table, that being PM was a full-time calling, and the "easy, spacious, socially-orientated days of some of my predecessors" were gone.
He said he had had to work seven days a week, for at least 12 hours a day, but the variety and interest - at least 500 different documents to read in a weekend - meant that one never got bored, and so never got tired.
But he warned that prime ministers had to watch out "for that cloud no bigger than a man's hand which may threaten not tomorrow's crisis, but perhaps next month's or next year's".
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 04, 2005.

Kay Coombs OBE

Times
New Year Honours Dec 31, 2004
OBE
Miss Kay Coombs, Formerly HM Ambassador, Tegucigalpa.
For a full list, go to:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,5023,00.html
If you would like to hear more about Kay's "Diplomatic Duties", do come along to the Friends of the Durning Library evening event on
Monday 17th January
at 7pm for 7.30pm
at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Nibbles and drinks - suggested donation Ł2
Come early - space is limited!
Kay's last talk on her time as HM Ambassador in Mongola was a huge success, and she now turns to her 36 years' experience of diplomatic life in general - delights, disasters and unusual events!

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 02, 2005.

Rise & shine

Independent > News > UK > This Britain
Rise & shine
Who will be the rising stars of 2005? The Independent's experts in art, literature, fashion, politics, film, architecture, music, gardening, design, photography, food and sport offer their predictions
Compiled by Caroline Kamp
01 January 2005
Art by Michael Glover
Varda Caivano, 33, was snapped up by the Victoria Miro Gallery in London even before she graduated from the Royal College of Art in the summer of 2004. Her first solo show at the gallery is scheduled for May, which will represent a quite astonishing career trajectory: less than 12 months from graduate student to a solo show in the gallery which currently represents artists such as Chris Ofili, Peter Doig and Grayson Perry. Graham Crowley, her former professor at the Royal College of Art, has no doubt that she deserves it. "She's one hundred metres ahead of the rest," he said this week, "in her sense of art history, her intensity of commitment and her sheer intelligence."
Caivano, who is part Danish and part Italian on her father's side, and Argentinian on her mother's, grew up in Argentina, and now has a studio in Islington, where she makes densely worked abstract paintings of a fairly modest size in a decidedly post-Romantic tradition. Delicate, sensitive and intuitive, they seem like movements towards depictions of objects and landscapes which stop just short of their goal. "Painting for me is a way of questioning images," she comments, "where visible objects with a secret depth appear to reveal a kind of irrational truth."
Others to watch
Daniel Sinsel, 28. His wonderfully meticulous paintings of impossible objects in strange juxtaposition with each other look, in their crispness and sureness of touch, as if they might have been painted in the 18th century. But it is an 18th-century sensibility which has arrived here via an immersion in Surrealism. Sinsel will have his first solo show at Sadie Coles HQ next year. Barnaby Hosking, 26. As painting revives, so more recent innovations - video art for example - begin to look tired and repetitive. An exception to this is the work by Norwich-born video artist Barnaby Hosking. Hosking's videos fascinate and engage because he projects them on to velvet, and he makes videos in conjunction with objects - a painting for example - asking us to consider how one relates to the other. Simon Keenleyside, 29. A regular in group shows, Keenleyside makes fantastical landscape paintings based on remembered scenes from his upbringing in Essex. He paints woodlands; the painted surfaces are rich brash, excitable, bizarre. He is a young master of invented landscape.
Comedy by Julian Hall
Andrew Maxwell, 30.
However dubious the honour of winning Channel 4's Kings of Comedy may seem, there is no doubt that likeable Irish comedian Andrew Maxwell will continue to pick up acclaim from all quarters. The youthful Maxwell has already been performing for 12 years. This experience speaks for itself in his ability to mimic voices and movements, and also in his measured storytelling technique with which he tackles issues such as political ideology and even paedophilia fairly and intelligently. This style was shown off to great effect in his show, This Is My Hour, which won near universal acclaim in Edinburgh this year. Maxwell, a survivor from Channel 4's ill-fated RISE, is no stranger to television. Apart from a number of domestic credits he has appeared on Late Show with David Letterman in the US, a testimony to the width of his appeal. It won't be long before he gets a more permanent TV mooring and has the chance to develop his image.
Others to watch
Miles Jupp, 25, is currently in the last few days of a stadium tour of Scotland playing Archie the inventor, his character in the CBBC's Balamory. It was as another less agreeable toff in the 2003 Edinburgh hit, Gentleman Prefer Brogues, that he made his name on the comedy circuit. Jupp is planning a new solo show this year and promises to become as popular with adults as with children.
Alan Carr, 28. Think Kenneth Williams with Eric Morecambe's glasses and you get nearer to the image and charm of Alan Carr. Cheeky, gossipy and irreverent, Carr may not yet have the exposure of his namesake Jimmy, but his career is making an ever-upward movement. Since his last Edinburgh show in 2003 he has been signed up by one of the two big comedy agencies and is the regular warm-up for Jonathan Ross. Russell Howard, 24, possesses a boyish, infectious charm. He won the final of Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny aged 19 and it was only his fifth stand-up gig. Since then he has gone from strength to strength supporting Daniel Kitson on two national tours, and he was recently commissioned by Radio 1 to write and perform on the late-night comedy show, The Milk Run.
Architecture by Jay Merrick
Patrick Lynch, 35.
Lynch is one of the interesting new wave of Serious Young Men in British architecture. This particular SYM is rather protean in terms of what has influenced him, a curry-wolfing, card-carrying humanist and stream-of-consciousness conversationalist who's more likely to conflate the anguished existentialism of Talk Talk albums with crime novels and Waiting for Godot than bore for Britain on the middle-period buildings of Le Corbusier. The panoptic young intellectual has produced architecture of both rigorous modesty and rigorous, if not hilarious, experiment.
Lynch Architects' commissions began coming in 2000. A concrete apartment building, a translucent Hoxton penthouse, the Casa Vasseur (a private residence) north of Rome, even a beautifully incised flat tombstone designed to prolong the life of bouquets. They demonstrate a roughly articulated modernism: nothing flashy here. Lynch's East London Black Women's Organisation centre - recently destroyed in a fire - and the brilliant transformation of Marsh View, a black-boarded Norfolk bungalow, into an architectural Incredible Hulk show real confidence.
What Lynch brings to the table is a high- res scrutiny of the socio-historic grounds for architecture.
Others to watch
Tonkin Liu. Mike Tonkin, 44, and his Taiwanese wife Anna Liu, 39, have achieved lift-off in the past year, with award-winning buildings and public-realm projects. They deliver a spare modernism, concerned with the subtle effects of light and texture. They'll surely be asked to design an art gallery.
Luz Vargas, 45. I first encountered Vargas three years ago, when she was developing an intriguing, standardised helix-like form for buildings. Her fascination for geometry has finally been clocked by the architectural press, and her singular brand of architectural order has surfaced in the super-crisp makeover of a large law firm in Kennington. CJ Lim, 40. The boyish Malaysian professor based at London's Bartlett School of Architecture is the wild card in the pack. Lim is fascinated by Alice Through the Looking Glass and his extraordinary satirical visions made him the star of the British pavilion at this year's Venice Biennale. This may be the year his brilliant fictions crystallise into architecture.
Sport by Matt Tench
Christine Ohuruogu, 20, athlete. A member of the England under-19 netball team, this second eldest of seven children only decided to concentrate on athletics after winning a 400m bronze medal at the 2003 European Junior Championships. The decision was scarcely welcomed by her netball coach, who warned her that she would miss out on the opportunity of playing in the 2005 World Youth Championships in Florida.
She knocked seconds off her time before the Olympic trials in Manchester, where she astonished everyone by defeating a field that included the European bronze medallist, Lee McConnell, in a winning time of 50.98 seconds, well inside the Olympic qualifying mark of 51.50 seconds.
Stunned and tearful at the close, Ohuruogu admitted that she had no idea what the Olympic qualifying mark was before the race. "I didn't know what it was," she said. "But I thought if I could finish in the top four at least I could get a relay spot. That was my aim for this year."
That aim was revised in Athens, where the 20-year-old student - she is studying linguistics at University College, London - became the fifth fastest Briton of all time, clocking 50.50 to qualify from her heat.
Although she went out at the semi-final stage, the speed of her improvement and the assured manner of her performance at the highest level held out the clear hope that this powerful, naturally-talented athlete might emulate the achievement of Katharine Merry in 2000 by taking an Olympic medal at the Beijing Games of 2008.
Others to watch
Ryan Moore, 21, jockey. Ryan Moore started riding lessons at the age of four and was straddling thoroughbreds by the age of 10. Now 21, he is poised to push Kieren Fallon and Frankie Dettori all the way in the race for the 2005 Flat Jockeys' Championship. The only thing still required is the backing of a top stable.
Matthew Tait, 18, rugby union player. Tait's first taste of the ball at Newcastle is already the stuff of legend. Given his chance in Newcastle's last game of last season, he ran home a blistering try from well inside his own half. Now a regular in the team and a certainty for the 2005 England Elite Player squad, his team mate Jonny Wilkinson had this to say: "Matthew is a fantastic athlete. He's the player to watch [and] he's certainly made his mark during training."
Politics by Andrew Grice
Ed Balls, 37. This will be an important year in the rise and rise of Ed Balls, Gordon Brown's closest adviser for the past 10 years. He will swap his backroom role for front-line politics by becoming Labour MP for the rock-solid seat of Normanton in Yorkshire at the general election expected in May. Balls had to leave his Treasury perch, where he was chief economic adviser, after becoming a Labour candidate. But no one doubts that he is still in Brown's inner circle.
The Norwich City supporter is married to Yvette Cooper, a minister in John Prescott's office and MP for the neighbouring seat of Pontefract and Castleford. A potential rift looms between them after the election, when their respective constituencies are due to disappear under boundary changes.
His critics blame him for infusing Brown with Eurosceptic views and thwarting Tony Blair's plans to take Britain into the euro. They say he should stick to economics, at which he is brilliant, claiming he lacks political nous. But if, as expected, Brown succeeds Blair, there are many in Westminster who see him as a future Chancellor.
Others to watch
Liam Byrne, 33, was elected as Labour MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill at a tricky by-election last July which many expected the party to lose. The bright father of three, a Harvard MBA graduate, has already impressed Westminster watchers and is tipped as a future Cabinet minister - and possibly a Blairite rival to Ed Balls in a future Labour leadership election.
Theresa Villiers, 36.
One of the few rising women stars in the Conservative Party. A London member of the European Parliament, she'll be fighting the Tory-held seat of Chipping Barnet at the general election. Seen as bright, articulate and ambitious by colleagues, she will be the new Tory MP to watch after the election. A fast-track promotion beckons. Nick Clegg, 37, is among the brightest in a bunch of young Liberal Democrat modernisers who are likely to lead the party in future years. The 37-year-old former MEP is likely to become MP for Sheffield Hallam after the general election. Described as brainy, young, dynamic and personable, Clegg is a non-tribal figure who used to work for Leon Brittan, the former Tory minister, when he was a European Commissioner. He speaks five European languages and is well-placed to make the best of his new platform at Westminster.
Pop music by Fiona Sturges
Jem, 29. You can play gigs for years, you can get great reviews, you can even write a song for Madonna. But if you really want to make it big in the UK, you have to crack America first. This, at least, is how it worked out for the Welsh singer-songwriter student Jemma Griffiths, aka Jem. Early on in her career, Jem wrote a letter to Stevie Wonder in braille asking him to produce one of her songs. Alas, the soul legend never replied so instead she made friends with the music producer Guy Sigsworth. He was so impressed by her song "Nothing Fails" that he played it to Madonna, who promptly recorded it for her American Life album. Soon after, Jem decamped to Los Angeles, landed a record deal (with Dave Matthews' ATO label) and set about making her début, Finally Woken, a beguiling blend of soul, hip-hop and folk. Buoyed by an appearance on the soundtrack to the hip teen drama The O C, the album thrust her into the upper reaches of the American Billboard charts, selling 100,000 copies. With Finally Woken's UK release in February, Jem mania is only a matter of time.
Others to watch
Kano, 19. Hot on the heels of Dizzee Rascal comes East Ham's unfeasibly handsome Kane "Kano" Robinson, the latest rising star in London's grime firmament. His magnificently assured single "P's and Q's", released last month, revealed an MC and lyricist at the top of his game. With an album on the way this spring, 2005 is sure to be his year. The Rakes. If the success of The Libertines is anything to go by, the future looks rosy for these wry "pre-post-punks" in their mid-twenties from north London. Having already made waves with the singles "22 Grand Job" and "Strasbourg", they're now proving an exciting proposition on the live circuit, prompting comparisons to PiL, The Fall and Joy Division. Bright lights and degeneracy beckon.
Tyler James, 22. Is he too good to be true? Armed with boy-band good looks and a voice that suggests someone twice his age and experience, this gifted singer-songwriter offers a refreshing spin on the "nu-jazz" sound, infusing it with his distinctive soul-pop sensibilities. Excitable critics are already calling him the British Justin Timberlake. We can but hope.
Film by Roger Clarke
Karl Golden, 30, director.
Golden's début feature, The Honeymooners, was one of the most underrated films of 2004, a shrewd black comedy of disappointed love and people behaving very badly indeed. Despite his low public profile, Golden has caught the eye of many big shots in the business. He's been hired to helm a BBC Films production of a Patricia Highsmith story, the acerbic fundamentalist family satire People Who Knock on the Door. Filming starts this March in Canada and at present Danny Huston is attached to the project. There's also a late-summer production date pencilled in for his "campus comedy set in the north of England" which is being produced by Trainspotting's Andrew McDonald and DNA films. He currently has more than 10 film projects on his personal roster, including the first ever feature film to be produced by Rory Bremner's Vera Productions. Dublin-born and now based in Bethnal Green, Golden is nothing if not ambitious. "Directors only have a lifespan of 20 years," he tells me. Citing Neil Jordan and Stephen Frears as figures he'd like to emulate, he's certainly geared up for the long-haul career.
Others to watch
Emily Blunt, 21, actor.
Newcomer Emily Blunt caused quite a stir as the Sapphic teenager in Pawel Pawlikowski's outstanding My Summer of Love. Expect to see a good deal more of her in the extravagant US mini-series Empire, set in ancient Rome - and in a Stephen Poliakoff TV drama where she plays Bill Nighy's daughter. Emily is also cast in Who Killed Norma Bates with Ralph Fiennes, and dons a druggie mantle in Chasing Dragons, with Patrick Bergen. Both are being filmed this year.
Amma Asante, 35, actor, made a gritty début in the Swansea-set A Way of Life, which was released in November and attracted much favourable attention. Despite the very British and downbeat nature of the film, she's about to sign up with a US agent. Well-connected and ambitious, she's a talent to watch.
Saul Dibb, 23, director. With a soundtrack by Massive Attack and a stand-out performance by So Solid Crew's Ashley Walters, Saul Dibb's début feature Bullet Boy is pegged for release on 8 April. The story of two brothers and a street fight that escalates completely out of control, it's drawn admiring crits in festivals including Toronto. This will raise his profile considerably.
Books by Boyd Tonkin
Diana Evans, 33.
Eat your Home Counties hearts out, Private Eye scoffers. The great Neasden novel has arrived. Those of us raised in the much-mocked tracts of semi-detached London have taken heart from the shining wave of cosmopolitan-suburban fiction that began in Hanif Kureishi's Bromley. In Diana Evans's début novel, 26a, the Neasden of the 1980s becomes a place of mystery, fantasy, joy and - finally - of desolating melancholy. This is a haunting and cherishable story of family life, of London life and, above all, of that alien and secret planet we call childhood. Evans's depiction of the inseparable twins Georgia and Bessi, with their Nigerian mother and Derbyshire father, may draw on some autobiographical material. But it soon grows into a self-assured fictional world of irresistible warmth and charm, with an undertow of sadness that deepens towards tragedy. Diana Evans trained originally as a dancer, but later completed the celebrated MA course in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. 26a (published by Chatto & Windus in March) may at first attract glib comparisons with other books or authors, but - like every other hugely promising début - it sounds like nothing but itself.
Others to watch
Nick Laird, 29. Twin-track careers in poetry and fiction have become more common of late, and Nick Laird from Co Tyrone will emerge as a literary amphibian in 2005. In January, Faber will publish his first collection of verse, To a Fault. In May, Fourth Estate publishes his début novel, Utterly Monkey.
"Belle de Jour". The cult blog of this high-maintenance poule de luxe with a viciously elegant style has prompted an orgy of media guesswork about her identity. In January, Weidenfeld finally releases The Intimate Adventures of a London Call-Girl.
Malcolm Gladwell, 41. The British-born New Yorker writer saw his first book, The Tipping Point, become a prime example of its own theme. Blink, due from Allen Lane in February, focuses on our intuitive ability to know something, without knowing why we do.
Food by Caroline Stacey
Anthony Flinn, 24.
It's not "if" but "when" Anthony Flinn earns his first star from Michelin - the arbiter of excellence that chefs obsess about at this time of year. It could be later this month. Even if he has to wait another year he'll be no older than that other prodigy Marco Pierre White. Either way Flinn faces a challenge if he wants to keep his profile low; he's already resisted TV programme makers and publishers. Since May critics and diners have eaten his highly evolved dishes, like white onion risotto with Parmesan "air" and espresso, and duck breast with olive oil chocolate bon bon, with a chorus of lip-smacking and praise.
Only 8 years after leaving college Flinn has brought molecular gastronomy to Leeds in the restaurant he runs with his father, also Anthony, sister Holly and girlfriend Olga Garcia.
Anthony's offers this exceptional food without the pomp or prices that invariably go with star-seeking cooking. There was no build-up; young Flinn appeared as a fully formed, truly original chef, as if from nowhere. Well, actually from Spain, and the kitchen of the legendary Ferran Adria's El Bulli. Anthony's is booked up every Saturday night beyond March. All this within a year; think what Flinn can achieve in 2005. Anthony's, 19 Boar Lane, Leeds (0113 245 5922)
Others to watch
Ian Pengelley, 33.
His Nobu-like work caused a stir at Notting Hill's E&O and spots of TV cooking helped put the tow-haired chef's name and distinctive style about. In February, when he opens Pengelley's in the Carlton Tower Hotel, the Hong Kong born chef will be making an even greater impression with Asian-influenced dishes.
Rachel Humphrey, 26.
Cherchez la femme, goes up the cry. But women chefs rarely enter cooking competitions. Let alone win them, as Rachel Humphrey easily did when her kitchen prowess earned her the Academy of Culinary Arts award. Since then she has been promoted to senior sous chef at Le Gavroche.
Brett Graham, 25.
When the restaurant provisionally called The Point opens in March with Australian Brett Graham as its head chef, "It will be," he declares, "the best neighbourhood restaurant in London." We needn't doubt him. He's been groomed by The Square's Philip Howard, who sees a star-winner in the making. "He has phenomenal palate, he's a bloody good cook, energetic, and an annoyingly nice guy."
Classical Music by Michael Church
Matthew Wadsworth, 30.
Lutenist Matthew Wadsworth dazzles with his dexterity, yet this youthful Mancunian has an impediment. "I can see light and dark," he says, "and colour if it's very strong. But basically I'm blind, and always have been. Having no sight is absolutely no disadvantage for a musician." Was music always his ambition? "Not at all. I was obsessive as a child and I still am. What obsessed me at six was motorbikes. My parents bought me a crash helmet and a little machine and I scrambled round a field. I didn't fall off - with my disability you develop a good sense of balance."
At 16 he became the first blind guitar student at Chetham's School of Music in Manchester, and immediately set about expanding the braille repertoire. Graduating to the lute at the Royal Academy, he quickly emerged as a world-class player: the CDs he's now releasing of 17th-century music which he discovered in the archives are models of their kind. He is increasingly in demand as a recitalist and chamber player: next year he will tour America for the first time. And he's an ideal role model for the sight- and hearing-impaired children with whom he also works.
Others to watch
Alison Balsom, 26.
Having just formed her own ensemble, this trumpeter is rising fast. She trained at the Guildhall and the Paris Conservatoire, has mastered natural and piccolo trumpets, and has a repertoire ranging from Albinoni to the most avant garde commissions. As a BBC New Generation Artist she's about to be ubiquitious on Radio 3.
Matthew Rose, 26.
"Commanding" is an adjective usually reserved for performers with age and experience, but it's the one critics reach for most often when describing the voice and physical presence of this British bass. He ushered in the drama of Sweeney Todd; his sword-fighting galvanised Faust.
Amir Bisengaliev, 17.
He may still be a violin student at the Purcell School, but he's already begun a successful career. Born and bred in Kazakhstan, he gave his first concert at seven: at 13 he released his joyous début CD of virtuoso pieces. The Romantic Virtuoso stuff is where he intends to make his mark, and I predict he will.
Photography by Nick Hall
Immo Klink, 32.
Always passionate about photography, German-born Klink originally came to London to study for an MA in business law. During this time he managed to get a job as Wolfgang Tillmans's studio manager. "I play in all fields," he says of his photographic work that covers editorial, fashion and art, "something I learnt from Wolfgang." He's involved with a network of artist-activists whose main aim is to reclaim public spaces from advertising and corporations. He's photographed Urban Climbing, Circle Line parties, Buy Nothing Day, World Bank and G8 summit protests. The last G8 meeting in Evian lead to his latest project on European communes in Spain, Italy and Wales. "I'm glad I studied law; it gave me a good understanding of society," he says, "plus, I know my rights." Klink has been chosen to show alongside Andreas Gursky, Boris Mikhailov, Luc Delahaye and Tracey Moffat at the inaugural Emergencies exhibition at the new Museum of Contemporary Art in Leon.
Others to watch
Joe Clark, 22.
A recent graduate from the University of Northumbria, Joe Clark featured in last year's Bloomberg New Contemporaries exhibition at The Barbican and has shown at the Sarah Myerscough Gallery in Mayfair. Working exclusively at night, his empty urban landscapes such as Vent and Ramp, Untitled (Trees near South Shields) or Untitled (Washing Line) might not sound like they'd set your heart racing but they're beautiful; graphic, dark, intriguing, like scenes from our dreams.
James Mollison, 31.
Kenyan-born Mollison will be exhibiting his stunning portraits from James and Other Apes (Chris Boot, Ł24.95) at The National History Museum (28 May - 18 September). These are beautiful, tightly cropped close-ups of apes' faces, each photographed as an individual, with a name and biography, begging us to question what separates them from man.
Martina Mullaney, 32.
She graduated from the Royal College of Art last summer and in March she has her first New York exhibition, inaugurating the new Yossi Milo Gallery, and will be showing Turn In, a series of minimalist large-scale colour photographs of night shelters and hostels for the homeless. She finds a melancholy beauty in sparse institutions.
Design & Interiors by Fiona Rattray
Peter Traag, 25.
Sometimes it only takes one chair to launch a design career. Within days of graduating from the Royal College of Art in 2003, Peter Traag received an e-mail from the famous Italian design company Edra, expressing an interest in manufacturing his prototype armchair. The London-based Dutch designer assumed it was a friend playing a joke: Edra makes some of the most iconic chair designs in the world. That kind of thing just doesn't happen to young designers, does it?
A few months later, at the 2004 Milan Furniture Fair, Edra unveiled Traag's Sponge chair (below) to an approving audience. The young designer found himself sharing the vast stand with two of the biggest names in furniture design: Italy's Francisco Binfaré and the Campana brothers of Brazil.
The reason for Edra's enthusiasm, I think, is simple. After years of retro-fixated, sleek-lined armchairs, the world is ready for something different. Over-exposure means that chairs which once had the cachet of exclusivity are fast losing their lustre. The fantastic thing about Traag's Sponge chair, is that thanks to its construction (as the foam expands to fill the mould, the loose fabric cover inside it is forced into folds) every chair is different. It's mass production, but with a thrilling element of originality and chance.
Beginner's luck? I doubt it. Traag is only 25, but his other designs are similarly accomplished. And Edra certainly doesn't think so - he's currently working on a new project for the Italian company. This year in Milan he will represent the best of young British designers in the Design Museum's show Great Brits: The New Alchemists. I'm sure he'll do us proud.
Others to watch
Onkar Singh Kular, 30.
This YBD grabbed the design world's attention with his Pantone tea mugs (pick the colour that matches your perfect brew). Look out for his latest work, inspired by famous TV armchairs, at London's Geffrye Museum in February.
Kirsty Carter, 25, and Emma Thomas, 25.
This graphic-design duo was responsible for a fair portion of the best post I received last year. Visit www.apracticeforeverydaylife.com to see what I mean: no throbbing icons, just stacks of clever, simply executed ideas.
Kazuhiro Yamanaka, 33.
As well appearing in the V&A's Brilliant lighting show (and catching the eye of the great Ingo Maurer), of the London-based Japanese designer's slick new furniture designs. His is a name to remember.
Fashion by Susannah Frankel
Ann-Sofie Back, 33.
She's no newcomer to fashion. In fact, the designer graduated from the MA course at Central Saint Martins in 1998 but, like other talented members of her generation, has eschewed the publicity-seeking antics of her predecessors for a more gentle and business-like approach. If that makes her sound as though she should have taken up the post of chief designer at MaxMara, don't be fooled. It's worth noting that, while Back has never sold out by designing publicity-seeking, barely-there flash trash, her designs are far from conventional. A typical show begins with the finale - the designer takes her bows with the entire cast before a single outfit has been seen. Her signature is to question and ultimately subvert all things feminine, a philosophy she extends to the casting of her shows: Back doesn't employ traditional models, but uses friends and "real people" instead. Everything from visible panty lines to wet T-shirt competitions and the wardrobe of the transvestite has come under her critical gaze, inspiring garments that, though idiosyncratic, are increasingly beautiful in the traditional sense too.
Others to watch
Miki Fukai, 37, first came to the fashion industry's attention four seasons ago with a collection featuring patchwork clothing made out of the striped sleeve details of hundreds of 1970s tracksuits. She has since given the world sportswear-inspired pieces crafted in canary-yellow parachute silk, deconstructed knitwear and, new this season, possibly the world's most glamorous summer dungarees. Born and raised in Tokyo, Fukai worked as a stylist there before enrolling on a theatre-costume-design course at the London College of Fashion, followed by the MA fashion-design course at Central Saint Martins.
Sarah Swash, 25, and Toshio Yamanaka, 30.
The Central Saint Martins-trained design talent behind Swash won no less than three prizes at the prestigious Hyeres fashion festival in France earlier this year, following in the footsteps of Viktor & Rolf. The label débuted at the London collections in October, displaying a lightness of spirit and touch combined with a conceptual approach.
Gardening by Anna Pavord
Ceri Evans, 28, graduated with distinction in the summer after an intensive year-long course in garden design at the English Gardening School in London. The distinction was an unexpected bonus. So was her audition as a presenter on the upcoming TV show The Great Gardening Challenge. Not so unexpected for those who know her. She's been a model for almost 10 years. She looks good. She works out. "But I don't want to be seen as just another dumb blonde," she says forcefully. "I want to show that I really know my stuff." So having been "obsessed" with her garden since she acquired her first house seven years ago, she decided to turn a hobby into a career and make a radical change in her life. In gardening, that's not unusual. You only see the point of it when you've a plot of your own. People come to gardening and garden design as a second career when they've become disenchanted with their first. "I like to do things aimed at first-time buyers," she says. "Designs that are young, funky." Having parents who were draughtsmen, she is quite at home with a drawing board. Her only problem? She can't throw plants away.
Others to watch
Michael Owers, 23, is in the middle of a three-year careership scheme organised by the National Trust to train the head gardeners of the future. He left a job in sales and marketing to take up a place he was offered at Blickling, the National Trust property in Norfolk, where he works under the head gardener, Paul Underwood. Comparing his old job with his new, he says: "You don't get compliments in sales and marketing. Here, visitors are always saying how lovely the garden looks. It makes me feel good."
Aude de Liedekerke, 30. The glasshouses in the superb walled garden at West Dean gardens, near Chichester in West Sussex, are gardener Aude de Liedekerke's special responsibility. She's 30 and relishes the opportunity she now has to see plants through the whole of their growing lives. She worked previously as a florist with Harper and Toms; before that, she was in the fashion business. Would she go back to either of her old jobs? "Never," she says emphatically. "This is so much better."
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 01, 2005.

Man is shot outside club

South London Press
Man is shot outside club
Dec 30 2004
A man is in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being shot outside a nightclub.
The 32-year-old was rushed to hospital in a critical condition after being shot near the Supreme Club in Goding Street, Kennington, early on Monday morning.
Police were called to the area just after 5.30am to reports of a disturbance outside the nightspot.
When officers arrived on the scene, a man was seen running towards the Albert Embankment.
As he was detained, the shooting victim approached police officers and asked for help.
He was taken to hospital where his condition was said to have improved as we went to press.
The man detained at the scene was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and taken to a South London police station.
He has since been released on police bail to return to the station on January 26.
Detectives from the Met's Operation Trident shootings team have refused to release any further details about the incident.
The officers have appealed for information and witnesses.
Contact the Trident shootings team at Putney on 020 8785 8580.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 01, 2005.

Reduced price Aladdin tickets for the local community

The Old Vic Theatre Company
Reduced price Aladdin tickets for the local community
Dear Community Members
I am pleased to announce that we are holding a special community performance of our hit pantomime "Aladdin" starring Ian McKellen on Saturday 15th January at 2.30pm. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of 3i, we have a limited availability of tickets at just Ł5 each.
To book, please call in to the Box Office at The Old Vic in person or, alternatively, send an email with the number of tickets you would like and your name, credit card number and expiry date to oldvicboxoffice@theambassadors.com. Please specify that you are a community contact when you book. You can also call direct on 0207 401 3280 but please avoid our busy times of 1-2.30pm and 6-7.30pm.
Please pass this email to any other group in the Lambeth/Southwark area, but please do not forward outside of this area, as we want to ensure that all tickets go to our community contacts.
Tickets should be booked asap to avoid disappointment.
All best
Rachael Stevens
Marketing Officer
--
Rachael Stevens
The Old Vic Theatre Company
The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Direct line: 0207 902 7582

-- Rachael Stevens (rachael.stevens@oldvictheatre.com), December 30, 2004.

Topsy-turvy Tube

Evening Standard
29/12/04 - London Cuts section
Topsy-turvy Tube
By Patrick Sawyer
Imagine a London where it is impossible to get to St Paul's or Oxford Circus by Tube and where everything worth doing happens south of the Thames.
Now two designers have brought the vision to life - turning the capital on its head and making south London the heart of the metropolis.
Daniel Letts and Andrew Fox have turned the iconic Tube map upside-down, linking dozens of south London districts by Underground, and leaving previously well-served areas of the north reliant on bus, car and train. The number of Tube stations north of the Thames falls from 239 to 71.
As well as highlighting how badly served the south is by the Underground, their map invites us to imagine London in a different and intriguing light. How would the capital look if the Victorian navvies had dug south not north?
"The map shifts the focus away from traditional ports of call, such as the West End and the City, and replaces them with previously isolated areas like Peckham and Coombe," said Mr Letts, a branding consultant who came up with the deceptively simple idea.
With the Tube map turned 180 degrees, dozens of new stations could be created along the lines. The designers christened the stops with street and town centre names.
From as far as Woking (replacing Upminster in the east), the map stretches to Bluewater shopping centre (normally Uxbridge in the west).
In the south the network stretches as far as Banstead and Leatherhead - but if you're going north on the new Tube system, you won't get past Tottenham Hale.
In between is a maze of destinations, some familiar but previously inaccessible (at least to northerners-such as Old Kent Road, others with enticing names such as Monks Orchard and Hilly Fields - in reality Beckenham and Brockley.
The lines have new names, with Clapham and Docks replacing the Hammersmith and City line, and the Piccadilly line renamed Elephant and Castle. Some locations would, ironically, be better connected, with Stoke Newington and Southall finally on the Tube.
The idea came to 41-year-old Mr Letts, who lives in Kennington, as he considered the familiar map while waiting at King's Cross station. He asked designer and artist Mr Fox to redraw it. Both are part of a creative group called Thinkers Block, which aims to re-imagine the everyday and the familiar.
"South London has always felt so much more mysterious and inaccessible to me," said Mr Fox, 31, of Ladbroke Grove. "With this map London suddenly becomes a very different place."
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/londoncuts/articles/15637095?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 29, 2004.

NEW YEAR'S EVE ROAD CLOSURES

SE1 Direct 217: New Year celebrations
NEW YEAR'S EVE ROAD CLOSURES
Streets in the area bounded by Westminster Bridge, York Road and Waterloo Bridge will be closed to traffic from 10pm, as will Westminster Bridge Road between the river and Kennington Road. Additionally, Waterloo Road will be closed between the river and Baylis Road/The Cut.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 29, 2004.

Cricket: Hope is reborn for a team long accustomed to losing

International Herald Tribune
Cricket: Hope is reborn for a team long accustomed to losing
Huw Richards
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
There may, perhaps have been more joyous sporting locations this year - Boston in late October, maybe - than London's Kennington Oval cricket ground on the evening of Saturday, Sept. 25, but it is hard to believe it.
The West Indies, the formerly British-ruled islands of the Caribbean, have made an incomparable contribution to cricket. They have produced remarkable players, great teams - until recently the West Indies team had the highest all-time winning percentage of any national squad - and above all a sense of joy and festivity. Those players and teams were an unparalleled source of pride and identification for people afflicted by poverty at home and racism when they moved abroad.
Little pleasure, though, has been taken from the past decade as West Indies has dropped from the top of test cricket to near the bottom, saved from backmarker status only by the inadequacies of Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. The general expectation was that, after losing seven of eight matches in home-and-away series of five-day tests, West Indies would lose to the host, England - fresh from victory over the world champion Australia - in the final of the one-day Champions Trophy.
It looked even more that way when the last specialist batsman, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, was dismissed with West Indies 71 runs behind, leaving two Barbadians, the wicket-keeper Courtney Browne and fast bowler Ian Bradshaw, at the wicket with only another specialist bowler to come.
Their initial resistance seemed merely a postponement of the inevitable, as they accumulated runs in ones and twos.
Gradually, though, momentum grew, and hope was reborn - hope, though, that could have been dashed by a single false stroke or good delivery amid gathering darkness. Tension ratcheted inexorably, but Bradshaw and Browne, in their 30s yet novices at this level, seemed immune as they stroked their way to a victory greeted by a baseball-style pileup of purple-clad West Indian players in front of the Oval's venerable pavilion.
No setting could have been more fitting than the Oval, with its proximity to areas of London heavily settled by the early migrants of the postwar years making it the ground most associated with West Indian success and celebration.
West Indies had won against the odds often enough before. Against stereotype, their players have often excelled in adversity, assumptions that their play is based on spontaneous natural talent overlooking the technical excellence and tough-mindedness associated with their game at its best.
Bradshaw and Browne displayed both qualities, but in a context different from those of their predecessors who had fashioned improbable victories. Those wins were against a background of strength, produced by players with the self-confidence of habitual winners. This team had become accustomed to losing.
This result won't reverse the cultural, political and economic handicaps against which West Indian cricketers must battle.
It won't add a cent to a combined national product that is around 6 percent of Australia's. It has been argued that it might even be bad for West Indian cricket, an unexpected victory providing ammunition for those who would argue that nothing much is wrong with it, when plenty is.
Maybe so, but against that is the renewed pride and confidence that can come from a performance like this. This was a reassertion of cricket as a source of joy.
And even though England has still to win a serious one-day trophy, few home supporters grudged the purple-clad pileup and its exultant fans - not as many as would once have attended an Oval test, but still audibly ecstatic amid the gloom - one iota of it.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 29, 2004.

Kennington policeman convicted

London SE1
Kennington policeman convicted
25 December 2004 - London SE1 website team
North Lambeth police officer John Nicholson was this week found guilty of a public order offence relating to an incident on a train in February 2004.
On Thursday at Bow Street Magistrates Court PC Nicholson - who is based at Kennington Police Station - was found guilty of an offence under Section 4A of Public Order Act 1986 (threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to cause harassment, alarm or distress).
PC Nicholson has been bailed until 20 January for sentencing.
The charge relates to an incident which took place when Nicholson was off duty and travelling home on a train from London on 8 February 2004.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view.php?ArtID=1332

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 28, 2004.

PLUMBER: Yen Lin Chong

PLUMBER
I would like to recommend another plumber:
Yen Lin Chong
Lives in Herne Hill
CORGI No.: 196094
T: 020 8674 8617
M: 07798 530265
I tried to find one today (Bank Holiday) because my combi boiler died last night and eventually found Yen Lin on movethat.com http://www.movethat.com/London/Forum/Local_Traders/#82674 where it said he was working over the holidays.
He has a call-out charge of Ł30, unless he can fix the problem when it is Ł50. He replaced the pump, had one on him and didn't charge for that at all! There is some other switch/part that needs replacing but he has got it going temporarily and will come back with that part on Wednesday.
Nice guy, too.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 27, 2004.

Forthcoming marriage: Dr B.C.A.L. Fitzwilliams and Dr E.M. Wain

Times
December 23, 2004
Forthcoming marriages
Dr B.C.A.L. Fitzwilliams and Dr E.M. Wain
The engagement is announced between Benjamin, son of Mr and Mrs Edward Fitzwilliams, of Old Cilgwyn, Cardiganshire, and Mary, daughter of Mr and Mrs John Wain, of Kennington, London.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-46-1413139,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 23, 2004.

Tai Chi comes to Kennington!

TAI CHI
& Chi Kung
BEGINNERS/CHILDREN/ADULTS, ALL WELCOME
at:
Kurdish Cultural Centre
14 Stannary St SE11
2pm on Thursdays
Beginning Thursday 13th January 2005
- Training is Free -
TO ENROL - Tel: 020 7793 0268 – E-mail: KenningtonAssn@aol.com
Sponsored by Lady Margaret Hall Settlement and the Kennington Association
Government backs Tai Chi
A range of fitness classes may be offered to older people on the NHS. To back it up, Tony Blair attended a "keep on moving" class for older people in southwest London. An exercise specialist with the primary care trust, said ‘the programme includes training in Tai Chi. Tai Chi is designed to release the body's internal energy to promote well-being.’
‘Advocates believe it combats problems of the heart, breathing and digestive system as well as relieving stress.’
The Guardian 03.11.04
Training Advantages: Develop correct posture, tone your muscles, reduce fat, strengthen your heart and lungs, and improve your balance, coordination and fitness level.
Instructors:
1. Master Michael Jacques, also known as ‘Iron Silk’; Founder of the Zenon Wudang, and Combat Tai Chi Chuan Programmes, Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Social Sciences, Post Graduate Certificate in Further Education, British Open Tai Chi Champion 1992/3, Grade ‘A’ BCCMA Instructor [BCCMA – British Council for Chinese Martial Arts: Sports Council Governing Body; TCUK – Tai Chi UK Limited]
2. Sidet Elizabeth A. Ogole; aka ‘Golden Eagle’; Co-founder of the Holistic Relaxation, and Aqua Tai Chi Chuan Programmes, Bachelor of Science [Hons] in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Master of Science in Advanced Information Technology & Multimedia, British Open Tai Chi Champion 2004, Grade ‘B’ BCCMA/TCUK Instructor
www.tsfitnesspromotions.com info@taichiuk.co.uk taichiuk@hotmail.com www.taichiuk.co.uk

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), December 18, 2004.

Man dies saving son

Evening Standard
17/12/04 - News and city section
Man dies saving son
By Justin Davenport and Luke David
A father has been stabbed to death trying to protect his son from bullying by a gang of teenagers.
Benjamin Durao, 35, was fatally wounded after confronting the gang when they damaged the front door of his home.
He chased them away, but one turned and confronted him and then stabbed him.
A medical team treated the victim at the scene before he was taken to hospital but he died shortly after arriving there.
Two boys, both aged 14, have been arrested in connection with the murder.
Detectives have appealed for anyone who witnessed a chase through the estate which is believed to have involved the victim and a group of up to four boys.
They are investigating reports that one of Mr Durao's sons had been the victim of bullying.
Today neighbours on the Myatt's Field estate in Kennington described Mr Durao, an Angolan-born painter and decorator, as an " intelligent and friendly" man who "always wanted to help people".
They said he and his family had endured a campaign of harassment for a week before the murder.
Claudio Pinheiro, 33, said the victim's three sons had been involved in a confrontation with a group of older boys as they played outside their home last week.
"One of my friend's [Mr Durao's] sons aged seven went to tell his father and he came and said to the boys, 'He's been living here for a long time, you can play together', but the [older] boys didn't like it.
"The next day they came around to their house and started abusing him. It happened again the next day and they called the police, but the police didn't come.
"The boys kept coming round. My friend said he would talk to them but his wife said 'don't it's dangerous' but he said he had to talk to them, his boy had to play somewhere.
"The boys were already prepared to kill him and stabbed him. An hour later he was dead in hospital."
Mr Pinheiro added: "It's getting worse. Our children have to grow up with this."
The murder comes days after the Government announced plans to ban the sale of knives to under-18s.
Anyone with information should call the incident room on 020 8721 4005 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/15407725?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 17, 2004.

Man stabbed after rowing with teenagers

Evening Standard
17/12/04 - News and city section
Man stabbed after rowing with teenagers
A man has been stabbed to death after an argument with a group of youths outside his London home.
The 35-year-old was killed after chasing a gang of teenagers from his house on the Myatts Field Estate in Kennington.
Police were first called to the address in Crawshay Court at 4.30pm on Thursday when a group of teenagers damaged the front door of the house.
Two hours later the gang is believed to have returned, the man chased them through the estate before being stabbed.
Police have arrested two boys in their mid-teens and are trying to trace another two teenagers who are believed to have been involved.
The victim and suspects are black. Anyone witnesses should contact DCI Stuart Cundy on 0208 721 4005.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/15405824?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 17, 2004.

Teenager made lives a misery

Teenager made lives a misery
Dec 17 2004
South London Press
A 16-YEAR-OLD boy who terrorised a housing estate has been banned from entering it and many surrounding streets.
The youngster has been given an Antisocial Behaviour Order (ASBO) after he was identified as a ringleaders of a gang which made life a misery for people living on the Kennington Park Estate.
A dossier of evidence built up against him by Lambeth council showed he threw fireworks at people, caused criminal damage, intimidated residents and used foul language to them.
The youth had already signed an Acceptable Behaviour Contract but breached it.
When Lambeth took its case against him to court, the judge said he found the application for an ASBO banning the boy from the estate and surrounding area was well justified.
The ASBO was made on December 2 and will be effective for a year.
Lambeth's executive member for housing, Councillor Keith Fitchett, said: "The message here is clear: we will not tolerate antisocial behaviour on our estates or on our streets."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 17, 2004.

Kennington Association Newsletter December 2004

Kennington Association
Chairperson: Angus Aagaard
C/- 235B Kennington Lane
London SE11 5QU
E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com
Wednesday, 15 December 2004
Dear Neighbours
1. Bazaar & Winter Draw
Another great success! No thanks to me! I injured my foot on the Friday night before the Bazaar so Kay took over the helm and the Team mucked in and all went off smoothly as usual. They raised over Ł730, which was quite amazing as there were so many Christmas fairs and other events competing on the same day. To quote Angus, our Chairperson, “Community events, such as our Bazaars, are always only as good as the time and effort that local volunteers put in to make it happen - it’s no surprise then to know that our Bazaars are one of the best around. You did a great job - Thanks!”
2. Postal Matters
The meeting with our London Assembly Member, Val Shawcross, and the manager at our local sorting office in Crampton Street in October was well attended. We met with Martine Munby (Senior External Relations Manager, London, South East and East of England martine.munby@royalmail.com), Claire Catchpole (Business Manager) and Brian Chapman (Delivery Office Manager).
The postcodes of those Kennington residents present were noted and questionnaires were sent out to random households in all the delivery walks in Kennington by the South London Quality Team at Royal Mail's Nine Elms Lane office. This was organised by Claire who asks that if residents have an opinion or complaint, please do contact the Customer Service Centre who are there to help. (08457 740 740 Royal Mail Customer Services, FREEPOST, RM1 1AA)
Some of us have been in direct contact with Brian (brian.e.chapman@royalmail.co.uk 020 7703 0007) about delivery matters. He is happy for the residents to contact him directly, but points out that he is only responsible for deliveries, so he will have to pass on to the relevant manager any other issues such as collections and wait for them to reply. Brian has also been going out with some of the delivery officers to see if there is anything he can do to assist them with their deliveries, and he hopes that this will have an impact on the level of service provided.
Martine has organised a follow-up review meeting at 1.30pm on Friday, 28th January, at which we will also be joined by Melanie Corfield, Head of External Relations, London & South East for Royal Mail. Please be in touch if you would like to attend this meeting.
3. The Kennington Association Art Auction at Pizza Express
The KA Art Auction at Pizza Express in November raised over Ł3,000!!! There were calls for us to do it again. In all, the Community generously donated over 80 high quality works of art and Pizza Express generously hosted the event at no charge, even providing canapés, and their staff were all so helpful.
4. New Community Initiatives
As you know, the Association will use all the proceeds from the Art Auction for the local community. We have been considering some ideas put to us and have already decided on a couple:
· Older Persons’ Tea & Coffee Afternoons at The Durning Library
This group, organised by Lambeth Libraries, meets on the third Wednesday every month and has discussed some ideas of the types of things they would like to be able to do. Top of the ‘wish list’ seems to be a coach trip to Southend-on-Sea! They would also like to have some more quadrille dancing sessions. The KA committee decided to donate Ł500 to enable them to make these and/or other arrangements as they would like.
If you would like to know more about this group’s afternoons and activities, please contact Audrey at the Durning Library on 020 7926 8682.
· Tai Chi comes to Kennington!
We have been asked if it might be possible to organise Tai Chi classes, in particular geared towards the Over Fifties in our community.
We contacted Michael Jacques, Chief Instructor and Master of Tai Chi UK, http://www.taichiuk.co.uk/, and he has agreed to hold an initial 12 weeks of Tai Chi classes for us. The Kennington Association committee agreed to cover his fees of Ł600 and then we looked around for a local venue.
We learned that the Kurdish Cultural Centre at 14 Stannary Street SE11 was available at the time that suited Michael and when Lady Margaret Hall Settlement offered to cover the rent there, we were able to confirm that classes will begin at 2pm on Thursday, 13th January for twelve weeks. This will enable us to find out how great the demand is, and if they are popular we can look towards extending the sessions later into the year.
All are welcome, especially the Over Fifties for whom Michael already runs several classes around London. To enrol telephone 020 7793 0268 or email KenningtonAssn@aol.com.
We are also looking at how to help some local Schools develop upon the Music provision they offer. We are learning that it is an area that receives insufficient funding.
Meanwhile, we wish all our members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
With best regards
Cathy Preece
Membership Secretary

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), December 17, 2004.

Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre Festive Event Wed 22nd Dec 6pm

Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre Festive Event Wed 22nd Dec 6pm
Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre
100 Vauxhall Walk, London, SE11 5EL
0207 582 4480
Would like to invite all community minded folk to a Free Open Evening and Festive celebration on Wednesday 22nd December 2004 from 6 p.m
Featuring
Spanish Guitar Duo
DJ - Pedro - a Brazilian legend
And others
Please bring a bottle; we are only licensed to sell alcohol to members and their guests, so the bar will not be open.
Free Membership available. Soft drinks and snacks will be provided
VGCC is a volunteer run, not for profit charity helping to provide well-being to the local community
Please see our website www.vgcc.org.uk for details of events/classes/clubs
For further information please contact:
Tim Boxall
Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre
100 Vauxhall Walk, London, SE11 5EL
0207 582 4480
thespringvgcc@yahoo.com

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), December 17, 2004.

Small van for sale

Small van for sale
Ł400
Seat Terra Vista Van
color RED
year 1990
taxed till 31 march 05
mot till April 15 '05
genuine mileage 53,000
petrol engine 903 cc
spare bench seat and roofbars included
contact Anna on phone 020 7582 8963 or me@annabest.info

-- Anna (me@annabest.info), December 17, 2004.

Top 10 hits set to ring in the New Year

South London Pacific
Top 10 hits set to ring in the New Year
Dec 17 2004
MOBO winner and urban sensation Estelle rounds off a great year with a PA at Ministry of Sound's New Year's Eve bash.
She will be performing her acclaimed two top 10 hits 1980 and Free at the party, hosted by the superclub's popular urban night Smoove, joined by residents DJs Shortee Blitz and Masterstepz, plus Firin' Squad, DJ Dodge and Heartless among others. Hardened house-heads can throw shapes into 2005 at Heat NYE at Brixton Academy, with an exclusive midnight set from Tall Paul, with Fergie and Eddie Halliwell among the 30 DJs playing across four arenas.
Other New Year's Eve club highlights across South London include the Bug Bar's NYE bash hosted by Brixton's best funk/soul brothers Leslie Love and Linx. Down the road Brixton's hip DJ/bar Plan B says it's "throwing its music policy out of the window", with drapes and mirrorballs, and house, funk, disco, party hip-hop and classics all night long.
Club-goers can rely on South London Pacific for a NYE party with a totally tropical twist. Aloha 2005! features a night of Latino grooves, GoGo beats, 60s R'n'B and dance party favourites, with a "tropicalisimo" dress code. Live music is from the venue's very own house band Los Trios Pacificos and The Trombone Mountain, plus DJs and more.
The White Horse in Brixton is hosting its Hat and Prop party, inviting revellers to turn up with - you've guessed it - hat and prop for a fun NYE.
DJs will be providing a mix of hip-hop, soul, disco, break and drum'n'bass, with prizes for the best hat and prop combination (?!).
****** Smoove NYE,Ministry ofSound, GauntStreet, Elephantand Castle.Doors 9pm5am, ticketsŁ35 from01702 345050or from www.ticketbank.co.uk
****** Heat NYE, Brixton Academy, Stockwell Road, Brixton. Doors 8pm-7am, tickets Ł20-40, from 0870 7712000.
****** NYE at The Bug Bar, St Matthews Church, Brixton Hill, Brixton/ Doors 9pm-5am,tickets Ł20 from 0207 738 3366 or viainfo@bugbar.co.uk
****** Plan B NYE Party, Brixton Road, Brixton. Doors 9pm-5am, tickets Ł20 at the venue or log onto www.ticketweb.co.uk
*****Aloha 2005!,South London Pacific, Kennington Road, Kennington.Doors 8.30pm-4am. Tickets Ł18 from the venue, by calling 020 7820 9189, or emailing nye@southlondonpacific.com
****** Hat and Prop Party,The White Horse, Brixton Hill, Brixton.Doors 8pm-4am, tickets Ł15 in advance from the venue.Call 0208 678 666 or email info@whitehorsebrixton.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 16, 2004.

Way Forward blocked by Hoon

Telegraph > Opinion > Spy
spy@telegraph.co.uk
(Filed: 15/12/2004)
Way Forward blocked by Hoon
The members of the executive committee of Conservative Way Forward, the Thatcherite Tory faction, thought they were on to a good thing when they decided to hold their December meeting away from the hubbub of Westminster on Monday night.
But it seems that their choice of venue - Gandhi's curry house in Kennington - was not quite as obscure as they had hoped.
"We'd only just been served our poppadums when Geoff Hoon and his entourage sat down at the next table," I'm told. "There was no way we could discuss our agenda with the Defence Secretary in earshot, so we spent the rest of the meal discussing the weather."
Hoon, it appears, remained blissfully unaware of the impact of his arrival. "It was a farewell dinner for a colleague," his spokesman tells me. "The restaurant is one of Mr Hoon's favourites."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 15, 2004.

Local youth silenced by ASBO

Lambeth
Local youth silenced by ASBO
Residents in the Oval area can look forward to a more peaceful Christmas this year thanks to successful legal action against a 16-year-old youth.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/029484.pdf
Released: December 13, 2004 11:58 AM
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 13, 2004.

Drug dealer found in pile of washing

Drug dealer found in pile of washing
Dec 10 2004
South London Press
A CONVICTED drug dealer was found hiding in a pile of laundry during a police raid.
Carl Russell, 47, was caught in his home on the Ethelred Estate, Kennington, on Tuesday by officers from the asset recovery squad.
He had been sentenced to five years at Inner London Crown Court on December 4, 1997, for dealing Class-A drugs but had failed to pay up a Ł215,963 confiscation order.
He was sentenced to 810 days in prison at Horseferry Road Magistrates' Court on Tuesday and Ł113,00 of cash and his assets were frozen.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 10, 2004.

Buy of the week: Taste of the Med

Evening Standard
Homes and Property
Buy of the week: Taste of the Med
By Fay Greenslade, Evening Standard - 08/12/2004
Mediterranean style has arrived in Kennington, SE11, after the renovation of this split-level flat, tucked behind an antiques shop. The interior has been gutted and transformed into three levels, using an effective mix of materials, including glass bricks, tall, vertical steel radiators and curved walls, painted in warm ochre and rustic shades.
Open-plan sitting and dining areas lead down to a contemporary kitchen/breakfast room and a large conservatory, which opens out onto a private, high walled patio garden.
A study, and galleried bedroom with mirrored wardrobes, overlooks the kitchen/dining area.
Vauxhall and Kennington Tube stations are within easy walking distance.
Aylesford (020 7351 2383) is asking Ł295,000.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 09, 2004.

Friends carry on renting

Independent > Money > Property > Homes
Friends carry on renting
With fears of falling house prices, young flat-sharers are in no hurry to buy their own homes, says Chris Partridge
08 December 2004
Rents are rising over most of the country as both first-time buyers and buy-to-let landlords defer purchasing in the face of the uncertain property market, according to the latest survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
The rise is being led by London, where rents have gone up on average by 6 per cent in the year to the end of October. Rents in the rest of the country have gone up by 4 per cent. The South-west is also experiencing a rent boom, but rents in the East have gone down slightly, RICS found.
London and the South-west are the areas with the biggest declines in house prices, as reported in the RICS property market survey last month, indicating that frustrated buyers are renting instead. "There is definitely an increase in demand, particularly at the lower end of the market," says RICS spokesperson Jeremy Leaf. "Uncertainty about market prospects and poor affordability mean that people are opting to rent."
The rent boom is good news for buy-to-let landlords, who have suffered from rapidly increasing capital costs and declining returns. London landlords are seeing an increase in yield for the first time since April 2001, according to the survey. In all other regions yields are still going down very slightly.
The average price for a two-bedroom flat in London is currently Ł1,517 per calendar month, up about 8 per cent over the year, compared with about 3 per cent for the rest of the country. Rents for one-bedroom flats in London have risen about 6 per cent, with rents over the rest of the country rising by just 2 per cent.
For houses, however, the picture is reversed. In London, house rents have gone down, by as much as 5 per cent for a four-bedroom detached house. In the rest of the country, house rents have risen by between 3 and 4 per cent.
Although buy-to-let landlords are doing much better now, they are still reluctant to invest in more property - which is adding fuel to the rent increases by tightening supply.
Affordability is also an issue, according to Ian Dickson, of Winkworth in Acton. He says: "We saw a dramatic increase in the rentals market in mid-summer. There is now not a lot of difference between renting and buying, as the interest on a mortgage is about the same as the rental." In his area, the main market seems to be for professionals sharing, Dickson says: "The biggest demand is for flats with two double bedrooms, the classic layout for sharers."
Dale Hodgson, of Hamptons in Fulham, warns landlords not to assume that just because demand is outstripping supply, renters will accept lower standards. "Although there is more demand in the lower rental areas, they are not skimping on quality - they are much more demanding than they used to be," he says.
Stephen Ludlow, director of the London estate agent Ludlow Thompson, has seen particularly sharp rent increases for one-bedroom flats. He believes this is due to increased demand from people who have been sharing. Until recently, their next move would have been to buy but they have been deterred by the prospect of price falls so they are upgrading to their own rented place instead. "When people first enter the rental market, they look at the cheaper option of sharing with friends and work colleagues. As their income grows they can afford more privacy and a higher standard of accommodation," he says.
At Ludlow Thompson's Kennington office, for example, the rent for an average one-bedroom flat is now Ł200 a week, up by Ł10 from this time last year. According to another survey, by the specialist buy-to-let mortgage lender Paragon Mortgages, the rental market is also being fuelled by young people leaving home earlier but buying their first property later.
According to the survey, people now leave home at 20, whereas the current over-65s left home at 22. The vast majority of people, more than 80 per cent, want to buy eventually, but nowadays only 60 per cent manage to get their own place by the age of 30, - down from 68 per cent.
Both surveys have found that private rents now dominate the rentals market, reflecting the decline of council accommodation. Most of the young people who still live at home expect to move out into rented accommodation, and are four times more likely to move into privately rented, rather than socially rented homes, according to Paragon.
John Heron, managing director of Paragon Mortgages, believes that the figures illustrate that Britain is becoming a much more rental-based housing culture.
"This demonstrates that renting is not a minority practice but rather one that most people do at some point in their lives, and in many cases for long periods of time," he says. "Over a third of people have lived in rented accommodation for more than five years, and 21 per cent for more than 10 years."
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 08, 2004.

Grace and intelligence, with a will of tungsten

Financial Times
Grace and intelligence, with a will of tungsten
By Clement Crisp
Published: December 3 2004 02:00 | Last updated: December 3 2004 11:45
Lilian Alicia Marks, who died on December 1 on the night after her 94th birthday, made her debut as a dancer at the age of 10 in pantomime at Kennington, billed as "the child Pavlova". Her gifts took her to classes given by the Russian teacher Serafine Astafieva, and here Serge Diaghilev saw her and engaged her for his company.
Aged just 14, Alicia Marks became Markova, member of the Ballets Russes, with Balanchine's staging of Stravinsky's Le Rossignol (in which she was the nightingale) for her debut. For the next five years, the Monte Carlo opera house and tours throughout Europe (with either an over-protective governess or her mother as companion) were Markova's world. Watching Diaghilev's stagings provided a marvellous education for the girl the impresario called his "English daughter".
In 1929 Diaghilev died and his company disbanded. Markova returned to England, to become a vital figure in the infant British ballet being shaped by Ninette de Valois and Marie Rambert. She worked for Rambert, then joined de Valois' Vic-Wells company in its first season, as a ballerina able to justify stagings of the "classics" (Swan Lake, Giselle, The Nutcracker).
In 1935, with her Diaghilev colleague Anton Dolin, she formed the Markova-Dolin Ballet, which toured Britain for two years - with Markova sustaining an astounding eight performances a week in leading roles. She was then invited by Leonid Massine to return to her Ballets Russes roots and become a leading ballerina with the Monte Carlo troupe, and for the next three years she led the company with Alexandra Danilova, in Europe and in long tours criss-crossing America. Exiled to the US by war, she was adored wherever she danced, and in 1941 joined the young Ballet Theatre, giving legendary performances as Giselle, in Massine's Aleko and in Antony Tudor's Romeo and Juliet. Her genius lay in the purity and sensitivity of her dancing - sublimely musical and ravishing in technical ease - and in the imaginative control she exerted over huge audiences, performing happily in the vastness of the Hollywood Bowl as well as in big opera houses. John Martin of The New York Times saluted her as "the greatest dancer who has ever lived", an accolade that Markova greeted with the words: "That's all very well, but I'm the one who has to live up to it."
In 1948, Markova (with Dolin, her partner) returned to London and conquered a new public at Covent Garden as Giselle, as Aurora, as Odette/Odile. She and Dolin next undertook a series of tours from which grew Festival Ballet in 1950. The success of the company was owed to the combination of international stars and a wise and traditional repertory. Markova withdrew from the troupe following injury, and the remaining decade of her career - she retired in 1963 - was spent as a guest artist in Europe and America. She was a box-office darling: the announcement "Markova in Giselle" brought interminable queues outside any theatre. Markova was director of the ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, throughout the 1960s and then, for five years, distinguished professor at the University of Cincinnati. She returned to London in 1974 to teach, to stage ballets and to serve her art. She was made DBE in 1963.
Markova was one of the greatest ballerinas of the 20th century. She had a delicate physique, a tungsten technique masked by a gentle appearance, and a flawless musical understanding. Everything she did had to appear effortless, which she achieved by an implacable will and total concentration. I adored her, and her knowledge and her prodigious memory for dances and dancers taught me infinitely much ("Alicia, tell me about . . . ." "Well, dear, I remember Mr Diaghilev saying . . ."). Uniquely, she had ballets created for her by Fokine, Massine, Nijinska, Balanchine, Ashton and Tudor. A fascinating portrait of her, still working at the age of 90, appears in Dominique Delouche's film Markova, La Légende (2001). Until the end of her life she remained a marvel of grace and dance- intelligence.
Clement Crisp
Find this article at: http://news.ft.com/cms/s/f66d2a50-44cf-11d9-9f6a-00000e2511c8,ft_acl=,s01=1.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2004.

Dame Alicia Markova

Independent Home | Obituaries
Dame Alicia Markova
Ballerina of steely muscle and evangelical, unsnobbish zeal
03 December 2004
Dame Alicia, the woman who brought ballet to the people, dies at 94
Dame Alicia Markova: Obituary
Lilian Alicia Marks (Alicia Markova), dancer, teacher, director and writer: born London 1 December 1910; ballerina, Ballets Russes 1925-29, Rambert Ballet Club 1931-33, Vic-Wells Ballet Co 1933-35, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo 1938-41, Ballet Theatre 1941-46; co-founder and prima ballerina, Markova-Dolin Ballet Company 1935-37; co-founder and prima ballerina, Festival Ballet (later English National Ballet) 1950-51, President 1986-2004; Vice-President, Royal Academy of Dancing 1958-2004; CBE 1958, DBE 1963; Ballet Director, New York Metropolitan Opera House 1963-69; Professor of Ballet and Performing Arts, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati 1970-2004; President, London Ballet Circle 1981-2004; died Bath 2 December 2004.
Alicia Markova was Britain's first ballerina and became a living legend. She seemed to be made of superior, more durable material than other mortals: she concealed muscles of steel under the frailest possible exterior; at 92, she was still skimming across a studio floor demonstrating nuances of phrasing to dancers a quarter her age, her exquisitely narrow, unblemished feet still supple.
She began her career when British ballet hardly existed and was to be instrumental in the development of Britain's first companies - Ballet Rambert and the Royal Ballet. Her stage partnership with Anton Dolin lasted 30 years; together they launched touring ensembles which transmuted in 1950 into London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet). A professional at 10, engaged by Sergei Diaghilev at 14, she was the original baby ballerina.
As a child prodigy, she was billed as "Little Alicia, The Child Pavlova". It may have been an opportunistic sobriquet, but of all the world's ballerinas she was the closest to Anna Pavlova through her dark, slender looks and through her evangelical, unsnobbish zeal to bring ballet to ordinary people all over the world. Aged nine, she had been taken to see Pavlova perform and with her father's help got herself invited to Ivy House, Pavlova's home in Golders Green, London. Pavlova put Alicia through her barre exercises and showed her how to rub herself down with cologne.
Unlike Pavlova, though, Markova always welcomed the new. Giselle was the ballet most closely associated with her, but she combined a love for the classics with an appetite for modernity. She was the clay for some of the 20th century's greatest choreographers when they too were just starting out - George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton, Antony Tudor. She starred in some of Leonid Massine's biggest, most important ballets.
Many spectators thought Markova was Russian, but her name had undergone the regulation Russianisation by Diaghilev. She was born Lilian Alicia Marks in Finsbury Park, London, in 1910, the eldest of four girls. Her father Arthur was a mining engineer whose ancestors had been involved in the design of Tower Bridge and the lights on Broadway. Arthur was Jewish and his wife Eileen Barry had converted to Judaism. The family prospered. By 1914, Arthur had a factory in the Caledonian Road, manufacturing "rubberine", his invention, used by the Army to prevent tyres puncturing.
Alicia was a physically fragile, solemn little girl, shy and obedient. Aged six, she still didn't speak and didn't mix much with other children, being mostly taught at home by a strict governess known as Guggy. For most of her life Markova was to remain reticent, preferring to let the ebullient Dolin do the talking. It was not until she retired and began a vigorous career lecturing and teaching that she came into her own as a speaker, the small voice speaking with a hushed composure.
Alicia began dance lessons on the recommendation of a specialist, to remedy what looked like knock-knees and flat feet. Eileen enrolled Alicia and her second daughter Doris to learn "fancy dancing" at the Thorne Academy in Muswell Hill where the Marks family then lived. Her first performance was at a local talent competition and her parents were astounded. Their daughter, so timid in real life, was completely unfazed at being on stage and she won the prize of five guineas.
Accepted into the cast of Dick Whittington, which opened at the Kennington Theatre in December 1919, she attracted enthusiastic attention. The Daily Telegraph called her "a very accomplished ballerina in miniature". Another dance student, the 17-year-old Patrick Healey-Kay, later Anton Dolin, came to see "the Child Pavlova" and was so impressed he left flowers at the stage door.
Revising her previous scepticism, Eileen enrolled Alicia with a Russian teacher, Princess Serafina Astafieva, at the Pheasantry in the King's Road, Chelsea. ("You have a racehorse," was Astafieva's verdict to Eileen.) Dolin, also a pupil there, pinched her and pulled her hair because she was so solemn.
One day Diaghilev arrived to watch the class. He decided to have a Fairy Dewdrop solo choreographed for Alicia in his lavish new production of The Sleeping Princess (better known as The Sleeping Beauty), opening in London in 1921. But Alicia caught diphtheria. As compensation, Diaghilev arranged free tickets for her and sometimes sat with her, explaining what was happening. Alicia's solemn dedication entranced him. When he returned to London in 1924, he engaged her in the Ballets Russes.
By then she was 14, still very thin and small, and her family's financial fortunes had plummeted. Her father had been the victim of a swindle - "When I was six we had a Rolls-Royce," she said. "By the time I was 13, nothing." In 1924 he died of pneumonia.
Accompanied by Guggy and chaperoned by another Ballets Russes dancer, Ninette de Valois (future founder of the Royal Ballet), Alicia set off with the company for Monte Carlo. "Is that the brat?" de Valois had asked on meeting Alicia at Victoria Station, but she soon found her a sweet, intelligent and disciplined child. In the exclusively adult milieu of the Ballets Russes, Guggy was a dour guardian, forcing Alicia to lead a drab life of work and study. On good days, Guggy allowed sweet-toothed Alicia two chocolates but, if she was criticised a lot in class, the chocolates were withheld.
The normally intimidating Diaghilev was Alicia's substitute father. People called him Sergei Pavlovich, she called him Sergipops. Her first, small role was Little Red Riding Hood in Aurora's Wedding (extracts from the 1921 Sleeping Princess); her first major role was as the nightingale in Le Chant du Rossignol, choreographed on her in a new 1926 version by Balanchine. Igor Stravinsky guided her through his score's fearsome complexities. Henri Matisse designed her all-white body costume. Alicia's incredible virtuosity thrilled Balanchine. He included double tours en l'air, a turning jump from the male lexicon, and devised a diagonal of fouettés that gave the impression of a little bird hopping.
Alicia Markova toured with the Ballets Russes in 1925-29. She danced Papillon in Mikhail Fokine's Carnaval and the Bluebird pas de deux from Aurora's Wedding; she performed the title role in Balanchine's La Chatte. In 1929, during the Ballets Russes season at the Royal Opera House, Diaghilev promised her important roles for the following season. But it was not to be: Diaghilev died on 19 August that year and the company folded. Alicia was holidaying in Brighton when she saw the shocking headline.
There followed real poverty. Unable to afford classes, she worked out in her bathroom, with the towel-rail as barre. Ashton used her in the commissions he received. She danced in his ballet sequence for Dryden's Marriage ŕ la Mode at the Lyric Hammersmith. She danced works by de Valois and Ashton which were funded by the Camargo Society and Ballet Club, the fledgling stirrings of British ballet.
For someone accustomed to major opera houses, the Ballet Club's 18sq ft stage at the Mercury Theatre was quite a contrast. The audience's proximity probably helped develop Markova's magisterial concealment of strain, no matter how hard the dancing. She projected a peerless image of sweat-free effortlessness, of floating, delicate serenity. "Her technique was bolts of lightning and steel," wrote the choreographer and writer Agnes de Mille:
However, it took a professional eye to recognise this. She seemed to laymen to float in a mist, and they remained wonderstruck.
The mystique was further fuelled by her preference for taking her daily class in private (creating the rumour that she never needed to do class), her unvaryingly soignée appearance, and by her habit in rehearsals of just marking out - once in high heels and a mink coat. ("I was cold," she said.)
She danced the witty Polka at the 1931 premiere of Ashton's first masterwork, Façade, and at subsequent performances the Tango and Tarantella. The same year she played a tap-dancing prostitute in his Rio Grande, the following year she started in the shows he was staging at the Regal Cinema, Marble Arch, between film projections. For Ł20 a week, she danced three times a day. Later, she did this while appearing elsewhere, shuttling between stages in taxis:
I would do my first two shows at the Regal, then I'd go to the Wells and open the programme with the White Act from Swan Lake. I'd come back to the Regal to do my 9pm show then I would go to the Mercury Theatre and do their last item on the programme, perhaps Façade.
Through the Regal Cinema, she became loved by the general public and de Valois invited her to become a guest artist with her newly founded Vic-Wells Ballet. She started in 1932, in two ballets by de Valois: Cephalus and Procris and the barefoot Narcissus and Echo. The same year she staged and danced Fokine's Les Sylphides for the company. She watched the great Russian ballerina Olga Spessivtseva's Giselle, an interpretation that was in Markova's words "touched with soul and poetry". It taught her about dancing beyond technique into a world of distilled emotion.
Partnered by Dolin, she made her début in Giselle at the Old Vic, in the Vic-Wells Ballet's 1934 premiere, becoming the first British ballerina to dance it. "She was unique in the role," says the critic John Percival. "The outstanding quality was her lightness in Act 2." The same year, she danced two other classical Vic-Wells premieres: the first complete Nutcracker and Swan Lake in Britain. She danced more Ashton ballets, including Foyer de Danse (1932) and Les Masques (1933) and the premiere of Les Rendezvous (1933). She created the role of the Betrayed Girl in de Valois's The Rake's Progress (1935) at Sadler's Wells.
By then it was also clear that Markova and Dolin could fill theatres on their own. In 1935, they left the Vic-Wells Ballet to start the Markova-Dolin Company and, from then on, de Valois would concentrate on developing Margot Fonteyn to fill the gap. The Markova-Dolin Company lasted two years, touring a mixed repertoire. In 1938 Markova and Dolin joined the choreographer Massine's new Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, appearing across Europe and America. As the company's prima ballerina, Markova created roles in several ballets by Massine: Seventh Symphony (1938); Capriccio Espagnole (1939); Rouge et Noir (1939); Vienna 1814 (1940).
She was in America with the Ballet Russe during the Second World War years. They covered great distances in uncomfortable trains without sleepers. In 1941, she joined Ballet Theatre (now American Ballet Theatre). There she was reunited with Dolin and worked with the choreographer Fokine. She was in the premiere of his comedy ballet Bluebeard (1941), dancing a cancan in the finale. She danced in his new production of his Les Sylphides. "He taught me . . . there is no beginning or end to the movements - they melt away like sound on the air," she wrote.
Markova created roles in Massine's Aleko (1942) and Tudor's Romeo and Juliet (1943), sleeping in her dressing room during rehearsals to save time. She and Dolin performed Giselle at the Hollywood Bowl before an audience of 35,000. They accepted the invitation to appear in Billy Rose's new Broadway revue The Seven Lively Arts (1944-45), dancing Scčnes de ballet to Stravinsky's commissioned score. (Ashton was later to choreograph his own version.)
In 1946 she, Dolin and the impresario Sol Hurok re-formed the Markova-Dolin Company, touring America, the Caribbean, the Philippines. She was now the world's highest-paid dancer - on $1,000 a week - but she missed England. Aged 38 she returned to de Valois's company (later to become the Royal Ballet), triumphantly dancing Giselle with Dolin and Swan Lake at the Royal Opera House and making her début in The Sleeping Beauty.
On the other side of the Atlantic, she appeared in a baseball stadium in Montreal, introduced by a regiment of Mounties. She danced in South Africa and Kenya. In 1949, she and Dolin embarked on a season at the Harringay arena, billed as "The World's Greatest Ballet Stars". They formed another ensemble, which became the seed for London Festival Ballet. Markova thought of the name, to coincide with the Festival of Britain, and the company gave its London opening on 25 October 1950 at the Stoll Theatre.
She guested with companies abroad, she gave concert tours with Milorad Miskovitch, in 1955 she danced Giselle in New York with the young Erik Bruhn. In 1959 she made her début in Ireland, appearing in Giselle for the last time, and was the subject of BBC TV's This is Your Life. In 1962, she gave her farewell performance, partnering Miskovitch in L'Aprčs-midi d'un Faune with London Festival Ballet. Between 1963 and 1969 she was ballet director of the New York Metropolitan Opera House, staging dances for operas.
Markova never really retired. She remained married to her art, her phenomenal memory making her an illuminating coach, her personal history offering a reservoir of important souvenirs. The subject and author of many books, she appeared frequently on television and film.
Nadine Meisner
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2004.

Dame Alicia Markova

Guardian
Obituary
Dame Alicia Markova
Prima ballerina of international renown and exceptional talent, who popularised her art around the globe
Friday December 3, 2004
Alicia Markova, who has died at the age of 94, epitomised all the qualities of a great ballerina: a total dedication to the art of classical dancing together with an imaginative understanding and insight into establishing a character through mime.
She will for ever be associated with Giselle - her 1960 autobiography is called Giselle And I - but her range was far, far wider than that. She created roles for all the great choreographers of the 20th century and, during her performing career, she was an ambassador for ballet comparable only to Anna Pavlova, dancing in places where classical dancing of her quality had never been seen before.
She was uniquely open to facing such challenges - to appear in pantomime, in revue, in vast arenas, and to travel thousands of miles to fulfil an engagement she thought of as important in reaching a new audience. To such suggestions, often put forward by her former classmate and long-time dancing partner, Anton Dolin, she would consider a moment, open wide her big brown eyes, and say, "Well, why not?"
Born in Finsbury Park, London, the eldest of the four daughters of Arthur Marks and Eileen Barry, and christened Lilian Alicia Marks, she was a thin, delicate child and a doctor suggested that a little "fancy dancing", as it was then called, might strengthen her fragile legs. Consequently, she was enrolled at a branch of the Thorne Academy in Palmers Green.
The child did seem to become stronger, but her ballet teacher, Dorothy Thorne, also recognised that she had a pupil of exceptional gifts, quick to follow instructions, technically secure, and with a lively sense of performance.
Alicia danced in pupils' displays - her first stage appearance was on February 21 1919, in a solo eastern dance, which she had arranged herself; but she always dated her first professional engagement as being in Dick Whittington at the Kennington Theatre the following year. Lily Marks became Little Alicia, and was billed by the enthusiastic management as "the Child Pavlova", a sobriquet which was to lead to trouble later.
Convinced, by now, that their daughter should have the best training, her parents decided to take professional advice. Her mother accordingly took her to see Princess Serafina Astafieva, a former member of the Imperial Russian and Diaghilev ballet companies, who had a studio in Chelsea. Innocently, she handed in her daughter's card. Astafieva read the "Child Pavlova" inscription and flew into a rage, almost driving them away.
Alicia's tears of disappointment, however, won her permission to watch the class and then dance a solo to show what she could do. Astafieva was impressed and told the mother, "Your little girl is like a racehorse; you must take great care of her and keep her wrapped up in cotton wool." It was advice the mother followed, and Alicia never forgot.
She was enrolled at the studio, and was chosen to perform three dances, arranged by Astafieva, at the Royal Albert Hall on June 26 1923. By then, Alicia had attracted the interest of a fellow pupil, Patrick Kay, who was to be transformed by Diaghilev into Anton Dolin, and they began to practise together.
When, in 1924, her father died suddenly, leaving small provision for his family, a fairy godmother came to Alicia's rescue. Emmy Haskell, whose son Arnold was to introduce the word balletomania into the English language in the 1930s through his best-selling book of that name, immediately undertook to sponsor Alicia's lessons. She encouraged the child and told her about the history of ballet. She also persuaded Arnold, then an undergraduate at Cambridge, to come and see her protege in class. Already bitten by the ballet bug, Arnold saw Alicia's potential at once.
It was Astafieva who invited Diaghilev to her studio to see her pupils, above all Alicia. After he had seen her dance, the great impresario patted her on the head and said he would engage her for his company, and, during that 1924 London season, took Alicia to see all his company's performances so that she could learn from watching his incomparable artists.
Diaghilev changed her surname to Markova, and in January 1925 she joined the troupe in Monte Carlo, accompanied by her formidable governess, known as Guggy, and placed in the care of Ninette de Valois. De Valois's brother, the photographer Gordon Anthony, visited Monte Carlo that year and was introduced to "a very small and alarmingly frail young girl with a serious and pale 'El Greco' face framed by sleek black hair. I particularly remember her lustrous dark eyes."
She was known to the company as Diaghilev's "latest idea", but Diaghilev, as always, knew what he was doing. Because she was so tiny, at first Alicia could not be used in the corps de ballet and only in a few roles, such as Red Riding Hood in Aurora's Wedding, the one-act ballet salvaged from The Sleeping Princess of 1921, and the little American girl in La Boutique Fantasque.
However, in May 1925, Diaghilev chose her to study the title role in Stravinsky's Le Rossignol, for which George Balanchine, then also at the beginning of his career, was to make new choreography. She danced the part the following month at the ballet's Paris premiere and won the admiration of the famous critic André Levinson. (More than half a century later, Markova, whose memory was phenomenal, was to recreate and teach her Rossignol solo for the George Balanchine Foundation Archive.)
During her four years with Diaghilev, Markova also danced the title role in Balanchine's La Chatte (created by Olga Spessivtseva) and Princess Florine in the Blue Bird pas de deux in Aurora's Wedding. Above all, she was accepted into the circle of painters and musicians who surrounded Diaghilev and, like all his favoured dancers, received from them a life-enhancing education.
She was promised even more roles; Diaghilev predicted a great future for his "little English girl", and Giselle would surely have followed. But in August 1929, Diaghilev died. For Markova, who was devoted to him, it seemed the end of her world. In fact, it marked the beginning of a new one - as the ballerina who would enrich the first steps of British ballet, the companies being formed by Marie Rambert and de Valois, with choreographies by Frederick Ashton.
When Rambert and Ashley Dukes opened the Ballet Club at the tiny Mercury Theatre in Notting Hill Gate in 1931, with a company consisting mainly of Rambert's pupils, Markova was engaged as a guest artist - at a fee which just about paid for her taxi home. But she had opportunities to dance some of the great classical solos, and to create roles in ballets by Antony Tudor and de Valois - such as Bar Aux Folies-Bergčre, in which she created the role of La Goulue, the can-can star, and showed unexpected humour and roguishness. The dancer's walk was based, legend has it, on the style observed by de Valois in the ladies of Soho.
Especially important was her friendship and collaboration with Frederick Ashton, who made many roles for her in ballets such as La Péri, Façade (the technically fiendish Polka), Foyer De Danse and the elegant, possibly erotic Les Masques. Of this, Markova always insisted it was "much deeper than people thought".
Markova first danced with the Vic-Wells (now Royal) Ballet in 1932 when she made some guest appearances in ballets by de Valois. In 1933 she was appointed prima ballerina and Ashton celebrated her technique, her "gaiety and warmth and wit", by making for her the ballerina role in his Les Rendezvous, his first commissioned work for the company, which premiered that December.
A momentous evening was to follow when, on New Year's Day, 1934, a night of a thick London fog, the Vic-Wells Ballet staged Giselle, for the first time, at the Old Vic. Markova danced the title role, with Dolin, as a guest, partnering her as Albrecht. The triumph was complete. Markova proved a true successor to the great line of ballerinas who had danced the ballet ever since Carlotta Grisi created it in 1841.
And it led to de Valois staging the four-act version of Le Lac Des Cygnes (as Swan Lake was billed then), thus laying the classical foundations on which her company was to build. Markova undertook the double role of Odette-Odile, partnered this time by Robert Helpmann, and set the seal on her right both to the title of ballerina and to the great classical roles. Lilian Baylis, who shared de Valois's faith in the possibility of building a native ballet company here, was well aware of Markova's importance, for it was to see her, just as much as the rest of the company and the repertory, that an audience for ballet was built up and sustained at the Old Vic and Sadler's Wells.
The salary that Miss Baylis could offer was Ł10 a week, but she gave Markova permission to accept other engagements so long as she could count on her loyalty. Without Markova, it is doubtful if the infant company could have established itself so quickly. By the time she left, in 1935, to form with Dolin their own company to pioneer ballet throughout Britain, there were young dancers capable of sharing her repertory and she had inspired, above all, Margot Fonteyn.
The Markova-Dolin Ballet lasted from 1935 to 1937 and toured widely, presenting not only the classic ballets but also works by Bronislava Nijinska, Les Biches and La Bien Aimée, and by the 18-year-old Wendy Toye, whose Aucassin And Nicolette, in designs by Motley, was one of the most popular. The company toured all over the country and generated enormous enthusiasm, even if no classical ballet had been seen there for generations. It was this pioneering aspect which appealed most to Markova, and of which she was most proud.
Her international career, disrupted by Diaghilev's death, resumed when she joined Massine's Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, from 1938 to 1941. There, she was reunited and shared roles with Alexandra Danilova, beloved Choura, who was, until her death in 1997, Markova's greatest friend in ballet. With that company she would create roles in ballets by Fokine, Les Elfes and L'Epreuve D'Amour; and by Massine, notably his Seventh Symphony (Beethoven) and Rouge Et Noir, to music by Shostakovich, with designs by Matisse, who painted the decoration on Markova's tights.
Her commitment to the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo meant that Markova, together with all the other dancers, had to leave for New York after the outbreak of war to fulfil engagements there. With that troupe until 1941, from 1941 to 1946 with American Ballet Theatre, and then with a troupe presented by Sol Hurok, featuring Markova and Dolin, she danced coast to coast across America, and visited Mexico, South America, the Caribbean, Honolulu, Manila and South Africa. Those years witnessed the height of her artistry and stardom.
Returning to Europe after the war, she became a guest of the Sadler's Wells Ballet at Covent Garden, in 1948. In two weeks, the company learned the complete production of The Sleeping Beauty, coming to it at a comparatively late stage in their careers. Markova's Aurora, I wrote at the time, was built on her beautiful stage presence, precise, almost fastidious execution and great aristocracy of bearing. Hers was a great Aurora.
Thereafter, Markova and Dolin were guests in many great cities in Europe before forming another company of their own, which Markova christened Festival Ballet (it became today's English National Ballet). The first performances were given in 1951, but Markova, having seen it successfully launched, left to dance in the US and then to guest again with the Royal Ballet. Her final ap pearances, however, were with London's Festival Ballet. She retired from the stage at the end of 1962, but her career was by no means over.
Markova subsequently directed the Metropolitan Opera Ballet (1963-69) in New York, was professor of ballet and performing arts at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati (from 1970), and became guest teacher and producer for many ballet companies throughout the world. In 2002, at the age of 91, she featured in a documentary, Alicia Markova, La Légende, made in Paris by Dominique Delouche, which showed her coaching young dancers of the Paris Opéra Ballet and working alongside the French ballerina Elisabeth Platel in Les Sylphides, which she had learned so many years before. She was as sprightly as ever. It is her - and our - good fortune that so much footage has survived to preserve the true quality of her dance and her art.
As early as 1935, Cyril Beaumont published an eloquent monograph celebrating her artistry (he had been a treasured mentor in explaining to her the place she occupied in history as the link via Pavlova back to Marie Taglioni). Other writers also sought to capture her elusive spirit. The American poet and critic Edwin Denby spoke of the "wonder a real ballerina awakens" and described her Giselle: "The beautiful slender feet in flight in the soubresauts of Act II, how she softly and slowly stretches the long instep like the softest of talons as she sails through the air; or in the échappés just after, how they flash quick as knives; or in the 'broken steps' of the mad scene of Act I, when, missing a beat, she extends one foot high up, rigidly forced, and seems to leave it there as if it were not hers... those wonderful light endings she makes, with the low drooping 'keepsake' shoulders, a complete quiet, sometimes long only as an eighth note, but perfectly still."
Denby also wrote of her acting in Giselle, as late as 1952. "The dance-like continuity she gives her gestures and mime scenes - all the actions of the stage business imbedded in phrases of movement, but each action so lightly started it seemed when it happened a perfectly spontaneous one. In this continuity, the slow rise of dramatic tension never broke or grew confused."
Markova was made CBE in 1958, DBE in 1963, and in the same year received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Award of the Royal Academy of Dancing.
She is survived by her sister Doris Barry, who, as a skilled PR officer, did much to smooth her career, and a younger sister, Vivienne, who in 1970 became Arnold Haskell's second wife. Her youngest sister, Bunny, who had a brief career as a dancer, predeceased her.
· Alicia Markova (Lilian Alicia Marks), prima ballerina, born December 1 1910; died December 2 2004
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2004.

Ł42k for drugs takeaway

South London Press
Ł42k for drugs takeaway
Dec 3 2004
A GANG who turned their Chinese takeaway into a drugs den serving up ecstasy and ketamine alongside fried rice have been stripped of their assets.
Accountant Rena Wong, 28, and mastermind Ci Kwan, 43, were ordered to pay back a total of Ł42,669, which police seized from 10 bank accounts taken out in aliases.
A third dealer, Cheng Huang, 35, was found to have "no realisable assets" so escaped having to pay back any money he made from the operation.
Inner London Crown Court was told how the trio made Ł729,016 over five years. The court heard the seemingly innocent Royal Chinese restaurant in Streatham High Road sold food at the front counter. At the rear of the shop, ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis were on the menu.
Drugs officers found more than Ł66,000 worth of drugs hidden among rice and noodles in the kitchen and in a "warehouse outlet" at a nearby flat.
Kwan, who was "right at the centre" of the organisation, admitted his role.
He was ordered to pay Ł38,772 or face a further 10 months in jail.
The court heard how he faces possible execution by firing squad back in China when he is deported after serving his six-year sentence.
Wong, who was jailed for three years and 10 months, and Cheng who got six years, both denied any part in the crime but were convicted at their trial in February.
Wong was ordered to pay back Ł3,753 or face a further three months in prison.
Police recovered 38g of cannabis from the oven, 39 ecstasy tablets in the fridge and 85 further tablets in Kwan's car parked outside when they raided the restaurant.
Officers then went to Kwan's flat in Lambeth Walk, Kennington.
Officers recovered 2.6kg of cannabis and thousands of ecstasy tablets.
Kwan pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply ecstasy, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of ketamine with intent to supply.
Wong was convicted of conspiracy to supply ecstasy, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of ketamine with intent to supply.
Huang, of Streatham High Road, Streatham, was convicted of conspiracy to supply ecstasy and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Alistair Milne, of Lambeth Financial Investigation Unit, said: 'This result follows on from excellent work by Lambeth's drug squad who are committed to ridding the area of the scourge of drugs and those who peddle in them.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2004.

COMMUNITY OFFER FOR LAST DAYS OF "CLOACA"

COMMUNITY OFFER FOR LAST DAYS OF "CLOACA"
To celebrate the successful run of "Cloaca" at The Old Vic, we are offering two very special "closing" deals exclusively to our local community for two specific performances:
Monday 6th December, 7.30pm
Best seats in the house for just Ł12. To book, call 0870 060 6628 and quote “local” offer. You must be a Lambeth or Southwark resident and bring proof of address when you pick up the tickets.
Wednesday 8th December, MATINEE (2.30pm start)
A limited allocation of complimentary tickets. Simply reply to rachael.stevens@oldvictheatre.com with name and number of tickets you would like.
“Cloaca”, directed by Kevin Spacey, stars Neil Pearson, Stephen Tompkinson, Hugh Bonneville and Adrian Lukis. The show runs at The Old Vic, The Cut, SE1 until December 11th.
Rachael
--
Rachael Stevens
The Old Vic Theatre Company
The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Direct line: 0207 902 7582

-- Rachael (rachael.stevens@oldvictheatre.com), December 02, 2004.

Alicia Markova: The Times obituary

Times
December 02, 2004
Alicia Markova: The Times obituary
Alicia Markova was still two months short of her twentieth birthday when British ballet effectively began in October 1930 with the foundation of the Ballet Club (which later became Ballet Rambert) and the first performances of the Camargo Society. This was a producing organisation which put on special programmes bringing together all available local talent, including Rambert's dancers and those of Ninette de Valois, who were soon to become the Vic-Wells Ballet although at that time still only supplementing the operas at the Old Vic.
The teenage Markova already had experience in leading roles with Diaghilev's Russian Ballet; she was blessed with a phenomenal technique and beautiful style. Inevitably, she became the first ballerina of all these emerging ventures. Just as inevitably, they were unable, with their limited resources, to contain her talent for long and she left for international fame. Most of her career was spent touring the world at the head of various companies and later as a guest star. However, her presence at a critical time proved invaluable in founding a British ballet tradition, not only by attracting audiences to the early efforts of the young companies but by the inspiration she provided both to creative artists and to other dancers.
To a later generation, Markova's fame has been hidden by the universal admiration for Margot Fonteyn; but Fonteyn, a decade younger, was one of the dancers who learned much from Markova's example, and while they were both working there was no need for rivalry between them because their gifts were different and complementary.
Lilian Alicia Marks, born in Stoke Newington, north London, had as a child shown an early interest in theatre, music and dancing, encouraged by her Irish mother. But her first formal lessons in "fancy dancing" were taken on medical advice to correct weak feet and legs. She revealed an astonishing facility and at ten earned the considerable sum of Ł10 a week as principal dancer in the pantomime Dick Whittington at Kennington Theatre, billed as "Little Alicia, the Child Pavlova".
This unwise sobriquet caused Alicia and her mother to be angrily turned away when they first applied for her admission at the age of 11 as a pupil of Seraphine Astafieva, the leading teacher in London; but the child's tears led to an audition and acceptance. In Astafieva's studio in the King's Road, Chelsea, her serious education began; here too she first met Anton Dolin, with whom her career was to be closely linked, and she was shown off to Serge Diaghilev.
When the Marks family was in straitened circumstances following the sudden death of her father (a mining engineer of Polish ancestry), it was Astafieva who persuaded Diaghilev to consider the child, still only 14, for his Russian Ballet. After a long audition with his new choreographer, George Balanchine, she was accepted.
Diaghilev renamed her Markova and placed her at first in the care of Ninette de Valois, whose initial reluctance to be saddled with the little brat quickly turned to the beginning of a lifelong friendship and mutual admiration.
Markova was so tiny that it was difficult to cast her except in carefully chosen solos. In her first season, Balanchine created for her the role of the Nightingale in his Chant du Rossignol; he also made solos for her in the world premiere of Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortilčges. There were child roles she could play in La Boutique Fantasque, Petrushka and Aurora's Wedding (as Red Riding Hood) and she was given Papillon's solo in Le Carnaval. Later she grew sufficiently to be put into the corps de ballet, which Diaghilev thought an essential step in her development, but she also danced leading parts for him in Balanchine's La Chatte , Massine's Cimarosiana and (laying the foundations of her future fame in classic roles) the "Bluebird" pas de deux and a single performance of Swan Lake Act II.
On Diaghilev's death in 1929 the company broke up. Markova returned to London and had no employment, except for a three-month opera season in Monte Carlo, until Frederick Ashton invited her to appear in dances he was doing for Nigel Playfair's production of Marriage ŕ la Mode at the Lyric, Hammersmith. With the beginnings of regular ballet seasons by British dancers later that year, Markova was immediately in heavy demand, and she became Ashton's first muse. At the Ballet Club and for the Camargo Society he made a great many highly contrasted roles for her: among them the title part in his languorously poetic La Pen, the witty polka in Façade (ending with a double tour en l'air in point shoes which nobody attempts nowadays), a sexy Creole girl in Rio Grande, the insolently proud ballerina in Foyer de Danse, the immensely chic and naughty lady friend in Les Masques, and the tragic Marguerite in Mephisto Valse. Many of these and the other roles she took then and later brought out a gift for shrewd comic characterisation far removed from the pure classic perfection for which she was most widely celebrated.
The tiny fee which was all Rambert could afford was only enough to keep Markova in ballet shoes; to support herself while immersed in constant rehearsals and performances she also had to dance three times a day between films in a cinema at Marble Arch, the choreography again by Ashton. During 1932 Markova began dancing sometimes for de Valois's company at Sadler's Wells, too, and staged Les Sylphides for them (the first evidence of her exceptional memory for choreography, which was largely based on her great musicality). In 1933 Markova and Ashton both joined the Vic-Wells Ballet. The first role he made for her there was in Les Rendezvous, a triumphant display of her wit, charm, romantic lyricism and brilliant technique.
Markova's arrival as her regular ballerina enabled de Valois to begin mounting the old classics: The Nutcracker, Giselle and Swan Lake. These were to provide a staple of Markova's repertoire from then on. For many years her Giselle was acknowledged as the best in the western world, unrivalled for the tragic depth of her acting, her phrasing of the solo in Act I (which with lesser dancers could look blatantly superficial) or the illusion of ethereality she brought to the second act. But the apparently less profound ballerina role in The Nutcracker almost equally revealed her supreme artistry, with its crystalline delicacy and beautiful detail.
During this early period of her career Markova performed for other choreographers too, most notably in ballets by de Valois, who created for her the wickedly vulgar, riotously funny role of La Goulue in Bar aux Folies Bergčres as well as the gullible pure young girl in The Rake's Progress.
In the summer of 1935 Mrs Laura Henderson, the owner of the Windmill Theatre with its undressed revues, underwrote a West End season and a provincial tour proposed and organised by her manager, Vivian van Dam, for the Vic-Wells Ballet with Markova and Dolin as its stars. This led to the idea of their starting the Markova-Dolin Ballet which toured successfully for two years with a repertoire including Nijinska's Les Biches, with Markova as the ambiguous person in blue, and what may have been the first murder-mystery ballet, Keith Lester's Death in Adagio, where, wearing a blonde wig, she was improbably but enjoyably cast as a homicidal typist. But the strain of eight performances a week prompted Markova in 1938 to accept Leonide Massine's invitation to join the new Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Her new roles there included creations in two of Massine's symphonic ballets, Seventh Symphony (Beethoven) and Rouge et Noir (Shostakovich No 1).
Markova's commitments with the Ballet Russe resulted in her finding herself in America during the Second World War and (with no obvious work for her at home) she joined Ballet Theatre in 1941, creating further roles including Princess Hermilia in Michel Fokine's last ballet, Bluebeard, the gypsy Zemphire in Massine's Aleko, and Juliet in Antony Tudor's hauntingly beautiful Romeo and Juliet to music by Delius. She also played Taglioni in Dolin's Pas de Quatre with a subtle mixture of charm and aloofness that eluded all successors, as did too her apparent ability to soar across the stage with no regard for the power of gravity. During her Ballet Theatre days, Markova took time off to dance with Dolin in the world premiere of Stravinsky's Scčnes de Ballet for a revue, The Seven Lively Arts, and to tour central America with a new Markova-Dolin group. Further tours with this group followed, and guest appearances with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, where John Taras created Camille for her (in beautiful costumes by Cecil Beaton), and de Basil's Original Ballet Russe, where she appeared in one of Jerome Robbins's early works, Pas de Trois.
These occupied her time until she and Dolin reintroduced themselves to British audiences through a guest season with the Sadler's Wells Ballet at Covent Garden, summer 1948, during which they both danced the full Sleeping Beauty for the first time. Next they pioneered the use of vast arenas for ballet (long before similar opera presentations) with seasons at the Empress Hall and at Harringay; these were followed by long tours with a supporting group as a forerunner of Festival Ballet which they founded (and Markova named) in 1950. Injuries forced Markova to leave the company in 1952 and subsequently she worked entirely as a guest artist and in concert performances, continuing however to take on new roles including Bournonville's La Sylphide which she danced with the de Cuevas company. Among her wide-ranging appearances at this time were programmes with the Indian dancer Ram Gopal, others with Pilar Lopez and her Spanish company, an Italian opera season at Drury Lane, and Ruth Page's ballets The Merry Widow and Revanche (based on Il Trovatore ) in Chicago.
Markova's last stage appearance was in 1962, but even she did not realise that until, interviewed at Heathrow on January 1, 1963, en route for New York while recovery from a tonsillectomy, she said without premeditation that her new year resolution would be to stop dancing. Following this decision, Markova became from 1963 to 1970 the director of ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and subsequently lectured at the University of Cincinnati. Even in later retirement she still staged ballets (especially Les Sylphides, which she had studied with its choreographer, Fokine) and coached dancers in some of the roles specially associated with her. Her enthusiasm remained undimmed, especially for the many activities she undertook to help the progress of young pupils studying ballet.
She was appointed CBE in 1958 and DBE in 1963. Her book Giselle and I, published in 1960, records her thoughts and experiences of her best-known part, and her reminiscences Markova Remembers (published 1986) provide a remarkably frank, informal account of her career, written with a lively humour surprising to those who knew her only in more formal circumstances. Her oft-time partner Dolin also interrupted his own stream of autobiographies for a book on her: Markova, Her Life and Work.
A dancer's work is ephemeral and no worthy record of Markova's dancing remains on film, although some of her masterclasses were shown on television. But her performances all over the world brought pleasure to innumerable spectators, and her example fired many young dancers to follow the career she herself irradiated with such lustre.
Dame Alicia Markova, ballerina, was born on December 1, 1910. She died on December 2, 2004, aged 94.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 02, 2004.

Minutes of the Area Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, 24th November 2004

Minutes of the Area Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, 24th November 2004
Minutes 24 11 04
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/029349.pdf
Released: December 2, 2004 10:53 AM
Filesize: 38kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 02, 2004.

Christmas Cheer from Roots & Shoots

Christmas Cheer from Roots & Shoots
If you live near Kennington Road, you might enjoy a visit by 'Fever Pitch', a choir singing Christmas Carols in Kennington on Thursday, December 16th from 7pm.
The choir will be starting from Thai Pavilion near the Imperial War Museum (7pm) and will be walking up to Kennington Cross stopping at a few pubs (to be arranged) on the way. If you live near Kennington Road, the choir would be pleased to drop by and sing for you!
PS. Roots & Shoots are now snowed under by Christmas Trees ready to be sold! They are also selling Christmas wreaths!
30th November
To the Friends of ‘Roots and Shoots’,
‘Fever Pitch’, a London Choir who have supported Roots and Shoots in the past and entertained us at a couple of our Open Days will be singing Christmas Carols in aid of Roots and Shoots on Thursday 16th December from 7pm in the Kennington area.
If you would like them to sing at your door or to celebrate some Christmas Cheer with some Friends as the Carollers wander through the snowy streets and squares of Kennington, then please contact Jo on the tel. number below.
We would welcome your response so they can plan their route.
We would be very grateful if you could reply by 8th December.
Just to remind you – We are now selling Christmas Trees and are open Mon – Fri and on Sat 11th and Sat 18th from 10am – 3pm.
Come and enjoy roasted chestnuts and mulled apple juice on Saturday 11th.
We are also selling Christmas wreaths, our own freshly pressed apple juice and London honey!!
Tel. no: 0207 587 1131
admin@rootsandshoots.org.uk
Roots and Shoots,
Walnut Tree Walk,
Lambeth, SE11 6DN

-- Jo (admin@rootsandshoots.org.uk), December 02, 2004.

BAZAAR: Saturday, 4th December 11am until 2pm St Anselm’s Church Kennington Cross SE11

Dear Neighbours
It's that time again!
This is just to remind you that we have another Bazaar this Saturday at St Anselm's, as usual.
Sinan and Camber have again agreed to provide the "Man & A Van" so if you need stuff collected on Friday afternoon/evening, do be in touch and I'll pass your contact details on to them.
Kate Hoey will be doing the Winter Draw at 1.30pm on Saturday, so do be sure to get your ticket stubs and money to us in good time.
Very many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
BAZAAR
Saturday, 4th December
11am until 2pm
St Anselm’s Church
Kennington Cross SE11
(at the junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Road)
New and nearly new items, books, tombola, raffle, bric-a-brac, cakes, jumble, etc: If you have items you would be willing to donate – they can all be delivered to the church on the Friday evening (3rd December) between 5.30-8pm – or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), December 01, 2004.

Raped in church grounds

South London Press
Raped in church grounds
Nov 30 2004
By Vicky Wilks
A 27-YEAR-OLD woman was dragged off the street into a church courtyard and raped.
The woman was on her way to Kennington Tube station when the attacker struck as she walked along Kennington Park Road at 10.30pm.
He dragged the victim, who comes from South-east London, into the courtyard of St Mary's Newington Church where he raped her in the enclosed grounds between the church hall and the main steeple tower.
Police said they are working on a description of the suspect but believe he is now white.
The incident occurred on Monday last week.
PC Ben Turner of Southwark Sapphire Unit, which investigates sex crimes, said: "This is a particularly brutal attack and we are working very hard to trace the person responsible.
"Anyone walking to the Tube station or waiting for a bus at that time may have seen a man forcing a young woman off the street."
Detective Inspector Kerry Pauling of, Southwark Sapphire Unit, added: "She is very traumatised. If anyone does have any information please do contact us."
Anyone with information should ring PC Ben Turner or Detective Sergeant Rupert Bonny on 020 7232 6182.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 30, 2004.

Richard and Judy uncorked

Independent > News > Media
Richard and Judy uncorked
With their new Friday afternoon Wine Club already repeating the success of their Book Club, Richard and Judy tell Ciar Byrne how they overcame a tricky start on Channel 4, ignored the rise of Paul O'Grady and are now producing vintage television.
29 November 2004
Halfway through our interview, Judy Finnigan throws a glass of wine over herself while attempting to wave goodbye to a guest. "You're not supposed to wave with the wine glass," jokes Richard Madeley, before displaying the sort of concern that has endeared viewers for more than 15 years to television's highest-paid couple - not rushing to fetch a cloth, but ordering her another glass of rosé.
Given their troubled relationship with alcohol - Richard was cleared of shoplifting after walking out of Tesco without paying for the booze stashed in the front of his trolley, while Judy has been the victim of unfounded newspaper speculation that she is a secret drinker - is it really wise to have launched a wine club on their Channel 4 magazine show?
The answer is yes. The Richard & Judy Wine Club, which invites viewers to drink along with the couple on a Friday afternoon, is a canny commercial enterprise. So far more than 40,000 people have paid up to Ł54.95 for one of the cases of wine that accompany the show. They have achieved the "Delia effect" - when they showcased French chardonnay, it was soon "walking off the shelves", says Madeley, in a slightly unfortunate analogy.
"They have pitched it at exactly the right level for beginners who want to learn a little more and might feel a bit intimidated by other vehicles out there," says Guy Woodward, deputy editor of the wine magazine Decanter.
The semi-voyeuristic appeal of watching a husband-and-wife presenting team living out their marriage on air, tiffs and all, has helped to turn Madeley and Finnigan into a major force in British television. They earn more than Ł1m a year apiece, and Channel 4's head of programmes, Kevin Lygo, has described their show, which regularly attracts ratings of up to 2.6 million, as "the cornerstone of the schedule". In May they signed a Ł6.5m three-year deal to stay at Channel 4, making them the best-paid duo in television. As presenters, only Graham Norton and the soon-to-retire Sir Trevor McDonald are paid more.
The wine club follows the tremendously successful Richard & Judy Book Club. A mention on the show can send a title soaring to the top of the book charts - the couple's favourite read, Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor, saw a 350 per cent sales increase and is the best-selling book of 2004 to date.
"They have awakened a whole new sector of the market. They have really engaged with the books in a way that has made people want to go out and read more, which is a very difficult thing to do on telly. The book industry has gone 'Wow, this is so huge'," says Joel Rickett, deputy editor of The Bookseller.
Success has been hard won, however. When the show launched three years ago, it was plagued by low ratings and scathing reviews, and Channel 4 was left wondering whether it had done the right thing in poaching the presenters from ITV's This Morning, the daytime magazine show that made their name.
Madeley, whose desire to be open and frank is mirrored in his body language - he soon abandons his chair to sit cross-legged on the floor of the green room where we are talking after their show and even, helpfully, holds my tape recorder - admits that Channel 4 had doubts in the early days. "When it was a bit rocky to begin with, naturally they were a little bit 'Oh shit, have we made the wrong decision?'."
The show was launched two months earlier than expected - Cactus Television, the independent production company jointly managed by Jonathan Ross's brother Simon and his wife Amanda which makes the programme, was forced to convert an old polystyrene factory in London's Kennington into a bespoke studio in record time. It soon became clear that adapting a double act who had made their name in a late-morning slot to a more sophisticated early evening audience was going to take time.
The launch show on 26 November 2001 attracted an initial audience of 2.5 million, but lost 800,000 viewers in the first 15 minutes, and ratings soon slumped to as low as 1 million.
Madeley says: "We thought we'd got the format OK, and then you go on air and the live reality is so different from the theory that you've been practising in the studio. You can get the technicals right on the pilots, but the heart, the soul and the personality of a live-sequence show like this only comes through doing it. We realised that after a week, and we thought 'Oh fuck, this is actually going to take us probably three to six months to get right'."
But the press was not prepared to give the pair any breathing space, and quickly pounced on the show.
Madeley admits: "Of course the critics, fair enough, realised that it wasn't right and fell on us like falcons really. It would have been a very good story to say that we'd left this successful show called This Morning with a big company like Granada, come to Channel 4 and fucked up, fallen flat on our faces."
While other presenters might have ignored the headlines, they read every word the newspapers printed about them, and were determined to prove them wrong. Finnigan, who has declined to join her husband on the floor and is still sitting demurely in a chair, says they kept faith they could turn their brand of charm on Channel 4 viewers - a more upmarket bunch than the slackers, students and stay-at-home parents who tuned into This Morning. "Instinctively, deep down, we knew we'd got it right, it just takes a long time to bed in. I remember people asking us daft things like 'Are you going to get really hip and cool because it's Channel 4 and are you going to start wearing leather?'. No. There's no way without looking like complete prats we could get away with that, not that we would want to either. We're still essentially ourselves."
Madeley adds: "We just had to keep going really. We used to read the reviews in newspapers like the Mail which were really out to get us - it did turn into a bit of a vendetta - and we thought 'OK, that's their world, this is our world, either we sort this out ourselves, to use a military analogy we fight to get off the beaches, or we give in'. And we just kept fighting."
Over the ensuing months, both Channel 4 and its new presenters learnt to relax. While initial programmes included as many as 17 items, because the channel wanted the show to be "slick and pacy", they quickly realised that it worked better with just three or four main features.
Madeley and Finnigan differ in their appraisal of when the show reached a turning point. For him, it was a review in the Financial Times, which praised the show for taking criticisms on board and made the "very clever" observation that to begin with they had been overly concerned with differentiating the programme from This Morning, "defining ourselves by what we weren't".
For Finnigan, the more cautious of the two, the critical moment came later on when the ratings for the book club proved it was a hit, boosting the audience by up to 400,000. The idea of a television reading group was something that the couple had unsuccessfully tried to convince ITV to do on This Morning - the channel refused, claiming that viewers would be bored.
Before Madeley and Finnigan joined Channel 4, the hour between 5pm and 6pm was regarded as the "graveyard slot" by most schedulers. When Richard & Judy took off, however, ITV realised the massive potential of the time slot, and programme chief Nigel Pickard pulled out all the stops to tempt them back to the channel, offering them "quite a lot more money" to move the show lock, stock and barrel. But Finnigan and Madeley were sceptical about whether ITV would welcome the more upmarket ABC1 audience they are now attracting.
Finnigan says: "We all looked at each other and thought, 'They are not going to want this demographic. ITV does not have the same audience'."
ITV responded by launching its own teatime chatshow, hosted by Paul O'Grady, which has recently trumped Richard & Judy in the ratings, albeit with more downmarket fare. In the New Year, ITV plans to move Today with Des and Mel to the slot, with veteran chatshow host Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes. Finnigan and Madeley have known O'Grady for years - as his alter ego Lily Savage, he was a regular guest on This Morning - but relations seemed to have soured after Cactus insisted that Joan Collins could not appear on ITV before honouring a prior commitment to Richard & Judy. When the couple secured a coveted interview with Madonna, O'Grady was quoted as saying: "I don't give a toss who Richard and Judy have got - it could be the Pope for all I care. Whoever they get, I'll still be nailing them in the ratings day in and day out."
Amanda Ross, the energetic joint managing director of Cactus, admits that the show does have a "tough guest policy" which means it will not interview guests who have appeared on other daytime chatshows, but rubbishes reports that the company threatened to ban other authors from Collins's publisher, Robson Books.
O'Grady has since sent a big bunch of flowers and a letter of apology explaining that he was misquoted.
"Paul is what you might call a very volatile person," says Finnigan. "I think he says things without thinking about it and without realising what he's really said. But as far as we're concerned there's no way that we are in a ratings war with him. Our audience is completely solid and it's building year on year. We've not lost one viewer to ITV. Paul's supposed rivalry with us, whether he really feels like that or not, is just bonkers as far as we're concerned."
They quit This Morning in 2001, following a series of rows with the team then in charge at ITV network centre, most notoriously with former head of daytime television, Maureen Duffy, dubbed "Duffy the vampire slayer" by the press, whom they believed had been charged with making the programme work without them.
Madeley is candid. "The truth of the matter was that we were pissed off... ITV became very worried about what would happen to This Morning if we were poached, if we got run over by a bus, went into the Grand Canyon on our summer holiday. They increasingly, very gently, but in a rather sinister way, tried to remove us from our own programme."
When the message came down on from on high that the couple should not take part in the daily phone-in, one of the highlights of the show, and that they should conduct interviews separately, Madeley says, "we said 'fuck off' and Granada said 'fuck off', but this kept happening and we just got pissed off".
Ironically, they both insist that they had no intention of leaving before the arguments began. But when Ross, a friend of the couple, realised they were becoming increasingly unhappy, she made overtures to Channel 4 on their behalf.
Finnigan says she is "happier here professionally than any job I have ever done". As well as presenting the show, Madeley and Finnigan are executive producers. They arrive at Cactus each morning at 11.30am and spend the rest of the day in production meetings with the Rosses and rehearsals. The entire building - including a purpose-built studio, newsroom and editing suites - is a Richard & Judy factory. It is small wonder that their increasingly high-profile guests enjoy coming here to be interviewed. An on-site chef prepares canapés for after the show, and the dressing-rooms are among the best in town. Each is equipped with a shower room, a large Venetian-style mirror and a hand-picked gift - Sir Elton John was recently presented with the latest must-have black leather travel bag as featured in Vogue, while Madonna liked her present of a purple handbag so much that she immediately went online to order similar accessories for her friends.
Their list of interviewees is impressive - Bill and Hillary Clinton, Cherie Blair, Madeleine Albright, Tom Hanks, Halle Berry and Leonardo DiCaprio have all sat on the purple celebrity sofa. One wonders what the former US president made of the inane quiz slot "You Say, We Pay", in which viewers have to describe a series of items to the couple without using their names in return for a cash prize.
Madeley explains their interviewing technique. "We're not soft, but we're never judgemental. We try to be journalistically fair. That doesn't mean holding back on difficult questions, it just means not coming at people with an attitude. If you've been doing it for as long as we have, word gets out that you're not going to look like you're playing a game of softball with me and Judy, but equally, they're not going to stitch you up."
They both agree that Hillary Clinton has been their favourite guest to date - describing the "bulletproof moment" when she realised her interviewers just wanted a friendly conversation, and let down the invisible screen she had until then put up between her and them.
The pair met in the early 1980s when they were working together on Granada Reports in Manchester. They quickly became a couple, leaving their first marriages behind, and in 1988 were chosen to become the faces of ITV's new daytime magazine show This Morning. Both are keen to stress their background as journalists. Finnigan's first on-screen role was as Anglia Television's first female reporter, while Madeley began his career on local papers in Essex and London. At 19, he joined BBC Radio Cumbria as a news producer, and went on to work as a reporter and presenter for Border Television and Yorkshire Television.
Asked how they have managed to stay at the top of their profession for so long, Finnigan says: "I'd like to say it's because we're both good journalists, but I know it's not entirely that. It's clear that people do like the fact that we have a relationship and a married relationship which allows us to be more open with each other."
In preparation for the show, they read all of the newspapers, make sure they catch one of the lunchtime news bulletins and insist on being given a breaking-news list before they go on air.
Madeley reveals: "When we were on This Morning, we used to do a four-day week and John Leslie was my stand-in on a Friday. I'm not dissing him, I'm just saying I used to go into my dressing-room on a Monday to find all of Friday's newspapers still bound up with twine. And I thought, 'How the fuck can you go on air with a show like This Morning, which is a live show, news reactive, not reading the papers?'."
So what does the future hold for the husband-and-wife team? It is "too early to say" whether they will sign another deal with Channel 4 in three years' time. They have no ambitions to pursue individual projects, insisting they have already proved they can work separately and "can't be arsed really".
The one place that it seems highly unlikely they will end up working is the BBC, which they both find "frightening", even under their former boss at Channel 4, Mark Thompson. "It would be a little like an artist working for the Civil Service," says Madeley, without a hint of irony.
Both have book contracts on the table - they co-wrote an autobiography published in 2002 and also write a weekly column for the Daily Express - and Finnigan in particular is keen to try her hand at fiction.
Madeley says: "The next thing is at some point to find time to smell the flowers. Five days a week - it's only telly, it's not digging ditches, you're not on a chain gang - but, I'm sorry, it is quite tiring and intellectually demanding." Despite this professed lack of further ambition, when I ask whether they would like to step into Michael Parkinson's role as late-night chatshow hosts, Finnigan praises Parky's "longevity" and Madeley's eyes light up. "Yeah, maybe some kind of Saturday-night version of what we do now," he says. There is clearly life beyond the purple sofa.
LIFE AND TIMES: GOLDEN COUPLE
Early years
Born in Manchester in 1948, Finnigan attended Manchester High School for Girls before reading English and Drama at Bristol University. Essex-boy Madeley, eight years her junior, started out as a rookie reporter on local newspapers in Essex and London. At 19, he went north to work as a news producer on BBC Radio Cumbria.
Regional reporters
In 1978, Madeley joined Border Television as a reporter and presenter, and two years later moved to Yorkshire Television, where he reported and presented on the news magazine programme Calendar. Meanwhile, Finnigan had joined Granada TV as a researcher in 1971. In 1974 she took her first on-screen job as Anglia Television's first female reporter.
Granada Reports
Finnigan rejoined Granada in 1980, working on a range of live programmes including Flying Start, Scramble and Granada Reports. In 1982, Madeley was recruited to co-present Granada Reports. On his first day in the job he was greeted by Finnigan, who had been asked to look after him as part of a parenting scheme. "Boo," she said. "I'm your mummy." They quickly became a couple.
This Morning
In 1988, Finnigan and Madeley were asked to become the faces of ITV's new morning magazine show, This Morning. They were to stay there for the next 13 years. Highlights included Finnigan greeting Keith Chegwin's admission of alcoholism with the words, "You've got a lot of bottle", and Madeley impersonating Ali G. They quit in 2001 to join Channel 4, following a series of rows with ITV network centre.
Trials and tribulations
The usually upbeat Madeley hit a low in 1990, when he was accused of stealing alcohol from Tesco after forgetting to pay for bottles in the front of his supermarket trolley. He fought for a year in court and cleared his name. Finnigan's most embarrassing moment came when her dress fell apart on stage during the National Television Awards.
Richard & Judy
Since 2001, Madeley and Finnigan have presented the 5pm to 6pm show on Channel 4. Disappointing early ratings were turned around by the success of the Richard & Judy Book Club, which has taken the publishing industry by storm - the 16 titles featured on their show this year were worth Ł22m or two per cent of the total consumer market, according to The Bookseller. They are now aiming to build on this success with a wine club, and more clubs are planned next year. Guests on the show have included Bill and Hillary Clinton, Cherie Blair and Madonna.
Family life
The couple have a teenage son and daughter, Jack and Chloe, in addition to Finnigan's adult twins, Tom and Dan, from her first marriage. They have homes in Hampstead, Cornwall and Florida, and in their spare time enjoy watching The Simpsons and repeats of Frasier.
Oliver Duff
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 29, 2004.

Pigeons

Pigeons
We have learned that one unfortunate member recently developed septicaemia, spent five weeks in hospital, and nearly had her leg amputated to save her life! All because of pigeons!
They were nesting in the guttering which then developed a leak. This water was contaminated and when it came into contact with a very small scratch on her leg, our member nearly died.
We are told that pigeons also very often nest in attics where they can foul uncovered water tanks. This apparently happens more often than you would think. We have been urged to advise you that cold water supply tanks must have a cover to protect the water from birds, mice, etc. This is a massive problem where a block of flats share a water tank.
The following information from Nottingham City Council's website is relevant.
Pigeon Control
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coun/department/des/publicprotection/publichealth/publichealth.asp
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coun/department/des/publicprotection/publichealth/pigeoninfo.asp
Pigeons and their excrement can cause damage to buildings and illness to the public. Pigeons should be deterred from roosting as excrement builds up quickly. Throwing bread or other food waste will attract pigeons and their associated problems and perhaps other pests such as rats. Illnesses and problems linked with pigeons include:
Psittacosis - a flu like illness which can cause death in vulnerable people
Meningitis - rare, but one causative agent is commonly found in pigeon nests
Salmonella - diarrhoea, vomiting and in extreme cases septicaemia and possibly death
Skin diseases
Insects including mites and fleas
Attraction to rats
Aggravated chest problems and asthma
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coun/department/des/publicprotection/publichealth/pigeon.asp

-- Cathy (kenningtonassn@aol.com), November 29, 2004.

Do MPs really need to hunt for something worthwhile to debate?

Independent - Letters
20 November 2004
Do MPs really need to hunt for something worthwhile to debate?
Sir: British politicians, especially on the right, talk a lot about how the UK is giving up powers to Brussels. It is vital, they say, that democratic control stays in Westminster.
Let's look at how the MPs have spent their time recently: resolving to wage war in Iraq (100,000 dead at the most recent estimate) - 10 hours; discussing the sixfold growth in the Chinese economy since 1984 and the challenge it poses to the UK and Europe - two written questions, one on the illegal importation of cat and dog fur, one on Chinese inward investment into the UK.
Instead we learn that some 700 hours of parliamentary debate has been spent on arguing about whether to ban hunting. The Government has grown used to dangling this childish bauble in front of MPs whenever they need distracting. And the MPs have fallen for it every time.
There is more than one way for democracy to die. You can have phoney parliaments and bogus elections (ŕ la Stalin), you can arrest and kill your opponents (ŕ la Hitler), or the political class can quietly demonstrate their incompetence.
MARK ROGERS
London SE11

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 27, 2004.

Christmas Market

Christmas Market
to be held at
St Anselm's Church Hall
on
Saturday 27th November
starting at 2 pm

-- Betty (bettysevern@yahoo.co.uk), November 27, 2004.

Police appeal over church rape

Evening Standard
26/11/04 - London news section
Police appeal over church rape
Police are appealing for witnesses after a woman was brutally raped in a church courtyard.
The 27-year-old was dragged into the courtyard of St Mary's Newington Church, Kennington as she walked to a Tube station along Kennington Park Road at 10.30pm on Monday.
PC Ben Turner, of Southwark Sapphire Unit, said: "This is a particularly brutal attack and we are working very hard to trace the person responsible.
"Anyone walking to the tube station or waiting for a bus at that time may have seen a man forcing a young woman off the street. If you did see something, we urge you to contact us.
"We have no description of the suspect. We are unsure of ethnicity, but he is not thought to be white."
The victim is 5"5 with brown mid-length hair. She was wearing a white top and dark trousers.
Anyone with information about the attack should contact PC Ben Turner or DS Rupert Bonny, at Southwark Sapphire Unit on 020 7232 6182.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/14983590?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 26, 2004.

Ł7m auction of properties

South London Press
Ł7m auction of properties
Nov 26 2004
By Zara Bishop
AN AUCTION of council property is expected to net the authority more than Ł7million.
Twelve lots with a total guide price of Ł7,225,000 will go under the hammer to raise money for Lambeth council.
It is being disposed of as part of a Ł20million property sell off by the authority.
Camberwell-based auctioneers Andrews Robertson will be handling the sales in the New Connaught Rooms in Great Queen Street, Covent Garden on Thursday, December 9.
Bids are invited for a parade of 19 shops in Kennington Park Road and Kennington Road valued at Ł2.5million.
A former residential home with outbuildings including a bungalow in Garrad's Road, Streatham, has a guide price of Ł900,000.
Eleven shops in Wilcox Road, Vauxhall, were valued at Ł800,000 and four shops next to each other in Woodvale Walk, West Norwood, have a guide price of Ł190,000.
A commercial unit and the 11 shops beneath it in Lower Marsh and Launcelot Street are expected to fetch at least Ł500,000.
The rest of the portfolio of seven properties have a combined guide price of Ł2,350,000.
Councillor Ashley Lumsden, Lambeth council's executive member for finance, said: "We are looking to raise as much as we can so we can invest it in things local residents have told us they want to see improved.
"Resurfacing of roads, improvements in parks and improvements to people's homes are the three big areas we are keen to invest in."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 26, 2004.

OLDER PERSONS CHRISTMAS PARTY at The Durning Library

The Durning Library
OLDER PERSONS CHRISTMAS PARTY
Come and join in the festive spirit
At
The Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane
SE11 4HF
020 7926 8682
on
Wednesday 15th December 2004
2.30pm - 4pm
MERRY CHRISTMAS

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 25, 2004.

Seasonal celebrations for North Lambeth

Lambeth
Seasonal celebrations for North Lambeth
There is plenty of festive fun planned for the north Lambeth area over the next couple of weeks when two sets of Christmas lights are switched on.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/029134.pdf
Released: 23 November, 2004 04:46
Filesize: 12kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 24, 2004.

'Party pooper' Mayor told to lighten up

South London Press
'Party pooper' Mayor told to lighten up
Nov 23 2004
By Vicky Wilks
KEN Livingstone has been branded a "party pooper" as his plans for New Year celebrations come under attack.
The London Mayor has a Ł1million budget, but will offer just a short fireworks display at the London Eye.
The plans have been criticised by Liberal Democrats as being for television cameras rather than the people of London. The party has also criticised him for failing to publicise any events.
A spokesman for the Liberal Democrat London Assembly group said: "Last year, it was not safe for people to go to the Eye so they erected screens in Trafalgar Square.
"The money is going to be used to do the same firework display again this year - that's not really for Londoners, it's for the telly. Why not have a party for Londoners? We have Trafalgar Square which has now been pedestrianised and is a world-class venue as Ken Livingstone keeps pointing out."
The spokesman added other cities such as Edinburgh, Sydney and New York held street parties.
Mr Livingstone responded: "London will celebrate New Year's Eve with a spectacular firework display, visible from all over London and with 150,000 Londoners able to view directly in the vicinity of the London Eye."
In South London there has been little mention of Christmas celebrations so far.
A Lambeth council spokeswoman said there was no Christmas event confirmed for Brixton, while only Streatham has so far been lit up. Its lights were switched on by Mayor Irene Kimm on Saturday.
The council spokeswoman said England cricketer Graham Thorpe was due to switch on Clapham's lights at Lavender Bar and Restaurant, Clapham Road, at 6pm on Thursday.
Actress Maureen Lipman will flick the switch in Waterloo at Cubana Bar and Restaurant, Lower Marsh, at 6pm on December 1.
In Kennington, there will be a day of festive fun at St Anselm's Church, Kennington Road, on Wednesday, December 8.
In Southwark, a Frost Fair is planned alongside Bankside between noon and 10pm, on Friday, December 17.
There will also be a Flavas Festival in Peckham Square between December 3 and 5.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 24, 2004.

Cowardly OAP killer jailed for life

South London Press
Cowardly OAP killer jailed for life
Nov 23 2004
A CONVICTED rapist who battered an 82-year-old woman to death has been jailed for life.
Serial robber Elroy Simmonds, 26, preyed on frail and elderly pensioners across South London for "easy cash".
Hilda Ashdown -- his sixth victim - died of a brain haemorrhage 10 days after he attacked her in her Camberwell flat.
The Old Bailey heard how Simmonds and an accomplice burst in as Mrs Ash-down cooked chips with the front door to the flat left open.
Simmonds repeatedly punched her in the face and kicked her as both demanded cash.
Mrs Ashdown was later found by her son slumped and bleeding heavily in the flat in Monclar Road, Denmark Hill.
Simmonds, of White Hart Street, Kennington, was later linked to the murder when cops found her blood on his trainers. He denied murder, 10 robberies and two counts of assault with intent to rob. A jury found him guilty of all charges except one of robbery, where they failed to reach a verdict.
Speaking after the sentencing on Friday, Detective Superintendent Gary Richardson said: "Elroy Simmonds targeted the most vulnerable people in the community - elderly people, mostly women living alone - which tells you what kind of a man he is.
"He was after easy cash. I've no doubt whatsoever that the streets of South London are a safer place with him behind bars."
The court heard how Simmonds began his criminal career aged 14 robbing schoolchildren in South London.
In 1996, he was jailed for six years for raping and attempting to rob a 49-year-old woman.
His latest robbing spree began in June 2002 when he attacked and fought with pensioner Eric Kjaer.
He resumed his attacks eight months later, targeting Mrs Ashdown in March 2003. He was arrested around a month later.
Judge Stephen Kramer jailed him for life for the murder and a total of 12 years for the robbery and assault charges, to run concurrently.
He said: "You did not use weapons - you did not need to. You terrified each of them.
"It might be said, in view of your targets, it was only a matter of time before you killed one of your victims.
"You are a danger, particularly to the old and the vulnerable, and a devious and scheming young man.
"You have shown no remorse and no regret at any stage. The sentence for murder is mandatory, it is life imprisonment."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 24, 2004.

Fairytales – the Grimm truth

Times
November 22, 2004
Fairytales – the Grimm truth
Heather Neill
Children’s Christmas shows are reviving the darker edge of traditional stories
DANIEL CERQUEIRA is a strapping figure in jeans, sweatshirt — and a sweet pair of Cuban heels decorated with floppy roses. Roaring down the steeply raked circular practice set in the Young Vic’s Kennington rehearsal room, he is already both funny and frightening. But then, as a queenly Ogress with a taste for human flesh, he is meant to be. Cerqueira’s cannibalistic character is returning in Sleeping Beauty, Rufus Norris’s 2002 success, which this Christmas will be at the Barbican.
As much as anyone this season, that Ogress personifies the prevailing idea: fairytales are more to do with blood and guts than sweetness and light.
This isn’t a departure from the true nature of fairytales, argue writers and directors, rather a return to their essence before the Victorians diluted their power and Disney frosted them with sugar.
In Stratford Laurence Boswell is bringing back last year’s touching, funny and expertly choreographed Beauty and the Beast for the Royal Shakespeare Company. “In our version, quite a few of Beauty’s predecessors have been eaten,” he says cheerfully.
At the Watermill in Newbury Andy Brereton is directing Neil Duffield’s version of Arabian Nights and it is he who uses the word “trapped” to describe the effect of capturing oral tales in print. In these three cases the “trapping” took place in 17th or 18th-century France — most famously by Charles Perrault in his Contes de ma mčre l’oye (Tales of Mother Goose) — but modern audiences may be surprised to find just how much of the earthiness, the sexuality and the cruelty were present in those early literary versions.
In a pre-Perrault variation of Sleeping Beauty, recounted by Marina Warner in From the Beast to the Blonde, the dozy heroine had two children by a married king without waking up. The king’s jealous wife later invited all three to court and proposed cooking the children in a pie for her husband to eat. Norris has combined the cook who saved their lives with the fairy who originally cursed the princess into the conscience-stricken fairy Goody. In Perrault’s retelling, the cruel queen has become the Ogress, Beauty’s mother-in-law, reinstated by Norris.
“Perrault is the most fun,” he says, “keeping the darkness, while shedding child-unfriendly aspects, but it has two distinct parts — before and after the long sleep — and a main character who doesn’t do anything.” Combining the two most active characters, the bad fairy and the cook, solves the structural problem and satisfyingly mixes good and evil in one character.
Norris is fascinated by the moral ambiguity of nature, represented here by a wild forest of speaking Thorns, while his wide-awake Beauty is an active heroine who helps to save her own children.
Sooner or later adapters of fairytales refer to the psychologist Bruno Bettelheim’s book The Uses of Enchantment. “Bettelheim said that Beauty and the Beast is about the awakening to adulthood through sexuality,” says Boswell. “It is about leaving home, about discovering yourself through facing something which is terrifying” — all of which could equally apply to Sleeping Beauty and Scheherazade in Arabian Nights, who saves her life by telling stories to keep the murderous Sultan’s interest after he has already dispatched 999 brides. According to Brereton, in an early version, “She ended up with three sons by the end of 1001 nights. It was quite saucy.”
Fairytales frequently include a problematic mother or mother-figure. Norris’s Ogress presents a threat to Beauty, but recognises her own dilemma: wanting to eat the thing she most loves. In Northampton Royal’s Hansel and Gretel, Phil Porter has conflated the children’s mother with the witch in the candy house in the Grimms’ tale. His witch ends up as biscuits and sweets given to the children, thus turning them into cannibals. More people-eating.
Bettelheim praised fairytales for making it clear that “a struggle against severe difficulties in life is unavoidable”. Hans Christian Andersen, whose bicentenary falls next year, drew on traditional themes, especially death and ageing, so wholeheartedly that he is often mentioned in the same breath as Perrault and Grimm.
Pam Gems’s version of The Little Mermaid for Sphinx Theatre will resume its tour next year, while The Little Fir Tree is the Christmas offering at the Crucible Studio in Sheffield. Both tales caution that if you get what you wish for you may regret it. The mermaid forgoes her nature to pursue a mortal who does not love her.
It is a bleak tale and Gems said she had to find “a fusion of ideas” in a post-Christian, post-Freudian world without “losing the strange Dane”. She has humanised the original and introduced some humour, but the darkness remains.
Andersen was a lonely man and the writer James Phillips regards the story of the little fir tree, which is cut down, festooned in baubles and then neglected and finally chopped up, as autobiographical, “an ugly duckling which didn’t turn into a swan”. He has introduced other characters, “new incidents and a bit of comedy, but you have to go into the darkness. Kids are up for it and for complexity of ideas; it’s parents who worry.”
In preliterate times fairytales must have reflected the circumstances of teller and audience, which probably included people of all ages. These latest stage versions are firmly in that tradition, reflecting a morally ambiguous age, but one which is also playful and in which women take a leading role.
Meekly wait for your prince? Not likely! You might just end up as someone’s snack.
WHERE TO ENJOY THE FULL HORROR
SLEEPING BEAUTY
Barbican (020-7638 8891)
Dec 11 Jan 11
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon (0870 6091110)
Until Jan 16
ARABIAN NIGHTS
Watermill, Newbury (01635 46044)
Dec 1-Jan 8
HANSEL AND GRETEL
Royal, Northampton (01604 624811)
Dec 7-Jan 15
THE LITTLE FIR TREE
Crucible Studio, Sheffield (0114 2496000)
Dec 9-Jan 8

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 22, 2004.

Offending we will go, offending we will go...

Telegraph
Offending we will go, offending we will go...
Filed: 21/11/2004)
After the bill to ban hunting was passed last week, Melissa Kite rode out with the Surrey Union Hunt at Effingham Hill Farm near Cobham where men in pink are brewing civic disobedience.
As the riders of the Surrey Union Hunt exchanged small talk beneath a pink November sky, there was little to suggest that this was anything other than a cordial social scene.
While impatient hooves crunched the frosty ground, the chatter was about last night's dinner party and plans for the weekend. And yet, as the 50 riders and professional huntsmen began Friday's meet at Effingham Hill Farm near Cobham, there were undercurrents of rebellion.
In the car park, men in red coats handed out flyers. The leaflets contained precise instructions for the actions to be taken in three months' time, when this social get-together will become a crime.
Until now, the ladies and gents of the Surrey Union have indulged in nothing more risky than a sip from a hip flask and a sneaky cigarette. (They also, of course, hurtle across open country on spirited mares.) However, when the hunting ban comes into force in February - barring a legal challenge or a stay of execution from Tony Blair - they will have a more serious pastime on their hands.
The leaflet, which is being distributed to hunts up and down the country, instructs members that when the ban comes into effect they should restyle themselves as "hound exercise" clubs in order to be able to pursue a legal activity that will permit their survival.
"On the first day of outlawed hunting individual followers may then get together, each taking charge of a hound or two, and overtly break the law by hunting forbidden quarry," it advises. "Should anyone be arrested then all others would come forward also to offer themselves for arrest. All would plead guilty in court and the hope is that as many as possible would refuse to pay fines and prefer to go to jail."
The leaflet counsels restraint and suggests that hunting people always co-operate with the police by turning themselves in. Violence is to be avoided "at all costs", it urges. "The aim is to ensure that a great many people obtain a criminal record, so that a future government will see the need to repeal the ban and rectify the injustice."
Like housewives during the Blitz, everyone in the polite crowd was ready to do their bit. The Surrey Union has swelled in numbers and many young people and metropolitan types are flocking to join. Karl Sessions, 28, from Kennington, south London, on his first hunt, said: "I don't think a ban is justified. I came to see hunting for myself before deciding. I think I will come again." Izzy Myers, 31, from Roehampton, south London, called it"a travesty".
Most at the hunt were determined to look on the bright side, many seeming unable to face the fact that the ban is now a reality. When a man in a Ford Escort wound down his window and shouted, "Only 90 days to go!", one young rider asked: "What does he mean?" Someone explained and he said: "Oh, the ban . . ."
Seven years after a private member's bill was introduced to end hunting with dogs, the ban was made law on Thursday. As this paper predicted last , it was a kamikaze move by peers that led to hunting being made illegal by February.
The Hunting Bill was forced through amid scenes of chaos and confusion, with the Lords wrecking a delaying motion that would have postponed it for 18 months. Their move dashed Tony Blair's last hope of avoiding full-scale civil disobedience by huntsmen in the run-up to a general election next spring.
Not before the motion proposing the delay had been flung between the two houses in a desperate round of ping pong, however. Ministers and their appointees tried every trick and ruse they could think of to have a ban, but not one that would come into force straight away.
In the end, seven years of impassioned campaigning by Labour MPs came down to a desperate wrangle between Commons and Lords clerks over whether the Government could force through a delay without the consent of peers. As the clerks danced on the head of a pin, ministers proposed a compromise delay until 2006.
Labour backbenchers yelled at Hilary Armstrong, the chief whip, in the Commons canteen: "We don't trust you. It's a trick." In a measure of the paranoia now rife on the Labour benches, they believed it was an attempt by the Prime Minister to invalidate and destroy his own Bill by the back door.
As the Commons lobbies reverberated to the deranged sound of clang after clang of division bell, the Labour MP Stephen Pound summed up the mood as he rushed past to vote on a series of baffling amendments: "Madness, pure madness."
When the Lords finally put the kibosh on the delay, Alun Michael, the rural affairs minister, accused the Lords of being "like turkeys voting for Christmas". All that was left was for the Speaker to declare at 9.02pm that the Parliament Act was duly invoked, to cries of "shame" from the Tory benches and cheers from Labour.
By this time, hunt supporters were demonstrating outside Windsor Castle as Mr Blair met Jacques Chirac. The French President duly obliged the hunting lobby by declaring hunting "a fine sport". It was perhaps a foretaste of the embarrassment pro-hunters hope to inflict on Mr Blair in the weeks and months ahead.
Many had given up hope long ago that a way could be found to preserve the 300-year-old tradition, an industry worth Ł15 million a year that involves half a million people.
Only a few die-hard optimists in the Countryside Alliance were still insisting, as MPs began to debate the Bill on Tuesday, that Tony Blair would persuade enough Labour MPs to back a compromise and hand them a last reprieve. "We're still confident Mr Blair can do it," said one. By Tuesday night, when MPs had roundly rejected a compromise by 321 votes to 204, such optimism finally died away.
Everyone in the debate now agrees on one thing. The past two weeks have been more about pinning the blame than finding a solution. For his part, Mr Blair voted with the majority of Tory MPs for a licensed hunting compromise on Tuesday. But many saw it simply as an attempt to wash his hands of the ban, which was after all a Government bill. Others saw it as an example of pitiful weakness. Mr Blair's lead was ignored by six cabinet members and 50 other ministers who voted for abolition.
Ministers may introduce a separate one-line Bill in the next few weeks to delay the ban, but this will need the support of the Lords and cannot be subjected to the Parliament Act. Peers say they will not back it. "We buy huntsmen a little more time before we kill them and we let Blair off the hook," as one senior Tory put it.
As things are, Mr Blair could face deep embarrassment in the run-up to the election if hunting people mount demonstrations to rival the fuel protests that took place before the last election. It has also made it easier to challenge the Bill under human rights legislation, because the Joint Committee on Human Rights has ruled that the Bill is only compatible with EU law if it has an 18-month delay to allow huntsmen to prepare.
The Tory leadership does not share the view that hunting is a good election issue. They agree with Labour strategists that scenes involving angry landowners in green wellies will only motivate millions to support Tony Blair. The Prime Minister's own polling shows that 20 per cent of people are passionately against hunting, 10 per cent passionately in favour and 70 per cent are uninterested.
Michael Howard may question the wisdom of it, but hunting people are still preparing to do all they can to help Tories in marginal seats, even promising to put envelopes through doors for them.
A legal challenge to the use of the Parliament Act - the basis of which is the quaint inanity that the Parliament Act of 1949 was itself forced through using the Parliament Act of 1911, which it was replacing because it was invalid - has now begun. If successful, it could overturn not only the Hunting Act but all other legislation passed using the Act, including the War Crimes Act and the Sexual Offences Amendment Act, which lowered the age of consent to 16 for homosexuals.
Few believe that either this challenge or a separate human rights action using EU law will work. The Countryside Alliance admits privately that the main tactic now is to keep hunting going in some legal form so that it can one day be revived in its fox-killing guise.
"Sod the legal challenge," said one well-known hunting campaigner. "If we can keep up morale, that is more crucial than anything else. We need to keep ourselves going and then, whenever we get rid of this f***ing government, whether it is in six years or 11 years' time, we will still be there."
Until then, there is little the thousands of people whose jobs are at stake can do except to make life as difficult for Mr Blair as they can. As one hunt member put it: "They can ban hunting, but they can't ban us."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 21, 2004.

Man jailed for pensioner's murder

BBC News
Man jailed for pensioner's murder
A robber who killed an elderly woman when she fought back with her stick after he pushed his way into her house, has been jailed for life.
The Old Bailey heard Elroy Simmonds, 26, of Kennington, south London, punched and kicked Hilda Ashdown, 82, at her home of 47 years in Camberwell.
Simmonds was found guilty of murdering Mrs Ashdown who died 10 days later.
He was jailed for 12 years concurrently for other robberies and assaults and must serve a minimum of 16 years.
Simmonds, a convicted rapist, preyed on elderly victims and would knock on the doors of their homes claiming to be from the council or looking for someone.
He would then push his way into the homes of his victims, all 11 of whom were aged between 73 and 95, and demand money.
Sometimes Simmonds was with another man, including the time he forced his way into Mrs Ashdown's home.
Judge Stephen Kramer told him: "In a campaign of robberies, you preyed on and targeted old people.
"It was only a matter of time before you killed one of your victims.
"I have come to the conclusion that you are a danger, particularly to the old and vulnerable.
"You did not use weapons - you did not need to. You are a fit young man. Your chosen victims were neither. You terrified them."
The court heard Simmonds was convicted of robbing other schoolchildren when aged 14.
And at 18 was jailed for six years for robbing and raping and 49-year-old women with learning difficulties in her own home.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/4026379.stm Published: 2004/11/19 15:52:13 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2004.

Robber Gets Life for Pensioner Murder

PA News
Fri 19 Nov 2004
1:29pm (UK)
Robber Gets Life for Pensioner Murder
By Shenai Raif
A robber was jailed for life today for killing an 82-year-old woman who tried to fight back.
Elroy Simmonds, 26, punched and kicked housebound Hilda Ashdown after pushing his way into her home of 47 years.
She was treated for a broken nose but died 10 days later of brain damage, the Old Bailey was told.
Simmonds, a convicted robber and rapist, was told he was a danger to old people and was ordered to serve a minimum of 16 years.
Judge Stephen Kramer told him: “In a campaign of robberies, you preyed on and targeted old people.
“It was only a matter of time before you killed one of your victims.
“I have come to the conclusion that you are a danger, particularly to the old and vulnerable.
“You did not use weapons – you did not need to. You are a fit young man. Your chosen victims were neither. You terrified them.”
Simmonds, of Kennington, south London, was convicted of murder.
He was jailed for a total of 12 years concurrently for nine robberies and two assaults with intent to rob during three months last year.
His 11 victims were aged between 73 and 95.
Simmonds knocked on doors in the morning, claiming to be from the council or to be looking for someone.
After pushing his way in, he would demand money and would steal the small amounts they had. Some of the offences were committed with another man.
Simmonds denied being responsible when he was arrested, but he was convicted after the brave victims relived their ordeals in court.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2004.

Robber guilty of killing frail OAP

South London Press
Robber guilty of killing frail OAP
Nov 19 2004
A SERIAL robber who preyed on frail and elderly pensioners faces years behind bars for battering an 82-year-old woman to death.
Elroy Simmonds, 26, barged into Hilda Ashdown's home, demanding cash, before punching her in the face and kicking her.
She died 10 days later in hospital from a brain haemorrhage.
Simmonds, of White Hart Street, Kennington, was this week found guilty of murder, five counts of robbery and one of assault with intent to rob between June 2002 and April 2003.
Simmonds targeted vulnerable pensioners across South London by posing as a council worker or asking for help, the court heard.
Mrs Ashdown, of Monclar Road, near Denmark Hill, died after becoming his sixth victim on March 15 last year.
He was later linked to the murder when cops found traces of her blood on a pair of Air Max trainers found at his home.
Nicholas Atkinson QC, prosecuting, said there were common features to many of the attacks. "The victims were elderly, mostly women, mostly living alone. They are a safe, easy target.
"No weapons were used. He is young and fit, he doesn't need a weapon. But he uses violence against the elderly."
Simmonds's first victim was Eric Kjaer, 77, who was sweeping his friend's driveway in Camberwell, in June 2002.
He and passers-by had struggled with Simmonds but the thug escaped by wriggling out of his jacket, socks and trainers.
Eight months later he resumed his attacks.
Victim Mary Hammond, 74, of Dorset Road, Clapham, told how Simmonds and an accomplice barged into her flat.
"He was saying 'I want twenties, I'm only here for the twenties'," she said.
"He pulled my panic alarm from around my neck and pushed me to the floor.
"While I was on the floor he kicked me in the stomach."
Mrs Ashdown had also tried to fight off Simmonds using her walking sticks but paid with her life.
An Old Bailey jury is still deliberating on six further robberies.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2004.

A present to get the hump about

South London Press
A present to get the hump about
Nov 19 2004
By Greg Truscott
IF YOU can't decide what to buy your loved ones for Christmas, then a local councillor has an idea that's hard to pass over.
This year, why not give that special someone a gift they can marvel at and treasure... a speed hump in the street outside their front door.
Lambeth Liberal Democrat council-lor Marcus Mayers has suggested his council implement a "a sponsor a road hump scheme" where residents fund the installation of speed bumps in their street when the council cannot afford to do so.
The Stockwell councillor's suggestion would see Lambeth's residents who wanted sleeping policemen in their road asked to dip into their wallets to fund the traffic calming measures in addition to paying council tax. He claims it could be run in a similar style to sponsored tree planting.
In a question to council environmental officers, Cllr Mayers writes: "In order to increase the amount of road calming in Lambeth would the council implement a sponsor a road hump scheme?"
In a reply to Cllr Mayers' question, officers from Lambeth council state they would not object to sponsored traffic calming measures.
But the "sponsor a road hump scheme" has received a less favourable response outside the corridors of Lambeth Town Hall.
In June this year, teachers, governors and parents of pupils at Walnut Tree Walk School in Kennington staged a protest calling on the council to install traffic calming measures out-side their school. After a long-battle Lambeth council agreed to put in place the measures.
Headteacher Jeanne Carabine said it would be unfair if road humps were put in place on the basis of whether residents and other groups could afford to pay for them.
She said: "We had to protest to get the council to do something to slow the traffic outside the school.
"I really think it is ridiculous to suggest that road safety measures could be sponsored by people who want them in their street.
"The measures should be allocated were the safety needs are greatest. The council should use the huge amount of money it makes from parking enforcement to fund such schemes."
What do you think about the 'sponsor a speed hump' idea?
Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2004.

Mayor wades in over racism feud

South London Press
Mayor wades in over racism feud
Nov 19 2004
By Vicky Wilks
KEN Livingstone has repeated his call for a town hall to reinstate a sacked worker "victimised for raising the issue of racism".
The Mayor's call coincides with the third anniversary of homeless assessment officer Alex Owolade's dismissal by Lambeth council.
Mr Owolade lost his job of 13 years on November 20, 2001, with his bosses citing gross misconduct.
An employment tribunal found Mr Owolade's dismissal amounted to victimisation under the Race Relations Act.
In August, it ruled he should have his job back but Lambeth has appealed.
Mr Livingstone said: "Institutional racism must be rooted out of the public sector.
"This case is a clear example of a black worker being victimised for raising the issue of racism.
"Alex Owolade must be reinstated in accordance with the findings of the employment tribunal decision.
"Let's work together to defeat racism."
Mr Owolade has always believed he was sacked because, as a union shop steward, he supported two council workers in the community alarms service who said they were being victimised on race grounds.
When his case first went to an employment tribunal, Mr Owolade started a campaign to root out racism in the council which has continued since.
In a statement, the authority said it was "deeply disappointed" by Mr Livingstone's statement.
It stated: "The council opposed Mr Owolade's application for reinstatement in view of the personal verbal attacks he has made on managers within the council, including the chief executive, for which Mr Owolade was criticised by the tribunal.
"In all the circumstances the council does not consider that it is practicable for Mr Owolade to return to work in the housing department or indeed anywhere within the council.
"The campaign which Mr Owolade and his supporters has waged in the borough has engendered such antagonism that the relationship of trust and confidence which needs to exist between an employer and employee no longer exists and could no longer exist.
"The council strongly refutes the accusation of institutional racism levelled against Lambeth by Mr Livingstone."
It said it was addressing recommendations made after an independent inquiry into the community alarms service.
Council leader Councillor Peter Truesdale said: "We have made enormous progress on promoting racial equality and will continue to strive to do so.
"We are proud to have adopted a position of zero tolerance on discrimination."
Mr Owolade said: "For most workers the test of whether the council is really serious about making race equality a reality is whether I get reinstated.
"Lambeth council has a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of better race relations for the country."
Mr Owolade will lead a public march starting from Kennington Park at 1pm on Saturday.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2004.

Polar Express at IMAX 29.11 for Lambeth communities

Dear all
Please see the below invitation to a special preview of Polar Express, starring Tom Hanks, to all Lambeth residents, and forward through your networks. Tickets available on a first come first served basis.
Regards
Frances Forrest
The British Film Institute invites you to attend a special advance screening of
The Polar Express: An IMAX 3D Experience
on
Monday 29 November
at the
bfi London IMAX® Cinema
Screening starts at 6.30pm for 7.00pm
This spectacular 3D IMAX film has just broken box office records in the U.S and will appear on Britain's biggest screen at the bfi London IMAX® Cinema.
The Polar Express IMAX 3D combines state of the art animation with the magic of IMAX 3D - audiences will be grabbing at falling snowflakes, dodging the screeching trains, and experiencing the howl of the steam whistle at 12,000 watts of sound.
Late on Christmas Eve a young boy lies in bed hoping to hear the sound of reindeer bells from Santa's sleigh. To his surprise a steam engine roars outside his window and the conductor (Tom Hanks) invites him aboard. Soon he is on an extraordinary journey to the North Pole, where he receives a magical gift that only those who believe in Santa can experience.
Families welcome. RSVP detailing the number of tickets you require by noon on Thursday 27 November to lucy.jennings@bfi.org.uk.
Please note all seats will be issued on a first come, first served basis.
For further information on The Polar Express and the bfi London IMAX® Cinema visit www.bfi.org.uk/imax
BFI LONDON IMAX CINEMA, SOUTH BANK, LONDON SE1
BOX OFFICE 0870 787 2525 | MORE INFORMATION www.bfi.org.uk/imax

-- Frances (fforrest@lambeth.gov.uk), November 20, 2004.

Pensioner killed after fighting back

Evening Standard
18/11/04 - London news section
Pensioner killed after fighting back
By Paul Cheston
A robber who inflicted sickening fatal injuries on a defenceless 82-year-old woman is facing life imprisonment.
Hilda Ashdown hit out with her stick and tried to raise the alarm as Elroy Simmonds battered her after barging into the flat where she had lived for 47 years.
The attack was just one in a terrifying series against vulnerable old women around Camberwell from June 2002 until Simmonds's arrest last year. In each case he is alleged to have made off with small amounts of cash from purses and handbags.
Simmonds, 24, was convicted unanimously yesterday at the Old Bailey of murdering Mrs Ashdown as well as five charges of robbery and a count of assault with intent to rob.
The jury are continuing deliberations today on six further charges of robbery and related offences against women aged between 68 and 95. Nicholas Atkinson QC, prosecuting, had told them how Simmonds, sometimes accompanied by another man, would knock on doors claiming to be employed by the council or to be looking for someone. If he could not con his way in he would push his way past his victim.
In March last year Simmonds and his accomplice barged into Mrs Ashdown's home. She was kicked and punched in the face as she tried to activate her alarm, then held down in a chair while the thugs rifled her handbag.
Her son Roy told the court how he arrived home to find his mother seriously injured and deeply distressed. "She told me she had been burgled. She was in the hallway, her face covered in blood," he said. Mrs Ashdown died from bleeding in her brain 10 days later.
Simmonds, of Kennington, denied all the charges. He was trapped when a footprint at the scene matched a pair of his trainers which bore traces of blood from his victim. He will be sentenced after all the verdicts have been returned.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/14802991?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 18, 2004.

Out-of-date food left on the shelves

Evening Standard
18/11/04 - London news section
Out-of-date food left on the shelves
By Victoria Fletcher and Jonathan Prynn
Supermarkets are displaying food on their shelves that is past its sell-by date, a snapshot Evening Standard survey has found.
We visited eight supermarkets in different parts of London on two days this week.
All but one were selling goods ranging from sausages to salads that should have been withdrawn because they were out of date. The findings follow Tesco's Ł25,000 fine for stocking old and mouldy food in its flagship store in New Malden.
The company admitted a range of food safety breaches, including allowing mice and rats to infest areas where food was stored. In our survey we found Tesco's stores in Kennington and Old Kent Road stocking food past their use by or display by dates.
In the worst example, we were able to buy a pack of cooked beetroot that should have been eaten on Saturday.
The 24-hour Tesco in Kensington was selling salads with tuna and chicken that were a day out of date. Sainsbury's in Battersea also stocked old food that we were able to buy, including skimmed milk that should not have been on display beyond Friday.
In Kilburn, Safeway, the supermarket chain now owned by rival William Morrison, was selling lemons that had turned brown and should have been sold last Saturday, as well as vegetables that were out of date. Safeway was the most careful in our survey. Staff in the Walworth Road branch were removing old items from the shelf during late afternoon, although many items may already have been bought by shoppers earlier in the day.
All supermarkets had in-date versions of the products pushed further back on the shelf, often out of reach for older shoppers.
Supermarkets are supposed to have rigorous systems to stop out-of-date food staying on display. However, many shoppers who contacted the Evening Standard said they had been sold food that should have been disposed of.
Mark Humphries, 24, said he bought two packs of Ski smooth yoghurts at his Tesco store in Sutton on Saturday. When he got home he noticed they should have been consumed five days earlier.
"The packaging looks fine but we haven't dared try what's inside. We think it might smell a bit off. It might be just a one off but we will be on our guard from now on."
A BBC TV investigation last week found widespread confusion among shoppers about the significance of different phrases used on packaging such as "sell by", "use by" and "display until".
Tesco said: "Our daily procedures and checks are of the highest standards in the industry.
"An average store has around 40,000 lines on its shelves at any one time.
"Staff in store check products every day to ensure out-of-date items are removed. Cases of out- of- date products being sold to customers remain very rare."
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/londonnews/articles/14802627?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 18, 2004.

Tradesman

Hello
Can anyone recommend a tradesman to fit a bathroom suite and do some tiling in the Kennington area? It's not a huge re-model just a direct replacement job that shouldn't take long.
Thanks in advance

-- Daryl Bloomfield (darylbloomfielduk@hotmail.com), November 17, 2004.

Area Committee Small Grants Information

Lambeth
NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE
SMALL CAPITAL GRANTS
Grants for improving community buildings or providing equipment of up to Ł5,000 are available for organisations in North Lambeth
For further details and to register for a fundraising /networking seminar on Tuesday 7th December 2004
Please contact:
Ms Jacqueline Christie
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5JP
Tel: 020 7926 8295
Fax: 020 7926 2778
Email jchristie@lambeth.gov.uk
Completed application forms must be returned to the Town Centre office by 12 noon on 10th January 2005

-- Jacqueline Christie (jchristie@lambeth.gov.uk), November 17, 2004.

Angels over Vauxhall - The festival continues…

Angels over Vauxhall
The festival continues…
20 November
2 – 4.30 pm
"Your eyes are so small,
Yet they can see enormous things."
Free workshop with Becca Brewin
A workshop to challenge and inspire how we see the world around us by exploring the mystical poetry of Jalladuin Rumi through language and movement.
7.30pm
The Story of Rumi
An evening of enchantment with the great Persian poet Jalladuin Rumi, the most sensual of poets.
Ł10/Ł5
26 November
7.30pm
The Blue Angel
A German cinema classic from 1931, and the film debut of Marlene Dietrich – an angel of the flesh
Suggested donation Ł7
2 and 3 December
7.30pm
The Nativity
An adaptation of the Mystery Plays with music for Christmas by the Inner City Players
Ł5/Ł3.50
10 December
7.30pm
It’s a wonderful life
Frank Capra’s perennial favourite, the ultimate feel-good movie with James Stewart and an angel, of course
Suggested donation Ł7
19 December
6.30pm
Carol Service
Celebrating the end of ‘Angels over Vauxhall’ and the beginning of the Christmas Season
FREE and all are welcome!
Mulled wine and mince pies served afterwards
Don’t miss the opportunity to spend time in one of Vauxhall’s finest buildings!
www.angelsovervauxhall.org

-- Wilma (wilma.roest@virgin.net), November 15, 2004.

Live another day

Times
November 12, 2004
Live another day
Mysteriously axed from his role as James Bond, Pierce Brosnan has been left to contemplate the future. Martyn Palmer found him unshaken, but stirred
Pierce Brosnan’s youngest son sometimes gets confused about what exactly dad does when he’s not at home. When he jumps into his car - an Aston Martin, of course - and drives off along the Californian coast, is he embarking on some dangerous mission to save the world, or has he just nipped down to the shops to buy a loaf of bread? It’s no wonder that Paris Brosnan is bewildered; after all, he’s only three years old. “He thinks dad is some superhero because he’s seen a bit of the Bonds,” says his father. “And that’s a big image for any kid to handle.” And it’s not just toddlers who find the line between reality and fantasy a little fuzzy. When Brosnan walks into a restaurant or a hotel bar virtually anywhere in the world, some wag will almost certainly send him over a vodka martini, shaken not stirred. “How many times? God, I’ve no idea. A lot. I don’t keep score, but it happens a lot…” Doesn’t it get annoying? “No, no it doesn’t. I usually just raise a glass and say ‘cheers’. It’s only their way of saying that they like the work, and that’s fine by me.”
For a decade now Brosnan has been James Bond - a very, very good one, too - and Bond has been Brosnan. The Savile Row suits and the highly polished brogues seemed to fit him like a second skin; and when he discarded them to hop into bed with one lovely or another - well, they would, wouldn’t they? Brosnan is good looking in the way that central casting used to dream about. Square jawed and blue eyed, athletic 6ft 2in build, dark hair flecked with grey, he wears his 51 years remarkably well, like a Gucci tux. His Bond has been pitched just right - rugged and suitably macho like Sean Connery, but deft enough to recognise, with a hint of a smile or a flicker of the eyes, that there are times when it’s all just too silly for words, just like Roger Moore used to do so well.
But now it’s over and the actor who re-invigorated a billion-dollar franchise is contemplating a future post-007. If he feels betrayed by the way it’s ended - in a prolonged and rather messy fashion - he’s careful not to show it. “It was ten years almost to the day,” he says. “And I feel a great sense of achievement that it worked, that they did so well at the box office and that a generation grew up with me as Bond.” And the satisfaction of knowing that he will go down as a classic Bond - like Connery and Moore - and not a dud like Timothy Dalton or George Lazenby? “It’s very hard to talk of yourself in those terms,” he says. “I did the best job that I could possibly do. It’s a huge character to step into.”
He’s already moved on, at least in terms of making different films, but he’s enough of a realist to know that, like Connery and the rest, he will never really escape it. “You get branded as a Bond and I will always be one of the Bonds.” His latest film, a heist movie called After the Sunset, teams him with Salma Hayek as his love interest - they play jewel thieves - and Woody Harrelson as the FBI agent trying to catch them. Both pairings work well, and the film has the light touch of romantic comedy thriller that Brosnan feels at home with - and which his biggest hit to date (outside of Bond) The Thomas Crown Affair proved.
The film was shot almost entirely on location in the Bahamas - where a huge resort hotel formed the backdrop for much of the action. Brosnan was unaware at the time that this would mark his first official post-Bond role. Now, back in Nassau to promote the new film, he’s still trying to work out exactly how Bond came to an end. “Does anyone know how it ended?” he asks. “My contract was for four films, and the invitation was extended for me to do a fifth, and I said yes, and then, for one reason or another, they changed their minds.”
Others will say what Brosnan is too dignified to say himself. Matt Mueller, editor of Total Film magazine, thinks ditching Brosnan is a panicky move: “He has saved the franchise and would have been fine in the role for another four or five years. Apparently, Pierce wanted the character to be more character-driven, and that could have been a point of conflict. If they get the wrong man, it could blow up in their faces.” There has been speculation that producers Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson want a younger Bond and are looking at an actor in his thirties. Those apparently in the running include Clive Owen, Hugh Jackman, Ioan Gruffudd and even Paul Bettany.
The Bond studio, MGM, has recently been acquired by Sony, which is said to want to broaden 007’s appeal and move him away from the older male fan base to grab a bigger slice of the lucrative teen market which flocks to see the likes of Spider Man and Charlie’s Angels. In other words, Brosnan is too much of a grown-up, a man’s man. But it’s difficult. You tamper with the Bond legacy at your peril. Cast the wrong man and the world’s most successful film franchise ever could be struggling in an increasing field of rivals. Meanwhile, the negotiations to find the new man continue out of the public eye.
Brosnan, of course, knows exactly what it’s like to be the subject of such speculation. He was first lined up to play the character in 1986 when Roger Moore decided to call it a day. The late Cubby Broccoli, who had single-handedly invented the movie franchise after acquiring the rights to Ian Fleming’s novels, offered Brosnan the role, only to lose him when the producers of Remmington Steele - ironically a pseudo-Bond role he was playing on US television - refused to let him go. Timothy Dalton took over, and Brosnan would have to wait eight years for another chance. When it came, he was ready. “It was daunting, very daunting. But somehow, because it had come into my life before, it seemed like it was my destiny to play the role.”
He obviously would have preferred to make at least one more. His first, GoldenEye, was in 1995 and took $350 million worldwide, while his last, Die Another Day, in 2002, grossed a staggering $430 million. Brosnan is the first to point out that he has enjoyed his share of the rewards. Playing Her Majesty’s longest-serving secret agent has made him an A-list star, commanding multi-million-dollar salaries; he’s set up his own company, Irish Dream Time, on the back of it; he owns houses in California and Hawaii, fast cars and the rest. But it’s still a shock when you are unceremoniously dumped. “It’s very hard to find the truth in that town,” he says. “All I know is that they changed their minds. If it’s true, they are looking for a younger actor, good luck to them. It’s out of my control. Do I take umbrage at this? Am I staggered by this? No. It’s a hard business and I wish them well, and I wish the next guy well.”
Brosnan is well used to setbacks. He’s had to endure plenty of them, both professionally and privately, in what has been a remarkable life. Born in Navan, Co Meath, Brosnan came to London when he was 11 with his mother, May, a nurse, and her partner, Bill, a Glaswegian who would become his much-loved stepfather. His father, Thomas had separated from May when their son was a toddler. London was exciting, but it was also tough. Plonked into a large South London comprehensive, it was a struggle to be accepted. “It was huge and it was a baptism of fire, there was a lot of fending off the lads because you are easy pickings as a Mick. I fought. I had to. I had one glorious fight over the milk one morning. I had a soft spot for a girl and this lad had been on my case and he said something to her and that was it. And so it began. The fighting went on until I thought ‘this is nuts’, and I began to reinvent myself. I used humour to be accepted, until I was one of the lads.”
Along with “the lads”, he’d pop to the cinema in Clapham or Wandsworth, and the first film he remembers was Goldfinger with Connery as Bond. “I loved it.” He was asked to audition for school plays, but wouldn’t dare. “A bunch of cissies did that. No way could you do that.” Instead, he went to see Hollywood films and their stars - Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen - and marvelled at their cool. “It wasn’t so much that I wanted to be an actor, I just wanted to be up there on the silver screen.”
He left school at 16, a gifted artist - he still paints most days he isn’t filming - and worked as a graphic artist in a small studio in Putney, which mostly supplied drawings of furniture for newspaper ads. “I wanted to do album covers, something that was hip and cool. I made the coffee and watered the spider plants.” Escape was provided at a performing arts centre in Kennington after a chance conversation with a colleague about his love of cinema. “I had long hair, an earring, a great coat. I was about 17, I walked in and life changed like that [he clicks his fingers]. There were all these different people there, working class, middle class, black, white, musicians, poets, writers. It was just awesome. I thought to myself, ‘If this is acting, I’m going to have some of this!’”
Within a year he told his parents that he wanted to give up the day job - Bill was worried but May encouraged him. “Dad wanted me to have a good trade. He was like, ‘What are you doing with all those theatricals?’” he laughs. “He thought I was turning. It was, ‘Dad, I’m not, I just really like it.’”
After drama school, Brosnan did his share of provincial theatre and television. In 1977, he’d married Australian actress Cassandra Harris and she encouraged him to try his luck in America. They took out a Ł2,000 loan against the mortgage - claiming it was for a new central heating system - and headed to LA. “Once I got there [I had] the most glorious feeling that anything could happen. I felt a sense of freedom about it and luckily I got work, because financially there was a lot at stake.”
Brosnan landed Remmington Steele almost immediately. High-profile, prime-time and relatively lucrative, the gamble had paid off. He had a family to look after - Cassie had two children from her first marriage, to Dermot Harris, brother of Richard, and their son, Sean - which suited him just fine. He’s never enjoyed being a bachelor. “Family is where I’m loved, and I can take care of those people that I love and make myself happy by caring for them. And, you know, to play that singles game is exhausting and ultimately very lonely.”
Cassie’s death, from ovarian cancer in December 1991, left him completely devastated. He’d nursed her at home, and she died in his arms, one day before their 14th wedding anniversary. For a long time afterwards, he said later, he cried every day. He legally adopted his two stepchildren and carried on working - there was still a family to look after. When he eventually met Keely Shaye Smith, a model and actress, in 1996, he fell in love a second time. “I was lucky. I found love twice.”
They have two children, seven-year-old Dylan Thomas and three-year-old Paris Beckett, and they married in 2001. Whenever possible, the family travel with him - the Bahamas for After the Sunset was a perfect location, and they rented a house next to Woody Harrelson and his two young children. “Dylan even has a little part in the film,” says Brosnan. “And now he’s got the bug and wants to be in movies all the time. What can you do?”
Directed by Brett Ratner, After the Sunset stars Brosnan as Max Burdett, a jewel thief who retires to the Bahamas with his lover and partner in crime, Lola (Hayek). But when his nemesis, FBI agent Stan Lloyd, tracks him down, he’s not entirely sure he’s suited to retirement, especially when there’s the tempting prospect of stealing one of the world’s most famous diamonds from under Lloyd’s nose. All in all, it’s an unashamed popcorn movie, fast-paced with great-looking actors, stunning locations and plenty of gags.
Life goes on, is the Brosnan philosophy. And it’s there to be enjoyed. “I’ve moved on from Bond. It’s over. You think you’re going in one direction and suddenly you’re going in another. But that’s happened to me many times. I have nothing but fond memories.” He recently became an American citizen. “I’ve lived in America for 23 years and it’s been a great country to me. I’m deeply proud to become an American.” A committed environmentalist who supports numerous green charities, Kerry got his vote. “Some of the things the Bush administration has done are disgraceful. I have children and I have to fight for their future and their children’s future. It’s pretty simple, really.” So Bond is no more - at least for Pierce Brosnan - and he no longer goes off to work to fight cartoon bad guys, but it’s nice for Paris to know that his dad is still trying to save the world - in his own way.
After the Sunset opens on Friday
Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 14, 2004.

Katie Grant: Thanks, Uncle Frank, for losing your head

Times
November 14, 2004
Katie Grant: Thanks, Uncle Frank, for losing your head
You just never know when the Jacobites are going to turn out handy. This week, under their auspices, I found myself most unexpectedly swept into the ambit of the lord mayor of London (not Red Ken, but the proper city chap) and, instead of supping tea on the train back to Glasgow, drinking champagne in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral.
I was in the Puffin offices in the Strand, handing in the final proofs for Green Jasper, my latest children’s novel, when I decided to visit Paternoster Square by St Paul’s Cathedral to have a look at Temple Bar, the Christopher Wren gateway into London, which I knew was in the process of resurrection.
My ancestor Colonel Francis Towneley (Uncle Frank as we call him) figures large in the story of the bar — but it has a curious history even aside from his contribution.
Until 1878, there was always a gateway straddling Fleet Street to mark the boundary between Westminster and the City. There it stood until growing traffic congestion made it impractical and it was pulled down and dumped in a yard off the Farringdon Road. It caught the attention of Sir Henry Meux, a brewer who thought it would make a splendid wedding present for his new wife. And so he had it rebuilt as the gateway into his park in Hertfordshire, although it was an odd gift because the Bar ’s main claim to fame, and the reason for my interest, is the fact that its roof was used as an exhibition space for traitors’ heads. Lady Meux was clearly a wife with a sense of humour.
But she died, and he died and the great gate fell into terrible disrepair until the Temple Bar Trust was set up in 1976. Funded to the tune of Ł4m by the Corporation of London, stone by stone the Bar was carefully dismantled yet again and brought back to London last year.
Here is where the Jacobites come in, for the head of the last unfortunate to have his pitch-soaked bonce hoisted high on its roof was none other than my Uncle Frank.
As I stood watching the workmen, somebody asked me what I was doing and when I told him, he fetched the gaffer and before you knew it, I had an invitation to the opening ceremony the following day. Thanks, Uncle Frank!
He himself did not have my luck. After declaring it “better to die by the sword than fall into the hands of those damned Hanoverians”, he found himself on the Jacobite retreat, abandoned with his regiment in Carlisle. Hauled back to London, tried and condemned, he was hanged, drawn and quartered on Kennington Common on August 10, 1746.
That should have been the end of his story, but it was not, for, having decorated Temple Bar for 26 years, my ancestors nicked his head and whisked it back to Towneley Hall, Lancashire. Once home, they placed it in a basket which they handed round with the port after dinner so that guests could pay their respects. Eventually it was decided Uncle Frank needed a bit of privacy and he was popped in a hatbox and kept in the domestic chapel.
The hatbox was later sent to their bank in London, where it remained until the vaults were cleared during the war. Yet another journey north for poor Uncle Frank, but this time the family decided it was time he joined the rest of his remains in St Peter’s church, Burnley.
But Uncle Frank was not quite finished yet. In 1974 my mother asked for the vault to be opened so that we could see how his head was doing. Suffice to say that Uncle Frank was doing fine but also that a companion had appeared, for there were two heads in the tomb, one most certainly Frank’s — the pike-hole was still clearly visible — and the other unidentified.
Of such things, as I have discovered, books are made, and while I don’t suppose Uncle Frank would have been especially delighted to feel he would to end up the subject for a children’s novel, he would surely be pleased to know that one of his descendants was still raising her glass to his name. As for me, I’m just pleased my trip to Temple Bar turned out rather better than his.
Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 14, 2004.

14-year-old girl accused of murdering barman

South London Press
14-year-old girl accused of murdering barman
Nov 12 2004
A TEENAGE girl from South Norwood has been charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley.
The 14-year-old girl appeared at Camberwell Green magistrates court on Wednesday charged with murdering the 37-year-old on London's South Bank on October 30.
The accused girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, also faces charges of attempted grievous bodily harm on two other men, robbery, violent disorder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
A post-mortem examination of Mr Morley's body revealed he suffered a ruptured spleen, broken ribs and more than 40 bruises to his head and body.
Magistrates referred the case to the Inner London Crown Court where the girl, who has been remanded in custody, will appear on Tuesday November 16.
The girl is the fifth and youngest defendant to be charged with killing Mr Morley.
Four other youths, all male, have already appeared before magistrates this week.
On Tuesday, a 17-year-old from Kennington, south London, appeared before Camberwell Green magistrates. Three others from Kennington - 19-year-old Barry Lee, and two 16-year-olds - were remanded in custody by the same court on Monday.
All four men are due to appear at the Old Bailey on Monday.
A vigil was held for Mr Morley in Soho, central London, on Friday November 5, where he had previously worked as a barman.
Five years ago, he was a bar manager at the Admiral Duncan pub on Old Compton Street when a nail bomb exploded, killing three people and injuring more than 70.
At the time of his death, Mr Morley was living in Chiswick and working as an assistant manager at a bar in Earl's Court, west London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 13, 2004.

Gay killing 'filmed on mobile'

Evening Standard
12/11/04 - News and city section
Gay killing 'filmed on mobile'
By Ross Lydall, Local Government Correspondent, Evening Standard
Mobile phone photographs were taken as a gang beat gay barman David Morley to death, Ken Livingstone claims.
Mr Morley, 37 , from Chiswick, was attacked last month as he sat chatting to a friend on the South Bank.
Police believe he was set upon because he was gay. He suffered a ruptured spleen, fractured ribs and 40 separate bruises from a hail of punches and kicks.
Mr Livingstone, who campaigns against homophobia, made his claims when he was asked about Mr Morley's death at a public question session in Acton last night.
Three teenagers appeared in court this week accused of murdering Mr Morley. Market trader Barry Lee, 19, of Kennington, and two 16-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Camberwell magistrates.
Mr Morley, who worked at the Birdcage pub in Chiswick, was a survivor of the nail bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho in 1999 which killed three people.
He was attacked in Jubilee Gardens near Hungerford Bridge, now renamed the Golden Jubilee Bridge.
Mr Livingstone also said last night that he was working with gay rights group Stonewall to educate children about gay and lesbian lifestyles to reduce "rampant homophobia" in schools. They are drawing up teaching aids to spread tolerance and will organise a conference next year for all London schools "to help teachers tackle this discrimination".
Mr Livingstone said: "Broadly, London is a very tolerant city. There is much less racism, much less sexism than other great cities around the world. When you go into our schools and colleges there is very little overt racism and sexism. There is completely open and rampant homophobia."
He said part of the reason for this was Section 28, which made it "illegal to have any discussion about homosexuality" in schools. The law has since been changed.
The Mayor used the public meeting to express concerns about government plans for 24-hour licensing and his wish for new community police teams to crack down on low-level antisocial behaviour.
He said he feared the effect that round-the-clock opening could have in suburban town centres, and said late-night venues should be forced to contribute towards the cost of extra policing.
He said: "We say that the publicans and clubs must pay the cost of the extra policing. We have not got the Government to agree to that yet but we are absolutely signed up. We all want a 24-hour city but not down our street."
Richard Barnes, the London Assembly member for Ealing and Hillingdon and Tory police spokesman on the Metropolitan Police Authority, said: "It has a potential for disaster in outer boroughs."
Mr Livingstone said he had met incoming Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to discuss plans to further roll-out six-strong teams of community officers to neighbourhoods in each of the 32 boroughs under the Met's control. The Mayor said: "I said it was my intention that as we get these neighbourhood police on the streets they should start to enforce the laws."
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/14672397?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2004.

Ethelred nursery and children's centre outstanding

Lambeth
11 November 2004
Ethelred nursery and children's centre outstanding
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/028990.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2004.

Sixth person charged with barman's murder

Sixth person charged with barman's murder
Wed November 10, 2004 05:31 PM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - A 20-year-old man has become the sixth person to be charged with the murder of a barman in London, according to police.
Reece Sargeant of Kennington, south London, will appear at Camberwell Magistrates Court on Thursday to face charges that he and five others murdered David Morley, 37, police said on Wednesday.
Morley was killed in the early hours of October 30 on the South Bank, a popular area of theatres, restaurants and nightspots near the River Thames.
He had been with a friend who was also attacked. An autopsy on Morley, who survived the 1999 nail bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in London's Soho which killed three people, concluded he died of multiple injuries to his head and torso.
Sargeant is also charged with the attempted assault of two other men, robbery and violent disorder.
Five other teenagers, Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from south London, a 17-year-old male, two 16-year-old boys and a 14-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have already been charged in connection with the murder.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 11, 2004.

SIXTH PERSON IN COURT

Sky News
SIXTH PERSON IN COURT
A sixth person will appear in court later today charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley.
Reece Sargeant, 20, of Kennington, south London, will appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court.
Mr Morley, 37, of Chiswick, west London, died after he was attacked near the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank shortly after 3am on October 30.
Sargeant also faces charges of attempted GBH on two other men, robbery, violent disorder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Five teenagers accused of killing Mr Morley appeared before the same court earlier in the week.
Last Updated: 05:50 UK, Thursday November 11, 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 11, 2004.

8 DECEMBER WINTER WARMER PARTY

8 DECEMBER WINTER WARMER PARTY
WINTER WARMER PARTY on WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8th
in St Anselm's Church at Kennington Cross
from 3pm to 6pm then 6pm to 9pm.
Dear friends, neighbours, colleagues, representatives and councillors,
Please see attached (text also below) details of our WINTER WARMER.
As at last year's party, we will be transforming St Anselm's church into a social, dancing, networking space for all. This year's party is co-hosted by
Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall Forum,
Riverside Community Development Trust,
Kennington SureStart and
Lighthouse Educational Services.
The party will start at 3pm with afternoon events including activities for children with SureStart's resident artist Beth Higgins, and continue into evening events from 6 to 9pm - or later if the spirit takes us.
The idea of this community party for all, is to invite other groups or businesses, who may not have the premises or budget, to take a space in the church area and perhaps to contribute an event during the 6 festive hours.
Lighthouse Educational Services will be hosting a discussion event in part of the space at 3.30pm and 7pm.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A PARTICIPATING INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP, please contact
Sean Creighton at RCDT - see above - BY MONDAY NOV 22nd please.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU AND SEEING YOU ON DECEMBER 8th -
with best wishes from us all - Celia.
............................................................
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8th 2004
WINTER WARMER
PARTY FOR ALL
REFRESHMENTS, MUSIC, SING, DANCE; MEET & MAKE FRIENDS; NETWORK & CELEBRATE
hosted by Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall Forum,
Riverside Development Trust,
Kennington Surestart,
Lighthouse Educational Services (L.E.S.)
and other local groups and businesses*
in St ANSELM'S CHURCH
286 Kennington Road at Kennington Cross SE11
at 3pm to 6pm - and 6pm to 9pm
Children's events by KenningtonSureStart and L.E.S. event at 3.30 pm and 7pm
Local individuals, groups and businesses are organising this WINTER WARMER PARTY FOR ALL in the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall area. We'll be pushing back the pews and decorating tables, making plenty of room to sing and socialise, dine and dance - or just sit, nibble and sip and network.
*If you would like to make this your groupąs seasonal party too, contact Sean at RCDT see below* BY MONDAY 22/11 PLEASE.
BRING YOUR family, neighbours, colleagues and friends; MAKE THIS YOUR PARTY - bring your talents** and tastes** to share;
CELEBRATE THE SEASON and achievements of the past year;
MEET NEW FRIENDS and EXCHANGE IDEAS with like-minded individuals; FROM 3PM:
**OPEN MIC. for all ages, singers, poets, budding actors and all with stories to share.
**REFRESHMENTS - Hot punch, teas and coffee. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks with suggested donations
plus: **BRING YOUR OWN bottle and a dish of your favourite nibbles to share**
MUSIC: **Bring your own CDs all are welcome to bring requests and join in**
FROM 5PM: **DANCE: spectate or participate, as the music moves you**
FROM 8PM: WORLDWIDE MUSIC DJ: MIKE Gebreyohanes will be Dj-ing: Worldwide music: disco, Ethiopian, Latino, Arabian and Asian donąt forget your CDs.
NETWORK - There will be areas for information on your activity, group or project - to discuss and promote.
*If you would like to sponsor or help organise our WINTER WARMER PARTY, please contact:
*Sean Creighton at Riverside Community Development Trust: email: info@rcdt.org 020 7926 2775
If you would like this to be your group's party too, tell Sean your needs and ideas too - BY MONDAY NOV. 22nd please.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU WARMEST SEASON'S GREETINGS !
....................................................................
Sean Creighton
Development Consultant
Riverside Community Development Trust
Tel 020 7926 2775
Fax 020 7926 2778
Email info@rcdt.org

-- Sean (info@rcdt.org), November 11, 2004.

His paintings have just earned me Ł7m at one show. Can you tell who it is yet?

Independent > News > UK > This Britain
His paintings have just earned me Ł7m at one show. Can you tell who it is yet?
Why, it's Rolf Harris of course, and prices for his work have risen tenfold since 2000 at his sell-out exhibition
By Anthony Barnes, Arts and Media Correspondent
07 November 2004
Rolf Harris, the broadcaster once known for his daubed paintings and the catchphrase "Can you tell what it is yet?", has joined the ranks of Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst as one of the UK's most bankable artists.
Just four years after he staged his first art exhibition in Britain, his works now fetch up to Ł125,000 each - commanding 10 times the prices they fetched in 2000.
His latest exhibition, at the Halcyon Gallery in central London, will raise more than Ł7m through sales of original canvases and limited-edition prints. Already at least Ł1.3m of the Ł1.6m-worth of paintings on sale, which include nudes, landscapes and portraits, has been snapped up.
Harris's credibility with collectors has come at a time when he is enjoying further success with his BBC1 series Rolf on Art, in which he reinterprets the works of the masters. It has become the most-watched arts programme on British TV. The most recent run of shows featured an audacious effort to create a mammoth reproduction of Constable's Haywain in Trafalgar Square during a live broadcast.
The 74-year-old presenter trained as an artist in the 1950s, coming to Britain from Australia to study at the City & Guilds of London Art School in Kennington. He exhibited in the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition before being sidelined by a career in TV and the pop charts, with hits such as "Two Little Boys".
During the 1970s he used his art background to create giant stylised paintings with household paint and decorating brushes. But later success with his Animal Hospital programmes, which ran for a decade, meant he had little time to devote to his art.
Harris began to concentrate on his painting again after being offered an exhibition at the Halcyon's Birmingham space. The gallery's managing director, Paul Green, said: "We were introduced by a mutual friend, I went to visit him at his home and I was gobsmacked, to put it mildly.
"The whole house was based around art. His work, in true Rolf fashion, was stuffed all over the place. Then we went out to his carport and there were paintings sitting outside with cobwebs, footprints, slugs and whatever.
"A lot of people in the art world will dismiss Rolf, but they are simply wrong. He has great talent."
Mr Green said he had no doubts the entire run of prints for the latest exhibition, worth more than Ł6m in total, would sell out. They range from Ł215 to Ł695, and some at Ł525 each have already sold out.
"It's nothing short of a phenomenon," Mr Green added. Last year an American buyer, unaware of the painter's celebrity or reputation, bought one of Harris's works, Flower Seller at the Elephant and Castle, for Ł95,000.
Harris said he had long had the impression many viewers would have wanted to own some of the large works that became his trademark on TV. However, these were often done on washable backgrounds which were cleaned after recording, or even thrown away.
"I think the paintings that I'm doing now are a chance for people to get an image of mine that they like and hang it on their wall," he said.
He no longer stores works at his home but has added a studio. "Every time I can see a few hours free, I'm up there painting again and it's wonderful."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 10, 2004.

Girl, 14, on murder charge

10/11/04 - News and city section
Girl, 14, on murder charge
Evening Standard
A schoolgirl has become the fifth teenager charged with the murder of barman David Morley.
The 14-year-old from South Norwood, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is due to appear before Camberwell magistrates today. She is also accused of conspiracy to rob, robbery, violent disorder and attempted GBH with intent. Police yesterday also arrested a 20-year-old man in south London in connection with the murder.
Barry Lee, 19, a market trader, a 17-year-old male and two 16 year-old male youths, all from Kennington, are due to face a preliminary hearing at the Old Bailey next week.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/14598918?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 10, 2004.

Girl, 14, charged over barman death

South London Press
Girl, 14, charged over barman death
Nov 10 2004
A fifth teenager is set to appear in court charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley.
The teenager, a 14-year-old girl from South Norwood, London, will appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court.
Mr Morley, 37, of Chiswick, west London, died after he was attacked near the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank shortly after 3am on October 30.
The girl also faces charges of attempted GBH on two other men, robbery, violent disorder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
A 17-year-old male from Kennington appeared before Camberwell Green Magistrates Court charged with the same offences. He was remanded in custody.
Three teenagers accused of killing Mr Morley appeared before the same court earlier.
Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Fitzalan Street, Kennington, south London, and two 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were remanded in custody.
All four males are due to appear at the Old Bailey next Monday.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 10, 2004.

Murder denied in 'serial robber' case

South London Press
Murder denied in 'serial robber' case
Nov 9 2004
AN 82-YEAR-OLD woman died of a brain haemorrhage after she was punched and thrown to the floor, a court heard.
Hilda Ashdown is believed to be the sixth robbery victim of alleged serial thug Elroy Simmonds, 26, on March 13 last year.
Simmonds, of Tobey Close, White Hart Street, Kennington, is said to have carried out 11 robberies on the frail and elderly.
He denies murder, inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent, 11 counts of robbery and two counts of assault with intent to rob between June 14, 2002 and April 19, 2003.
A pair of grey trainers found at Simmond's home bore traces of Mrs Ashdown's blood and matched a footprint found at the scene outside her flat in Monclar Road, Denmark Hill.
But Simmonds insisted a mobile phone stolen from a 90-year-old victim and found at his flat was given to him by a friend he could not name for fear of reprisals.
Simmonds told the Old Bailey on Thursday that he bought the trainers from a car boot sale and had only worn them for three or four days while decorating his home.
The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 09, 2004.

Fourth teenager charged over murder

South London Press
Fourth teenager charged over murder
Nov 9 2004
A fourth teenager has been charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley.
The 17-year-old male youth from the Kennington area of London will appear at Camberwell Magistrates' Court.
The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also accused of attempted grievous bodily harm on two other people, two counts of violent disorder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery.
The charges relate to attacks against 37-year-old Mr Morley, of Chiswick, west London, and a number of other people near the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank shortly after 3am on October 30.
Three teenagers accused of killing Mr Morley appeared before Camberwell Green magistrates court yesterday.
Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Fitzalan Street, Kennington, south London, and two 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were remanded in custody.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 09, 2004.

LONDON NECROPOLIS RAILWAY WALK/TALK

SE1 Direct
LONDON NECROPOLIS RAILWAY WALK/TALK
Sunday 14 November
Meet 10.30am at 121 Westminster Bridge Road; Ł2 donation + train fare + lunch
Map: http://quicklink.se1direct.co.uk/?id=915
150th anniversary guided tour with London's Necropolis author John M Clarke. Meet at former railway building then train from Waterloo to Brookwood for cemetery tour.
Contact Anna Robinson (see below) to reserve a pub lunch (Ł5.95) or bring sandwiches
Details: AKRobinson@lambeth.gov.uk or 020 7926 6076
History: http://www.tbcs.org.uk/railway.htm
Buy John M Clarke's book from Amazon.co.uk: http://quicklink.se1direct.co.uk/?id=916

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2004.

Three charged in murder of gay London man

United Press International
Three charged in murder of gay London man
Published 11/7/2004 5:28 PM
LONDON, Nov. 7 (UPI) -- Three British teenagers have been charged with the London murder of a gay bartender, the BBC reported Sunday.
David Morley, 37, died after he and a friend were attacked on London's South Bank in the early morning hours of Oct. 30. He had 40 distinct bruises as well as a ruptured spleen and fractured ribs.
One of the accused has been identified as 19-year-old Barry Lee, a market trader from Kennington. The names of the other two, both 16-year-old boys, have not been released.
The three are charged with murder, attempted grievous bodily harm, robbery and violent disorder. They will appear in court Monday.
Four additional suspects were being held Sunday in separate south London police stations.
A candle-lit vigil held Friday in Morley's honor was attended by more than 1,000 people in London.
Copyright © 2001-2004 United Press International

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2004.

Brown to scrap VAT on Live Aid's charity DVD

Mirror
BAND-AIDED
Nov 8 2004
Brown to scrap VAT on Live Aid's charity DVD
By Rosa Prince
Political Correspondent
GORDON Brown yesterday pledged to waive VAT on sales of the Live Aid charity DVD and the remake of the Band Aid single.
The Chancellor told a delighted Bob Geldof before a star-studded launch of the 1985 concert recording.
Organiser Sir Bob said: 'It will be a hugely significant sum of money that will help alleviate the misery of the hungry in Africa.'
The concert, split between London and Philadelphia, brought together stars including U2, Queen and Madonna - but has never been released before.
A remake of the 1984 Band Aid record Do They Know It's Christmas? - the biggest-selling single of all time - is set to be recorded on Sunday.
Sir Paul McCartney and Bono are among the performers who will star on Band Aid 20. The U2 frontman will make a comeback to sing the line he delivered on the original: 'And tonight, thank God, it's them instead of you.'"
In 1984, 3.5million records were sold in the UK raising millions to help starving people in Africa.
This time if just 1.5million copies of the DVD and CD are sold, charities will get an extra Ł4million because of the VAT refund.
But with a host of top stars signed up to take part in the charity recording - tipped to be the Christmas No1 - the saving could hit Ł20million.
Each Ł4 CD single normally brings the Treasury 80p. It is only the third time a record has been made exempt from VAT. In 1984 Sir Bob was forced to plead with the Tory government for months before ministers agreed to drop the VAT levy. This time, it was Mr Brown who approached Live Aid campaigners.
Mr Brown said: 'People can buy the DVD and record this Christmas knowing all the money will go to support the vital work of the Band Aid Trust in the poorest countries of Africa.'
Stars including Ant and Dec joined Sir Bob at the launch of the DVD in Kennington, South London.
Sir Bob said: 'In a remarkable gesture wholly in the spirit of Band Aid, the Government has refused to take a single penny from sales of the Band Aid 20 record and the Live Aid DVD.
'Those of us old enough to remember the original song 20 years ago will have noted the contrast between the Government's response then and now.'
The CD goes on sale on November 29. The final line-up also includes Robbie Williams, who recorded the entire song in Los Angeles last week. Producer Nigel Godrich will choose the line he wants the singer to contribute to the final mix.
Chris Martin of Coldplay will sing the first line and play piano. Danny Goffey of Supergrass will play drums with Fran Healy of Travis on guitar. Other stars include Dido, The Darkness, Busted, Kate Moss, Will Young and Jamelia.
Proceeds will go to the Band Aid Trust for famine in the Darfur region of Sudan.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2004.

Three on gay killing rap

Sun
Monday, November 8, 2004
Three on gay killing rap
THREE teenagers have been charged with murdering gay barman David Morley during a series of street attacks.
Market trader Barry Lee, 19, and two 16-year-olds are in court today.
They also face charges of attempted grievous bodily harm on two other victims, robbery, violent disorder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Lee, of Kennington, South London, will appear with the other youths at Camberwell Magistrates Court.
Mr Morley, 37, of Chiswick, was battered as he walked on London’s South Bank in the early hours of October 30.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2004.

Keeping business going swimmingly

BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 8 November, 2004, 00:31 GMT
Keeping business going swimmingly
Self-confessed workaholic John Gandley once claimed he would like to keep working until he was 80.
With his firm Gandlake up and running for 30 years now, he could well be on his way to that landmark.
Mr Gandley has 38 years of experience in the printing industry and helped to found the business which he now heads as managing director.
What was your first car?
A 1948 grey Ford Prefect with the old rack and pinion steering.
It was the only one I could afford. If my memory serves me well, I paid Ł30 for it and sold it back to the garage after one year for Ł20.
What was your first job?
My very first job was a lifeguard at Kennington Oval Swimming Pool.
However, I entered into the world of computers through the Civil Service, having been employed by the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.
I remember the salary was Ł600 per year.
What was your first house?
A newly built mid-terrace. I purchased it in 1965 and paid somewhere between Ł2,000 and Ł3,000.
What's the best bit of business advice you've had?
To always keep your customers happy.
I am proud that our average customer stays with us for over eight years - we also have customers that have been with Gandlake for 25 years.
What can the government do to boost business?
The Freedom of Information Act comes into force in January 2005 - this dictates that all public authorities in the UK must pass information on activities, subject to stated exemptions, to anyone who makes a written request within 20 working days.
With this in mind, I think it is vital to develop legislation that allows for greater use of electronic documents as this will be the easiest way of presenting information to citizens.
What business story is grabbing your interest at the moment?
The e-government 2005 deadlines and the need for electronic output is a major story at the moment because it will change the way millions of people view statements and pay their bills.
Local authorities are interpreting the information they receive from central government in different ways with regard to what they have to do to comply with the 2005 compliance ruling.
If you speak to four different councils you will get four different answers to what is required. Some will tell you they are just going through the motions and doing the minimum to comply.
Other councils aren't sure when the deadline is, what needs to be done or how they should achieve it.
Some councils don't feel the pressure at all and don't feel they need to be doing anything and some councils say they are taking it all very seriously and complying.
The government should promote the success of the National Project to all councils and reinforce that they should learn from them and comply with these requirements.
What's the biggest challenge facing business now?
Finding the hidden costs.
Our customers will often say that they have purchased software elsewhere, in the past, believing that they will have no more to pay and have then been hit with additional maintenance, support and upgrade costs, to name a few.
All of our software costs are presented upfront and many businesses approach us because of that.
What was the proudest moment of your career?
I am proud that Gandlake has been a market leader for so long and has remained a healthy profitable company since it's inception over 30 years ago.
My greatest achievement though, has to be running the print and mail systems for the Department of Social Services and Inland Revenue as well as implementing the first successful large scale print and mail system - known as the Automated Document Factory - for British Gas.
Gandlake has served the output management and document needs of major organisations for more than 30 years - and currently handling business from one in four of the UK's councils.
The group also boasts private sector customers including: River Island, Carlton Cards, British Gas, Irish Independent News Papers and Hoseasons.
It transformed from a partnership to a limited company last year.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3982015.stm
Published: 2004/11/08 00:31:59 GMT
© BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2004.

Barman's killing: three in court

Evening Standard
08/11/04 - London news section
Barman's killing: three in court
Three teenagers were appearing in court today accused of the alleged homophobic murder of a barman. David Morley, 37, of Chiswick, was set upon by youths as he sat on a bench on the South Bank after a night out.
Market trader Barry Lee, 19, of Kennington, and two 16-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were appearing before Camberwell magistrates.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2004.

Barman murder: three charged

Times
November 07, 2004
News in Brief
Barman murder: three charged
THREE youths were charged last night with the murder of David Morley, 37, a barman, in south London last weekend. Two are aged 16 and cannot be named. The third is Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Kennington, southeast London. All three are also accused of assault and robbery in connection with attacks on two other people in the area. Police have said they believe the attacks were homophobic.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2004.

Trio charged over barman killing

BBC News
Sunday, 7 November, 2004, 01:03 GMT
Trio charged over barman killing
Three teenagers have been charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley.
Mr Morley, 37, from Chiswick, west London, died after he and a friend were attacked on London's South Bank shortly after 3am on Saturday, 30 October.
The three charged are Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Kennington, and two 16-year-old boys.
They are charged with murder, attempted grievous bodily harm, robbery and violent disorder and are due before Camberwell magistrates on Monday.
Four other suspects have been bailed to return to separate south London police stations.
Candle-lit vigil
A post-mortem examination showed Mr Morley died from multiple injuries. He had 40 distinct bruises as well as a ruptured spleen and fractured ribs.
More than 1,000 people attended a candle-lit vigil in London in his memory on Friday.
People gathered at St Anne's Church in Soho while others lit candles in the street. Some then proceeded to the crime scene.
Mr Morley worked at the Admiral Duncan pub in 1999 when a nail bomb killed three and injured 73.
He escaped with minor burns and helped rebuild the pub after the attack by David Copeland.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2004.

Three charged over gay barman's murder

ITN
Three charged over gay barman's murder
2.20AM, Sun Nov 7 2004
Three teenagers have been charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley.
They are Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Kennington, and two other 16-year-old boys who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Police charged all three with the murder of David Morley, attempted grievous bodily harm of two other victims, robbery, violent disorder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
The charges relate to attacks against Mr Morley and a number of other victims near the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank shortly after 3am last Saturday.
All three will appear at Camberwell Magistrates Court on November 8.
Four other suspects have been bailed to return to separate south London police stations.
Mr Morley, of Chiswick, west London, suffered 40 bruises, a ruptured spleen, fractured ribs.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2004.

Three teenagers charged with gay man's murder

Reuters
Three teenagers charged with gay man's murder
Sat November 06, 2004 10:31 PM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - Three teenagers have been charged with the murder of gay barman David Morley, police say.
Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Kennington in south London, and two unnamed 16-year-old boys were charged with murder, attempted grievous bodily harm, robbery and violent disorder.
Morley, a 37-year-old from west London, was beaten by youths who attacked him and a friend last month as they walked through London's South Bank, a popular area of theatres, restaurants and nightspots near the River Thames.
The three teenagers are due to appear before Camberwell magistrates court on Monday, while four other suspects have been bailed to return to separate London police stations.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2004.

Trio charged with gay barman murder

South London Press
Trio charged with gay barman murder
Nov 7 2004
Police have charged three teenagers with the murder of gay barman David Morley on London's South Bank.
The three are Barry Lee, 19, a market trader from Kennington, and two other 16-year-old boys.
Police charged all three with the murder of David Morley, attempted grievous bodily harm of two other victims, robbery, violent disorder and conspiracy to commit robbery.
The charges relate to attacks against Mr Morley and a number of other victims near the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank shortly after 3am last Saturday.
All three will appear at Camberwell Magistrates Court on Monday.
Four other suspects have been bailed to return to separate south London police stations.
Mr Morley, of Chiswick, west London, suffered 40 bruises, a ruptured spleen, fractured ribs.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2004.

Of Good Report

“Of Good Report”
A new play by John Antrobus
John Antrobus and Johnny Speight team up on the Frankie Howard Radio Show. John is a pacifist, fresh out of Sandhurst, and Johnny's a fan of George Bernard Shaw (and Stalin) from the East End of London. As the Cold War hits light entertainment a man at the Beeb wants names. Someone is due for a walk in the woods...
White Bear
138 Kennington Park Road
London, SE11 4DJ
PHONE - 020 7793 9193
Ticket Price: Ł12.00
http://www.ofgoodreport.co.uk/
http://theater2.nytimes.com/gst/theater/tdetails.html?id=1097571010919&action=venue
http://www.whitebear.uktheatre.net/
PLOT DESCRIPTION
Of Good Report tells of John's writing partnership with Johnny Speight, who died in 1998. Another veteran of television comedy, Johnny grew up in the East End as the son of a docker. After factory work and jobs as a milkman and a cook, he was introduced to Frankie Howard, Eric Sykes and Spike Milligan, and began work on Frankie Howard's radio show. He is probably best remembered for creating the controversial Alf Garnet in Til Death Us Do Part, while also writing That Was The Week That Was and Morcambe and Wise. His play The Compartment (1962) was credited with giving Michael Caine his first break. Of Good Report relates the dawning of a golden age of comedy. John Antrobus and Johnny Speight team up of the Frankie Howard Radio Show. John is a pacifist, fresh out of Sandhurst, and Johnny's a fan of George Bernard Shaw (and Stalin) from the East End of London. As the Cold War hits light entertainment a man at the Beeb wants names. Someone is due for a walk in the woods... — Whatsonstage.com
SHOWTIMES / VENUE
Previews Start: Nov. 9, 2004
Opening Date: Nov. 11, 2004
Closing Date: Dec. 5, 2004
Show Times:
Tue-Sat 7:30pm. Sun 4:00pm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 06, 2004.

RSPB London House Sparrow Project - Request for Information

RSPB London House Sparrow Project - Request for Information
A request for information with a positive biodiversity flavour.
Chris Osman, who works for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), is working on the RSPB London House Sparrow Project, investigating the causes of the decline in house sparrow numbers in the capital. I act as - get this - the "sparrow champion" for Lambeth. Such privilege. The house sparrow is also a priority species for the London Biodiversity Action Plan, and the Lambeth Community Strategy Environment Group has also proposed a House Sparrow Species Action Plan for the Lambeth Biodiversity Action Plan, which I'm now drafting up.
Chris and RSPB's research biologist Nancy Ockendon are currently looking for suitable house sparrow colonies in London for their study, and have identified a few that they can use; however they we are still some way short of the total they'd need.
Chris has asked me if I know of any house sparrow colonies in Lambeth that we could tell him about. Chris is keen to hear urban or suburban sites - including parks, open spaces and allotment sites, which are frequented throughout the year, but particularly the breeding season, by 10 or more sparrows.
Ideally house sparrows will be nesting at or nearby the site, but the main thing is that local residents or groups will be willing to assist with regular maintenance of a food supply where applicable, and occasional access to Chris and Nancy for monitoring purposes. Chris has asked me to put feelers out for such sites, and names of any of sites and any helpful residents or site users. Obviously we can give access to Chris and Nancy to the Borough's parks and greenspaces, but I do want you as local residents or interested parties to be fully involved in this from the beginning. You probably have as much information - if not more - about sparrows than I do in many locations, so your expertise would be priceless.
If I can supply Chris with suitable sites and contact details he will initially arrange a meeting with the potential helper(s) and assess the suitability of the site and its house sparrow colony. Obviously I'd be involved wherever I can, and I'd come to any meetings and site visits. I am only too happy to pass on Chris's email address to you, and I'm sure he'd be happy to acknowledge you in all findings and reports.
This information will be of incredible value for the Lambeth BAP and the House Sparrow Species Action Plan, and help us to protect and promote this important little bird. I do see quite a few house sparrows when I'm out and about in Lambeth on parks and open spaces so I'm sure we can quickly add to the database!
Chris and Nancy are working on the hypothesis that the sparrows' main problem is a lack of food during the critical nestling stage during the breeding season, so they'll be operating 3 different feeding regimes within sample colonies. At some, they'll provide a high protein diet (probably meal worms) during the breeding season; other colonies will have year-round seed; and the rest will receive no supplementary food (or rather nothing more than is already being provided). Monitoring the number of birds at each colony over the 3 years of the study should hopefully highlight any population change.
Your assistance will be very much appreciated, and I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards
Iain
Dr Iain Boulton
Environmental Education Officer
Lambeth Parks
4th Floor Blue Star House
234-244 Stockwell Road
London SW9 9SP
Tel: 020 7926 6209
Fax: 020 7926 6201
Email: IBoulton@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Iain (IBoulton@lambeth.gov.uk), November 06, 2004.

Saxy Mr Rudi

Saxy Mr Rudi
Nov 3 2004
By Vicky Wilks
Streatham Post
OAPS enjoyed a mixture of West Indian and English culture at a party to celebrate Black History Month.
Voluntary group Make a Difference organised the bash.
It included West Indian and English music and food at Streatham's Darby and Joan club in Leigham Court Road.
About 60 pensioners enjoyed a performance by a Rastafarian drumming group based at Kennington's St Agnes Place.
Saxophonist Rudi Jones - who performs under the name Mr Rudi - also entertained at the club.
Make a Difference chairwoman Gloria Bailey said: "People enjoyed the performances so much - everyone was tapping their feet."
Lambeth's deputy mayor, Councillor Daphne Marchant, gave a speech at the party on Thursday afternoon last week.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 04, 2004.

Bad Girl Antonia lays down the law to kids

Bad Girl Antonia lays down the law to kids
Nov 2 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
IN prison drama Bad Girls she's tough-talking Yardie Darlene Cake who's been banged up for four years for smashing a girl in the face with a pint glass.
But in real life actress Antonia Okonma is a former South Bank University student who said if she ended up in a prison cell she would pass the hours by reading the Bible.
On Friday, she was one of four speakers who recounted their life experiences to a group of 100 Kennington youngsters to make them think twice about getting involved in crime.
Antonia, 22, from Kensington, was invited to the event at Kennington's Pedlar's Park community hall by Brixton-based voluntary group Keep the Dream Alive.
Antonia told the youngsters how she got her first big break on the hit ITV crime drama.
Other speakers included 26-year-old Kevin Bennett from Main Company recording studios.
Kevin, from Brixton, told the teenagers how despite getting a criminal record when he was younger, he had been able to achieve his ambitions.
Keep the Dream Alive vice-chairman Genex, 37, told how he defrauded a bank of nearly Ł300,000 and ended up returning the money after having a "spiritual experience" while serving time in Brixton prison.
The youngsters also had a session with police where they talked about why they might be reluctant to report crime.
A representative from South Bank University spoke to them about the benefits of education.
Project director Tola Onigbanjo said: "People who have given up a life of crime are now happier with other things they are doing - they don't have to look over their shoulder.
"We aim to leave something positive with the youth so they know they don't have to go into crime and at the same time, let them know education is important and that they can utilise their talents."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 03, 2004.

Drug den 'threat to safety'

Drug den 'threat to safety'
Oct 29 2004
South London Press
A FILTHY subway used as a drug den could threaten passenger safety at a landmark new transport interchange, a councillor has warned. The subway, at Vauxhall Cross, is shut to the public but its sloping entrance ramp has become a night-time haunt for drug addicts and vagrants.
The underground ramp, next to the bus station, is piled high with used syringes and litter. Lambeth's executive member for community safety, regeneration and transport, Councillor Andrew Sawdon, said: "This is a complete no man's land and one of the worst scenes of environmental degradation in central London.
"Plus, when this bus station opens, there will be public here - ordinary people using night buses. This will be a threat to their safety."
Cllr Sawdon said it was not Lambeth's responsibility and called on Ken Livingstone to take action. The tunnel is owned by London Underground.
Cllr Sawdon said: "I think the Mayor of London should step in and sort this out personally.
"After all this is supposed to be one of his flag-ship projects - it's not looking like much of a flagship project at the moment."
A Transport for London (TfL) spokeswoman said: "We are cleaning it up. We have asked Lambeth to get its sharp implements team to do the work, then we will clear away the rubbish."
She said TfL would seal the ramp off with a gate and meshing. The Vauxhall Cross interchange would open before Christmas, she added.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 02, 2004.

The Old Vic - Local residents' offer

The Old Vic - Local residents' offer

ARE YOU A LAMBETH OR SOUTHWARK RESIDENT?
THEN YOU ARE ENTITLED TO REDUCED PRICE TICKETS FOR “CLOACA” AT THE OLD VIC THEATRE!
“CLOACA” is directed by Kevin Spacey and stars Stephen Tompkinson, Neil Pearson, Hugh Bonneville and Adrian Lukis. It runs until 11th December
RESIDENTS OF LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK GET THE BEST AVAILABLE SEATS IN THE HOUSE FOR JUST Ł12 (normally Ł40)
VALID PERFORMANCES: MONDAYS AT 7.30PM OR WEDNESDAYS AT 2.30PM
TO BOOK TICKETS, PHONE 0870 060 6628 AND QUOTE ‘CLOACA LOCAL’. Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-6pm.
ALTERNATIVELY, COME ALONG TO THE BOX OFFICE MON–SAT, 10AM–7.30PM, The Old Vic, The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Please bring proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, driving licence) when you pick up your tickets.
For email updates, sign-up at www.oldvictheatre.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 02, 2004.

Fitness walks in Kennington Park

Lambeth - Sports and Recreation - Healthy lifestyles
Fitness walks in Kennington Park
Exercise on referral
The main focus of the Exercise on Referral Scheme is the primary prevention of coronary heart disease.
This scheme has been specifically developed to offer tailored exercise programmes for people leading a sedentary lifestyle who suffer from any of the following medical conditions:
Controlled hypertension, Diabetes type 1, Diabetes type 2 controlled, Asthma, COAD, Familial Hypercholesterolaemia, mild anxiety/depression, obesity, or Hypercholesterolaemia.
Physical activity and sport is seen to play a key role in improving health and well-being and can alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the conditions referred to above.
There are a choice of sessions; aqua aerobics, circuit, gym sessions and healthy walks. The walks takes place in:
Brockwell Park - every Tuesday at 2pm, meeting at the Lido.
Myatt's Fields Park - every Friday at 3.15pm, meeting at the conservatory.
Streatham Common - every Thursday at 1pm, meeting at the Café.
Kennington Park - every Monday 1pm, meeting at the Café.
These walks are for all abilities and ages - absolutely anyone can come along. It's a great chance to meet new people, and get some exercise at the same time. The walks will be taken by a qualified instructor - so pop along for free!
Please call on 020 7926 0761 for further details.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 02, 2004.

KA Art Auction: The Taster Catalogue

KA Art Auction: The Taster Catalogue
Hi All
The first Kennington Association Art Auction takes place on Wednesday, November 10th at Pizza Express: below is a list of ten typical items to be auctioned (all 80 or so will be listed in the final catalogue on sale at the Auction) and a poster giving details of times and dates of the Auction and the PreView. We look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes
Cathy
The Art Auction at Pizza Express: Just ten of the items entered for sale…
The Kennington Association
Art Auction
At Pizza Express*
A Short Taster Catalogue of Items for Sale
Art Auction: 7.30 pm Wednesday 10th November
(Doors Open 6.30pm)
Viewing: 7pm Monday, 8th November
Catalogue at the door, including a glass of wine, Ł2.50
On Wednesday, 10th November, The Kennington Association will auction more than 80 paintings, prints and other works of art donated by Kennington residents and friends. Proceeds will be used to help fund new, deserving community initiatives in 2005.
The lots to be auctioned include something for everyone: there are lots that are expected to sell for under Ł25, many for between Ł25 and Ł85 and some that should reach well over Ł100, or even Ł200 or more. And it should also be a great fun event. If you want to have an early look at the items, or to choose the ones you want to bid for, come also to the viewing on Monday, 8th November.
Below is a list of ten typical items for sale are listed…….
1. Night-time Motorscape by Jim Cross. Oil on board. 40x80cm.
2. Sand, Sea & Sky. Soft colours at low tide. Large print in white mounting. 26x33cm.
3. Framed original watercolour of Cleaver Square by Valerie Otte. Autumnal elegance in Kennington. 55x40cm
4. Ginger Cat; A Grant Palmer Sculpture from Country Artists. A 23 cm long, 20 cm high friend for life.
5. Nude Woman. Oil on board. Dramatic yet sensitive, 90x60cm by Nina Vilsoen.
6. Orange Crescendo 1 by Owen Barfield: magnificent 120x60 cm abstract, oil on canvas. Will bring any room to glorious life.
7. Fairlight: 60/150 Limited Edition Print of a Linda McCartney photo, signed by Linda herself. A real original! 40x60cm
8. Life Force: an explosion in colour, well framed print, mounted on card behind glass. 65x55cm
9. Pink Dawn over the Hills: Framed 120x80cm spray-painted on canvas. An evocative and misty landscape.
10. La Main D’Or framed poster print (1) of Pirro: fireworks and the feeling of France. 80x56cm
La Main D’Or framed poster print (2) of Pirro: colourful 80x56cm (To be auctioned as pair)
_________________________
Kennington Association
The Art Auction
At
Pizza Express*
7.30 pm
Wednesday 10th November
(Doors Open 6.30pm)
Kennington Residents have donated more than 75 original paintings and prints for the auction.
All proceeds to the Kennington Association for community activities in 2005.
Catalogue at the door, including a glass of wine, Ł2.50
Viewing: 7pm Monday, 8th November
* Pizza Express, (316 Kennington Road
Corner of Windmill Row & Kennington Road)

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), October 31, 2004.

Mothers share anger four years after deaths of sons

South Londo Press
Mothers share anger four years after deaths of sons
Oct 29 2004
PROUDLY looking at photographs of their sons, Maria Miller and Dawn Allimi describe the past four years as "a living nightmare".
Time is meant to be a healer, but for both mums the painful memories of the tragic accident that claimed the lives of the two lads is still fresh in their minds.
On the evening of August 1 2000, motorbike rider Dean Miller and pillion passenger, 15-year-old Tunde Allimi, became involved in a high-speed police chase after officers suspected the bike was stolen.
Just 30 seconds after the powerful Suzuki vanished from the sight of police, it crashed into a vehicle in South Norwood Hill, South Norwood, killing Tunde and leaving Dean, a college student from Greenwich, with a brain injury.
Recalling the night, Mrs Miller, from South Norwood, told the Advertiser: "Under my curtains I could see a swarm of light coming down. I just thought there had been a match played at Crystal Palace."
The light was actually coming from the traffic tailbacks outside following the accident involving her son, which happened nearby.
Shortly afterwards, she got a phone call from her daughter saying there had been a motorcycle accident involving Dean.
He clung to life for 11 weeks at Atkinson Morley's Hospital, in Wimbledon, as his family prayed for the 23-year-old's recovery. But he died on October 11, 2000.
A tearful Mrs Miller said: "The consultants told me he had suffered such severe brain damage that it would be a miracle if he came round.
"At times there seemed to be signs that he was coming around.
"But the staff made him comfortable as they could see he was slipping away.
"Dean was so kind-hearted and a wonderful son."
His passenger, Tunde Allimi, a pupil at Selhurst High School for Boys, was killed after he was flung into the path of a car.
His mum, Dawn, from Upper Norwood, said: "He was such a helpful boy, he was willing to help anybody he met.
"He was a fun-loving boy who was very well cared for."
It was over a year before an inquest was opened into the deaths of the two boys.
At Croydon Coroners' Court, both families were left shocked by many of the things that emerged from the hearing.
Police officers said they had given chase because they suspected the bike was stolen. But although Dean was the lawful owner of the machine, he had been disqualified from driving.
Eyewitnesses described the bike roaring past at 90mph and the victims' legal representatives claimed the officers' continued pursuit was in defiance of Metropolitan Police safety rules
But the pursuing officer said circumstances had not warranted giving up the chase.
The inquest also heard one police driver had been disciplined by his supervisors for trying to block the speeding motorcycle by positioning his patrol car at an angle across the street.
And the Met was criticised by the victims' legal representatives for leaving a trainee control desk operator in charge of monitoring the pursuit.
A jury returned a verdict of accidental death, with coroner Dr Roy Palmer saying this finding would not prevent the families exercising their right to take civil proceedings.
Mrs Miller said: "For us, the inquest left a lot of gaps and the matter had not been closed."
Both families later approached the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), who looked into the case for a year. But they were satisfied the matter had been fully investigated.
Still unsatisfied, the Miller and Allimi families are still pursuing the case and feel that somebody should be made accountable for the accident.
They are angry that the police pursuit was not called off at an earlier stage.
Mrs Allimi said: "You can't really move on.
"For both of us it's been sheer hell since this happened. It's like living in a nightmare - you think it is all really a bad dream."
It was alleged at the inquest that the chase was raciallymotivated because officers could not accept two young black men could be riding a high-powered bike legally. Police witnesses denied any racial motive.
The families have now approached the Monitoring Group, a registered charity, which is now investigating the incident.
Mrs Miller added: "My eldest daughter has lost her only brother. She used to take him to school - she certainly hasn't got over this. You just have to get on with your life the best you can, but it's so difficult."
* A special memorial service for Dean Miller and Tunde Allimi is being held on Tuesday, November 16, from 6.30pm. Anybody who knew the boys is invited to attend St Mark's Church, 56 Kennington Park Road, London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 30, 2004.

Man, 87, has Christmas cash snatched by female trickster

South London Press
Man, 87, has Christmas cash snatched by female trickster
Oct 29 2004
AN 87-YEAR-OLD was robbed of his Christmas savings when a woman tricked her way into his home.
She conned her way into the elderly man's flat by pretending to know his family before stealing a wallet containing Ł500 in cash, which the pensioner had saved to buy Christmas presents for his grandchildren. The burglary took place at around 2pm on Saturday at an address in Lambeth. Detective Constable Paul Donoghue, of the Kennington Robbery Squad, described the theft as a "callous crime".
He has appealed for witnesses and information.
The suspect is described as a 5ft 2in tall olive-skinned woman, aged around 20-25. She was slimly built and had brown hair which was tied up, apart from four ringlets which hanged down.
She also spoke with an "unusual" accent.
Anyone with information should call the robbery squad on 020 8649 2434.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 30, 2004.

Electrician

Electrician
I'd like to recommend to you an electrician:
Patrick Blake
07950 382154
Lives in Lewisham and lectures in Electrics at Lambeth College.
Recommended by my plumber, Oliver, and doing loads of work for his father, Mario, a neighbour upstairs in my building. Mario is thrilled with him too.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 24, 2004.

Planning: 193 Kennington Lane and 292-294 Kennington Road

Planning: 193 Kennington Lane and 292-294 Kennington Road
Planning Applications Committee 12 10 04
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/028581.pdf
See Page 4 for details of the decision
Released: 22 October, 2004 03:58
Filesize: 32kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2004.

Of Good Report

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Of Good Report
Play about Till Death Do Us Part creator Johnny Speight.
Remember Spike Milligan, Tony Hancock, the Two Ronnies, Alf Garnett, Frankie Howerd? If so, you will probably enjoy "Of Good Report" at the White Bear on Kennington Road from 9 November to 5 December. The Box Office is on 7793 9193.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2004.

Can you help some local young people?

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Can you help some local young people?
A team from the Prince's Trust are aiming to help improve the environment of Kennington's community centre near the Oval tube station. They need decorating materials and equipment. Do you have any spare paints, brushes, buckets etc? If so, please contact Josie Falkner on on 07775 598848 (email jfalkner@ntlworld.com).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2004.

How much your MP costs

How much your MP costs
MP: Hoey, Kate (Lab, Vauxhall)
LONDON* Ł1,574*
IEP Ł4,658
STAFF Ł64,745
TRAVEL Ł5,093
ST TRV Ł0
ST'NERY Ł3,629
IT Ł1,404
TOTAL Ł81,103
RANK 649
* - MP claimed Ł1,574 London supplement

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2004.

MPs hit taxpayers' pockets with Ł209m expenses claim

Independent > News > UK > Politics
MPs hit taxpayers' pockets with Ł209m expenses claim
By Marie Woolf and Ben Russell
22 October 2004
MPs have run up a Ł209m expenses bill since the last general election and have claimed taxpayers' cash to buy new fridges, sofas or even television licenses, it emerged yesterday.
The astronomical cost of Britain's 659 MPs was revealed as their expenses claims were published for the first time. They showed that members are claiming an average of Ł118,000 a year in taxpayers' subsidies on top of their Ł57,485 salaries.
Tony Blair, who has official residences in Downing Street and Chequers, ran up a bill for Ł43,000 since the last election in subsidies for his constituency home in Sedgefield, which he bought for Ł30,000 in 1983.
Downing Street insisted that the cash was to pay the mortgage on the detached residence, called Myrobella, and crucial repairs to the property, which also serves as an office.
The Prime Minister is among a number of cabinet ministers, including Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, who receive grace-and-favour residences from the state but also claims tens of thousands of pounds to run another private home.
Outer London MPs claimed Ł500,000 in housing subsidies even though their constituencies are often only a few miles from Westminster. The bulk of those 49 MPs claimed the allowance, designed to help MPs with constituencies in far-flung parts of Britain. Tony Banks, MP for West Ham, claimed Ł20,000 for a housing allowance even though his constituency is a Tube ride away from Westminster.
The senior salaries review board (SSRB), which sets public service pay, recommended that some allowances be slashed. It also proposed that the controversial "additional costs allowance" for accommodation should only be updated in line with inflation. The SSRB recommended pay rises of 2 per cent for MPs and ministers. But it warned that MPs' pay lags far behind comparable jobs in the private sector.
MPs are allowed to claim expenses for staff, office costs, accommodation and travel to and from their constituencies. The subsidies come on top of MPs' salaries of Ł57,485 a year and a cabinet minister's salary of Ł72,862. The expenses show that as well as travel and accommodation, MPs claimed Ł11.49m last year in incidental expenses, Ł430,000 in staff travel, Ł720,000 for stationery, Ł2.2m in postage and Ł1.17m in IT provision.
The most expensive MPs last year were Claire Curtis-Thomas, Labour MP for Crosby, who claimed Ł168,889, and Keith Vaz, the former Europe minister, who claimed Ł164,265.
A spokesman for Unison, Britain's biggest union, said: "Some of these expenses seem excessive, particularly when we have other public sector workers who are on very low wages."
One of the top 10 big spenders branded the publication of expenses "a total nonsense". Peter Pike, the MP for Burnley, who claimed Ł153,989, insisted those with large expenses were among those who spent the most time working hard. He said the figures could be "quite misleading". "I genuinely believe you have got to look at what MPs do ... You cannot just look at them off the peg."
Mr Pike sits on three select committees in the Commons.
The Green Book, the pay guide for MPs, says they should claim only for "those additional costs wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred" while working away from their home.
THE GRACE-AND-FAVOUR MINISTERS
By Marie Woolf
Ministers with grace-and-favour homes are also claiming tens of thousands of pounds in housing allowance. They include:
Tony Blair has a smart family flat above 11 Downing Street and an elegant country residence at Chequers, Buckinghamshire. He also owns a spacious detached house in his Sedgefield constituency. Recently he purchased a Ł3.6m Georgian house in central London. Over the past three years he has claimed Ł43,029 in housing allowance payments, which Downing Street says he has used for the mortgage and repairs at Sedgefield.
Gordon Brown has a small official flat above 10 Downing Street, a flat in central London and a house. He has claimed Ł43,178 in three years.
John Prescott has a grace-and-favour flat at the top of Admiralty House in London, an official country residence in Dorney Wood, Buckinghamshire and a house in his Hull constituency. He has claimed Ł57,066.
David Blunkett, has an official residence at Government House in Pimlico. He also owns a one-bedroom house in Southfields, south-west London, which he rents out, and a house in his constituency. He has claimed Ł54,755 over three years.
Jack Straw has an official country residence in Chevening, Kent, and an official London residence in Carlton Gardens off Pall Mall. He also has a family home in Kennington and a house in his constituency. He has claimed Ł44,019 in housing expenses since 2001.
Margaret Beckett, Environment Secretary, has a grace-and-favour flat in Admiralty House in Westminster, a detached cottage in her Derby constituency and a flat she lets in Westminster, near the House of Commons. She has claimed Ł50,176 over the past three years.
Geoff Hoon, the Defence Secretary, has a government flat in Admiralty House as well as a house in Kennington, south London from which he gains a rental income. He also has a home in his constituency. Mr Hoon has claimed Ł54,217 in three years.
Michael Martin, the Speaker, has an apartment in Parliament. He also owns a flat in London and a house in his constituency. He claimed Ł42,501.
THE SINN FEIN MPS
The four Sinn Fein MPs claimed more than Ł430,000 between them last year in expenses and allowances, although they refuse to take up their Westminster seats.
Michelle Gildernew, MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, topped the Sinn Fein list, collecting Ł115,420 between April 2003 and March 2004. The sum included Ł18,400 towards the cost of living in London, and Ł67,738 for staff. Sinn Fein's chief negotiator Martin McGuinness, MP for Mid Ulster, claimed Ł110,653; the party president Gerry Adams, MP for West Belfast, claimed Ł109,315; while Pat Doherty, the West Tyrone MP, claimed Ł104,064.
Sinn Fein MPs have office accommodation at Westminster. They have not sworn or affirmed the oath of allegiance to the Queen.
OUTER LONDON MPS
By Ben Russell, Political Correspondent
Outer London MPs claimed nearly Ł500,000 last year to cover mortgage payments, rent and hotel bills in Westminster even though their constituencies are only a few miles from the House of Commons.
Most MPs with seats in the commuter belt around London claim substantial amounts under the "additional costs allowance" which covers the cost of staying away from home while on parliamentary duties. The allowance can be used to cover hotel bills, mortgage interest payments, rent and even the cost of electricity, a TV licence or household appliances.
Many claim close to the top figure of Ł20,902 a year even though their constituents think nothing of the daily journey into the capital.
Forty-nine MPs whose constituencies are included in an official list of outer London seats are entitled to claim, or to choose a far lower Ł1,618 London allowance if they live at their main home. The 26 inner London MPs cannot claim the extra money and are automatically paid the Ł1,618 allowance.
The figures show that just 17 outer London MPs do not claim the additional costs allowance. Most of those who do, claim well in excess of Ł10,000.
Margaret Hodge, Minister for Children and MP for Barking; Vincent Cable, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman and Twickenham MP; Paul Boateng, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Brent South MP; and Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton, are among those who choose not to claim the additional costs.
Of those who take advantage of the allowance:
* Tony Banks, Labour MP for West Ham, claimed Ł20,333 although his east London seat is only a 25-minute Tube ride away.
* Andrew Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford, whose Essex constituency is less than 20 miles from central London but who has a pied-ŕ-terre there, claimed Ł20,333.
* Jenny Tonge, Lib Dem MP for Richmond Park, claimed Ł13,554 for her flat 10 minutes from the Commons, even though her main home is in Richmond, around 10 miles away.
* Derek Conway, Tory MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, on the south-eastern outskirts of London, claimed Ł20,333.
THE MOST EXPENSIVE MPS...
The MP who ran up the biggest bill for the taxpayers was Claire Curtis-Thomas, the loyal Blairite MP for Crosby, Merseyside, who collected Ł168,889 between April 2003 and March 2004.
Her expenses included the maximum Ł20,333 for staying away from her constituency, Ł19,780 for office premises and equipment, Ł71,773 for staff costs, Ł27,155 for travel, Ł19,038 on postage and Ł2,021 on computers.
The former minister Keith Vaz, MP for Leicester East, claimed Ł164,265, including Ł18,893 for postage.
Mohammed Sarwar, MP for Glasgow Govan, received Ł157,262.
Peter Pike, who is retiring next year as Labour MP for Burnley after 21 years, picked up Ł153,989.
Eric Joyce collected Ł152,861. He ran up a travel bill of Ł39,116 - the second highest of any MP - travelling between London and his Falkirk West constituency.
... AND THE LEAST
The Tory MP Michael Trend was officially bottom of the list on Ł56,657, but only after he repaid Ł90,000 in accommodation allowances he should not have claimed. Mr Trend was suspended from the Commons for two weeks and will stand down at the next election following a newspaper exposé.
Sarah Teather claimed Ł68,689, but has only represented Brent East since her shock by-election win for the Liberal Democrats last September.
Stephen McCabe, the Labour MP for Birmingham Hall Green, came in cheapest for the full year at Ł70,519, after claiming just Ł12,970 for his London living expenses.
Dennis Skinner, the veteran left-wing MP for Bolsover, spent just Ł71,120 representing Bolsover. His London living expenses were Ł12,128.
Next cheapest was the Tory grandee, Sir John Stanley, whose Tonbridge and Malling seat is in Kent, on Ł73,849.
THE COUPLE
The husband and wife MPs Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton jointly claim more than Ł188,000 in expenses and allowances. Sir Nicholas, the Tory MP for Macclesfield, claims Ł14,749 in additional costs allowance, which pays for MPs' living expenses away from home, while Mrs Winterton, the Conservative MP for Congleton, claims Ł18,602 for the same allowance.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2004.

Sounds for the rainforest

South London Press
Sounds for the rainforest
Oct 22 2004
POPULAR quirky party bar South London Pacific is hosting The Jungle Boogie Event in aid of Rainforest Concern next week.
Guests can enjoy a lively mix of live funk, soul and jazz, with live musicians, DJs and dancers next Thursday at the Kennington Road venue. There's also a cabaret, various prize draws, including the chance to win two tickets to Paris on the Eurostar, a meal at Marco Pierre White's hip Soho restaurant L-Escargot plus designer clothes.
The aim of the night is to raise funds to help sustain the rainforests in Ecuador, and for every Ł25 raised Rainforest Concern will be able to buy one acre of land.
The Jungle Boogie, Thursday, October 28, at South London Pacific, Kennington Road, Kennington. Doors 7pm-1am, ticket Ł6. For more info or to book advance tickets call 01322 359 556.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2004.

Kennington heroes of the Blitz

Local Online
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/localonline/index.htm
Kennington heroes of the Blitz
Charlie Rapley, an Air Raid Patrol Warden, was killed in 1941. His sacrifice has recently been recognised by the Government after 63 years.
On the night of 19th April 1941, towards the end of the main Blitz on London two Local community Air Raid wardens were on duty in their Post at the Vestry of St Philips at 214 Kennington Road.
Charlie Rapley and Issie Kutz were old friends and joined the ARP service at the start of the war in 1939. Charlie was born in 1901 and Issie in 1905. They had survived the worst that the Germans could throw at London since the start of the Blitz in August 1940.
Air raid wardens have been the butt of jokes and comedy ever since but whilst every one else was comparatively safe in the shelters they were above ground at their posts waiting for bombs to drop in their 'patch'. They would then be the first on the scene and call up the help needed from the emergency services and rescue squads even though the bombs were still falling thick and fast.
These men were as courageous as any front line serviceman. Often being first on the scene they were the ones who made the initial rescues of trapped people. They also acted as guards until the police arrived to prevent looting of bombed premises, an occurrence all too familiar in the blitz.
The Kutz family had a shoe repair shop in Lambeth Walk which was still there years after the war. The Rapley family had lived in the warren of streets between Lambeth Walk and Kennington Road for at least two hundred years. Charlie was living in Tracey Street at the time of his death quite literary a stone's throw from his post. He was a very kind man well liked by all who knew him for his generosity to others in the hard times of the thirties. He was a bookies' tic-tac man and travelled all over the country for the various bookmakers who employed him. He ended up working for William Hill's. An all round sportsman, he excelled at Lollard Street school winning three Kings Medals for excellence.
The bomb landed right on the Vestry and killed the two of them outright, we believe that a 16 year old messenger died from his wounds and also a woman. We know nothing yet about these other two heroes but most posts had a boy messenger who would ride his bike through the bombs and rubble to notify the other services of the situation and what help was needed if the phone lines were down. Women were often on duty at the ARP posts handling all the co-ordinating phone calls and paper work as much on the front line as anyone.
Last month at the request of his family the Home Secretary awarded Charles Edward Rapley his World War 2 Defence Medal which would have been his due if he had survived but the family did not realise that the deceased were still eligible for medals when they were issued after the war. So it has taken 63 years but a local hero has at last been honoured. What of Israel Kutz? Did he get his medal? Somehow I don't think so, does any one else know? Does anyone know where his family are now? Shall we try to find out? Who were the other two heroes, they are owed their due as well. Does anyone know?
If you know someone who lived in the area during the war ask them if they know who the others were, who knows perhaps we might even be able to get a little plaque put up at the site or at the school if it is still there.
You can find out more about wardens and the blitz on the internet. Try looking up our heroes on the Commonwealth War Graves Site.
Material contributed by George Rapley, brother of Charlie, and Peter Spearink, his nephew, 11 October 2004.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2004.

2 for 1 curry and a free Kingfisher beer

The Sun
2 for 1 curry and a free Kingfisher beer
Saturday, October 16, 2004
DON’T be a vinda-looser - cash in on our fab curry offer.
The Sun is celebrating Kingfisher World Curry Week by spicing up your life with a two-for-one curry meal deal.
From Wednesday your red-hot Sun is inviting readers to korma along for a half-price curry.
We’ve got together with some of Britain’s finest Indian restaurants for this tasty bargain, which lets you and up to five pals eat for half price - plus you all get a free Kingfisher beer!
Just buy one main meal and/or a starter and get another of equivalent or lesser value free.
You can then claim a free pint or 330ml bottle of tasty Kingfisher.
More than 430 restaurants are taking part across the UK so there’s bound to be one not too phaal away.
To cash-mir in on Britain’s best meal deal, just collect four differently numbered tokens from the six we will be printing in The Sun newspaper.
To get hold of Token 1 go out and buy Saturday's Sun newspaper. Once you have all your tokens, attach them to the voucher which we will print on Wednesday in The Sun, along with a special four page pullout with full restaurant listings.
Then poppadom to your local participating Indian restaurant to book a table (offer subject to table availability) or give them a call.
You can book any Monday to Thursday for lunch or dinner from Wednesday, October 20, until Thursday, November 11, 2004. Terms and conditions apply.
Terms and conditions
Cut out the main voucher in Wednesday’s Sun with four differently numbered Sun Curry Tokens attached. This entitles you to one free main dish and/or starter for each one purchased, to a maximum of three. This voucher entitles one booking for up to six people.
Voucher is valid only at restaurants listed in today’s Sun pullout dated 20 October 2004. Offer valid on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from October 21 until 11 November 2004.
This promotion does not include VAT and cover charge. No photocopied, damaged or defaced vouchers accepted. No cash alternative given. Offer subject to availability. Voucher valid for one visit only. Any queries please call 0870 1267 509.
You will also have three small vouchers entitiling up to six people to a pint or 330ml Kingfisher beer when one main course and/or starter is bought in The Sun 2 for 1 Curry meal deal. Please note, only one free Kingfisher beer per person per visit.
Participating restaurants in Kennington
Ghandi's Restaurant, 347 Kennington Road, Kennington, London, 020 7735 9015
Kennington Tandoori, 313 Kennington Road, Kennington, London, 020 7735 9247

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2004.

Retrial in case of fatal fight

Retrial in case of fatal fight
Oct 15 2004
South London Press
A MAN accused of killing the cousin of former Manchester United striker Lou Macari with a single punch faces a retrial.
Scott Elliott, 21, allegedly floored 28-year-old Joseph Macari during a mass drunken brawl outside a kebab shop in Kennington. Mr Macari cracked his head on the pavement and died in hospital from head injuries on November 3 last year.
Elliott, of Elworth House, Oval Place, Oval, denies manslaughter. He did not give evidence but denied throwing the fatal punch.
An Old Bailey jury could not reach a verdict after two days' deliberation. The judge, Sir John Blofeld, discharged them and said there would probably be a retrial on a date yet to be decided.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2004.

Lines of thought

Lines of thought
Oct 15 2004
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
TRAVEL broadens the mind - especially at the Oval Underground station.
Commuters who pass through the station are sent on their way with a thought of the day courtesy of staff.
The thoughts, written on a noticeboard in the station's foyer, have become such a big hit with Tube passengers they could eventually be rolled out across the whole network.
It was station supervisor Tony Gentles and assistant Desmond Kroma who came up with the idea.
Tony said: "We decided it would be nice to give customers a thought for the day to give passengers something to inspire them or think pleasant thoughts about as they make their daily commute to work.
"Now, many customers really look forward to seeing what is on the board.
"People have even asked us to have our photos taken with them standing by the board and we have had letters from people saying how much they like it."
The thought of the day noticeboard, placed next to another board which displays vital travel information for passengers, is a constant talking point at the busy Underground station.
"I think it is a really good," said commuter Natasha McIntosh: "I come through here twice a week and I always look forward to seeing what's on the board."
The catering manager and South Bank University student added: "You do leave thinking about the thought for the day as you go on your way".
London Underground group station manager Tony Smith said the reaction to the thought of the day had been so positive he was thinking of doing the same in other Tube stations south of the river.
Tony told the South London Press: "We're thinking of doing this at Kennington, Borough, Stockwell, Clapham Common and Clapham North and South now.
"And who knows - one day the thought of the day board could be something commuters see across the whole of the Tube network."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2004.

Doctor robbed on bus

Doctor robbed on bus
Oct 15 2004
South London Press
A DOCTOR was robbed of his "duty" mobile phone while he was travelling on a late-night bus.
The doctor was travelling towards Oval on a 185 bus when his phone - which his patients called when they needed help - was snatched.
This week police have released a CCTV image of a teenager they want to speak to in connection with the robbery which took place on Saturday, August 21. Police have released the image after other investigations failed to locate the suspect.
Detective Constable Chris Collins, of Kennington CID, said, "This was a callous theft. The doctor's phone was his direct link to his patients."
Information should be passed on to Kennington Priority Crime Unit on 020 8649 2477, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2004.

Lambeth: Executive Minutes 11 October 2004

Lambeth
Executive Minutes 11 October 2004
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/028323.pdf
Released: 15 October, 2004 09:42
Filesize: 35kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 15, 2004.

North Lambeth Area Committee 6th October 2004

North Lambeth Area Committee 6th October 2004
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/028290.pdf
Released: 14 October, 2004 10:37
Filesize: 34kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 14, 2004.

The Durning Library Older Persons' Afternoon - Wednesday, 20th October 2-3pm

The Durning Library
Older Persons' Afternoon
"Extend"
Thanks to funding from "Health First", Lullyn Tavares leads a gentle exercise class to music for the Over 50s and the less able of all ages. FREE
Wednesday, 20th October 2-3pm
at The Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane SE11 4HF

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 13, 2004.

The Great Escapes: The harsh reality and true heroism behind the Hollywood prison camp epics

Independent > News > UK > This Britain
The Great Escapes: The harsh reality and true heroism behind the Hollywood prison camp epics
By Cahal Milmo
13 October 2004
They used Monopoly boards to conceal maps of Nazi Germany, and rubber stamps for travel permits were fashioned from boot heels. Entire camps dedicated themselves to digging tunnels, tailoring disguises and bribing guards for train timetables with one sole aim: escape.
It is a vision of the German prisoner-of-war camps during the Second World War immortalised for post-war generations by such films as The Great Escape, Stalag 17 and The Wooden Horse well-spoken British officers and garrulous Americans charming their way to freedom past their dullard captors.
If the telling of acts of defiance such as the escapes from Colditz Castle were left to Hollywood, history would record that Allied prisoners of war enjoyed one long game of cat and mouse with their Nazi guards, planning and plotting in perfect harmony before scurrying through tunnels and taking a short train ride to freedom in Switzerland or Sweden while their colleagues performed Gilbert and Sullivan songs to distract the guards.
Yesterday, more than 50 veterans from the camps gathered at the Imperial War Museum in London to present a very different picture of life in captivity and the sacrifices that were made to return just a handful of the tens of thousands of Allied prisoners of war back home.
The gathering coincided with the launch a new exhibition at the museum, Great Escapes, designed to explode the myths of cinematic portrayals of escape efforts made in camps from Italy to Lithuania and underline the extraordinary ingenuity of the soldiers, sailors and airmen whose primary struggle in captivity was often not the pursuit of freedom but the avoidance of starvation.
For millions, Hut Four in Stalag Luft III is better known as the wooden shack where some 80 prisoners crawled their way towards freedom on 24 March 1944 through "Harry", a 104-metre tunnel dug over five months with the aid of 650 servicemen held in the camp's north compound. The mass break-out was the basis for Great Escapee 1963 film starring Steve McQueen, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson and Donald Pleasance which has become the most iconic of the escape films.
But for Frank Stone, an 18-year-old Royal Air Force gunner whose Hampden bomber crash-landed in Germany in 1940, Hut Four yesterday represented an austere home whose occupants lived in constant fear of discovery and where boredom as much as duty made escape worth pursuing.
Mr Stone, 82, a retired civil servant from Derby, said: "We really did not have much to do in the camp. It was a very dull life - Stalag Luft III was a bleak place in a pine forest. In winter it was bitterly cold, you had to scrimp together every bit of clothing.
"It was only the escape effort that made life interesting. That's why a lot of us were involved. You were always terrified the Germans were going to burst in and find us. I had to try and disguise all the dirt that was coming out of the tunnel and getting on the floor of the hut. We had to scrub the floorboards to wash it off. The Germans could never understand why we were washing all the time and told us to stop. But we explained that our commanding officer was a Royal Navy man who liked to keep his decks clean. They seemed to accept that."
Located near Sagan, a Polish town incorporated into the Third Reich, Stalag Luft III held 10,000 PoWs at its height and was built to be one of the most escape-proof and well-equipped of the Stammlager Luftwaffe, a network of camps built on the orders of Hermann Goering, the head of the German air force, to house captured airmen.
It was nearly 400 miles from Switzerland and almost 200 miles from the Baltic ports leading to neutral Sweden. Escape was therefore extremely difficult. Of the 10,000 RAF members taken prisoner during the war, only 30 ever escaped back to Britain.
Arthur Cole, 84, another RAF serviceman, who was based in Hut Five and on a reserve list to escape on 24 March, said: "This business of it being our duty to escape has been greatly exaggerated. There were 2,500 men in our compound alone. If we had all tried to escape then it would have been absolute chaos.
"In fact, escaping was banned unless you could come up with a credible plan and it was approved by the X Organisation, the escape committee. So although everybody thought about it, there were only a small number of active plans.
"We tried to amuse ourselves, mostly by playing cards. The Germans made a big fuss about how they had provided a golf course and clubs in this model camp of theirs. It turned out to be two broken putters and holes made from Red Cross tins sunk in sand. There wasn't a blade of grass in the place."
Although the Great Escape film recorded the fact that 50 of the 74 prisoners who were recaptured were executed on the orders of Hitler, many of the veterans gathered yesterday remembered a slower war of attrition designed to break their physical and mental resolve, which has gone largely unrecorded.
From Colditz Castle, the high-security prison where repeat escapees were incarcerated, to the dozens of lesser-known camps dotted around southern Germany and the Baltic countries, German policy was to observe only the most basic standards laid down under the 1929 Geneva Convention, which governed treatment of PoWs.
Rations in most of the camps were meagre, mainly consisting of thin soup. As a result many prisoners relied on Red Cross parcels to maintain their strength.
In one camp, the men were made to puncture each tin with a hammer to ensure they could not be strung together as air ducts in tunnels. The measure meant that the food in the tins often rotted before it could be consumed.
One veteran, incarcerated in Lithuania towards the end of the war, said: "I used to wake up with stomach cramps because of the cold and hunger. I got dysentery because what food we did get was filthy. I'm afraid it wasn't all putting on plays and hiding soil in the vegetable patches. It was a grim existence."
Then as the Nazi regime began to lose the war, the PoWs became an increased burden. In January 1945, the occupants of Stalag Luft III were forced to walk 60 miles in three days, killing several dozen prisoners.
John Leakey, 83, an RAF gunner, was in the same Hampden bomber as Mr Stone when it crashed, and pulled his comrade from the burning wreckage of the plane as its ammunition began to explode. Until yesterday, they had not met since that night after being sent to different camps.
Mr Leakey, originally from Kennington, close to the Imperial War Museum in south London, explained how the two men ended up with very different experiences as prisoners after he escaped by disguising himself as a French enforced labourer.
He said: "I managed to break away during a route march and when we were recaptured I persuaded the Germans I was a French worker. They took me in and shared their food. To me it was fantastic - cheese, bread, meat, vegetables. It made me realise how pitiful what we were given to eat in the camps had been."
Despite the often severe conditions, the exhibition, to run from 14 October until 31 July, pays tribute to the creativity of the prisoners in their efforts to burrow, bluff and even fly their way to liberty.
At the start of the war, British intelligence set up a new branch, MI9, dedicated to teaching servicemen to escape and aiding their efforts once in Nazi custody. Purpose-built aids, such as the famous Monopoly boards or gramophone records stuffed with Reichsmarks, were smuggled into the camps in non-Red Cross parcels. But it was left to the prisoners to produce the tools and disguises necessary to escape, famously turning khaki uniforms into three-piece suits and blankets into Wehrmacht battle dress.
Others went further. As well as saws and planes fashioned by Colditz prisoners, the exhibition features a replica of the full-size glider built by four men over 10 months in 1944. The plan was to launch the aircraft from the roof of the impregnable castle across the river flowing 200ft below but was not put to the test before the war ended. Tests carried out in 1999 found that it would have worked.
But while Hollywood has preferred to focus on the derring-do of the escapees, others yesterday pointed to the creativity which went into maintaining sanity during the months of incarceration.
In Stalag IVB, a camp deep in Germany surrounded by sandy soil which was impossible to tunnel under, a group of prisoners set up the Mulberg Motor Club in 1943. The main activity of the "club" was producing a hand-drawn and hand-written magazine, Flywheel, describing vehicles, both real and imaginary. In all 10 issues of the publication were produced, featuring remarkably detailed ink illustrations of cars, motorbikes and even caravans drawn from memory.
Thomas Swallow, 86, who was captured near Tobruk in 1942, was the co-editor. He said: "It was virtually impossible to escape from the camp so we made our own entertainment. There was a passion for motorbikes and motorcars so we set up the club We used to get two hundred men at the meetings. It was our way of saying to the Germans, we can beat you. We had classes for everything imaginable - musical appreciation, business methods. We even had German lessons."
AUBREY NINER STALAG LUFT III 'GYMNAST'
If Aubrey Niner, now 82, had shown an aptitude for gymnastics before the outbreak of the Second World War, it was to become an essential pastime once he arrived through the gates of Stalag Luft III.
The RAF pilot was one of the team of "gymnasts" whose job it was to disguise one of the most audacious escapes of the war. Prisoners used a wooden vaulting horse to disguise a trapdoor about 30 metres from the outer fence of the camp, billed as the most secure in Germany. While the gymnasts performed their somersaults, a man concealed inside dug the tunnel. The escape was immortalised in the filmThe Wooden Horse.
But Mr Niner said the reality was hard graft combined with significant risk-taking. He said: "We jumped over that horse day after day for three months. The horse was incredibly heavy but the men carrying it had to make it look like it barely weighed anything.
"I think the reason it succeeded was precisely because it was so brazenly cheeky."
KENNETH LOCKWOOD COLDITZ ESCAPE CO-ORDINATOR
Kenneth Lockwood bridles at any attempt to describe the escape efforts of himself and his fellow detainees in Colditz Castle as "glamorous". Now 86, the former stockbroker, a Territorial Army officer in the Queen's Royal Regiment who was captured in Belgium in 1940, helped to co-ordinate multiple escape plans from the German fortress.
Thirty-two Allied servicemen escaped from Colditz; the highest tally for any PoW camp. But Mr Lockwood believes the greatest challenge they faced was mental rather than physical. He said: "The most important thing you missed was your freedom. Our outside world was a courtyard the size of a tennis court surrounded by tall towers. There were 300 of us around this area. You really had to learn to be tolerant and accept each other.
"The food was foul. All we were given was a thin soup with turnips and swede. To this day I can eat neither. If it wasn't for the Red Cross parcels, I wouldn't be here today."
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 13, 2004.

'I saw the killer punch' says PC

'I saw the killer punch' says PC
Oct 12 2004
South London Press
A POLICEWOMAN told a court how a cousin of former Manchester United striker Lou Macari was standing motionless when he was allegedly killed with a knockout punch.
PC Vanessa Webster was trying to break up a drunken brawl involving 20 men when she noticed 28-year-old Joseph Macari in the middle of the group, the Old Bailey heard last Wednesday.
She said: "He was just standing there with his arms by his sides. He was punched in the face by a man standing in front of me wearing a white vest. He fell directly backwards to the floor. There was a thud. I didn't see him move at all."
Mr Macari, from Swansea, died in St Thomas' Hospital from head injuries that day.
Scott Elliott, 21, was identified by PC Webster as the attacker in the brawl, outside a takeaway in Kennington Lane, at around 1am last November 3.
PC Webster arrested him for affray and causing grievous bodily harm, the court heard.
PC Webster added: "I'm absolutely positive it was the same person."
Elliott, of Oval Place, Oval, denies manslaughter.
The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 13, 2004.

Awards were inspirational

South London Press
Awards were inspirational
Oct 11 2004
I JUST had to write and thank you for such a wonderful and inspiring evening last night at the Our Heroes awards.
Thank you so much for allowing me to be a judge of the Community Project, it was a real honour. Working, as I do in my job as audience development co-ordinator for the Young Vic, and working specifically with Southwark and Lambeth residents, it never fails to amaze me the sense of community in these boroughs.
People often complain about London being isolated and unfriendly, but I really think South London has such a strong sense of community and Our Heroes showed just a few of the amazing people and groups around who make it this way.
Once again, thank you so much for last night, I went away with a big smile knowing that you had made people's year, by giving them the recognition that they deserve.
Gabby Vautier The Young Vic Theatre Company Kennington

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 12, 2004.

RCDT AGM Thursday 4 November, 7pm

Riverside Community Development Trust
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
& MUSIC EVENING
Thursday 4 November, 7pm
Alford House Centre, Aveline St, SE11
Music starts at 7.45pm
Stan Barker Quartet
&
Kennington’s own diva
Celia Stothard
in a programme of mainstream
popular jazz, rock and roll and blues
All welcome
Further details from Riverside Community Development Trust, 20 Newburn St, SE11 5PJ. Tel: 020 7926 2775
Email: info@rcdt.org
RSVP to: Riverside Community Development Trust, 20 Newburn St, SE11 5PJ

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2004.

Community Noticeboard - Planning refused

Lambeth
Planning Applications Committee Minutes 28.09.04
See Page 6 regarding the proposed Community Noticeboard at St Anselm's
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/028070.pdf
Released: 8 October, 2004 11:07
Filesize: 40kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2004.

'I nearly caught the OAP killer'

'I nearly caught the OAP killer'
Oct 8 2004
South London Press
A PENSIONER has told the Old Bailey how he nearly caught a violent robber who went on to a kill a frail 82-year-old woman and attack 11 more victims.
Eric Kjaer, 77, said he bravely grabbed 26 year-old Elroy Simmonds despite being punched in the face and wrestled to the ground.
Simmonds only escaped by wriggling out of his jacket, socks and trainers and fled barefoot, leaving his mountain bike, baseball cap and a mobile phone, it was claimed.
But eight months later he renewed his violent attacks on the elderly - this time preying on vulnerable women living alone, the jury was told.
Hilda Ashdown, 82, died 10 days after becoming Simmonds's sixth victim on March 15 last year, it is claimed.
She was punched twice in the face by her attacker after she tried to fight him off when he barged into her home on Monclar Road, near Denmark Hill, the court heard.
Simmonds also targeted 11 other pensioners aged between 68 and 95 using the tactic of knocking on their doors in the morning when they may have been expecting the postman.
Mr Kjaer told the court he was attacked as he swept cigarette butts off the forecourt of a friend's home in Camberwell Park, on June 14, 2002.
He said: "I felt somebody pull my wallet from my back pocket.
"I just turned round and saw this person with my wallet in his hand.
"I grabbed him by his jacket. We were struggling and it came off him."
Mr Kjaer said he was holding Simmonds to the ground and eventually some passers-by came to help him.
He said Simmonds managed to get away while they were distracted looking for the wallet which was found in a nearby gutter.
Simmonds, of Tobey Close, White Hart Street, Kennington, is allegedly linked to the attacks by DNA, a shoeprint, fingerprint and identification by a witness.
The 26-year-old denies murder, GBH with intent, 11 counts of robbery and two counts of assault with intent to rob between June 14, 2002 and April 19, 2003. The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2004.

'Killed by one punch'

'Killed by one punch'
Oct 8 2004
South London Press
Scott Elliott, 21, allegedly knocked 28-year-old Joseph Macari to the floor in front of a policewoman trying to break up the fight which involved more than 20 people.
Mr Macari died in hospital from head injuries. On Wednesday, the Old Bailey heard how Mr Macari had taken a taxi to the Kennington takeaway at around 1am on November 3, 2003.
He was leaning against the counter when a drunken man walked in shouting for a taxi.
Prosecutor Wendy Joseph QC said: "This man was the sparking point for what was to follow.
"It seems that Joe must have said something because the man suddenly lunged at him, although no physical contact was made."
Mr Macari's friends followed the man outside into Kennington Lane, and asked, "What his problem was".
Other drinkers then ran over from The Thinker pub and began scuffling with the group, it was claimed.
Miss Joseph said: "By this time there was a general melee going on out in the street involving at least 20 people.
"Two policewomen by chance passed by and approached a group of about eight men who were punching and pushing each other."
One PC noticed Mr Macari, who was from Swansea, standing to the side of the street with a glazed expression and his hands by his sides, the court heard.
Miss Joseph said: "He was clearly drunk. When she looked back she suddenly saw Scott Elliott swing out with a blow that caught Joseph Macari in the face.
"He fell backwards with nothing to break his fall and he hit the ground with a distinct thud.
"Many people went down that night but he was the only one who went down and didn't get up again."
His eyes were partially open and he was breathing but there were gurgling sounds and a pool of blood was spreading beneath his head.
He was taken to St Thomas' Hospital but died that day.
Elliott, of Oval Place, Oval, was arrested after his friends tried to move him away from the fight, the court heard.
He later claimed he had been kicked in the eye while he was sitting on the curb.
He denies manslaughter. The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2004.

Row over gas blast land

Row over gas blast land
Oct 8 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
THE site of a tower block demolished after a gas blast should not be redeveloped with housing, say residents.
Lambeth council wants to build homes at the site of Kennington's Kerrin Point tower, which exploded in 1996.
But residents have been using the land as a park since the high-rise was razed to the ground four years ago and now don't want to see it concreted over.
On Monday night, Lambeth council started a consultation on the future of the site, which is at the junction of Black Prince Road and Kennington Lane.
Founder of community group, Save Ethelred Homes, Ricky Rennalls, said: "People go and play football there. It's like a park - we call it Ethelred Park.
"Two tower blocks directly face the park. The people who live in them find it absolutely vital. Residents will lose that and be condemned to look at a building site.
"On Monday night, people walked out because they did not want to be part of a process they disagreed with.
"Lambeth and their consultants made it clear that regardless of what we think they are going to build there anyway."
A Lambeth council spokeswoman said: "This is a totally open process - we have no fixed plans for the development and want local people to help decide the best way to replace much-needed housing that will bring real benefits to the whole community.
"More than 2,000 people in Lambeth have no home and are living in temporary accommodation. Many of the former residents of Kerrin Point want to return home as they were originally promised.
"The council always proposed to replace the demolished Kerrin Point with a new housing block.
"A number of meetings have taken place in the past with residents to explore this."
She pointed out the council had started consulting residents at an earlier stage than it usually would.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2004.

Temporary closure of Baylis Road

Lambeth
Temporary closure of Baylis Road
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/028064.pdf
Released: 8 October, 2004 09:07
Filesize: 6kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2004.

Man accused of pensioner's murder

BBC News
Man accused of pensioner's murder
A pensioner was murdered by a man who punched and kicked her in the face when she resisted as he burgled her home, the Old Bailey has heard.
Hilda Ashdown, 82, died from her injuries 10 days after the attack at her home of 47 years in Camberwell.
The prosecution said she tried to fight off two men with a stick after they forced their way in, in March 2003.
Elroy Simmons, 26, of Kennington, south London, denies Mrs Ashdown's murder and 12 robberies of people aged 68 to 95.
Nicholas Atkinson, for the prosecution, said Mrs Ashdown was found with her face "covered in blood" by her son.
'Demanded money'
He told the court that finger and shoe prints pointed to Mr Simmons having been at her home.
Mr Atkinson said the defendant would knock on the doors of elderly people and claim to be from the council.
Sometimes accompanied by another man, Mr Simmons would force his way in to their homes and demand money, he told the court.
Mr Simmons also denies attempted robbery and causing grievous bodily harm.
The case continues.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3717788.stm Published: 2004/10/05 15:39:56 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 06, 2004.

'Elderly Woman Died after Fighting off Robber'

PA News
Tue 5 Oct 2004
3:33pm (UK)
'Elderly Woman Died after Fighting off Robber' - Court
By Shenai Raif
A brave pensioner was murdered after she fought a robber who preyed on a dozen other elderly victims, the Old Bailey was told today.
Hilda Ashdown, 82, hit out with her stick as two men held her down and rifled through her bag after pushing their way into her flat.
But she was kicked and punched in the face as she activated her alarm for help, said Nicholas Atkinson QC, prosecuting.
Mrs Ashdown, who had lived in her Camberwell, south London, home for 47 years, died 10 days later from bleeding in her brain.
Elroy Simmonds, 26, of Kennington, south London, denies murder, attempted robbery and causing grievous bodily harm on Mrs Ashdown in March, last year.
He also denies robbery offences against 12 other pensioners aged 68 – 95 in the same area of London and committed mainly in a three-month period last year.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 06, 2004.

Angels Over Vauxhall

Angels Over Vauxhall
Angels have arrived! We launched the Angels Over Vauxhall festival with a wonderful concert of gypsy music by the Szapora on Saturday evening and a poetry reading last night. The Map of Angels and Book of Angels are in place and already have some fascinating entries.
We have an excellent programme of events this week:
Weds 6: Mike Adam (ex Courtauld Institute) giving an illustrated talk about Angels in Art
Thurs 7: Best-selling author Salley Vincent reading from her popular book "Miss Garnet's Angel"
Fri 8: A screening of Wim Wender's magical film "Wings of Desire" (Cert 15) (Tickets Ł7)
Sat 9: Ed Jones, one of Britain's leading jazz saxophone players, and his quartet, including a new "angel" work by Ed. (Tickets Ł10)
All at 7.30pm in St Peter's Church, Vauxhall (310 Kennington Lane - close to Vauxhall stations)
This first phase of Angels Over Vauxhall concludes with a Festival Choral Evensong on Sunday 10 at 6.00pm, with a large choir and some splendid music, including a specially-devised Angels Over Vauxhall hymn.
Do come and join us. For more information visit the website: www.angelsovervauxhall.org
Best wishes
Wilma Roest & Simon Keyes

-- Simon (simon@onion.org.uk), October 05, 2004.

Situation Vacant

Times : Situation Vacant
October 05, 2004
Education (schools)
Henry Fawcett Primary School, Kennington: deputy headteacher, L9-L13, contact Barbara Churchward on 020- 77352764 or admin@henryfawcett.lambeth.sch.uk for an application pack, ref. ED/TR/761 (by October 11)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 05, 2004.

Situation Vacant

Lambeth
Situation Vacant
Premises Officer
For further information please refer to the advert.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/027916.pdf
Released: 4 October, 2004 10:15
Filesize: 9kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 04, 2004.

Courses in arts

Lambeth
ArtsWeb - bulletin board - Courses

Courses in arts
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/004439.pdf
Released: 1 October, 2004 03:51
Filesize: 461kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 03, 2004.

Sport

Sad tale of shattered dreams
Telegraph
By Mike Atherton
(Filed: 03/10/2004)
After Wayne Rooney's remarkable debut for Manchester United last week, his surrogate parent for the next few years, Sir Alex Ferguson, said that he wanted to make Rooney "as ordinary as possible". It seemed a strange comment in the circumstances because, on the pitch, Rooney is as extraordinary as it is possible to be. Ferguson, though, is experienced enough to be aware of his responsibilities towards Rooney off the pitch: that is, to get him to lead as ordinary a life as is possible in order that he may truly fulfil his extraordinary talent.
Many an unfulfilled sportsman knows about the hurdles that confront precocious talent; obstacles that if not successfully overcome almost inevitably result in some rueful head-shaking at the end of it all and that damning question 'what if?' Two such cricketers, albeit neither of them as talented as United's wunderkind, may have nodded knowingly this week when Ferguson made his pitch for normality.
Alex Tudor and Chris Schofield, both capped by England at 21 amid much ballyhoo, were released by their respective counties, Surrey and Lancashire. The news received little attention, partly because of the tedium that is Zimbabwe and partly because both have slipped so far away from the cricketing limelight. Between them, they played just four championship matches this year.
Neither is at the end of his career: Tudor is just 26 and Schofield a year younger and both are looking to start afresh at another county. Yet their release by counties who had nurtured them, Tudor after winning 10 Test caps and Schofield just two, is a reminder of just how fickle sport can be. Right now they'll be feeling more Mickey Rooney than Wayne.
Of the two, Tudor made more of an impact at international level. He gave the Australians such a hurry-up on his debut at Perth on the 1998-99 Ashes tour that it was possible to believe that England had discovered a fast bowler to lead the attack for years to come. He could bat, too, as he demonstrated during the first Test of the following summer against New Zealand when he was left stranded on 99 at the moment of victory.
His driving through the off side that day off the back foot left no doubt as to the influence of his father's Caribbean roots: definitely more Kensington, Barbados, than Kennington, London.
If Tudor's selection was justified by talent and promise and by the fact that England have often taken a chance on raw fast bowlers to Australia, Schofield's promotion, after fewer than 20 first-class matches, was harder to understand. Ultimately, it did him no favours at all. Schofield was a recipient of one of the first batch of 11 central contracts handed out by the ECB in 2000: it remains one of the few errors of judgment by Duncan Fletcher.
Schofield had some ability: he gave the ball a decent rip, had a certain amount of instinctive flair with the bat and was an athletic mover in the field. He was, however, as green as grass. There were fundamental errors in his bowling technique and, at 21, he was one of the most immature cricketers that I have come across. Those Test matches in the cool conditions of May 2000 were asking too much of him, and unsurprisingly his international leg-spinning career lasted just 18 wicketless overs.
To analyse why they failed to kick on is to see where their stories start to diverge. Tudor's failings seem more bad luck than bad judgment, suffering as he has from a persistent and recurrent hip injury. The whispers that Tudor is a soft slacker may have more to do with racial stereotyping than reality. In my experience Tudor was a committed professional.
Fast bowling is both hard work and an unnatural process for the body, and some bodies are just not made for bowling fast for long periods. Craig White fitted into the same category. With a year left to run on his contract, Surrey simply lost patience with a player who had taken only 84 championship wickets in the past four years, and who was one of the highest-paid players at the club.
Schofield's problems are more complex. His premature promotion both increased expectations and added pressure at an unnecessarily early stage. It deluded him into thinking that he had made it and that his game was at the finishing post rather than starting stalls. To watch him bowl this year was to see a cricketer with the same technical flaws of four years ago: an action that is open-chested with little use of the front arm so that spin is imparted from the wrist and fingers alone with no body action to give it impetus.
Schofield felt that too few people understood the peculiarities of leg-spin. It is true that there is precious little knowledge around the English circuit. But, over time, he had the help of former Australian Test leg-spinners Peter Philpott and Peter Sleep. Ultimately, a professional cricketer must take responsibility for his own career and Schofield's failure thus far highlights the old adage that nothing is achieved in sport without hard work.
Their shortcomings are especially sad because English cricket stood to gain much from their success. Tudor is from inner-city London and of Caribbean extraction, two areas that English cricket is failing to penetrate. A decade ago there were 33 English-qualified players of Caribbean descent. This year that number was down to 18. Willesden High School, the only state school in recent times to have produced two England cricketers - Chris Lewis and Phillip DeFreitas - no longer even plays the game. Whereas the England football team boasted five Anglo-Caribbean players throughout Euro 2004, the last four non-white players to represent England at cricket are all of Asian background. Tudor would have been a fine role model to halt this decline.
Schofield's failure means that the search for an English leg-spinner goes on. If you disregard the influence of overseas leg-spinners like Mushtaq Ahmed, Intikhab Alam and Bruce Dooland, the last English wrist-spinner to have a serious impact on our game, and internationally, remains Doug Wright, six decades ago. And yet, with warmer, drier summers, covered pitches filled with hard Surrey and Ongar loams the conditions are now ripe for a leg-spinning revival in English cricket. Like Ian Salisbury before him, it seems Schofield will not be the man in the vanguard of this movement.
It is to be hoped that both will get a chance with another county. Mark Butcher, Surrey's new captain, said he was sorry to see Tudor go since he was "one of the most talented players at the club". Surely too talented not to be given a chance to let those injuries clear up. If you ignore the expectations raised by Schofield's England call-up and think of him as an inexperienced young cricketer then his career figures - average 29.91 with the bat and 171 wickets at 31.26 with the ball - look worthy of some investment of faith. He should be regarded as a batsman who bowls rather than the other way around.
It would be deeply ironic, given the numbers of foreign players in the English game, if there were no room for these two home-grown players. Deeply sad, too: there is nothing worse in sport than shattered hopes and unfulfilled dreams.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 03, 2004.

Interview: Tim Westwood

Interview: Tim Westwood
The spin doctor
He's a white DJ who became the most powerful European voice in hardcore hip-hop. Here, on the 10th anniversary of his Radio 1 show, Tim Westwood tells Simon Garfield about being shot, being a bishop's son and why he won't swear in front of his mum
Simon Garfield
Sunday October 3, 2004
The Observer
When the moment finally came, I have to say I was touched. It was about 10.50pm, near the end of a Friday show on Radio 1, after the usual aural assault from Ludacris and G-Unit and Kanye West, when Tim Westwood said, 'I want to big up my man Simon at The Observer - we're travelling with a journalist tonight because we're BIG like that!' I felt honoured, but I tried to be cool, like I knew it was coming all along and it was no big thing, concealing my crushing true belief that I would be leaving yet another Westwood show without a mention.
Up to this moment, it seemed that everyone else in the whole of Britain had been acknowledged. All the crews and clans, 'my Eastbourne crew, Dave and the Big Knob Crew in Scotland, Drash in Bolton I GOT ya! Shout out to my man Trevor Nelson who really showed me mad love in hooking me up with that Fifty show. I want to big up my team Tuan and Dre and Anna. Come on let's GO! To all our freaky LADIES...'
I was pleased to be included in a show that had included the phrases 'Bow down and kiss the RING', 'underSTAND this!' and 'ZACTLY! Without the E!' - that strange urban lexicon that has brought as much ridicule as respect, dispensed by a white man who speaks like a black kid, standing up aggressively at the microphone, hitting a touch-screen to unleash sound effects of screeching cars and exploding bombs. 'Fall back,' he says. 'Kiss the ring. Damn, that's the way it's going down. We're riding out tonight. Fall back. We're coming to Club M in Luton tonight. Luton come party with Westwood!'
An hour later, he sits in a van emblazoned with his face and logos and show times, on his way to a club where denim and trainers are permitted but no hoods or caps, guided there by satnav and all manner of toys and gadgets and DVD screens that fall from the roof to show the latest American car shows. Westwood talks about his new satellite television programme, and his plans to attend a memorial for a young black friend. He talks about the possibility of getting a manager now that things are getting so busy.
'I tell you, man, things are crazy right now,' he says. 'People said that hip-hop was a phase, but this is 2004 and we have the hip-hop generation.
People used to hate us, but now it's a multi-million-dollar industry. It's always been a struggle, but now I'm ready. I'm built for it.'
Westwood - mid-forties though he says he's 27, heavy eyelids and tidy black hair - is the foremost hip-hop DJ in Europe, a position he's held for almost 20 years, practically since hip-hop was invented. Meeting him at his Justice Entertainment office in Portland Square, one encounters a tall and powerful man concerned with standard creative business matters: delivery dates, emails, future engagements. Everywhere I go there are framed Sony Radio Awards. He tells me he used to be envious when he saw how frantic things were for his DJ friend Funkmaster Flex in New York, and how hard it is to get work or respect or money in London, but how things have changed.
'This office is all about making it happen,' he explains. 'My dad would always ask me how it's going, and for about 15 years I would say to him, "I'm just trying to make it happen." Then he would keep on asking, "When is it going to happen?" Truthfully, I think it's happening right now.'
When he speaks he does not sound like he does on the radio, and he does not wave his arms. 'It's a Wednesday lunchtime,' he observes. 'It's a different vibe with a different energy level. You wouldn't want me sitting here going, "Yeah, man! This is how it's going DOWN!" If I'm with my mother I might do my belt up a little tighter and not have my trousers hanging down and drop the swearing, but I'm still me. I'll just change the tempo. But if I'm hanging out with Dre in a club tonight, sure my trousers will be hanging down, sure we'll be kicking it.'
On this Wednesday lunchtime, Dre, Westwood's 20-year-old personal assistant, is just on his way to get the cappuccinos. 'You got dough, man?' Westwood asks him. 'This is show business,' he says when Dre has gone. 'People don't want to listen to the show and it be mad fucking straight. It's a hip-hop show, they want some realness in there. That's where a lot of BBC television always fails - they always want that middle-class explanation.' I ask Westwood about his detractors, those who call him a whigger - a white nigger - and he says he rarely meets them. 'The way I speak is the way a lot of kids speak now,' Westwood says. 'All cities are multicultural. The racial issue has never been something I've been very much aware of - I'm so involved with the audience, and they've always known me, and it's never an issue if I'm white or black.' The phone rings. It is his mother, to whom he speaks softly, as if in a secret pact. 'When I started in this game all the other DJs would hate me,' he resumes. 'This is not an easy game to make it in.'
Personally, I love the way he speaks, and the passion he brings. Rather than ridicule him, hip-hop artists love him, not least because he was the only man who gave them airtime when they were starting out. After a recent appearance on his Radio 1 show, Jay-Z affirmed that 'Westwood has held me down from day one, Westwood is family - we've grown up together.' 50 Cent came to see a Westwood show in New York earlier this year. 'He's in tune with what's going on over here, even though he's all the way over there,' 50 Cent informed Mixmag. 'So when he calls, I'm going to come out especially.'
Westwood says he'd soon know if they thought he looked foolish. 'If I do a club and I'm on until two, I'm not going to disappear at five past two,' he says.
'I ain't built for that. I'll be there hanging out. The next day we might go for something to eat in the local hood spot or a little American clothing spot and hang out. Everyone's got a story about meeting me, or their friends meeting me. There's always relentless Westwood stories out there.'
This is his 10th year at Radio 1, and about 600,000 listen to each show. Matthew Bannister, the station's former controller, told me that when he was constructing a new credible image for the network, all the research said that he would have to recruit Westwood. The DJ was at Capital earning Ł35 a show, and was originally reluctant to move. 'They sent Pete Tong to offer me the job,' he remembers. 'And I thought, "Anything Pete's offering me I'm going to say no to." And then I spoke to my dad about it, and a friend, and they said I should go and meet Matthew just out of respect.'
Bannister assured Westwood that the DJ was the epitome of the public service broadcaster. 'He didn't want to be seen to sell out by going to a national radio station. But this was his real home.' As a show of independence, Westwood was told he could make the show with his own production company. When he agreed to move, Biggie Smalls and Puff Daddy held a launch party for him at Hammersmith Palais. Not long afterwards, Bannister took him to have drinks with the then director-general John Birt. 'Westwood and Birt got on like a house on fire,' Bannister recalls. 'Westwood came out saying, "I really love working for him! He's my man!"'
He probably felt at home with authority. His father was the Right Reverend William John Westwood, Bishop of Peterborough, but Tim believes this title has led to some misunderstanding. 'When my father did so well and lived in the Palace and had a chaplain driving him around in a Rover, I didn't grow up with that. My dad was from very humble means. His mother was one of 16 children and his dad was one of 17 children.'
His father went to Cambridge before the war, and after that went to Hull as a curate, which is where he met Westwood's mother and where his older sister was born. Tim grew up in Lowestoft, and moved to Norwich at the age of eight when his father became a vicar. He went to church and enjoyed a loving upbringing, but there were problems at his comprehensive. 'I was dyslexic, and people didn't really know what that was. They used to do these weekly spelling tests, and for nearly six years I was always second from bottom, getting one out of 20. Then the kid who was bottom left, and I was bottom. I went for special schooling, but dyslexia was murder for me.' I ask him about his ambitions at that time. 'Nah, I was worthless, man. I was clueless at work and poor at sports. My dad would have been happy had I become a butcher. A kid at school became a butcher and my dad said, "That's a good job, Tim."'
His father died a few years after he retired, in 1996. The DJ says they were equally proud of each other, especially as they were both self-made. Westwood shielded him from the details of his first forays into the London scene when he was 16. He was a glass collector at Gossips in Soho, and would earn 30-minute warm-up slots on the record decks by bringing in 50 people from Hammersmith and Ladbroke Grove. He was paid Ł15, and his earnings increased when a regular DJ quit. Initially he played jazz-funk, but occasionally a new rap record arrived from New York: 'Rappers Delight' by the Sugarhill Gang, 'The Message' by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, 'The Show' by Doug E Fresh.
'I knew that was me as soon as it started,' Westwood says, 'but then dance music came in - house music - and all those guys who jumped on the hip-hop bandwagon just jumped straight off. Like Dave Pearce and Pete Tong - they were straight into dance music because that's where the dough was and the big crowds.'
Westwood also had a Thursday-night slot at People's Club in Praed Street, where Run-DMC would drop in when they were homesick. 'It was the hot crazy ghetto spot, a lot of prostitutes and pimps, you could only buy champagne or brandy by the bottle. It used to start about midnight. Cars would triple-park outside. If you wanted a piss you had to go outside, because the toilets were just for drug dealing.' Westwood was inspired by the club DJ Paul Anderson, and the success of reggae specialist David Rodigan on Capital Radio, and he was keen to join him when Richard Park offered him an early-morning show in the mid-Eighties. It was a token gesture, he says; when he arrived at Radio 1 seven years later he was amazed that people at the station took an interest in what he played.
Partly this was due to language. Even at the illest end of Saturday night, BBC governors and the Daily Mail didn't take kindly to the casual use of the word 'motherfucker', and the DJ says he understands their concerns. 'I play the game. I can respect that you don't want it too grimy. I can then put out those grimy tapes and CDs for cats who are built for it. It's important for cats to hear me swear so that they know I'm real, that I'm not just some corny radio DJ. Or that I'm not some personality type. Because for me it's all music-based, and people need to know I'm real.'
One of the ways he keeps it real is through his street teams, scattered around the UK, who promote Westwood live events (his 'parties') and feed back to him the latest trends. 'My whole thing is I haven't got family, I don't want that in my life,' Westwood says. 'But I'm being a father to some of my team. Dre nearly didn't come through - a lot of cats don't survive, they get gassed up or twisted and don't understand how hungry you've got to be. Jay-Z gave me his number and Dre lost it so he's under a bit of pressure from me.'
Dre lives in Peckham and keeps his employer informed on the content of the latest mix-tapes at the Real McCoy, the local clothes shop.
Others in the street team blitz areas with flyers advertising Westwood's upcoming live appearances. Westwood says his parties don't make much money - Ł8 to get in, with 'the ladies' usually admitted free - but often he will print 40,000 leaflets for the show, on the back of which are his radio schedules and details of his latest album.
The street teams also offer an element of protection. In July 1999, he was with his London team as they pulled away from a show at Brockwell Park when their van got stuck behind a bus in Kennington. A couple on a motorcycle pulled alongside and a man riding pillion shot at them, hitting Westwood in the arm and a friend in the leg. Instantly, the DJ's celebrity widened. Five years later he is still wary of talking about it, and the threat may not have disappeared. The cause of the shooting was extortion, Westwood refusing to meet a gang's demands. Before the incident, both he and his girlfriend were beaten. On the record, he plays it cool: 'To be honest, my attitude towards it is, I got shot, and that's that. Like having a car accident. When you're in this game, these things are out there; never far from you.'
I wondered whether he thought of lowering his profile, perhaps painting over his name and logos on his transport? 'No. I'm a DJ, man. Radio 1 wouldn't be keen if I got stopped in a car with people carrying guns. I do parties, man. I need everyone to know I'm going to be there or the parties will be empty. Before the shooting, the only people who knew me were the hip-hop crowd. It made me big! I wish I had an album out at that time!'
The police suggested he might like to get an anonymous black BMW 5-Series, but Westwood went the other way. 'The police were saying "Lo-pro", but I stepped up my game. I worked harder than I ever worked before. I was ready. I ain't scared of nothing.'
In addition to his customised promotional van, Westwood owns a GMC Yukon, a Suburban Chevrolet, a GMC Suburban with TV screens, and a classic Chevy Impala 1966. The cars are his main expense: until recently he lived in a tiny housing association flat, and he doesn't spend much money on clothes - a fat wristwatch his only concession to bling. Like others in his industry with humble origins and a conscience, he does like to give something back. He is the patron of the radio station at Feltham Young Offenders Institution, where he holds regular high-testosterone parties. He says the next one will take place one morning in the chapel, so he'll probably play the edited radio versions of songs. He will then tour the wings. 'I don't pre-judge, man. I came from a good family that kept my life smooth, but any of us could have made mistakes and ended up in there. One guy I was with at the station, his mother's in prison, his father's in prison, his sister's in prison, and his two older brothers are in prison. The dude was just waiting to go to prison. At 17, he got sentenced to 18 years mandatory. With those guys it's good to be there. I'm no hero to them, but as a radio dude I'm paying them some attention.'
He finds that the people he meets just want stories about the artists. 'I tell them I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't get high, so I'm pretty focused and I love what I do. I tell them that a lot of artists who are mad grimy don't actually smoke weed - 50 doesn't smoke weed, Jay-Z doesn't smoke weed.'
I asked Westwood whether he thought hip-hop could change anything. 'Not really. The world made hip-hop, hip-hop didn't make the world. My father's generation came back from the war and believed that everything was possible, but I don't think that's true any more.'
We are nearing Luton in the van. Westwood is flipping between DVDs and CDs on the complex entertainment system, saying, 'You gotta watch this!' as some rapper or flash car comes up. He is like a 12-year-old boy let loose for the first time; the reason he is such a good DJ is that he is such a good fan. As we pull up at the club, he is swiftly inside to arrange security for his guests. He embraces everyone he meets, one of five white faces out of a thousand, and the only one to climb up to the slim DJ platform at the front of the narrow room. He has a torch in his mouth as he lines up his opening records, and the warm-up DJ slinks away with a defeated look. It is 12.20am. Westwood says, 'Let's fucking ride out to THIS! We got the prime fucking JOINTS! Let's GO! This is WESTWOOD! All you other DJs FALL BACK!' And everyone in the crowd looks delighted and blessed, as if they've just been anointed with holy water.
· Tim Westwood is on Radio 1, Fridays and Saturdays from 9pm
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 03, 2004.

Cricket

The Independent Bangladesh
Back from the grave
BY IMTIAZ AHMED (English)
Sat 2 Oct 2004
West Indies were dead and buried. The fat lady was humming and about to sing. But something extraordinary happened; West Indies turned it around from an almost impossible situation and clinched the ICC Champions Trophy or Mini World Cup right under England’s nose. The heroes of this superb triumph were the two Barbados Bs- Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw.
Brian Lara won the toss in a gloomy Kennington Oval and unlike Inzamam he made the sensible decision to bowl first. Bradshaw struck twice early on and reduced England to 43 for 2. Soon England found themselves at 123 for 5 thanks largely to the bowling of the seemingly innocuous Wavell Hinds and Bravo. In the end the hosts could only manage a meagre total of 217. This total was largely due the lone hand played by Trescothick who scored his eight ODI century (104). He was the only English player who got into terms with the pitch and the disciplined Windies attack. Hinds and Bradshaw were the most successful bowlers in the Windies attack taking 3 for 24 and 2 for 54 respectively. West Indies were helped by their fielders enormously notably Lara who bagged three catches and a run-out including perhaps the greatest catch of his illustrious career; a stunning low one-handed catch scooped inches above the ground to remove the ever dangerous Flintoff!
So, the chase for the title was on! West Indies knew that it wouldn’t be easy chasing down the seemingly low total because the pitch was conducive to pace bowling and England had two of the most in-form bowlers in their ranks - Harmison and Flintoff. England started off on the right note as Flintoff and Harmison duet clicked early on. The fearsome duo was backed up by two stupendous catches from Strauss and Solanki. So, it was game on as West Indies were stifled at 49 for 3. Then Lara and Chanderpaul steadied the ship somewhat when Lara got out slashing for a wide one. It was the umpteenth time that Lara got out to Flintoff. Bravo soon followed his skipper and Windies were crawling at 80 for 5. Chanderpaul was still there and he built partnerships with Ryan Hinds, Powell and Browne before perishing to Collingwood after scoring 47. Chanderpaul’s wicket was huge as it reduced Windies to 147 for 8 and without any recognised batsmen! The English players celebrated Chanderpaul’s wicket as if the trophy had been won and who could blame them. For there were only two West Indian wickets left with none having any batting credentials, the light was quickly fading and Harmison and Flintoff were bowling with their tail up. With such odds stacked against them even the most passionate West Indian supporter wouldn’t have bet for a Windies victory. However, what transpired was sheer magic.
The two lesser known West Indian players - Bradshaw and Browne dug deep and slowly started building a partnership. They didn’t go for any lofty or risky shots as the equation didn’t require any. They played out the game logically and with little risk. Vaughan threw everything at the pair - Harmison, Flintoff, Gough, Wharf, Trescothick and Collingwood but no one could break the partnership. Although Vaughan missed a trick by not bowling Giles at that moment, he was the variety missing from the one-dimensional pace attack! The West Indian pair was also offered the light but they refused and played on! They brought Windies within striking distance in the last few overs and when the pair needed to accelerate the tempo they did just so. In the end the unbroken 71 run partnership between the two got the Windies home! The partnership was without a doubt the turning point of the match but more than that I found the manner in which the two chased down the target even more fascinating. It was thoroughly professional and it seemed like these two had been in such situations numerous times. The man-of-match award was duly awarded to Bradshaw for his part in the now famous partnership.
So, West Indies have come back from the dead both in this match and in terms of their place in the cricket world. No one (including me) really gave them a chance to win the trophy but they did so fittingly. Before the tournament Windies suffered humiliating defeats at the hands of the English both home and away. There were calls for Lara’s head and moreover, the country was in disarray as hurricanes lashed the Caribbean islands recently killing more than 1500 people. So, amidst such turbulence the West Indian players found strength in adversity and never stopped believing. There was too much clinging on this match for them and in the end the team who wanted it most lifted the trophy.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 02, 2004.

Update on the Beaufoy Institute

Update on the Beaufoy Institute
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/027889.pdf
Released: 1 October, 2004 11:32
Filesize: 32kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 01, 2004.

Planning

Planning Report: 193 Kennington Lane and 292-294 Kennington Road
PA Report 12.10.04
Go to Page 53 of this link to see the relevant report.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/027878.pdf
Released: 1 October, 2004 11:04
Filesize: 3665kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 01, 2004.

Black History Month Talk

Black History Month Talk
WE ALSO SERVED:
BRITAIN'S BLACK COMMUNITY ON THE HOME FRONT
1939-45
Imperial War Museum
Sunday 24 October, 2.30pm
Admission Free
Speaker: Stephen Bourne
Stephen Bourne will give an illustrated talk highlighting the wartime experiences of Britain's black community on the 'front line' including Dr Harold Moody, Snakehips Johnson, Adelaide Hall and his own Aunt Esther.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 29, 2004.

Cricket

Telegraph : Sport
Revived England shut out by B & B
By Paul Hayward
(Filed: 27/09/2004)
The heavy percussion of balls pounding wickets has given way at last to the softer thud of conkers on the lawn. All that's left is to decide how much to read into England's undoing by a couple of late-order batsmen who sounded more Winchester than West Indies. When it really mattered, the country's one-day cricketers had no answer to Bradshaw and Browne.
Scene: The Oval, shortly after 6pm on Saturday. The event: the ICC Champions Trophy – a chance for England to break their duck in limited-over competitions. The predicament: two West Indian also-there's have hauled the calypso archipelago from 147 for eight to within sight of England's total of 217 all out. Conditions: dark, damp and deadly. Reality: like the bird of summer, the game has flown.
Just as we were about to slam shut English sport's compendium of near misses (you are excused, Olympic rowers, sailors and cyclists, as well as Kelly Holmes), Michael Vaughan's one-day XI made heroes of a couple of background boys whose highest pre-tournament scores had been 12 (Ian Bradshaw) and 26 (Courtney Browne). Like gladiators, at close of play, this pair of crease-squatters fell under a mound of exultant West Indian bodies, having hit 34 and 35 respectively in a courageous ninth-wicket stand.
To feel a glow of empathy for those Caribbean islands ransacked by hurricanes was the first and most important response. It was also heartening to see two journeymen step into the breach vacated by more illustrious colleagues. There is a special pleasure attached to the spectacle of sportsmen or women surpassing themselves under such stress. You see them open the door they have been pushing all their lives.
If Bradshaw and Browne were provincial solicitors, they would get my business every time. They stood up to 90mph-plus deliveries from Steve `Grievous Bodily' Harmison and dealt cleverly with the second wave bowling attack of Paul Collingwood and Alex Wharf. More cruelly, they gave Darren Gough a hefty shove towards the wilderness. Statistically, at least, Gough bowled like a beer barrel. The 58 runs he conceded in his 10 overs were gravestone numbers.
B & B, as we shall call them, even defied autumn itself. They braved the darkness, the rain, and the disquieting sense that someone was about to get his head knocked off as a consequence of both sides desperately wanting Sunday off. All it needed at the end was for the players' mums to call them in for tea.
Here's the hard part. Did B & B confound only England's startling revival in one-day cricket, which featured an authoritative victory over the Australians in last week's semi-finals? Or will the damage turn out to be deeper? capable of seizing the Ashes when summer returns to these greying shores.
No postcards, please, pointing out the difference between one-day and Test cricket. What's under the microscope is not the format of the competition so much as the mindset of the protagonists. Ascending teams reveal their character in stages. The final and most brutal test is whether they can convert chances into trophies. In English football, the fish has been getting away since the 1990 World Cup semi-final. Off he swam again at the Oval on Saturday.
Intuition says that after a long stay in oblivion, England's competitive instincts are still hardening. Now they have another few months to bake before the baggy green caps bounce down the steps of Edgbaston and Lord's.
The immobilising shock that stole across Vaughan's face when the West Indies broke out of the headlock told only part of the tale. Granted, England's captain was rendered mute and incapable of even the smallest muscular twitch. But by the time he called the post-match huddle together he was already entitled to remind his men that the five-day brigade had won seven consecutive Tests and 10 of their last 11. The series whitewashes against New Zealand and the West Indies were too valuable to be tossed on the pyre of sudden agony.
A few autumns ago many of us were starting to suspect that cricket was dying in our culture. The shortened attention span, the sale of school playing fields and the ubiquity of football all seemed to be conspiring against our most complex and civilising game. Cricket was a sport with a blanket across its lap. Its keynote was nostalgia. The football monster was munching the back pages and battering the nation's brain with its endless capacity for hype.
Cricket's most extreme critics thought it was joining The Kinks in the Village Green Preservation Society (`God save strawberry jam, and all the different varieties'). England seemed to be losing the yeoman obduracy of Botham, Gatting and Gooch and acquiring a neurotic, milky countenance.
As with rugby union, surely, the renaissance started when the club or county game became subservient to the needs of the national team. The whole point was to create a successful England team – and from that all manner of secondary benefits would flow.
Saturday's salutary defeat aside, it's more than a cricket team that has been revived this summer. The glint of promise in Test cricket reopens a whole dimension in English life. The football-besotted young have yet to fully embrace Vaughan, Marcus Trescothick, Harmison and Freddie Flintoff as fonts of inspiration. But they will, if English cricket takes advantage of top billing in next year's summer of sport and wins the Ashes for the first time since 1987.
In fact, it's hard to recall a time when the game was so well placed to reclaim its place in our affections. The same opportunity presented itself to English rugby this time last year, and Sir Clive Woodward's lot grabbed it.
Before the denouement in Kennington, a rival newspaper called Vaughan's mob "sport's forgotten heroes". Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, observed: "I find it incredibly hard to work out how important cricket is to the English public." The answer is: more than he thinks. The love of cricket here is latent, though generally still dormant. There are enough big personalities now and a sufficiently clear team identity for a full renewal of the vows.
"Look at the bigger picture and the way we've played over the last few weeks in one-day cricket," Vaughan asked. "The players can also be proud of what they've achieved over the whole season." While south London's Caribbean community rejoiced, there could be no serious challenge to the captain's end-of-term report, even if there was that familiar sense of a chance going to waste (Euro 2004, the 2002 World Cup, France '98 and so on and so on).
The pity was that Bradshaw and Browne chose this day to step out of the long shadow that has fallen across cricket in their islands, not to mention their own relative anonymity. For England, though, summer takes its bat home at the end of an encouraging year.
26 September 2004: Browne and Bradshaw leave England in dark

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2004.

Cricket

Times
September 26, 2004
England let Windies clinch dramatic win
Simon Wilde, Cricket Correspondent
Late-order heroics from the West Indies snatch victory away from England in a frantic end to the Champions Trophy
England have travelled so far in the past 18 months, yet last night they found themselves back where they started: improbably thwarted by the heroic defiance of a ninth-wicket pair.
When Australia’s Michael Bevan and Andy Bichel knocked off the last 70 runs to beat England at Port Elizabeth and in effect dump them out of the World Cup, it triggered a revolution in English cricket.
Nasser Hussain resigned as captain and retired from one-day cricket, along with other veterans such as Alec Stewart, Andrew Caddick and Nick Knight, and England began an ambitious rebuilding programme under Michael Vaughan, the fruits of which have been so evident during this longest summer.
Dismissing predictions that his team might slip up after the epic conquest of Australia earlier in the week, Vaughan said his team would have no difficulty vaulting the final hurdle of an unprecedentedly successful four-month season. And when they reduced West Indies to 147 for eight after 34 overs, he appeared to be right.
He must have been able to smell the polish on the Champions Trophy and the ink on the $300,000 winners’ cheque. But as the longest cricket season in history went down to the last flickerings of evening light, he and England reckoned without the resolve of the Barbadian pair of Courtney Browne — Lambeth-born — and Ian Bradshaw. Browne, 33, was a controversial selection for the tournament ahead of the talented Carlton Baugh, but his experience proved invaluable.
A target of 71 off 98 balls when the pair came together was not impossible, provided they played sensible, conventional cricket. That is precisely what they did. Nothing flashy, nothing silly, nothing in fact that West Indies sides of late have routinely done when they fritter away wickets.
Instead of playing like Chris Gayle, they stirred up a quiet storm simply by stealing singles, putting away the few bad balls that came along and stoutly seeing off a hostile second spell from Steve Harmison that touched a tournament-best top speed of 96.9mph.
Ever so politely, they mugged England in Kennington’s descending gloom, lightening their wallets and trophy cabinet and denying them their first big one-day trophy. It was West Indies’ first important one-day prize since a more illustrious generation of Caribbean cricketers, led by Clive Lloyd, crushed England at Lord’s in 1979.
Browne hit only two of the 55 balls he faced for four, Bradshaw only five of the 51 he received, and each cut one in what proved the final over, the penultimate one of the innings bowled by Alex Wharf, who had hitherto shown great discipline on a big stage.
The over began with 12 needed off 12 balls, but with fielders struggling to detect where the white ball was going, the pair threw the bat with more assurance. They had been offered the light with 35 wanted off seven overs, but admirably opted to stay on.
England need feel no shame. At various times they had looked destined to come out on the wrong end, but thanks to a century of real character from Marcus Trescothick, they first posted a working score of 217 and then defended it with tigerish bowling supported by sometimes brilliant fielding.
Trescothick, who passed 1,000 international runs for the season, scored his eighth one-day century, equalling Graham Gooch’s England record. He also took a wicket and a smart catch at midwicket on a day memorable for athletic fielding.
With England needing wickets if they were to prevail, Harmison and Andrew Flintoff stepped up to the plate for the umpteenth time this year. This pair, close friends whose careers have blossomed as one, scythed through the top half of the innings to leave West Indies tottering at 80 for five. Harmison underlined his class by fighting off what appeared to be a bout of cramp to deliver the wickets of Wavell Hinds and the dangerous Gayle in an opening spell that took his haul for England for the summer to an astonishing 60 scalps.
Flintoff then struck three times in six overs, the wicket of Ramnaresh Sarwan courtesy of arguably the catch of the tournament by Andrew Strauss at second slip. Flintoff also removed Brian Lara on his last appearance for West Indies in this country, the fourth time he had dismissed him this summer and revenge for Lara dismissing him earlier in the day with a catch low and one-handed to his left almost as good as Strauss’s.
With the ball wet, Vaughan opted not to bowl Ashley Giles at all, instead turning to the medium-pace of Trescothick and Paul Collingwood, who took three wickets between them, including that of Chanderpaul, who, after battling for 25 overs, chipped a catch to midwicket.
Conditions for batting were rarely easy and Trescothick was wise to forsake his usual aggression. After a quiet start to his innings, he shaped to go into top gear, but the loss of Vikram Solanki, Vaughan and Strauss — brilliantly run out by Dwayne Bravo — sent him back into his shell. He tried to play conventionally for the rest of the innings and largely succededed. Like Vaughan, Lara found gentle medium-pace the most effective on a wicket deadened by the rain and Hinds finished with career-best figures of three for 24.
Well though Trescothick played, England would not have had so many to defend but for another gutsy innings from Giles, who helped him post 63 for the eighth wicket. But for tailend heroics, this effort was to be dramatically dwarfed.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2004.

Inheritance tax

Guardian : Your shout
Saturday September 25, 2004
A few home truths...
Shame on the editor of Jobs & Money. In his rant in favour of inheritance tax, he seemed to think only those inheriting "unearned wealth'" are hit by IHT.
Perhaps across the country only one in 20,000 households are affected by IHT, but I bet that percentage is much higher in the south-east where I live.
My partner and I worked hard for 10 years and put every penny aside from our middle-class jobs to buy a Ł300,000 house five years ago - all earned and taxed.
The house was a wreck (no kitchen, no heating) and we have spent five years making it a home for our four children. Due to the vagaries of the property market it is now worth Ł800,000.
Lucky us? Since we are not married, if one of us dies the other will face IHT liability and this will force us to sell the family home.
Getting married to counter IHT is an option we find distasteful, and since we are not gay we cannot avoid IHT by registering for a civil union (thanks again, Tony Blair!).
An ever-increasing percentage of responsible parents decide not to get married.
If you are even marginally middle-class in the south-east, this will bring you up against IHT, threatening the welfare of children in the event of a parent's death.
I do not suggest scrapping IHT - in fact I support banding (like any good Guardian reader, I think we could do with another band on income tax as well). But I do think we are due for a re-think on IHT.
My family home is at risk and I feel offended at being roped in with "trustafarians" and the "idle rich".
Octavia Wiseman
Kennington, London
· Write to Jobs and Money, 119 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3ER Or email us at jobsandmoney@guardian.co.uk
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 25, 2004.

Cricket

Guardian : Sport
Notes from the touchline
Frank Keating
Friday September 24, 2004
Season of missed sitters and mellow ruefulness
This time next week it will be October, which shows how cricket has outstayed its welcome, and even a hooraying hullabaloo at The Oval's ICC Champions Trophy final tomorrow will not reprieve an ill-considered and generally grey and pointless tournament. Wind-racked King Lear autumns provide no setting for the monarchs of world cricket.
Mind you, whatever the weather, season's end is particularly melancholy for those dragging themselves contemplatively back to the pavilion for the very last time after so many golden summers of bonny boyhood in the sun. Valete Gloucester's neat, impervious Mike Smith, 800 wickets in all cricket but just a solitary cap for England in 1997 at Leeds, when Thorpe at slip missed a dolly which would have had Australia 55 for five. They went on to make 501 and Mike was never asked again.
Likewise, no more around the county fields will the nickname "Tom" (of course) resound to call up that stalwart batsman Peter Bowler, who might well have played for England or Australia but was given a chance by neither.
A dozen years ago a magazine hired a few of us to nominate a youngster bound to be a force in Tests. I took a confident punt on Glamorgan's fresh-faced Chepstow all-rounder Adrian Dale - and that summer of '93 this ageing prophet smugly watched the young man not only share a breathtaking unbroken partnership of 425 with Viv Richards against Middlesex (Angus, Tuffers, Embers and all) but, in the next match in Cardiff, skittle Warwickshire with six for 18. It won him an England A tour; he did OK, then vanished from the bigtime radar. He's off it for ever now.
So is a cocksure colt of that same summer - and Adam Hollioake went on to become a domestic force who might have led England more times than Nasser Hussain. You cannot think of Adam without grieving for brother Ben; where might that kid brother be now in England's new bright prosperity? Such a heavy-hearted question will be posed more than a few times, I fancy, at Kennington tomorrow.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 24, 2004.

"Angels over Vauxhall" Festival to be launched with FREE concert on Sat 2nd Oct

"Angels over Vauxhall"
- a festival celebrating people's experience of God in the Vauxhall area - will be launched on SATURDAY 2 OCTOBER in St. Peter's Church, 310 Kennington Lane (close to Vauxhall Stations).
In the evening leading gypsy band SZAPORA will be playing live and FREE in St. Peter's at (7.30pm).
This internationally-acclaimed band has become legendary for brilliant, mesmerising performances of songs and dances from central and eastern Europe, performing with a fiery gypsy vivacity and an occasional swing feel that is infectious and highly entertaining. Refreshments will be available.
For more information visit www.angelsovervauxhall.org.uk
Please pass the word on and bring your friends!

-- Simon Keyes (simon@onion.org.uk), September 23, 2004.

Speedy Repairs

I'd like to recommend to you Alec Gabriel of Speedy Repairs who just repaired my microwave, dishwasher and drier for Ł30 all inclusive! Only works in South East London. Leave a message, letting him know where you live.
Cooker/ microwave/ washing machine/ dishwasher/ fridge/ repairs
Speedy Repairs
020 8692 7959
"No callout charge. Will always try to repair first rather than sell you new equipment, came quickly and doesn't charge over the odds."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2004.

How the Royal Oak rebels hatched Commons plot over a pint

Telegraph
How the Royal Oak rebels hatched Commons plot over a pint
By Charlie Methven and Oliver Poole
(Filed: 17/09/2004)
To the regulars at the Royal Oak pub they appeared to be just another group of friends having a drink after work on a Tuesday night.
Excited but nervous, the group sat huddled together in a corner of the pub, near Maidenhead, Berks, chatting in low voices.
They weren't talking about work, or football, or anything else as mundane. They were discussing how to mount one of the most audacious political stunts in living memory, the invasion of the House of Commons.
Those assembled included a close friend of Princes William and Harry, a former chef to the Queen and a professional polo player.
All until that day were law abiding. They had volunteered to take part in the extraordinary plot because they were passionate about one thing: hunting. They were excited, but also terrified.
"As you can imagine, people were rather excitable at that stage," said a friend. "It just isn't the kind of thing that people like us are used to doing, so they weren't exactly all cool and collected."
As the group drank their beers, Otis Ferry, 21, the son of Bryan Ferry, the Roxy Music singer, was at home in London after mounting a successful, one-man dry run earlier that day.
He had managed to gain access to the House of Commons, getting as close to the chamber as necessary. It meant that the plan would go ahead for real the next day.
"It had worked like a dream," said a friend later of the dry run. "He is ingenious," said another friend.
"Otis was very much the brains behind it. He contacted the Countryside Action Network, a direction action group, about a week before to say he was planning something naughty.
"He told them he needed a few more bodies. They didn't ask any questions."
Among the group in the pub was Nick Wood, 41, a personal chef to Lady Weinstock and former cook to the Queen and the designer Valentino.
Along with Ferry, he was understood to be the "brains" behind the plot.
A "solid and reliable guy" according to friends, he was, like many of the group, a fixture in polo and hunting circles, although he had never hunted.
Earlier that day, he had travelled with others who were taking part in the protest to the homes of two friends near Maidenhead, one of the main meeting points. One was the home of Robert Thame, a professional polo player and a member of the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt.
The other was the home of Nick Evans, also a professional polo player, and his wife Carina, a former bobsleigh champion.
"They chose the two houses as places to meet because Maidenhead is much closer to London than where most of them live, and also it is close to the M4," said the friend.
"Nick and Carina Evans weren't involved but Robert Thame and Nick Wood were ushers at their wedding so they knew they could be trusted."
Two plans were under discussion in the pub. The first: how to block roads in central London. The second: how to invade the Commons.
As Nick Wood held court, the others listened. Luke Tomlinson, 27, one of Britain's top polo players and a friend of Princes William and Harry was one of the group. Also there was Robert Thame. Others who were not due to be part of the Commons team were also part of the group.
"The first thing they wanted to do was try to block the roads using the trucks they had brought with them," said a friend.
"I think Luke Tomlinson may have been driving one of them, but others were driven by people who weren't part of the Commons team.
"Obviously, the second part of the plan was to get into the Houses of Parliament."
After meeting in the pub for "a bit of a hooly", the group returned to the respective homes, where some camped in tents in the gardens for the night.
David Redvers, 34, a stud owner at Hartpury, near Gloucester, joined them the following morning. Early the next day, the four men dressed in the clothes that would help them gain access to the Commons.
Workmen's overalls, which would provide them with the disguise to enter the Parliament buildings, were worn over the top of business suits, which would then allow the group to pose as researchers once near the chamber.
Pro-hunting T-shirts were worn beneath that. "The idea with the dress was to be as flexible as possible, so that they could react to the circumstances as required," said a friend.
The trucks set off for London at 5am the next day. But the road-blocking plan failed to work.
The trucks were impounded and taken to Kennington. It meant "all systems" go for the second part of the plan. "The drivers and passengers just walked from Kennington over the river to Westminster," said a friend.
By this time, it was nearing midday and the protest in Parliament Square was gathering pace.
The four then met up with the others who would join them in trying to get into the Commons.
They included Richard Wakeham, 36, a point to point jockey who rides with the Middleton Hunt, Andrew Elliott, 42, an auctioneer at Brightwells, the largest equine auctioneers in Britain, and a loss adjustor from York.
Elliott and Redvers were friends, linked by the Ledbury Hunt.
They also knew John Holliday, who stood to lose his job with the Ledbury Hunt kennels once the hunting ban came into force. He was also with the group.
"They seemed pretty normal," said one who saw some of the plotters at that stage.
Some hours later, at 3.50pm, a constituent who was discussing matters with his MP spotted a well known pro-hunting campaigner entering the Commons.
He motioned to the man, who was posing as a contractor and who responded by signalling to him to keep quiet.
Once outside, the constituent alerted a police officer. The officer appeared to be uninterested.
The constituent then approached a police inspector who promised he would look into it.
Half an hour later, the protesters burst into the chamber.
"I think they were as surprised as everyone else that they managed to get as far as they did," said a friend.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2004.

Hot under the dog collar

Hot under the dog collar
Sep 14 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
A FUMING vicar has blasted parking bosses for painting double yellow lines outside his church, claiming they did so without warning.
Father Denis Bradshaw, of St John the Divine Church in Vassall Road, Kennington, says the lines - in force on a 24-hour basis, every day of the year - have made life very difficult for his congregation.
The restrictions on a section of Vassall Road mean church-goers have to park far down the road or in side streets already filled with residents' cars.
Father Bradshaw said: "These double yellow lines have been a cause of great concern to a number of our congregation, especially those who bring elderly relatives to church.
"While I accept some parking restrictions are needed in Vassall Road, I think it's totally ridiculous to have placed these double yellow lines right outside the entrance to the church - without any consultation whatsoever."
Owen Dignan was one of the first to fall foul of the double yellows, when he dropped off his disabled mother, Megan, who is in her 80s.
Mr Dignan had a blue disabled badge and did not realise the lines had become operational on August 22.
In the time it took him to help his mother into the church, a Ł50 ticket was slapped on his windscreen.
He said: "I'm angry there has been no consultation because it's inconvenient for me. I now have to drop my mother off then go and find somewhere to park down the road."
Leader of Lambeth council Peter Truesdale is a member of St John the Divine.
Father Bradshaw has asked Cllr Truesdale to look into this issue.
A Lambeth council spokesman said the double yellow lines formed part of a wider scheme aimed at improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
He said: "This wider scheme was subject to extensive consultation with residents over the last two years and included two exhibitions held locally."
He said people were allowed to drop their passengers off.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 14, 2004.

Father scales Eye

Father scales Eye
Sep 14 2004
South London Press
A Fathers 4 Justice campaigner who scaled the London Eye has been charged with causing a public nuisance. Engineers were forced to shut the Waterloo attraction when David Chick, 37, climbed the framework on Saturday.
The fathers' rights campaigner was seen to scale the giant wheel at around 3.50am and was coaxed down by cops at 10.15pm.
Mr Chick, from Burgess Hill, West Sussex, was given a hospital check-up before being quizzed at Kennington police station.
He was due to appear at Camberwell Magistrates' Court yesterday.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 14, 2004.

Guided walk from Kennington Tube Station

Guided walk from Kennington Tube Station
The Original LONDON WALKS
London, PO Box 1708, London, NW6 4LW
Telephone 020 7624 3978 (or 020 7794 1764)
Recorded Information 020 7624 9255 (or 020 7624 WALK)
http://london.walks.com/
Past Preserved: Nooks & Crannies & Flickering Shadows in Charlie Chaplin's London
Saturday, October 16th
2:30pm
Kennington Tube Stop
Going On A London Walk
To go on a London Walk, meet your guide and fellow walkers on the pavement just outside the designated London Tube Stop (Underground Station) at the time stated.
Your guide will be holding up copies of the distinctive white London Walks leaflet. There is no need to book for any of the London Walks
A London Walk lasts about two hours.
And they always take place, rain or shine. Each walk ends at or near a London Tube Stop (Underground station).
How Much Does It Cost?
A London Walk costs Ł5 - or Ł4 for senior citizens, full-time students, and Discount Walkabout Card holders. The Walkabout Cards are a bargain so do ask your guide for one! Children under 15 go free if accompanied by their parent(s).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 14, 2004.

The Necropolis Railway - tour

The Necropolis Railway - tour
Anyone who has read Andrew Martin's thriller "The Necropolis Railway", set just outside Waterloo, may be interested in a tour which includes a visit to the Necropolis railway HQ at 121 Westminster Bridge Road and Brookwood Cemetery, being organised by Anna Robinson, Local History Librarian, Lambeth Archives.
Anna writes:
The trip has been arranged for Sunday 14th November. We will meet at 10.30am at 121 Westminster Bridge Road where John M Clarke - author of all history books written on the subject - will show us around. We will then proceed to the station to catch a train to Brookwood. After lunch we will be shown round the cemetery. The tour ends at 3pm and people can either make their way home or take an optional tour of St Edward the Martyr's church. This unusual church houses the remains of Edward the Martyr and is a Russian orthodox church in the English countryside.
Costs:
The tour
Lambeth is not charging for the event but the friends of Brookwood cemetery usually request a donation of at least Ł2. They are not funded and carry out all the restoration work from their donations.
The fares
A cheap day return to Brookwood is Ł8.90. However, if enough people bring network cards we can keep the costs down - bring one if you have one.
Lunch
The pub near the station offers Sunday lunch at Ł5.95. They need to know numbers in advance so let me know if you want one - otherwise you can bring sandwiches.
To book e-mail me AKRobinson@lambeth.gov.uk or ring on 020 7926 6076
Anna Robinson
Local History Librarian
Lambeth Archives
Minet Library
52 Knatchbull Road
London SE5 9QT

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 14, 2004.

Foxhunting is a remnant of feudal society - and that is why we have to ban it

Class war on the hoof
Foxhunting is a remnant of feudal society - and that is why we have to ban it
George Monbiot
Tuesday September 14, 2004
The Guardian
There is one thing on which both sides agree: hunting is not a class issue. The hunters claim that it's no longer the preserve of the aristocracy. Labour MPs insist that their determination to ban it has nothing to do with the social order: it's about animals. Both sides are wrong. This is class war.
The Countryside Alliance, the Telegraph, the Field, and Horse and Hound magazine maintain that opposition to foxhunting is the newfangled concern of the dilettantes of Islington, who know nothing of the countryside. The hunters plainly know nothing of history.
To the Normans, England was one big hunting ground. By the time of Henry II's reign, according to the author Marion Shoard, almost a quarter of the country was royal forest. A forest is not a place where trees grow. It is land set aside for the king's game, in which the nourishment of deer, wild swine and hares took precedence over the nourishment of human beings. Much of the rest of England was classified as "chase": the hunting grounds of the nobility.
These lands were governed by a brutal set of forest laws. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that William I "set up great protection for deer and legislated to that intent, that whosoever should slay hart or hind should be blinded". In 1293, the historian Andrew McCall tells us, "the English parliament decreed that no proceedings were to be taken against foresters, parkers or warreners if they killed poachers who resisted arrest". A poacher, subsequent laws determined, was anyone who wasn't a nob. In 1390, parliament "passed an act limiting the right to hunt to the 40-shilling freeholder for laymen, and to the cleric with an annual income of over Ł10".
These laws, Shoard says, "helped establish two basic principles of land management that ... persist to this day. The first was that facilitating the private pleasure of the privileged few was a legitimate basis for determining the allocation of Britain's land. The second was that the landowner possessed the right to do whatever he liked with his land irrespective of the impact ... on other members of the community."
Not everyone who hunts today is a member of the aristocracy - far from it. But this is the way in which you aspire to become one. To look posh you buy a Land Rover, green wellies, a tweed hat and a waxed jacket: the livery of field sports. You buy a house in the country. You get yourself a horse and you join the hunt.
The residual power of the landed class arises from other people's aspirations. The British remain mesmerised by our pre-democratic rulers. Their version of the past is still widely accepted, thanks to costume dramas, the National Trust, and our balmoralised popular histories. It is encapsulated in the justifying myth of landed power we call chivalry.
Chivalry embodied five romantic virtues, of which perhaps the most important was "franchise". Franchise is defined by the historian Maurice Keen as "the free and frank bearing that is visible testimony to the combination of good birth with virtue". It can also be translated as freedom from democratic restraint.
"Chivalry" is derived from chevalerie, or horse soldiery. It was designed to instil in young noblemen the qualities required to conquer new lands and subjugate their people on behalf of the king and the church. These men, according to Ramon Lull, author of the 13th-century Libre del Ordre de Cavayleria, should exercise by hunting the hart, the boar and the wolf. This enabled them to refine the art of killing from the saddle with the bow and couched lance.
In the thunder of the hunt today we hear echoes of the joust, the tourney and the cavalry charge. As if to remind us of its military associations, the hunters wear the uniform of the 18th-century soldier. And though not all redcoats are aristocrats, it is the noblesse and the classes abutting it who still run the show.
You doubt this? Then read the letter sent to his old school magazine by the financial director of the Countryside Alliance, a man called RS Loodmer. Loodmer is an Old Stoic, which means he attended an expensive public school in Buckinghamshire called Stowe.
"In the build up to the Countryside March in London last year," he writes, "there were five people present in our operations room at Kennington Road early one morning - I realised that we were ALL Old Stoics! ... I developed my feeling for the countryside at Stowe, and it is great that others share the same commitment and passions."
I read this because I am also an Old Stoic. I too "developed my feeling for the countryside at Stowe", and for the kind of people who run it. The school, which occupies the magnificent Palladian home of Lord Cobham, was obsessed by bloodsports. It had its own pack of beagles. There were lakes in which many of us fished. Several of the boys owned ferrets, and quite a few had guns hidden in their studies.
I remember being astonished by the arsenal of shotguns, rifles, pistols and air rifles which appeared one frozen dawn when we gathered by the lakes to flick bottles across the ice and shoot them. One boy used to delight in releasing a squirrel and two ferrets in the squash courts. He later became master of one of Britain's most famous hunts, which is inconvenient for those who claim that hunting has nothing to do with sadism.
I saw it from both sides: as a member of the chivalric order and as one excluded from it. At home, I used to join the local boys in "running down" the hunt. This is the only traditionally working-class component of foxhunting: the fit young men of the village work out where the horses are going and, taking short cuts, try to get there before them. This way you could enjoy the thrill of the chase without the expense of owning a horse. The hunters tolerated us, but that was all. At the meet they would remain in the saddle, drinking from their stirrup-cups, talking only to each other. If we asked one of them a question, he would ignore us, or address us as if a worm had spoken, or walk his horse straight through us, so that we had to step out of the way.
The Norman lords' superiority, Shoard writes, was established by two features of feudal society: the castle and their "association ... with the horse, which enabled them literally to look down on the serfs, who walked".
As an animal welfare issue, foxhunting comes in at about number 155. It probably ranks below the last of the great working-class bloodsports, coarse fishing. It's insignificant beside intensive pig farming, chicken keeping or even the rearing of pheasants for driven shoots. But as a class issue, it ranks behind private schooling at number two. This isn't about animal welfare. It's about human welfare. By taking on the hunt, our MPs are taking on those who ran the country for 800 years, and still run the countryside today. This class war began with the Norman conquest. It still needs to be fought.
www.monbiot.com
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 14, 2004.

U.K. Immigrants, Part-Timers Swell Workforce, Quell Inflation

Bloomberg.com
U.K. Immigrants, Part-Timers Swell Workforce, Quell Inflation
Sept. 14 (Bloomberg) --
Piotr Siciak came to London from Poland in June hoping to find a job. It didn't take the 24-year-old student long: after eight days he was taken on as a bartender in the Prince of Wales, a pub in Kennington, South London.
"There are a lot of jobs going in London," he said, standing outside the pub operated by brewers Shepherd Neame Ltd. "If you work hard you can survive here."
Immigrants such as Siciak are among the more than 7 million part-time and temporary workers bolstering Britain's workforce at a time when unemployment has fallen to a 29-year low. The expansion in the pool of labor helped keep wage growth at half the average pace of the past 30 years. That gives the economy scope to accelerate without fueling inflation, said Peter Robinson, senior economist at the Institute for Public Policy Research, a London- based consultancy.
The government will release wage-growth and unemployment figures at 9:30 a.m. in London tomorrow. Unemployment measured by the number of people claiming benefits was probably 2.7 percent in August, the lowest since 1975, according to the median forecast of 29 economists surveyed by Bloomberg Sept. 10.
"One of the surprises after over a decade of fairly steady economic recovery is that wage inflation remains quite quiescent," said Robinson of the policy institute. "If the supply of labor increases and the economy can grow faster, you'd expect any central bank or government worth its salt to let that happen."
Rising Wages
The globally accepted measure for U.K. unemployment, reported by the International Labor Organization, showed a 4.8 percent rate, compared with 9 percent in the euro region and 5.4 percent in the U.S.
U.K. wages, including bonuses, probably rose 4.3 percent in the quarter through July from the year-earlier period, down from 4.4 percent in the quarter through June, a separate survey of 32 economists showed.
The Bank of England said in its inflation report last month that if immigration continues, "further increases in labor demand may be met without firms having to raise wages."
The number of immigrants permitted to remain in the U.K. rose 20 percent last year to 139,675, the highest since 1983, when comparable government statistics started. Many joined the ranks of part-time workers. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 23 percent of the 28 million-strong workforce are part-timers, up from 20 percent in 1990. Across the 30 OECD nations, the rate is 15 percent.
Open-Minded
Record employment and stable wage inflation are bolstering the prospects of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who may call an election as soon as next year. In April, Blair said that while he wants to reduce illegal immigration, choking off the flow of foreign workers "would be disastrous for our country and our economy."
Blair's Labour Party led the opposition Conservatives by 2 percentage points, within the three-point margin of error, in a Sept. 7 opinion poll by Populus of 1,009 adults for the London-based Times. In an August poll by Mori for the Financial Times, 7 percent of those questioned cited unemployment as a concern, compared with 30 percent in 1997, the year Blair took office. Mori questioned 1,923 adults.
Tope Hassan, a mother of two from Nigeria, arrived in London last August and works at a South London branch of Marks & Spencer Group Plc, the nation's biggest clothing retailer. She plans to begin studying this month at London's South Bank University, when she'll shift to part-time work.
Nigeria Tougher
"I had the right documentation to get a job so it wasn't too bad," she said. "It's not so easy in Nigeria; they have no job centers. There isn't really part-time work there -- most jobs there are nine to five, Monday to Friday."
Employers must be open-minded about where they get staff, said Ruth Hounslow, head of U.K. public affairs at Manpower Inc., the world's second-largest temporary-staffing company. "In Britain, more people than ever are able to access the labor market in the ways they choose," she said. "That flexibility is very healthy."
Marshall Aerospace, based near Cambridge, north of London, employs 120 workers it recruited from the Philippines. The maker of fuel tanks to extend the range of Boeing Co. 747 aircraft, obtained work permits and gave them accommodation.
"Ramping up our permanent staff is a no-no," said Kevin Patterson, who runs the manufacturing division. "Most aerospace businesses use a large amount of contract labor."
Inactive People
Also swelling the potential workforce are so-called inactive people, who aren't looking for a job or aren't available to work. They form a "large pool of labor that could potentially be tapped to meet increases in labor demand," according to the Bank of England. At 7.85 million, that group is at its highest since government figures began in 1984.
Average incomes are rising slower than the 4.5 percent rate the Bank of England has said is compatible with stable inflation.
Wage inflation "is not something we're hugely worried about at the moment," said John Telling, head of corporate affairs at Mitie Group Plc, which provides cleaning and catering services and employs about 28,000 U.K. staff.
Pay raises are also being suppressed because of limitations on trade union power since the 1980s and a lower number of bargaining agreements.
While 68 percent of the German workforce and 93 percent of French workers are covered by collective bargaining, in the U.K. the proportion is 33 percent, according to the OECD. In the U.S., it's 14 percent.
Companies are more willing to tell workers to "take a hike if they make excessive wage demands," said Peter Dixon, an economist at Commerzbank in London.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Sam Fleming in London at sfleming5@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Chris Kirkham at ckirkham@bloomberg.net.
Heather Harris at hharris@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: September 13, 2004 19:08 EDT

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 14, 2004.

Father charged over Eye protest

BBC News
Father charged over Eye protest
A fathers' rights campaigner who spent about 18 hours on top of the London Eye, forcing it to close, has been charged with causing a public nuisance.
David Chick, 37, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex, who was dressed as Spiderman, voluntarily came down from the wheel about 2215 BST on Saturday.
He scaled the wheel at 0350 BST, prompting a security review.
Scotland Yard said Mr Chick was due to appear at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Mr Chick was given a hospital check-up before being questioned at Kennington Police Station in south London.
A London Eye spokeswoman said anyone who had bought one of the 5,000 pre-booked tickets for Saturday would be given a full refund.
A spokesman for Fathers 4 Justice said the group supported Mr Chick.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3646948.stm Published: 2004/09/13 06:14:28 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2004.

B&B

More open houses
Alistair Sawday looks at some of London's most distinctive B&Bs, selected from his forthcoming guide
Saturday September 11, 2004
The Guardian
The Bowling Hall, 346 Kennington Road, SE11 (020-7840 0454)
Once an Irish drinking den, this is now a pristine wonderland of cool lines and soothing colours. The feeling is uncluttered, hugely airy. You get the front of the house to yourself, including a mirrored bathroom and a sitting room that opens on to a gorgeous courtyard garden (bamboo, eucalyptus, pots of lavender). Cleaver Square, Borough market and the South Bank are all close.
· Double Ł80, single Ł45-Ł50.
· Alistair Sawday's guide to B&Bs, hotels and apartments in London: published September 30, Ł9.99.
http://www.specialplacestostay.com/search/display.php?FileID=lo1059
specialplacestostay.com. Other useful sites: londonbb.com; uptownres.co.uk.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 11, 2004.

LIGHTING THE WORLD. PRICE’S CANDLES

LIGHTING THE WORLD
PRICE’S CANDLES
Speaker: Jon Newman, Head of Lambeth Archives
Monday 20 September, 7.30pm
Morden Library
Morden Civic Centre
London Rd, Morden
PRICE’S CANDLES
Price's Candles started in Vauxhall in 1830, making candles from Sri Lankan coconuts and then concentrated its factory in Battersea. In the 1840s it marketed its candles made with raw products from West Africa as a method that helped undermine the slave trade. In the days before homes were lit with gas and then electricity its candles were used all over the world. It also set up factories to make them across the world. By 1914 it was the largest candle manufacturer in the world, with sidelines in motor and engine oil, soap and glycerine. Its Battersea workforce set up a retail co-operative which was successful for over 50 years.
It would help the organisation of this event if you could indicate by 13 September your intention to attend.
Please email sean.creighton@btopenworld.com.
Thank you.
Part of:
MERTON MULTI-CULTURAL HISTORY GROUP
TALKS PROGRAMME
The next talks in this series are:
18 October - The representation of Black people in portrait paintings
Caz Bressey, Secretary, Black & Asian Studies Association
15 November - Nelson's Black connections
Di Reynolds, Morden Library Manager
For more information see Merton Council website:
www.merton.gov.uk/multiculturalhistory/index.asp

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2004.

Would chew believe it ...

Would chew believe it ...
Sep 10 2004
South London Press
A PIZZA company had to fork out Ł3,000 after one of its customers found chewing gum in his meal.
Pizza Castle Ltd, which traded as Dominos Pizza in Kennington, was taken to court by Lambeth council who investigated the customer's complaint.
The distraught man had contacted the town hall's food safety team who sent the pizza for analysis.
They also interviewed the customer and inspected the restaurant, on Newington Butts.
On Wednesday, August 25, representatives for Pizza Castle Ltd appeared at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court where they pleaded guilty to a food safety offence.
After hearing from the company's solicitor, the magistrates said they were satisfied a rogue employee had committed a one-off act, but the company was ultimately responsible.
Pizza Castle Ltd was fined Ł2,000 and ordered to pay Ł1,000 costs to Lambeth council.
Lambeth's executive member for the environment, Councillor Clare Whelan, said: "The council's food safety team - as guardians of the public's health and safety - carries out a very important job.
"They deal with a number of food complaint cases every year, but thankfully cases like this are very rare."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2004.

Jeillo Edwards (Clottey),

Times
September 09, 2004
Lives in Brief
Jeillo Edwards (Clottey), actor, was born on September 23, 1942. She died on July 2, 2004, aged 61.
Jeillo Edwards was one of the first black actresses to appear on British screens, and her durability is due entirely to her patience and good nature throughout the difficult 1960s and 1970s. Arriving in Britain from Sierra Leone in 1960, she survived mainly on her role in BBC Radio’s African Theatre, which, scheduled just once a month, meant a meagre existence for some time. She got her primetime break in 1972, with an appearance on Dixon of Dock Green. She was to become a regular on the BBC World Service, and was the natural choice during African Performance seasons.
Radiant, booming and always cheerful, Edwards had brilliant enunciation — despite a mouth which, had she cared about it, could have made the reputation of any orthodontist. Able to play West African and West Indian with equal verve, Edwards was much in demand in African theatre, in which she specialised in playing the domineering matriarch; a formidable soldier in the battle of the sexes that rages in both these societies. At the same time she was the protective, home-cooking woman ready to show mercy to the most unprincipled transgressor. Many of the plays in BBC African Theatre were politically powerful and benefited from writers exiled by apartheid, such as: Lionel Ngakane, John Matshikiza, Jabu Mbal and Alton Khumalo. At the farthest possible remove from this, she appeared in some of the most cutting-edge television comedies of recent years, including Spaced, Red Dwarf, Black Books, The League of Gentlemen and Little Britain.
Edwards’s desire was always to play the romantic lead on either television or radio — something always denied due to her full figure and her full-blooded voice. The closest she came was perhaps her radio role as Cash Madam, a rich sugar-mamma with a legion of pliant young men — a well-known caricature of the Nigerian upper class. Her catchphrase was: “No sweat, only perspiration.”
She was probably never employed to her full potential. Her best shot at becoming a mainstream comic actress was as Mrs McGregor in the poorly received Jimmy Perry series Room Service (1979). One of her strongest performances was as Rose in A Beautiful Thing, a perfectly realised short film about love on a South London council estate, directed by Hettie MacDonald.
Edwards was a pillar of Sierra Leone community groups in Kennington, South London, and for several years she held court at her own restaurant, Auntie J — the name by which she was affectionately known among her acting peers.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2004.

Cars pulled up in police blitz

Evening Standard
08/09/04 - London news section
Cars pulled up in police blitz
By Patrick Mcgowan
In police jargon it is an ANPR check and the chances are it will be coming soon to a busy road near you.
You may think you have been driving impeccably, but if you have not paid your road tax or your car is logged on computer as having been involved in crime, you will quickly find yourself pulled to the roadside.
The letters stand for Automatic Number Plate Reader, the same technology used in enforcing the congestion charge. It can read hundreds of car numbers a minute at up to 100mph.
Once the mobile unit is set up at the roadside it effectively screens the flow of traffic, filtering out those cars which could be of interest to police.
A short distance down the road a score of police are waiting to check the occupants. If they don't feel like stopping, the Metropolitan Police helicopter is on standby.
This check was set up for several hours in Kennington Oval and every few minutes another driver was pulled in and closely questioned.
Main routes into and around London are being targeted almost daily by nearly 100 officers from the Met, British Transport Police and other forces including Hertfordshire and Essex.
They work on the principle that many major as well as minor criminals drive some distance between their homes and the places where they commit offences. Until the arrival of ANPR technology, the chances of a known suspect's car being spotted en route by an alert traffic patrol were slim.
The value of number plate screening became apparent in the Nineties when the City Police set up static cameras to monitor all vehicles entering or leaving their area at a time when the IRA was a major threat.
Lesser criminals quickly learned to avoid the Square Mile as any stolen vehicle was likely to trigger alarms in the police control room.
The professional burglar is a particular target of the ANPR check. He may not have been caught red-handed but if his car was spotted in suspicious circumstances near a break-in and the number entered on the Police National Computer, the next time he is pulled in he may have your stereo in the boot.
Even if he does not, the mere fact that he is pulled over and his vehicle thoroughly searched may act as a serious deterrent.
A test of ANPR in nine police forces outside London last year led to the arrest of 3,000 people in six months, the recovery of 300 stolen vehicles and the seizure of ÂŁ100,000 drugs.
Use of ANPR technology across the country is expected to lead to an extra 200,000 arrests a year and the recovery of Ł 200 million in unpaid road tax and fines.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 08, 2004.

Man in dock over parkland shooting

Man in dock over parkland shooting
Sep 7 2004
South London Press
AN ALLEGED gunman accused of shooting dead a 21-year-old man has appeared in court. Marlon Stubbs, 23, is charged with the murder of Adrian Marriott in Brixton on June 9.
Mr Marriott was found with bullet wounds to the face in parkland near Barrington Road just after 9am.
Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
Stubbs, of Ward Point, Kennington, spoke only to confirm his name at the plea and directions hearing at the Old Bailey, which was adjourned until October 28.
He did not enter a plea to the charge of murder and was remanded in custody by the Common Serjeant of London, Judge Peter Beaumont.
A second man has already been charged with the attack and will appear at the Old Bailey for a plea and directions hearing on September 24.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2004.

Vauxhall Cross

Interchange welcomes buses
Sep 7 2004
South London Press
BUS passengers will be the first to benefit from the Vauxhall Cross interchange from this weekend.
The interchange, which has taken two years to build and will be fully open at the beginning of October, aims to provide easier access between bus, Tube and rail services.
Every day, 65,000 vehicles - 2,000 buses on 13 routes, 712 Underground trains, 730 overground trains and 45,000 commuters - travel through Vauxhall Cross.
The bus stops have been moved into the interchange early to keep roads clear for the start of the new school term when traffic levels are higher.
The 13 bus routes being taken away from the gyratory system into the interchange will make it easier for traffic to flow through one of the capital's busiest junctions.
The front of the structure housing the bus station is covered in solar panels which enables the interchange to produce one-third of its own electricity.
Peter Hendy, managing director of surface transport at Transport for London, said: "The Vauxhall Cross interchange has been an ambitious project for TfL.
"Any excess power is sold back to the National Grid.
"For passengers at Vauxhall Cross, changing between bus, rail and Tube had been difficult for a long time. We've tackled these issues head-on and passengers and residents will have a transport inter-change that will improve their journeys and make them feel safer," he said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2004.

Dominos Pizza

Lambeth
Dominos Pizza
A local take-away got caught up in a sticky mess last year when they sold a pizza that contained a chewed up piece of gum in the topping.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/027452.pdf
Released: 6 September, 2004 03:55
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2004.

Postal Matters

Times
September 06, 2004
Third-class delivery
Money for nothing
POSTMEN familiar with specific postal areas might improve postal deliveries in London, but I doubt it. For the past year, our delivery men in the Kennington area have been changed continually. If we’re lucky, we get post in the afternoons three times weekly, and rarely on a Saturday.
Any attempt to check on what’s happened to deliveries at our local office results in the phone being put down without an answer. A letter of complaint to Royal Mail’s chairman, Allan Leighton, in April this year, received a reply in June ignoring my argument but assuring me that I would receive an immediate improvement in our service. We haven’t.
In every area of government and public service the UK operates a demented, fudge policy. Who would ever consider that fat cats not achieving their targets should be rewarded financially? Only the apathetic British.
Jim Kelsey, London SE11

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 06, 2004.

Angels over Vauxhall

Angels over Vauxhall
October – December 2004
St Peter’s Church
310 Kennington Lane
LONDON SE115HY
www.angelsovervauxhall.org
People, whether religious or not, experience God in many ways – the miracle of birth, the beauty of nature, an unexpected kindness.
Angels over Vauxhall is a festival, centred round St Peter’s Church, designed to recognise and celebrate those moments, using the universal image of ‘angels’ as a simple metaphor.
During the festival the church will be open for viewing, to take part in Angel Spotting, to take part in a workshop. Please check the website for details.
Evening Events at 7.30pm
Sat 2 October
Free Gala concert and Reception - an evening of mellow music with refreshments
Sun 3 October
Songs of experience – poems and songs celebrating angels
Tues 5 October
What are angels? – discussion on the psychology of angels
Wed 6 October
A history of angels – an illustrated talk in art history by Mike Adam
Thu 7 Oct
Miss Garnet’s Angel – Salley Vickers reads from her best-selling book
Fri 8 Oct
Wings of Desire – a cinema event
Sat 9 Oct
Ed Jones Quartet – jazz concert
Sun 10 Oct
Festival Choral Evensong – sung by local singers (6.00pm)
For a programme, including details of the workshops, contact:
Angels over Vauxhall
St Peter’s Church
310 Kennington Lane
London SE11 5HY
Or sign up on the mailing list via the website www.angelsovervauxhall.org

-- Wilma (wilma.roest@virgin.net), September 05, 2004.

A yen for Monopoly

A yen for Monopoly
Sep 3 2004
By Domenic Donatantonio
South London Press
A MAD-KEEN Monopoly enthusiast is hoping to pass go, collect Ł5,000 and go directly to Tokyo by winning the British Monopoly Championships today.
Kamman Janpiam, 28, from Kennington Road, Lambeth North, is joining 64 board-game businessmen on HMS Belfast, moored at Morgans Lane, Tooley Street, London Bridge.
Kamman, who aptly works as a credit controller, had to answer 34 questions on the rules of the famous game to get through to the knock-out contest.
If he wins, he will receive Ł5,000 in prize money and an all-expenses paid trip to the World Monopoly Championships in Tokyo, Japan, from October 7-11.
He plays with his pals in the local Thai Pavilion restaurant in Kennington Road.
Kamman said tactics were crucial to beating the opposition.
He said: "It's best to be friendly to your opponents. It's strange, you have to co-operate with them in order to beat them."
Kamman admitted that luck plays a part.
He said: "The most common dice rolls are a seven or a six. So it's good to have the orange properties [Bow Street, Marlborough Street, Vine Street] because people go to 'jail' a lot in the game."
The contestants will each play three 90 minute knockout rounds.
MONOPOLY FACTS
The longest Monopoly game ever played was 1,680 hours (70 days)
Longest game in a bathtub: 99 hours
Longest game underwater: 45 days
Longest game played upside-down: 36 hours
The most expensive Monopoly board ever made was put together by jewellery designer Sidney Mobell, of San Francisco. It was made for a million dollars out of gold and precious stones in 1988.
The largest outdoor game ever played used a gameboard 938ft wide by 765ft long.
Over Ł15million of Monopoly money is printed in the UK.
The game has been printed in 26 languages, including French, Afrikaans, Spanish, German, Catalan, Hindi, Arabic and Norwegian.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 03, 2004.

Do you have a room for a paying guest?

I am trying to find a householder in the area who has a spare room, and would be prepared to take in a Director of a big shipping company on a Monday to Friday basis, as a paying guest. He is in his early 50s, has been relocated back to the UK, and is buying a house in Cheltenham so his children can go to school there, but needs somewhere to live in London while he works at Canary Wharfe. If you can help, do let me know. Many thanks - Alison Munro, 31 Fentiman Road.

-- Alison (alisonmunro32@yahoo.co.uk), September 02, 2004.

Trace: Where are they now?

Sun : Letters
I'M trying to find my mum, Louis Barton née Willis, who I have not seen for 53 years.
We lived in Kennington, South London, until she left home to live in Deptford.
She had a sister, Ivy.
JOHN BARTON
Tonbridge, Kent
RECOGNISE yourself or anyone you know? Send details to TRACE at the address below. Where Are They Now letters must be sent by post or email.
CONTACT THE SUN
WRITE TO:
Dear Sun
The Sun,
1 Virginia St,
London
E98 1SL
FAX: 020 7782 4170
EMAIL: letters@the-sun.co.uk
(please give full postal address and telephone number)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 01, 2004.

Property

Times : Property
August 29, 2004
Bringing the outdoors inside
Top florist Stephen Woodhams opened up his south London flat to add more daylight — and more of the garden too, reports Simon Brooke of The Sunday Times
If the garden really is an outside room, as designers and developers keep telling us, there could be few better examples of how to put this theory into practice than at Stephen Woodhams’ London flat. The floral designer’s skilful blurring of the distinction between house and outside space is apparent as soon as you walk through the front door.
The hallway, like the kitchen and dining area, is paved with flagstones, which lead out through a sleek modern conservatory into the garden. “I made sure the line of grouting between the flagstones carried straight down the hall into the kitchen to make the flat look bigger,” explains Woodhams. Certainly, when you enter the house this concrete seam appears to carry on for ever as it leads through the hallway and out towards the garden.
Woodhams, whose clients include the actress Gillian Anderson and the fashion designer Joseph Ettedgui, moved from Portobello Road to this ground-floor, two-bedroom flat in a Victorian terrace in Kennington, south London, five years ago. Immediately he determined to open it up, not only to bring as much light in as possible — but as much garden, too.
To achieve this, the back wall of his flat was removed to make space for a glass conservatory, which opens onto the garden. Light now pours into the combined kitchen, living room and dining area. The windows are almost permanently open and even during the worst of a miserable British summer, Woodhams appreciates this semi-outdoor space. “There is nothing better than curling up on the settee with a cup of coffee and the papers while the rain beats down on the glass above you,” he says.
Subtle use of colour has also helped bring the garden into the home, and vice versa. “I’ve enjoyed working with different colour palettes,” says Woodhams. Internally the walls are painted a soft mushroom shade from heritage paint supplier Farrow & Ball; the colour matches the render on the outside walls and has, in turn, been used on the supporting pillars inside the house.
The conservatory frame was originally white. “It looked tacky, so I had it painted battleship grey to match the colour scheme.”
The side wall of the flat was removed and the existing kitchen ripped out. The room was then extended sideways into an alleyway along the side of the building, following delicate negotiations over the party wall with the adjoining property. There is now a galley-style kitchen here with dark wood units and pale grey composite stone surfaces.
“We put frosted glass along the roof so that you get natural light coming in, but there is still a bit of privacy,” explains Woodhams. At the opposite end of the room, a specially commissioned dark wood storage unit hides the boiler.
Woodhams kept a keen eye on the budget and the whole project cost less than Ł15,000. Even the ubiquitous flagstones were a bargain at Ł2 each, he explains triumphantly.
However, disaster nearly struck when the builders removed the rear wall. “We discovered that there was no proper foundation for a lot of the back of the house, so at 4.30pm on a Friday afternoon I was desperately ringing round trying to get some scaffolding organised to underpin it,” he explains. As a result, the building took nearly a year to complete.
Woodhams’ garden is simple with strong, clean lines, which echo the interior of the house. A strong industrial element is created mainly by five giant tubs containing copper beeches, which dominate the garden. They represent two particular Woodhams quirks — oversizing and odd numbers.
“Objects arranged in threes, fives or sevens look more striking and interesting than when they come in even numbers,” he explains. “I also love over- and undersizing. For instance, at One Aldwych (the London boutique hotel), we used huge tubs containing tiny box hedge.”
The inclusion of the planting tubs in the garden was a happy coincidence. They are made from enormous concrete rings that are usually put together by builders to form drainage pipes. “I saw them stacked up in a storage depot as I was driving around the M25,” says Woodhams. “When I ordered them the delivery guy couldn’t believe they were going to a flat, not a building site — he was convinced he’d got the wrong address.”
Around the base of these monsters are pink neon lights that are practical at night and provide a colourful contrast with the monolithic grey concrete. The garden table is painted shocking pink and the pink neon theme is picked up in the kitchen lighting inside.
The garden’s no-nonsense industrial look is softened with shrubs and also with the inclusion of a simple water feature that runs along the back of the house and conservatory and is crossed by stepping-stone flagstones. The water flows gently over mossy pebbles and tiny water boatmen hop about over the surface. This image is repeated in the bathroom, where a stainless-steel industrial bathtub is suspended above a mass of pebbles. Surprisingly, there are few flowers in the garden. The colour scheme is simple with copper-leaved trees and deep-green box hedges. The giant Sorbus tree that overlooks the garden was inherited but fits into the palette with its bright orange berries.
Like the apocryphal plumber who was too busy working on his clients’ pipes to stop his own tap from dripping, Woodhams gets little time to devote to his garden, and he designed it to take this into account. “It’s not really low-maintenance,” he laughs, surveying it from his sofa in the glass atrium. “It’s more like no-maintenance.”
Stephen Woodhams’ gardening tips:
“Grasses are really big at the moment,” he says. They look dramatic but need little attention. “Choose something like Stipa gigantea, which has beautiful bronze seed heads, and Macleaya cordata with its elegant silvery leaves.”
Gardeners are becoming more “green” these days. “Ecological choices for planting include evergreens and shrubs that are drought-resistant,” he suggests.
“Tweak your garden every now and then rather than changing the whole thing. Paint the walls or change the odd plant on a regular basis.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 01, 2004.

The making of a musical thriller

The Scotsman
Sat 28 Aug 2004
The making of a musical thriller
CHARLOTTE JONES
THE CALL CAME THROUGH MY AGENT. The producer Sonia Friedman was eager for me to meet Andrew Lloyd Webber to discuss a musical version of Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White. I thought: "Will I really have to read another Penguin Classic?" Since completing my English degree I have had an aversion to anything longer than 400 pages that comes with an introduction. So it was with some trepidation that I came to read the novel two days before I was to meet Andrew.
I needn’t have worried. An international bestseller at the time of publication in 1860, it still makes a thrilling and breathless read. It works as a murder mystery, a psychological thriller, a detective novel and a domestic love story. I told Andrew: "You know, I’ve no idea how to write the book to a musical." He said not to worry. When he, Don Black and Christopher Hampton were writing Sunset Boulevard he had three houses in the South of France; each collaborator had a house to himself and they would meet up for lunch. I thought, "That doesn’t sound too bad."
WEEK ONE
Eighteen months later, after various "working" trips to Andrew’s homes in New York, Ireland and Majorca, the script and the score of The Woman in White exist and it is time to hand it over to the actors.
The principals and creative team meet at the Jerwood Space, near Waterloo. I’m told that musical theatre actors are a different breed. "Twirlies" they call them. On first impression they all just look slightly slimmer, prettier and can sing as well as act. Some things aren’t fair in this life. I have just discovered that I am pregnant. I am suffering much worse nausea than I did with my first child. It’s all very bad timing. I’ve already put on half a stone and suddenly I am living in the land of the sylph.
The Woman in White is played by an American actress, Angela Christian. She is whippet-thin with freckles and fierce red hair. She moves like a thoroughbred horse who might kick at any point. Perfect for our "is she mad or isn’t she?" heroine. Our "juve lead" Laura (Jill Paice) looks like Meg Ryan, but taller and more attractive. The hero, Walter Hartright, a drawing master, is played by Australian hunk Martin Crewes. He smoulders quietly in a corner of the room.
There have already been two workshop performances and Trevor Nunn, the director, has delivered a talk on the subject of Wilkie Collins that encompasses the novelist and his relationship with Charles Dickens (friendly), his love life (bigamous) and the differences between our adaptation and the novel (fairly extensive).
The story begins in a remote railway cutting in Cumbria in 1870. A mysterious woman dressed in white appears "out of the night" and accosts young Hartright, as he is on his way to give lessons to two sisters. She tells him that she has a secret and then runs away.
WEEK TWO
WE have the meet-and-greet with hundreds of people in the room. We go around introducing ourselves. Andrew finishes with: "I’m Andrew and I’m the composer." Everyone laughs. He sits on the nearest available chair, which resembles a throne. Bill Dudley reveals his set design. He has used video projections before but never on this scale. In one scene we move from a country house to a formal garden, to wilder countryside, to a waterfall, to a Cumbrian village.
WEEK THREE
Everyone said Michael Crawford would be difficult, but he is charming and giggly. He plays the scheming Count Fosco exactly as written by Collins: immensely fat, with a penchant for bonbons and white mice. In the show he will wear a fat suit. But such is his skill as an actor that within a week you see him piling on metaphorical weight, jowls descending, gait slowing.
WEEK FOUR
We move to Alford House in Kennington as the room at Jerwood is not big enough to accommodate our stage. The show has six stage managers and they are working their socks off. Every night after rehearsals there is a dry technical run at the theatre. By the time we open, the show will have had eight weeks of technical rehearsals, so demanding is the set design.
I find an ally in our associate director, Daniel Kramer. His incisive comments about The Woman in White’s secret lead to rewrites.
After rehearsals we have a script meeting to discuss rewrites. It gets a bit edgy. I am reminded that I am working with two of the titans of musical theatre. Andrew has been for the most part a courteous and sweet collaborator and Trevor Nunn is a wonderful dramaturg and diplomacy itself. But as experienced as they are, the heat is getting to them.
WEEK FIVE
Sonia Friedman is making her presence felt. We call her Sonia Jessica Parker, in homage to her enviable sense of style. She is the most glamorous producer in the West End, and one of the most powerful. She has the requisite Jekyll and Hyde personality of the producer - lovely one moment, tough and uncompromising the next.
She appears never to eat, or indeed sleep. She tells me that Rigby and Peller are making her a corset for the first night on 15 September. I am jealous. I will be 18 weeks pregnant so at that "is she pregnant or simply fat?" stage. It will be my first real red-carpet event.
Trevor, who is another workaholic, has broken away from his customary denim uniform today and in the stifling, fan-less heat has resorted to wearing a (denim-coloured) linen shirt. I tell him he looks nice. He laughs for a long time. So long I get nervous.
In rehearsals, however, he’s extraordinary to watch. He very much shapes the action, doesn’t leave the actors much space while giving them the impression that they are making all their own decisions. Actors, like toddlers, need their boundaries. He knows his stuff.
We have our final run-through. Michael Crawford uses a rat and a mouse for the first time - he sings, pirouettes and makes the rat travel up and down his outstretched arms. He is a class act.
The piece really seems to work as both a thriller and a romance. The score is clever and varied: lush, melodic one minute, dark and edgy the next. Two women who work in marketing are in tears by the end. All this before costumes and an orchestra. If I can only find a slimming kaftan for the opening night, things are looking good.
• The Woman in White previews at Palace Theatre, London (0870 8955579) from today.
The woman in demand
THE Woman in White is likely to be "rediscovered" with the launch of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical but the truth is that Wilkie Collins’s story was a success from the publication of the first instalment.
Collins was a close friend of Charles Dickens, who published the story in his weekly magazine, All Year Round. The serialisation was so popular that readers queued up for the final instalment, published in August 1860.
Once the novel was published, shortly after the magazine’s final instalment, it spawned a host of Woman in White paraphernalia - bonnets, perfumes, even a Woman in White waltz. Since then, the book has never been out of print.
The story was written by Collins after a strange encounter when he and his brother Charles were seeing a guest - the artist John Everett Millais - home along the dark and semi-rural roads near their north London home after a party.
The men heard a terrifying scream followed by the appearance of a young and beautiful woman in white robes who quickly vanished into the shadows.
It transpired that she had fallen into the hands of a brute who had held her prisoner in a house in Regent’s Park for several months until she escaped.
The Victorian "sensation" was suggested to Lloyd Webber as a suitable subject after he admitted on TV that he was without an ongoing project almost two years ago. The Woman in White opens in the newly renovated Palace Theatre, the Victorian theatre Lloyd Webber originally intended for The Phantom of the Opera.
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=991722004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 28, 2004.

Property

It's back to school
By Faye Greenslade
Evening Standard
25/08/2004
Once the art block of a rather elegant Victorian school in Kennington, SE11, this 1,119sq ft apartment is now a home and could be yours for Ł499,000.
The conversion makes the most of the two-storey property's original features, which have then been cleverly complemented by the use of quality modern materials.
A vaulted and beamed ceiling lends light and height to its large open-plan reception/kitchen area, which is overlooked by a mezzanine study.
A spiral staircase leads to a well-equipped shower room and two double bedrooms, each with full-height glazed doors that open onto the landscaped communal gardens. There is secure parking, and nearby Kennington Tube provides a fast link to the City.
Contact Daniel Cobb (020 7735 9510).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 26, 2004.

Cricket

Times
August 23, 2004
Revitalised England now well equipped for stiff tasks ahead
By Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Chief Cricket Correspondent
“TO SEE a world in a grain of sand.” The emergence of a matchwinning fast bowler in Steve Harmison and the physical and mental development of Andrew Flintoff into a champion all-rounder, a natural victor ludorum, have been the biggest reasons for England’s happy winning habit; but it is also the small things, the 1 per cent improvements in many areas, that have earned seven wins from seven Tests this season.
The latest, the tenth in 11 matches this year, was completed by ten wickets a little after half-past four at the Oval on Saturday and it left the 20,000 people who had booked in advance for the fourth day with no option but to apply for a refund and spend more time than they had planned in moral support of Paula Radcliffe.
The final day at a ground looking less and less like the grubby, open Kennington Oval of old and more and more like the smart, modern “Brit” Oval that will be seating 23,000 in relative comfort from next May, was typical of England’s steady progress under Michael Vaughan. With what looked like a deliberate attempt to fit one more small piece into the jigsaw, he bowled James Anderson from the Vauxhall End all morning and the response, the wickets of Brian Lara and Chris Gayle on the way to figures of four for 52, was the final encouraging individual performance in England’s longest unbroken run of success since 1928-29.
West Indies had been in the match with an even chance at the end of the first day. They were beaten because they could not match the quality of England’s catching or their tailend revival. For Duncan Fletcher this was especially satisfying: just before he became coach in 1999, he said that the two most obvious areas for improvement were the fielding and the lowerorder batting.
Matthew Hoggard is proof that he has achieved both. He has turned himself from being a variable fielder into a good one and from a hopeless No 11 into a determined blocker capable of frustrating the opposition bowlers with valuable runs. It was ungracious of him not to acknowledge the applause for his highest Test score last Friday but he had set his heart on making fifty and he has come to epitomise the unyielding character and sheer professionalism of the team.
Until Harmison got nowhere near a skier to square leg and a couple of hard chances went down late in the West Indies second innings, this had been the best England fielding performance all season. Few things are more important in close Test matches than the taking of the hard chances, such as those held last Friday by Robert Key and Ian Bell. Fletcher calls the rest “nine to five” catches, so he and the other selectors will have to weigh Key’s expertise at short leg and Bell’s all-round excellence when it comes to getting the right mix for the next series starting in South Africa in December.
Vaughan and Fletcher are trying hard not to mention Australia but the mountain still rising above England next year cannot be avoided. One look at the quality of batsmen such as Brad Hodge, Simon Katich, Martin Love and the Hussey brothers, who cannot make the Australia team, another at the batting strength of the India team that will soon be in England for the one-day internationals, should ensure a sense of perspective. So should the first innings totals scored, even against Harmison and company, on the last five occasions that opponents have won the toss and batted: 751 for seven declared (St John’s); 386, 409 and 384 (New Zealand at Lord’s, Headingley and Trent Bridge) and 395 (West Indies at Old Trafford).
That all but the first of these games were won by England is proof of a crucial resilience. Five years ago, shortly before Fletcher and Nasser Hussain began their single-minded alliance, they were the talk of the London cabbie for the wrong reason, publicly ridiculed for losing to what was actually a strong New Zealand team. Stephen Fleming’s 1999 side had a better bowling attack than the one beaten 3-0 this season but those three tough, enthralling victories were still more significant than the four that have followed against a naive and exceptionally young West Indies team.
The bowling at Lara’s disposal does not compare with that of Sri Lanka, the last country to beat England, in Colombo last December. Yet Australia, with Shane Warne outbowling his great rival, Muttiah Muralitharan, went into that climate of sapping heat only a few months after England had succumbed, and won handsomely. Recently Sri Lanka beat South Africa, even without Muralitharan. With him, Sri Lanka would still be more likely than not to beat England given another Test in Colombo this winter.
If their rapid development continues, however, Vaughan’s team might have hardened into the best of the lot by the time that they return to the subcontinent in 2005-06. They are building steadily towards The Great Challenge next season when the absurdly unbalanced international fixture list will need to be circumvented by Fletcher to ensure that Harmison and Flintoff are brought to the boil for an Ashes series not starting until July 21. Nothing in British sport next year will matter more.
SUMMARY OF TOP SUMMER
v New Zealand
First Test (May 20-24, Lord’s): won by seven wickets.
Second Test (June 3-7, Headingley): won by nine wickets.
Third Test (June 10-14, Trent Bridge): won by four wickets.
v West Indies
First Test (July 22-26, Lord’s): won by 210 runs.
Second Test (July 29-Aug 2, Edgbaston): won by 256 runs.
Third Test (Aug 12-16, Old Trafford): won by seven wickets.
Fourth Test (Aug 19-23, the Oval): won by ten wickets.
Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

-- cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 25, 2004.

Jail sentence for fraud against Lambeth

Lambeth
Jail sentence for fraud against Lambeth
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/027313.pdf
A Lambeth tenant, Ms B, living at Lockwood house on the Kennington Estate has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 18 months in custody.
Released: 24 August, 2004 11:24
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 25, 2004.

Cocaine man gets 5 years

South London Press
Cocaine man gets 5 years
A MAN has been jailed for five years for importing cocaine from Jamaica.
Thomas Mullings, 30, of Kennington, denied being part of a three-strong gang who smuggled 227g of crack cocaine into Heathrow Airport.
Mullings had met drug courier Kim Tudor from the airport on September 6 last year and taken her to her west London home where they met Richard Edwards. But officers from Operation Trident and Customs and Excise tailed the group and raided Tudor's home minutes afterwards. The trio had denied the charge but were convicted by a jury at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court. Mullings, of St Agnes Place, Tudor, 39, of Third Avenue, Acton, and Edwards, 41, of Kempton Road, East Ham, were each sentenced to five years on Friday.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 25, 2004.

Tour of Lambeth Palace - 2pm Thursday 28th October 2004

Tour of Lambeth Palace
2pm Thursday 28th October 2004
Lambeth Palace, the London home of the Archbishops of Canterbury since 1197, has played a key, and sometimes colourful, role in British history. The one-hour guided tour of the historic rooms of the Palace includes the Crypt, Guard Room, Chapel and Great Hall (part of the Library).
To book, please telephone 7793 0268 and send names of all individuals in your party, a cheque for Ł7 per person (made payable to the “Kennington Association”), plus SAE to:
Kennington Association
c/-235B Kennington Lane SE11 5QU

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), August 21, 2004.

Kennington Park - Victorian generosity or an enclosure for the purposes of social control?

Friends of the Durning Library - Evening Event:
Monday, 20th September 7pm for 7.30pm
Kennington Park - Victorian generosity or an enclosure for the purposes of social control?
Dr Stefan Szczelkun, a local amateur historian with an interest in working class history and a committee member of the Friends of Kennington Park, promises a talk to challenge some of the things we may have been taught about Victorian philanthropy. The Park, formerly a Common with its own rich history, was created exactly 150 years ago. Members of the Friends of Kennington Park will also outline their plans for the future.
Light refreshments
Everyone welcome
No admission, but a Ł2 donation is invited
Event held at:
The Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane SE11 4HF

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), August 21, 2004.

Cricket

South London Press
Club bats for Surrey
Aug 17 2004
By David Callam
A CHANGE of vista at the Vauxhall end will sweep The Oval, one of the world's best-known cricket grounds, into a different league commercially.
But Surrey County Cricket Club is not loosing sight of the sporting tenets on which its existing national success is based. The club may be spending Ł25m on a new stand that will provide, among other facilities, a conference and banqueting suite with a capacity of 900, but it will continue to play county and other games at Croydon and Guildford too.
Out-of-Oval appearances remain a crucial aspect of the club's appeal to large numbers of people who cannot or will not travel to Kennington to support their favourite cricket team.
Paul Blanchard, the sales and marketing manager, said: "Test match ticket sales and hospitality are still an important element of the club's income, as is the Ł1.2m contribution we receive from the English Cricket Board.
"Then there is our share of the advertising rights we have pooled with the other test match grounds across the country.
"This arrangement allows us to attract advertisers like Malaysian Airlines and Toyota to do lucrative deals for the international games that they might not have done with any one ground on its own."
Broadcast rights remain a good source of income too, as cricket continues to attract the second largest television sports audience - albeit a long way behind football.
And then there's the new stand at the Vauxhall end. The old one has already gone, replaced by some permanent new seating and temporary hospitality facilities for England's coming matches against the West Indies and India, and the Champions Trophy fixtures.
Between the close of this cricket season at the end of September and May 2005 a four-storey building will take shape on the site.
It will house the conference facilities, a community education area and further hospitality suites.
The work will be completed in time for the 2005 Ashes Test between England and Australia.
Mr Blanchard said: "The new stand will make The Oval a truly world-class venue and its proximity to central London will make it popular, we believe, with a wide range of additional customers.
"It will allow us to make proper use of the stadium throughout the year and give those who choose it a unique backdrop to their event."
But the club's position in the top flight of international cricket is not causing it to neglect the basics, indeed it believes a stronger commercial base will allow it to do more for the game at county level.
Mr Blanchard came to the club last year from Southampton, where he did a similar job for the city's Premier League football club.
He said: "Previously, I was in competition with the more glamorous clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea for the most gifted young players.
"Now I am in competition with every other sport - particularly football - for the hearts and minds of sporting talent in south London and Surrey.
"The club needs to maintain a high profile to make sure it attract the best - and one of the most effective ways to do so is to take the game to the people.
"So venues like Croydon and Guildford are very important to us, whatever we may be doing at The Oval.
"We can double our daily attendance at a county game simply by taking it out of Kennington.
"And we can change the topic of young people's conversation --just for a few days, maybe - from football to cricket and encourage them to follow the fortunes - and in the footsteps - of those who excel with a bat as well as a ball."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 18, 2004.

A new Dacre take on morality

A new Dacre take on morality
Michael Coveney in Edinburgh sees a famous name make a controversial directorial debut
Michael Coveney
Sunday August 15, 2004
The Observer
So many plays, so much degradation. If someone at the Edinburgh Festival fringe presented a revival of Noddy in Toyland it would turn out to be a catalogue of sexual perversity and police brutality.
So a contemporary drama presented by Cambridge University students which features 'unsparing visions of everyday hell using characters from heaven' in a regular litany of masturbation, swearing, blasphemy and authoritarian violence really is nothing special at all.
Except that, in this case, it is. For the director of Torben Betts's Five Visions of the Faithful at the C Venue (that might as well be the C-word Venue) is the talented young son of Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail, unequivocal spokesman of the moral majority and scourge of the trendy, the debauched and all artistic self-indulgence.
James Dacre, 19 and tall and strongly built like his dad, welcomed me to the den of iniquity on Chambers Street as though I was a supportive junior fellow in his Cambridge college - Jesus, as it happens - where, wait for it, he is reading theology.
His parents have not yet visited the show. While I cannot imagine that my former editor (I was Daily Mail theatre critic until being invited to leave last March) would get much out of the Five Visions, I am sure that his wife, Kathy, a drama teacher and staunch admirer of Harold Pinter, one of her husband's bętes noires, will find a great deal to enjoy.
For the play, while strongly worded and relentlessly depressing, is an imaginative and ironic series of scenes which have the odd effect of reinforcing the value of religion at the expense of its officers and icons.
Two angels dressed as prison guards express their disappointment in life. A prisoner dressed in the orange boiler suit of a Guantanamo Bay detainee is ripped apart from his wife and daughter - 'it's a socialist utopia, innit?' - and a decrepit Virgin Mary who has been 'rogered' by the Holy Spirit begs for pity.
The final scene, a lesson in arbitration, shows Pilate weighing up the popular appeal of Jesus and Barabbas as a contest between the King of the Jews and the king of comedy.
The play - first seen to critical acclaim at the White Bear in Kennington, south London, four years ago - owes much to such atheist, po-faced and uncompromising visionary playwrights as Edward Bond and Howard Barker. But I think Betts has more humanity and contra diction about him. He is certainly well served by Dacre's production, which is one of the best acted student shows I have seen in a very long time.
Dacre's play is taking a different path to the moral certainties sometimes evident in his father's newspaper, but in a curious way the destination is much the same. This world is indeed a very ugly place, defined by the sort of hypocrisy and immorality that both newspapers and the theatre delight in exposing and exploiting simultaneously.
Maybe old Etonian James will bring his father round to seeing the value of theatre that is radical, critical, foul-mouthed and rude. Paul Dacre cannot really see the connection between, for instance, genius and madness. When Spike Milligan died the Mail editor said that there was something sick about him (indeed there was). But that sickness disqualified Milligan, in Dacre's view, from being genuinely funny.
Meanwhile, I strongly recommend his son's production to him. James is, after all, only continuing a Dacre tradition; Paul's father was a distinguished showbusiness journalist, and his wife - whom he met when they were both at Leeds University and enthusiastically left-wing - is still very much in the theatrical swim of things.
Whatever happens, the Mail is unlikely to be running an attack on fringe theatre for as long as James is around to show us the virtues of theatrical vice.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 15, 2004.

Down Lambeth Way-London's oldest adventure playground celebrates half a century

Lambeth
13 August 2004
Down Lambeth Way-London's oldest adventure playground celebrates half a century
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/027170.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 14, 2004.

Pub crooners

South London Press
Pub crooners
Aug 13 2004
THE Rat Pack has made a comeback in a South London pub.
Brothers Daniel and Joel Ewens have been a hit recreating the likes of Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr at the Three Stags, Kennington Road.
The tuxedo clad boys sing and dance to the songs of the Rat Pack and at the end of the evening impersonate other greats including Tom Jones and Louis Armstrong.
*** The pair are at the pub tomorrow night.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2004.

Inmate found hanging in his cell

BBC News
Inmate found hanging in his cell
A prisoner has died after being found hanging at a prison on Sheppey, Kent.
Jason Lee Alldis, 33, was found in his cell at about 2015 BST on Sunday. He had been serving two years and three months for actual bodily harm.
Elmley jail staff tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead by a prison doctor at 2100 BST.
The Home Office said Alldis, from Kennington, south London, had not been on suicide watch. An investigation is to be launched by the prison ombudsman.
A Home Office spokesman said: "A death in custody is a tragedy and we offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Alldis."
He said the police and coroner had been informed.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/kent/3548688.stm Published: 2004/08/09 11:50:07 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 10, 2004.

Prisoner death

Times
August 10, 2004
News in Brief
Prisoner death
A prisoner died after being found hanged in his cell. Jason Alldis, 33, of Kennington, South London, was found by staff at Elmley prison, Kent, on Sunday. Alldis, who was serving two years and three months for aggravated bodily harm, was not on suicide watch. An inquiry is to be launched.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 10, 2004.

Photography exhibition in Kennington Park Cafe 4-30 September

Photography exhibition in Kennington Park Cafe 4-30 September
KENNINGTON PARK 150TH ANNIVERSARY
A year in the park
Sixty new photgraphs of Kennington Park by John Hoyland
4-30 September 2004
Cafe in the Park
Kennington Park, London SE11
020 7793 8886
Open 1030am - 5.30pm
Admission free
Nearest tube stations: Oval, Kennington
"Startlingly beautiful photographs" - South London Press on John Hoyland's 2003 exhibition

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 08, 2004.

Recommended Tradespeople

I found this website of recommended tradespeople that looks interesting:
http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/article/static/397/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 07, 2004.

Recommended leather mender

Here is the information of the excellent leather mender - shoes/bags -
Michael's Shoe Repairs
(and keys cut while you wait), 45 South Lambeth Road, SW8 - near Fentiman Road; Tel 020 7735 2386 Hours: 9-6.00 Mon-Wed and Friday; 9.00-1.00 Thurs; 9.00-4.00 Saturday.
He made a grand job of some shoes and a briefcase handle that needed stitching, and will also do leather jackets, and even renovate trainers etc. when they come apart.

-- Anne (info@ovalbooks.com), August 03, 2004.

Smoke alarm delays Ibiza passengers

Telegraph : Travel
Smoke alarm delays Ibiza passengers
By Jeremy Skidmore (Filed: 31/07/2004)
Ninety British passengers were delayed for more than 21 hours at Ibiza airport after an EasyJet flight to Stansted was forced to return when smoke was detected in the cabin.
The problem was caused by burning plastic from a microwaved food container and the Boeing 737, which originally left at 8pm, did not get clearance to fly again until 5pm the following day.
Passengers were initially kept at the airport while the problem was investigated. Some 40 were allowed, on a "first come, first served" basis, to switch to EasyJet's Ibiza-Gatwick flight which departed before midnight on Saturday, July 17.
The remaining passengers were told the flight had been rescheduled for midday on Sunday and they should book into a hotel, claim their expenses back from the airline and return to the airport the following day.
EasyJet guarantees to pay the overnight costs of passengers when it is forced to cancel a flight after 8pm - but it is not obliged to do so. Other no-frills airlines, such as Ryanair, make no such pledges.
The next morning, the 90 passengers suffered further delays before eventually leaving Ibiza but they received food and drinks vouchers. They have since been offered a free EasyJet flight.
Simon O'Donnell, 33, from Kennington, south London, said: "I know things can go wrong, but they should have had another aircraft instead of making us wait so long." He added that passengers did not know what was going on.
"EasyJet offered to pay our overnight accommodation," said Mr O'Donnell, "but there were families with children sleeping on the floor, which is unacceptable. I've been given credit towards another EasyJet flight, but I'll never travel with them again."
A spokeswoman for EasyJet said its policy of paying for overnight accommodation ensured it had many repeat passengers.
"When there is an incident involving smoke we have to check the aircraft thoroughly from top to bottom," she said. "We try to get passengers home as quickly as possible but at the height of summer we couldn't have flown another aircraft over until 7 o'clock the following night."
In peak season, few rooms were available in Ibiza and the airline could not make a block booking for the stranded passengers.
"We thought the most sensible approach was for people to find their own accommodation and we would reimburse the cost," the spokeswoman added.
EasyJet, which normally pays Ł50 a night in compensation, will consider larger claims in extreme circumstances such as these, provided passengers are being reasonable and can provide receipts.
"We gave people food and drinks vouchers on Sunday and the captain gave people several updates," the spokeswoman said. "A delay of that length is unfortunate, but we did all we could."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 31, 2004.

Archbishop makes a mark on community

Times
July 31, 2004
Archbishop makes a mark on community
Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, rolled up his sleeves and went to work with a brush and a pot of green paint, putting the finishing touches to a wooden arch at an adventure playground in Kennington, South London, yesterday.
Rowan Williams joined volunteers who had been working on the inner-city playground all week as part of the Soul in the City scheme, which involves thousands of young Christians from around Britain taking part in community projects across the capital.
Dr Williams met people taking part in the two-week initiative as well as the youth workers who run the playground.
Volunteers began renovating the site on Monday by painting, gardening and clearing away rubbish, aiming to make it safer, cleaner, and better-looking. A playground worker, Lorna Johnson said: “It makes the children that aren’t getting that care and attention at home feel that somebody is doing something for them.” Dr Williams also opened a newly landscaped garden and joined in activities at a children’s club in Pimlico, Central London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 31, 2004.

ArtsWeb - Visual arts, crafts and photography

Lambeth
ArtsWeb - Visual arts, crafts and photography
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/007466.pdf
Visual arts, photography, crafts. Exhibitions and events
Go to Page 6 for details of John Hoyland's photography exhibition in the Cafe in the Park in September
Released: 30 July, 2004 02:13
Filesize: 942kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 30, 2004.

Sports Newsletter - Summer 2004

Lambeth
Sports Newsletter - Summer 2004
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/newsletter/027015.pdf
Released: 29 July, 2004 10:05
Filesize: 201kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 30, 2004.

Cricket

Telegraph : Sport
Key's run of good luck ended by his captain
By Simon Briggs
(Filed: 26/07/2004)
If Laurel and Hardy had played cricket, they would probably have specialised in the sort of mid-pitch slapstick which yesterday left Rob Key glaring back at his captain, as if to say: "This is another fine mess…"
The contrasting figures – Michael Vaughan tall and thinning on top, Key more squarely built – made it easy to imagine the scene being played out in crackly black-and-white. As they hesitated over a tight single, Shivnarine Chanderpaul rushed in and threw down the stumps, putting an end both to Key's innings and to a week where everything – including the traffic on Kennington Road – had been going his way.
Key owed his opportunity here to outrageous fortune, expressed through Mark Butcher's car crash five minutes from the gates of the Oval. If his selection was an unexpected bonus, he could hardly have made any better use of it than by scoring 221 last week.
There was no room for complacency, though, as even a double-hundred was not guaranteed to keep him in the side. What would happen if Butcher reported fit for Edgbaston? When the selectors loaded their scales, how many runs would it take to outweigh three years of loyal service?
If Key was a little traumatised after his own accidental mix-up, relief was soon on its way. Within the hour, news was coming through from Guildford that Butcher would not, after all, be playing in Surrey's Totesport League match against Warwickshire. It was not his neck this time – he seems to have recovered from whiplash – but his earlier thigh injury, which had set the whole saga in motion when his rehab programme required a visit to the Surrey physio last Monday.
Remarkably, Butcher aggravated the thigh while moving boxes around his Croydon home. Perhaps the law of averages has caught up with him, after those 42 consecutive Tests, and he has suddenly become accident-prone. One gets the sense that if he saw an empty swimming pool at present, he would probably dive into it.
"I am thoroughly fed up," Butcher said. "I was just pottering around tidying up at home when I lifted a few boxes and felt it go. It felt like a dead leg. The irony is that the neck is a lot better." Butcher may still have a chance of making Surrey's day-night game against Northamptonshire tomorrow, but the selectors are unlikely to want to wait. They are due to announce the second Test squad today, and his latest misfortune has got them out of a terrible bind.
"What Rob Key has done is come in and play extremely well," Vaughan said last night. "If you're having headaches as a selection unit then it's a sign you've got a few good players to choose from, so I see that as a huge positive."
Vaughan was himself off the field for much of the final session after Brian Lara caught him at silly point with an off-drive that gashed his toe. But he needed no more than a few running repairs. At the end of the day, he will still have gone back to his room full of satisfaction, after scoring the first pair of matching hundreds in his first-class career.
In many ways, yesterday's unbeaten 101 was Vaughan's best one-day innings of the season. A week ago he was advised by two knowledgeable pundits, Mike Atherton and Geoff Boycott, to forget about style and score some ugly runs instead. But even they must have been shocked when he jumped outside the line and tickled a steady off-stump ball from Pedro Collins down to fine-leg for four.
This was a thrillingly irreverent stroke, unorthodox enough to appal the purists, and he followed it with three more thumping boundaries. As Vaughan reached out to pan the ball back past Collins, he briefly abandoned his natural image as the sepia-tinted classicist, stiff upper elbow pointing to the heavens.
If the assault was designed to pierce West Indian morale, it seemed to succeed. One of those crunching drives raced straight through Chris Gayle's legs, and as Andrew Flintoff joined Vaughan in a freewheeling stand of 92 from 69 balls, the fielders managed to contain them about as effectively as a damp paper bag.
At least one selectorial issue has been resolved: Vaughan has settled down at No 4. He now has three hundreds in as many innings against the West Indies, and is looking like the man the Australians ranked on a par with Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman.
The captaincy jinx has clearly left his batting. But his running still has a hint of Nasser Hussain.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 27, 2004.

Obituary : Jeillo Edwards

Obituary
Jeillo Edwards
African character actor whose range shone on the BBC World Service
Robin White
Tuesday July 27, 2004
The Guardian
Jeillo Edwards, who has died aged 61, was one of the leading African character actors of her time. Her range was enormous: venomous market women, long-suffering wives, sugar mammies, matriarchs, mothers-in-law, politicians and prostitutes.
Her opportunities to play African roles - as opposed to the Caribbean ones more generally available in Britain - came through the BBC World Service for Africa. For the past 40 years, its regular African Theatre series has broadcast new work by such writers as Wole Soyinka, Gcina Mhlope, Ola Rotimi, Simon Gitandi, Dr Ochieng Odero and Alem Mezgebe.
That was where I, as a producer, first met Jeillo, in 1980, and she was one of the most disciplined actors I ever came across. Well-prepared and punctual (often a little early), she was diligent during rehearsals and recordings - and she kept the rest of the cast in order. She was, at once, the peacemaker, the encourager, the enforcer.
Indeed, we rather exploited her. Because she was so adaptable, she always got the character parts - the hags and the bags. She was never cast as the one thing she craved to be, a juvenile lead. On radio, you do not have to be 16 and beautiful to be convincing as a young woman, but somehow it was always easier to give Jeillo the older parts, because she played them so well. She never quite got the roles and the fame that her talents deserved.
Auntie Jeillo, as just about everyone called her, was a very distinctive figure: short and on the large side of plump. When she smiled, which was most of the time, her teeth jutted out like a jumbled assortment of broken crockery, and her marvellous giggle would light up any gathering.
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, she came from a Krio-speaking family and went to the city's Annie Walsh Memorial school, the oldest girls' school in sub-Saharan African. Her parents were not keen on her performing ambitions, but she was not deterred. She got the acting bug at the age of four from giving a Bible reading, and never looked back.
She arrived in England in the 1950s, living first with relatives in Leeds, and then moving to London, where she studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Like most black actors, she had difficulty finding work, and what she did get were mostly walk-on caricatures. But she accepted anything that was offered with good grace, doing the best she could with few, often poorly written, lines.
In the early 1970s, she married a Ghanaian, Edward Clottey, and they had a daughter and two sons. She plunged herself into community life: Sierra Leone cultural groups, her local church in Kennington, south London, and being a school governor. A celebrated cook and ginger wine maker, she opened a restaurant - Auntie J's - in Brixton. Her speciality was the traditional west African Akara dish, based on black-eyed beans.
Meanwhile, the work began to come. An appearance in Dixon Of Dock Green in 1972 was followed by episodes of The Bill and Casualty. In the BBC2 drama documentary A Skirt Through History (1992), she played the freed slave Mary Prince, and in the Channel 4 drama Exile (1998), the mother of a deposed dictator.
In television comedy, she had cameo parts in Black Books, Red Dwarf, Little Britain, The League Of Gentlemen and Absolutely Fabulous. Her film credits included Beautiful Thing (1996) and Dirty Pretty Things (2002), as a hospital cleaner.
All this was achieved against the background of chronic kidney problems and dialysis, though Jeillo never discussed them with me. Instead, she would turn up to rehearse on time, on form, with the same brilliant smile.
Her husband and children survive her.
· Jeillo Angela Doris Clottey (Edwards), actor, born September 23 1942; died July 2 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 27, 2004.

Green garden waste collection for Lambeth residents

Lambeth
22 July 2004
Green garden waste collection for Lambeth residents

http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/026919.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 25, 2004.

Art in the heart of the community

Lambeth
Art in the heart of the community
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/026917.pdf
A group of local entrepreneurial graduates are to turn the foyer of a Lambeth council housing estate into a contemporary art gallery.
Released: 22 July, 2004 03:01
Filesize: 9kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 24, 2004.

Lambeth prosecutes two for benefit fraud

Lambeth
Lambeth prosecutes two for benefit fraud
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/026931.pdf
Lambeth Council has prosecuted a former benefit officer and a local resident for benefit fraud in two separate cases.
Released: 23 July, 2004 12:54
Filesize: 11kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 24, 2004.

North Lambeth Area Committee Minutes 14.07.04

Lambeth
North Lambeth Area Committee Minutes 14.07.04
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/026934.pdf
Released: 23 July, 2004 02:26
Filesize: 35kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 24, 2004.

Holland alert

South London Press
Holland alert
Jul 23 2004
MY FAMILY ancestors lived in Bermondsey from the mid-1800s and Lambeth from 1900 to the 1960s, at least.
There were many of them and hopefully some of their descendants may read this letter in which case I would be delighted to hear from any of them.
I am particularly interested in the Hollands who lived in Pownell Terrace, Kennington.
Patrick Holland.
Perth, Western Australia
lambeth@it.net.au

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 23, 2004.

Passengers terrified in bus ambush

South London Press
Passengers terrified in bus ambush
Jul 20 2004
By Chris Pragnell
SCREAMING bus passengers thought they were being shot at when louts hurled a brick and bottles through the wind-screen to "teach the driver a lesson".
Witnesses dived for cover under the seats as three youths ambushed the N159 night bus near Kennington Park.
Miraculously, the driver, in his 20s, suffered only minor cuts despite being showered with glass.
Passengers said the gang tried to sneak onto the double-decker late at night in central London but were caught by the driver.
It is thought the thugs either hailed a cab or caught a later N3 bus and were able to overtake the N159.
Brian Reid, 28, was waiting to get off the bus at the Southern end of Kennington Road early yesterday morning.
"Suddenly there were these massive cracks and the sound of breaking glass," he said. "People thought it was a drive-by shooting at first. "Then I saw the driver crouching in his cabin covered in glass.
"He was pretty shaken but seemed okay. The brick could have killed him."
Mr Reid said: "They must have been hiding and waiting to ambush him. They must have been trying to teach the driver a lesson." The attack, at 12.30am, has been condemned by bosses at Arriva buses.
Dave Jones, commercial support manager for Arriva London, said: "We are working with police to try to apprehend and prosecute those responsible and will be providing CCTV footage to them. "Our driver was unhurt but shocked by the incident."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 21, 2004.

JET'S TEA MACHINE GROUNDS BRIT FLIGHT

Mirror
JET'S TEA MACHINE GROUNDS BRIT FLIGHT
Jul 19 2004
By Emma Britton
A JET packed with British holidaymakers heading home from Ibiza made an emergency return to the airport when passengers smelt smoke from a coffee and tea machine onboard.
The Stansted-bound easyJet flight was in the air for less than an hour when the pilot announced it would be turning back.
About 40 passengers were transferred to another flight after the incident on Saturday night, but another 80 were delayed for over 20 hours as checks were carried out on the Boeing 737.
They were told to find a hotel for the evening, but many were unable to.
Simon O'Connell, 33, from Kennington, South-East London, said: "There was a smell of fire on the plane and we had to come back to Ibiza. We were stuck for 21 hours which is just shocking.
"After we took off there was a smell of acrid burning rubber through the cabin. We spent four hours at the terminal before they said we should go and find a hotel for the night.
"Then when we came back at 11am they kept us waiting for hours again."
Colin Hill, 61, from Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, said his daughter-in-law, with her two-year-old child, searched all night for a place to stay.
EasyJet spokeswoman Samantha Day said: "There was a smell of smoke from the galley area which is thought to have come from the tea and coffee-making equipment but there was no fire.
"Passengers were told to come back at 11am Sunday morning but we were still carrying out checks and they flew at 5.20pm.
"The captain and crew came out every hour with information and vouchers for food and drink."
EasyJet is refunding the flight cost and hotel bill.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 19, 2004.

Beckett cashes in on housing allowance loophole

Times
July 18, 2004
Beckett cashes in on housing allowance loophole
Gareth Walsh
THE environment secretary, Margaret Beckett, is claiming a Commons housing allowance while renting out her London home and living in a grace-and-favour apartment.
Beckett, who left her Westminster flat for the free government accommodation, is pocketing rent from her former home while claiming expenses for a second house that she owns in her constituency. She is taking advantage of a loophole in the rules that allows ministers who use official accommodation to rent out their London properties while claiming an allowance for homes in their constituencies.
Beckett declined to say this weekend how much she claimed from the Commons, but the maximum figure permitted is nearly Ł21,000 a year.
The payment, called the additional costs allowance (ACA), is intended to cover the expenses of MPs who have homes and constituencies outside London but must live in the capital while the Commons is sitting. It can be used to pay interest on a mortgage — but not to pay back the capital from it — as well as to pay utility bills and essential maintenance costs, to buy furniture and to pay for television licences.
Beckett bought the leasehold on her one-bedroom Westminster flat in November 1987. The property, which it is believed she has let to a Home Office civil servant, is in a 10-storey pebbledash block behind the Labour party’s former Millbank headquarters. It is thought to be worth at least Ł220,000 and has access to an underground car park.
It is described by local estate agents as “situated within the division bell”, meaning it is in easy reach for voting in the Commons. Beckett and her husband Leo also own a detached cottage in her Derby constituency. For this she claims running costs from the taxpayer.
With no mortgage to pay on her Derby home and almost no living costs in London, Beckett is free to pocket the estimated Ł12,000-a-year rent from her Westminster flat.
The Green Book, the official pay and allowances guide for MPs, warns that they can claim only for “those additional costs wholly, exclusively and necessarily incurred” when working away from their main home. Ministers’ main homes are always considered to be in London. MPs can lose thousands of pounds in allowances if they claim for a property but then let any part of it to tenants.
This does not catch Beckett because the house she is renting out is not the same one for which she is claiming expenses. Although by living in grace-and-favour homes ministers lose an annual Ł1,618 London salary supplement, they can still claim up to the maximum Ł20,902-a-year in ACA.
Beckett’s government flat is in Admiralty House, Whitehall, and would be worth an estimated Ł161,000 a year on the rental market. Other ministers in the building include Geoff Hoon, the defence secretary and John Prescott, the deputy prime minister. Hoon, MP for Ashfield in Nottinghamshire, also owns a house in Kennington, south London, for which he receives rental income.
Other senior politicians with constituencies outside London and government homes in the capital include Tony Blair (who sold his London home), David Blunkett, the home secretary, and Michael Martin, the Commons Speaker. Blunkett, a Sheffield MP, owns a house in Wimbledon, southwest London, but rents his property out while living in his official residence in Pimlico, central London.
A spokesman for Beckett said: “Mrs Beckett claims her entitlement under the ACA scheme and has complied strictly with Green Book guidance.”
MPs’ expenses claims for the past three years are due to be published in October under new freedom of information rules.
A spokesman for Martin said this weekend: “He is under no obligation to make public whether he does or he does not (claim ACA).”
Martin states in the current register of members’ interests that a Westminster flat he owns with his wife Mary is “not let for rent”. He is currently the subject of controversy over parliamentary payments to Mary for constituency work. Some Commons officials are reported to have voiced concerns she does too little work for her money.
A spokesman for Jack Straw said that, although the foreign secretary has an official London residence in Carlton Gardens, off Pall Mall, he does not live there but at his family home in Kennington.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2004.

Property

Observer Property
Make me an offer
Ben Flanagan
Sunday July 18, 2004
1. The Almonry, Stogumber, Somerset
Six former almshouses believed to have been built in 1666 have been rolled into one here. Outlines of the original front doors - four now bricked up - are visible. Interior walls have been removed to create a double-height reception room with a galleried landing and large fireplace. There's a second reception room, two bedrooms upstairs and a cute terraced garden with thatched gazebo.
Agent: Jackson-Stops & Staff (01823 325144)
2. Cottages at The Bury, Astwood, Buckinghamshire
This row of houses lies derelict but represents a great, if challenging, restoration opportunity. Planning permission is in place to convert the four grade II-listed cottages into two homes (with nine bedrooms in total), and to transform a detached barn into an office or annexe. The buyer will have to spend about Ł300,000 on restoration, but it may well be worth it given the rural location and 10 acres of gardens and pastureland. A downside is the electricity pylon in the grounds, 40 metres from the cottages - though this is reflected in the guide price.
Agent: Jackson-Stops & Staff (01604 632991)
3. The Fire Station, Kennington, London
This former fire station served the Kennington area until 1929 but has now been converted into 23 apartments. The old watch tower forms an impressive communal roof terrace with panoramic views over the capital. An apartment on the top floor of the former ladder store is currently on the market. It has a vaulted reception room, its own private decked roof terrace and two double bedrooms. Just inside London's congestion charging zone, the area is well-served by Kennington and Elephant and Castle Underground stations.
Agent: Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward (020 7582 7773)
1 Ł395,000 2 Ł375,000-475,000 3 Ł400,000
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2004.

Talking Cricket: Caribbean flavour is missing ingredient from Twenty20

Telegraph : Sport
Talking Cricket: Caribbean flavour is missing ingredient from Twenty20
By Simon Hughes
(Filed: 17/07/2004)
Thursday night at Lord's was the ultimate vindication of the Twenty20. Elderly members, cricket anoraks, gaggles of city blokes, women in bias-cut dresses, students, couples and families mingled contendedly in the packed stands, sipping drinks and eating crisps and enjoying the pyrotechnics of the players on a balmy summer evening. They hummed along to the amplified strains of MC Hammer's U Can't Touch This, commemorating an extravagant Mark Ramprakash boundary through the lengthening shadows of the 19th century pavilion – ancient and modern juxtaposed.
The best thing about the Twenty20 is that no one says anything negative about it. It's a celebration of all that's good about cricket:drama, speed, skill, athleticism, bonhomie – while removing all that's bad about it: time- wasting, boring play, impenetrability, selfishness. Essentially, championship cricket is for the players, Twenty20 is for the public. "What d'you reckon?" said one wag. "After the success of this they could create a Forty40 brand, maybe even a five-day version."
There was one ingredient missing – Afro-Caribbean players. Middlesex's Paul Weekes and Ramprakash, who is mixed race, were the only players on show of even vaguely West Indian origin. In the equivalent Middlesex v Surrey fixture of the mid- 1980s there would have been eight such players. Surrey had Monte Lynch and two West Indian pace bowlers, and the nucleus of the Middlesex side that I played in through that era was black. Wilf Slack, Roland Butcher, Neil Williams and Norman Cowans were all born in the Caribbean but came to England as youngsters; the Barbadian Wayne Daniel was the county's overseas player. Together they were known affectionately as the Jackson Five, which after Daniel's departure and Slack's tragic death, became the Three Degrees.
Not only were they the fulcrum of the team but they had a significant and vocal Caribbean following in the crowd. Still-warm West Indian rotis went to the dressing room on a regular basis. All but Daniel went on to play for England, who sometimes had five players of West Indian origin in the team. Thursday night was a stark reminder of how that situation has changed. The last cricketer of Afro-Caribbean stock to play Tests for England was Alex Tudor, in the late 1990s regarded as the great black hope, but instead of strutting his stuff for Surrey at Lord's, now languishing in the county's second team and impressing more as a batsman than a bowler. What's more there is no sign anywhere of a successor to Tudor. He could be the last of the lineage.
With the Test series against the West Indies imminent, the current issue of Wisden Cricketer examines this development. It first dawned on me during the winter, when in Grenada with an old England XI featuring Devon Malcolm, Phillip DeFreitas and Syd Lawrence. They were part of a veritable battalion of black fast bowlers that England had at their disposal, including Gladstone Small and Chris Lewis, as well as Cowans and Williams. Lawrence, the charging rhino reduced by chronic knee injuries to a lumbering buffalo, laments the change.
"My father came from Jamaica. Cricket was in the blood. Though I was born here I was brought up with it. In the 1970's the new immigrants from the Caribbean were seeking an identity. When the West Indian team came over here there was an obvious link. Those players were our heroes. I wanted to bowl fast because I saw Michael Holding do it.
"Now things have moved on. The black fathers of the new generation were born in England. Their kids feel hardly any association with the Caribbean or with cricket. Football is the craze, where the money and prestige is. There were hardly any black footballers in the 1970s, now they're everywhere. They're the role models." A fact underlined by the summer predominance of football and total absence of cricket in the playgrounds of Brixton, Camberwell and Kennington, adjacent to The Oval.
"The Voice [Britain's Black newspaper, featuring news and views with a Caribbean slant] is really struggling to get British-born readers. Its being overtaken by The Vibe, an American, hip-hop-based music magazine. Britain's black music scene is huge. Sport is getting marginalised. The thing most black kids want to be now is DJs and producers."
There are other theories for the trend too, such as the Warwickshire keeper Keith Piper's assertion that "cricket still treats you like kids, whereas in football, because you earn millions, you're treated like men".
The downturn in West Indies' own fortunes could also have something to do with it. Ultimately though, it's a cultural thing, exemplified by DeFreitas' experience. As an 11-year-old, he went to the same school as Chris Lewis, Willesden High School, in a north London suburb with a high black contingent. It is the only state school in modern Britain to have produced two England cricketers.
"There was a pitch at the back of the classrooms, and that's where Chris and I first learnt to play,'' said DeFreitas.
Ten years ago, the cricket field was looking unkempt. Now it has gone completely – to be replaced by an synthetic turf football pitch. "Cricket's not on the school's agenda," said the head of PE. "We do athletics, basketball, football but no cricket. We haven't got anywhere to play and there isn't a lot of interest."
A candid summary of the young Black Briton's attitude to cricket, Twenty20 or no Twenty20.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 17, 2004.

Brosnan junior in rehab

The Sun
Saturday, July 17, 2004
Brosnan junior in rehab
By GARY O’SHEA
THE son of 007 star Pierce Brosnan checked into rehab on Friday — days after his arrest over mobile phone thefts at a celebrity haunt.
Christopher Brosnan, 34, was chauffeur driven to the Ł500-a-day clinic.
He emerged from a people carrier with sister Charlotte and entered Life Works in Old Woking, Surrey.
Film boss Christopher can now expect to join yoga and meditation classes with up to 23 other people as they battle their demons.
He has had a well-known problem with drugs and booze for years and in 2002 nearly died after overdosing on dance drug GHB.
Christopher was arrested at trendy Chinawhite nightclub in London’s West End on Wednesday on suspicion of handling stolen phones.
Cops then realised he had not answered bail after he was held over an alleged bag theft at Victoria coach station in April. Christopher, who has given a DNA sample, is due back at Kennington police station in August.
Pierce, 51, adopted Christopher and Charlotte, 30, after wedding their mum Cassandra Harris. She died of cancer in 1991.
The actor, who lives in Los Angeles with second wife Keely Shaye Smith, has worked alongside Christopher on Bond movies including The World Is Not Enough.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 17, 2004.

The grandmother of all beauty pageants

The grandmother of all beauty pageants
Jul 16 2004
By Zara Bishop
South London Press
BEAUTIES with stunning looks and a captivating personality have been invited to put themselves forward for a beauty pageant.
But instead of bikini-clad young girls, organisers are looking for glamorous grannies.
A group of friends - Felicia Benjamin, Lynette Albert, Lisa Paul and Sharon Abdulla - decided to stage the event.
They want fun-loving contestants to get dressed up to the nines and strut their stuff on the catwalk.
There is no age restriction - the only rule is you must have grandchildren.
Miss Benjamin, 41, from Kennington, who works as a sales assistant, said: "There are a lot of things for young people to do but there is nothing much going on for that age group.
"Lots of grannies are glamorous, outgoing and have bubbly personalities.
"Come on ladies, show the world grandmothers can be sexy too."
The glitzy night will be held at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton on September 18.
For the first part of the competition, entrants will be asked to wear traditional dress which represents their nationality.
The next stage will involve glamming up in evening wear and doing something a little special with their hair and make-up.
A panel of judges will have the difficult task of choosing a winner.
To enter, call Miss Benjamin on 020 7793 8633 or 07903 916207.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 16, 2004.

Pervert drugs woman's drink

Pervert drugs woman's drink
Jul 16 2004
South London Press
A PERVERT who spiked a woman's glass of liqueur has been jailed for two years.
The 28-year-old victim from Kennington thought Michael Bennett, 41, was being friendly when he bought her a mini-bottle.
But the twisted pervert sprinkled the drug into the liquid and waited for the woman to pass out.
But in the early hours of October 28, 2002, she woke to find Bennett kneeling by her bed and groping her under her pyjamas. She confronted him and he apologised, claiming to be drunk.
The woman told Inner London Crown Court: "He was kneeling down and touching me between my legs, his hand was moving."
After throwing him out of the house, the woman then went to her GP where she tested positive for temazepam.
She called police who tested two glasses and two empty bottles of the liqueur.
All four tested positive for the drug. Bennett was arrested on January 8 this year during a routine traffic stop in Southwark.
A jury of six men and six women took three hours to convict Bennett on Wednesday.
Bennett was found guilty of indecent assault and administering a drug with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He was cleared of administering a drug with intent to stupefy in order to obtain sexual intercourse.
Bennett, from Boston Parade, Boston Manor, Hanwell, west London, has also been ordered to register as a sex offender.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 16, 2004.

Nightclub arrest of 007's son

Telegraph : News in brief
(Filed: 15/07/2004)
Nightclub arrest of 007's son
The adopted son of the James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has been arrested in connection with the theft of mobile phones from a London nightclub.
Christopher Brosnan, 32, was held by security staff at Chinawhite.
Police arrived at the nightclub at 3am yesterday and took the film producer to a central London police station. He was held in custody after it was found he had failed to answer bail following his arrest in April for theft and handling stolen goods at Victoria coach station.
Yesterday afternoon he was taken to Kennington Road police station in south London and released on bail. He was ordered to return on Aug 12.
Christopher and his sister Charlotte, 30, were adopted by Brosnan after he married their mother Cassandra Harris, who died of cancer in 1991.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 15, 2004.

Pretty Boy returns to the White Bear

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 12 July 2004
Pretty Boy returns to the White Bear
After its sold-out world premiere in June of this year, Pretty Boy, Sam Hall’s new romantic comedy about face values returns to the White Bear for a three week run. Jake Marmora, Hollywood action hero, wakes up at an exclusive clinic after his ‘accident’. He is captivated by the mysterious ‘Other Patient’, but what dark secret in her background of privilege and excesses has brought her there? In this fantasy world it’s easy to imagine they can be together. But three years later, when the role-playing is over - do they really think they can finish what they started? As is the case with many Hollywood blockbuster movies of the type Jim has starred in, Pretty Boy has two different endings, unusually, the audience gets to see both.
The play runs Tuesdays to Saturdays: 10–14 / 24-28 August 2004 – 7.30pm, 17-21 August 2004 – 9pm, Sunday matinees: 15 / 29 August 2004 – 4pm, 22 August 2004 – 6pm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 14, 2004.

Food & Drink: Reviews

Independent > Home > Enjoyment > Food & Drink > Reviews
Deya, London W1
By Richard Johnson
10 July 2004
When are you too fat? When blinking leaves you winded? When you can gain, say, 100lbs without anybody noticing? I've been worrying ever since I ate at Deya, Sir Michael Caine's new Indian restaurant on Portman Square. Not one of London's prettiest squares - in fact, rather a mean little square that's forever choked with traffic. But Deya itself is an airy, elegant sort of place favoured by the beautiful people. And that makes it all the more humiliating - being too fat for my chair.
So I perched. And read the menu. I wanted to take the back roads, and steer clear of the tired tourist sites. I wanted to visit a different India. But, at first glance, the Deya menu appeared to offer up nothing new. Not that I would have minded a well-executed classic - a rogan josh or a butter chicken. And when I heard that the chef was using his French influence to do away with ghee, heavy oils and cream, I got very excited. Especially with a bum the size of mine.
The first sign of the Indian lite approach was the bucket of grilled - or baked - poppadoms. They were too dry. No amount of spicy apple chutney could make up for that. But the vegetarian and non-vegetarian tasting menus (Ł32 and Ł35, respectively, including wine) still looked good value for money. Until the crab rice arrived, with no discernible crab, and squid that tasted like pork scratchings. My cauliflower pakora was floury and limp, not crisp and clean. And the cauliflower soup, although tempered with fennel seeds, was too creamy.
Things got better, with an exemplary chicken tikka. The meat was tender, and tasted as if it had been cooked in a wood oven over charcoal rather than in a tandoor. And the red snapper was every bit as succulent, in its marinade of red chillies, ginger and carom seeds. But neither the chicken nor the snapper surprised me on the plate. We're inclined to think of India as poor, but in Madras you can buy three different kinds of radish - and carrots that are yellow. Why didn't Deya reflect any of that diversity?
The vegetable dumplings sounded exciting - a spinach, pea and green bean mash, enriched with paneer and smoked pine kernels. They should have been anything but bland. But there was no flavour, except of curry powder. The British curry began with the crews who worked the colonial P&O ferries from India. When they set up restaurants in Britain, they used a "one-curry sauce" made from imported paste. The intricacies of Indian cooking didn't really feature. At Deya, I'm afraid to say, it seemed that little had changed.
In India, a good biryani is served in a clay pot sealed with dough. When you raise the lid, the smell should hit you - all butter and spices, followed by the subtle aroma of basmati rice. But, in Britain, biryanis are too often bland. And Deya's crusted wild mushroom biryani was no exception. Except that it came with a pastry top. A biryani pie, if you will. Which was a shame. And when I cut into the pastry, the aromas simply weren't there. The chef had somehow managed to adulterate wild mushrooms.
I washed down dinner with a lassi. As it turns out, with good reason. The spices in curry are soluble in fat - not in water. So, after something spicy, water does no good at all. But a full-fat lassi cools the mouth wonderfully. As does a raita, and a buttery naan. My guest stuck with the wine. Indian food and wine make a great match. It's just inhibition that makes people fearful. It's actually more difficult to match wines with Thai or Indonesian cuisine, because of their sweet-sour and creamy base.
It's an Indian tradition to write Om on the baby's tongue with a finger dipped in honey. Om means "I am" - it's a nice image to illustrate that, in a metaphysical as well as a culinary sense, you are what you eat. There are lots of places that understand the new Indian cuisine - there's Tamarind, The Cinnamon Club, and The Painted Heron. I wouldn't put Deya up there with them. My opinion had nothing to do with the numbness of my bum, perched on the edge of a dining chair for two hours. I'm a bigger man than that. Much, much bigger. E
Deya Bar And Restaurant, 34 Portman Square, London W1 020-7224 0028
SECOND HELPINGS: THE STARS OF INDIA
By Caroline Stacey
The Painted Heron
New branch of the Chelsea star with a daily changing menu of outstanding food. Poised for Whitehall overspill; power hungry chaps do love luxury Indian food - just look at The Cinnamon Club.
205-209 Kennington Lane, London SE11 (020-7793 8313)
4550 Miles from Delhi
One of Nottingham's top spots: an eye-catchingly modish venue with as much emphasis on atmos and design as on Punjabi cooking that's rich, meaty and spicy.
41 Mount Street, Nottingham (0115 947 5111)
Lasan
This is a long way from balti country. Sub-continental cooking rises above the rest, especially with original veggie dishes such as green papaya in a lentil purée.
3-4 Dakota Buildings, Birmingham (0121 212 3664)
9 Cellars
As many rooms as a cat has lives, and purring with sophistication. The menu's short, the dishes from all over India. Goan fish curry and pork vindaloo as you've never tasted them.
1-3 York Place, Edinburgh (0131 557 9899)
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2004.

Spoiled by choice

Telegraph : Money
Spoiled by choice
(Filed: 10/07/2004)
You can have too much of a good thing and many people find the vast array of unit trusts makes it difficult to choose one.
Belinda Gordon wants her savings to do well but that was not her main criterion when she invested in the Virgin FTSE 100 tracker fund.
She said: "I would rather have something straightforward and easy to understand even if I do not make as much money as I might elsewhere. My mother invested in the Virgin tracker and also had her pension with Virgin and was very pleased.
"One of the problems for someone like me with limited knowledge of stocks and shares and investments generally is that there seems almost too much choice."
Ms Gordon, who is a civil servant, initially invested Ł1,600 of last year's Isa allowance in the fund and then topped it up with a further Ł500.
She said: "The literature from the company was very easy to understand and made it clear that this investment was not for the short term and would only perform in line with the FTSE 100.
"This was a little money that I found I had left at the end of each month. I am not looking to cash in the investment for at least five or 10 years. Then it might help with the deposit on a house."
At present, Ms Gordon owns her own flat in Kennington, south London, but sees herself as a country girl and would prefer to live outside London.
"To be honest I still act a bit as if I am a visitor to London: taking advantage of the theatre and tourist attractions. But my real enjoyment still comes from walks in the countryside."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2004.

Sierra Leone star dies

BBC News
Sierra Leone star dies
By Alice Martin
BBC African Performance
The Sierra Leonean actress Jeillo Edwards has passed away.
She will be remembered for her distinctive voice and imperious enunciation.
For four decades Jeillo performed on British television, radio, stage and films, most recently in the internationally acclaimed Dirty Pretty Things.
She was a regular on the BBC World Service, especially during the African Performance seasons.
One of her recent appearances on British TV was for the police drama The Bill, which echoes her very first role on British television in Dixon of Dock Green following her arrival in the UK during the 1960s.
She was the first African on the programme which was filmed in black and white and which still holds the record (21 years) for the UK's longest running police drama.
Word-perfect
On radio, Jeillo will be remembered as Cash Madam, the cool rich sugar mummy with young lovers, whose pet phrase was "no sweat only perspiration".
Drama director Fiona Ledger who worked closely with Jeillo remembers that "she was always in demand not only because of her tremendous skills but also because of her good humour and good will which permeated every production."
Jeillo Edwards was born in Malta Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1942.
Her earliest memory of performing was as a four-year-old, standing in for a nervous cousin in a church.
She read from the Bible, Mark chapter 12:17, which begins:
"Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar, and the things that are God's unto God".
It was a word-perfect performance and she never had any problems learning lines after that.
She left Freetown in 1960 for Britain, eventually settling in Kennington, south London where the family home remains.
Jeillo became central to the local community involving herself in women's groups, church, school, family and friends.
As a teenager Jeillo had been to the Annie-Walsh Memorial school in Sierra Leone, like her mother and grand-mother before her.
Until her death she was still a vibrant member of the school's old-girl network.
In 1970 Jeillo married Ghanaian Edmund Clottey and they went on to have children and grand-children.
Their home became a focal point for the extended family, where she cooked for friends and relatives and she ran a large catering business as well.
For a few years Jeillo also ran a restaurant in Brixton, south London, known by the name given to her by everyone who knew her: Aunty J.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/africa/3880165.stm Published: 2004/07/09 14:22:23 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2004.

Traffic wardens in gun terror

Traffic wardens in gun terror
Jul 9 2004
South London Press
TWO terrified traffic wardens were threatened with a gun and told they would be shot for issuing a parking ticket.
The wardens were patrolling the streets when a gunman approached them and asked if they had put a ticket on his car.
He told the petrified wardens he was going to shoot them with his black handgun if they had.
The armed thug struck in Kennington, as the wardens began their morning shift.
The gunman approached a female warden in Langley Lane, and showed her a black handgun, tucked in his waistband.
He asked if the terrified attendant had given him a parking ticket and said he would shoot her if she had.
The frightened parking attendant told the man she had not issued any tickets in the area and he left to track down other wardens.
He then came across a male parking attendant and after showing him the long-barrelled handgun, tucked in his trousers, made an identical threat.
He then warned that the warden would be shot if he returned to the area to issue parking tickets.
The terrified wardens left the scene and police were called. Armed officers swooped on the area but the gunman had disappeared.
Lambeth police are investigating the incident which occurred around 8.30am last Friday. The wardens have both been offered counselling.
Control Plus, Lambeth council's parking contractor, is said to be considering issuing stab vests to all of its wardens to improve their personal security.
A spokeswoman for Control Plus told the South London Press: "Following the recent serious incident, Control Plus followed protocol and informed the emergency services.
"We are co-operating with the police on this matter. Violence or threat of violence is a real problem which we take very seriously."
The gunman is described as black, in his 30s, 5ft 8in tall, with a large Afro hairstyle. Anyone who may have information regarding the incident should call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2004.

'Yo bro, nice bling, innit'

'Yo bro, nice bling, innit'
Jul 9 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
SOUTH London slang hit the headlines this week after it was reported a headteacher had banned it from his classrooms.
Headteacher of Lilian Baylis School Gary Phillips rubbished reports that pupils were being punished for using popular street talk such as "dat" and "innit" but said instead they were corrected.
Mr Phillips said staff at the Kennington school have noticed the standard of English used by pupils in exams was not as high as hoped and had held youngsters back from getting good grades.
He said: "Every child in South London speaks some version of South London slang. In class, if they are explaining work to each other they can explain it as they normally would.
"But when they are doing a presentation, taking part in a question and answer session, or talking to the whole class, children have to use formal English."
However, Mr Phillips emphasised pupils were not punished for using slang but rather prompted to use Standard English. The teacher will write the offending word such as "dat" on the board and explain what it should be.
Mr Phillips added: "You can't punish children for using what, to them, is almost their mother tongue."
There are 42 languages spoken at Lilian Baylis, including Portuguese, Yoruba and Somalian.
Some of the street talk has its origins in other languages such as Jamaican patois.
But Mr Phillips explained: "Most of the kids could not tell you its origin - it is South London youth talk.
"Children who have recently migrated from the Caribbean have very good formal language - they are taught it at school. Children who have grown up here in South London have never known anything else."
He also highlighted that children needed to be aware that they should use Standard English while on work placements or at interviews for college or jobs.
Parent Ricky Rennalls, who has a 14 year-old son at Lilian Baylis, said: "It is, of course, correct that children should communicate appropriately when they are doing exams or writing essays but at the same time we need to recognise an evolving urban language is part of our celebrated cultural diversity."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2004.

Young Vic rehoused in TV studio

BBC News
Young Vic rehoused in TV studio
The Young Vic theatre company has found a new temporary home at television studios previously used to film Michael Barrymore's My Kind of Music.
Artistic director David Lan said ITV London had given it the south London studios "practically for nothing".
The company will use the studios, in Kennington, as a base while the theatre in nearby Waterloo is restored.
The studios also hosted the first series of Pop Idol and Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right.
The Ł12.5m restoration of the Young Vic's YV auditorium and the reconstruction of the building - to include a new 140-seat studio theatre - is set to cost Ł12.5m and take two years.
During this period, the theatre is planning a "Walkabout" season, taking its productions on tour around the UK, Europe and the US from 19 July.
The programme will include a new production of acclaimed community opera Tobias and the Angel and Rufus Norris' dark classic, Sleeping Beauty.
Essential move
The company will have the use of five rehearsal studios and a suite of offices at the Kennington Park studios, to be used for administration and pre-production work and for the company's collaboration with young directors.
Mr Lan said the move was essential for the company's survival: "If we don't rebuild, our theatre will disappear."
The theatre has mounted a star-studded campaign to raise the money needed to pay for the restoration, headed by actor Jude Law.
So far, the campaign has raised 85% of the money, with Ł1.5m still to find.
Other backers include Joseph Fiennes, Prunella Scales and author Gitta Sereny.
Mr Lan said he said he was "delighted" with the level of support the campaign had attracted.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/3877467.stm Published: 2004/07/08 15:01:58 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 09, 2004.

Roots and Shoots Open Evening, 21st July

Roots and Shoots Open Evening, 21st July, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
in aid of the National Garden Scheme (Gardens open for charity)
Explore our beautiful wildlife garden ‘an oasis in central London’ and enjoy a glass of wine under our new oak Apple Shed.
- Take a tour of the wildlife garden with our wildlife expert.
- bedding plants available from our plant nursery.
- local london honey for sale (we are the headquarters for London Beekeepers association).
Entrance Fee: Ł2.50 (including a glass of wine).
Contact details:
Roots and Shoots
Fitzalan Street,
London, SE11 6DN
Tel: 020 7587 1131

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2004.

ITV gives new home to Young Vic

ITV gives new home to Young Vic
Maddy Costa
Thursday July 8, 2004
The Guardian
The Young Vic has found a new home in the television studios that once hosted Michael Barrymore's My Kind of Music, Bruce Forsyth's Play Your Cards Right and the first series of Pop Idol. Yesterday artistic director David Lan announced that ITV London is giving the Young Vic a suite of five large rehearsal studios and office space in Kennington Park, south London, "pretty much for free". The Young Vic will stay here for two years while its home, in nearby Waterloo, undergoes extensive renovation.
Lan is the first to recognise how lucky the theatre has been in attracting support. Jude Law joined early as patron of the fundraising campaign, and a raft of actors - including Patrick Stewart, Brian Cox, Brenda Blethyn and Prunella Scales - have contributed considerably to the Ł11.5m raised so far. However, the ITV London partnership is unusually fortuitous. "The rehearsal rooms are much coveted," says Lan. "They've been used in the past by film companies and big shows like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mamma Mia; LWT game shows have also rehearsed there. When Clive Jones - head of news at ITV London, and a member of theYoung Vic board for the past 18 months - heard what we needed, he suggested we might be able to use these rooms. In fact, they've been given to us pretty much for free."
The Young Vic will use this space to rehearse all its touring productions as part of the two-year "Walkabout" season, including revivals of Lan's own production of A Raisin in the Sun, starring Lennie James, and Rufus Norris's Christmas show Sleeping Beauty, which appears at the Barbican in London before travelling to New York.
With another Ł1m to be raised, Lan is hoping that this presence in the States will encourage international donations. But he is also "surprised, thrilled and delighted" by the level of support already received. "There are a lot of people trying to do shows in London," he says. "It's brilliant that people think of us as being particularly valuable."
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2004.

Scheme to ban slang in classroom

BBC News
Scheme to ban slang in classroom
A school is taking part in a pilot government scheme to ban slang words in the classroom.
If a pupil at Lilian Baylis School in Kennington, south London, uses slang the teacher corrects it on the board and gives the standard English phrase.
They then put a tick next to the slang each time it is repeated to show how often students slip into the habit.
Head Gary Phillips says pupils need to be proficient in both spoken and written forms of English to pass exams.
He does not mind slang used in the playground but not in the classroom.
A spokesman from the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) said: "Schools need to respect the integrity of the languages pupils bring with them.
"They must therefore allow the expression of such languages and use these languages as a tool in their teaching.
"However, in order to pass their exams, pupils need to be proficient in both the spoken and written forms of Standard English and this must be taught."
US comedian Bill Cosby, who has been a critic of black people's use of slang, has backed the campaign.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3871911.stm
Published: 2004/07/07 05:34:59 GMT
© BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 07, 2004.

ARE WE LIVING IN A NANNY STATE?

Mirror
ARE WE LIVING IN A NANNY STATE?
Claire Donnelly And Nick Webster
From the number of bananas we eat to the heat of our bath water - the government influences almost every moment of our lives.
Just yesterday the House of Lords debated a change in the law on smacking children, and doctors lobbied Blair for a ban on smoking in public places. Some of the legislation is vital, but much is simply common sense.
So are we living in a nanny state?
To find out, CLAIRE DONNELLY and NICK WEBSTER chronicle a day in the life of a fictional British family - a married thirty-something couple with a teenage daughter and schoolboy son - who follow the government's very real advice to the letter.
7:00am
AT their home in Kennington, South London, mum Jane, 38, is preparing breakfast for husband, Mark, 39, and their children, Amy, 13 and Robert, six.
She is busy knocking up a fresh fruit salad and freshly squeezed orange juice to give the family two of the five daily portions of fruit and veg the government recommends to prevent cancers and heart disease.
7:30am
DAD Mark, a lawyer, has a quick shower. No chance of him being scalded thanks to a thermostat control they had fitted - recommended by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
8:00am
JANE is getting ready for work as a secretary in the City. She went back to work when Robert started school, encouraged by the Government's Tax Credit system for working mums.
8:15am
MARK is chewing nicotine gum as he sets off for the Tube - he's used public transport since London's congestion charge was introduced - after taking Health Secretary John Reid's advice and quitting smoking. Since 1997, the government has spent Ł31million on anti-smoking campaigns.
8:30am
AMY insists on walking Robert to his primary school, before she heads for her own classroom at the nearby comprehensive. She knows the government wants 70 per cent of Britons participating in regular physical activity by 2020.
8:45am
JANE picks up a work colleague. They are part of Liftshare, a car pool initiative set up in response to government aims to cut congestion and reduce emissions. Encouraged by the Department of Transport's THINK! campaign she also switches off her mobile phone before getting into the vehicle.
11:00am
LIKE all four to six-year-olds in his area, Robert is given another piece of fruit, free, at school. With 15 per cent of all 15-year-olds and 8.5 per cent of six-year-olds now obese, the government promotes healthy eating.
12:30pm
AFTER a morning of meetings, Mark heads to the company gym for a 30-minute workout, then nips to a nearby deli for a healthy green salad and fruit juice.
He is aware of the government's warnings that 24 million adults are clinically obese and that the problem will cost the NHS an extra Ł30billion a year by 2022 if nothing is done.
1:00pm
JANE runs to the shops at lunchtime to buy sun tan lotion for the family holiday. Usually they use factor eight cream but Public Health Minister Melanie Johnson has advised using only factor 15 and above - as well as remaining in the shade between 11am and 3pm.
2:00pm
MARK makes a note to check the children haven't been pilfering from the family's stockpile of food kept for any terrorist attack.
Following the advice in a Home Office leaflet sent out to 24 million households earlier this year, they have stored three days' supply of baked beans, tuna, chocolate bars and bottled water.
4:00pm
JANE heads home to collect Robert and then drops by Amy's school to see if she needs a lift.
She is keen to make sure Amy attends all her classes, especially since the government introduced fines and, in some extreme cases, jail sentences, for the parents of truants.
Tomorrow is Sports Day - or Fun Day - where the kids are encouraged NOT to compete but have a lovely time around a May pole.
The school outing has been cancelled for fear of losing or injuring any of the children.
4:30pm
AMY tells her mum she wants to buy a guinea pig. But with government plans to ban youngsters under 16 from buying pets Jane says "No."
She knows the proposed Animal Welfare Bill will also upset young Robert.
Although they only seem to live a few weeks, Robert loves winning goldfish whenever the annual funfair visits.
But the bill also includes a ban on live prizes.
Amy goes off in a sulk and Jane recalls a piece of advice she was given by her cousin, who saw a Ł300,000 TV advert by NHS Health Scotland which reminds parents that adolescent tantrums are a typical part of family life.
4:45pm
JANE doesn't like Robert watching TV because of all the junk-food adverts.
She can't wait for Health Secretary John Reid to fulfil his promise and ban ads for burgers, crisps, fizzy drinks and sweets from children's TV shows.
She spends an hour trying to get through Robert's school report which, in line with government regulations is now longer than a Russian novel.
6:00pm
AMY rings her gran to moan about her pet problem. While on the line, she reminds her grandmother of the dangers of wearing ill-fitting slippers.
She's heard the government is spending Ł225,000 teaching the over-55s to wear slippers to prevent them tripping, possibly costing the NHS a fortune.
8:00pm
WHILE Mark and the kids wash up after dinner Jane goes out for a half-hour walk. She knows the government has said adults should undertake at least 30 minutes a day of exercise five days a week.
On her return she takes a long drink of water. The government recommends eight glasses of water a day.
8:45pm
PAUL and Jo, friends of Mark and Jane, pop round for a drink.
They are careful not to drink more than the Chief Medical Officer's recommended alcohol limit of no more than three or four units for men or two to three units for women.
9:00pm
TO Jane's surprise Paul lights up a cannabis joint. She doesn't mind smoking in the house, but is confused over the legal position of the drug.
Paul says the recent legal reclassification of cannabis means possession of small amounts is no longer an arrestable offence.
But Jane remembers Home Secretary David Blunkett saying the police could arrest marijuana users in certain "aggravated" cases, such as when the drug is smoked near children.
And young Robert is asleep upstairs.
10:00pm
NOW a little more relaxed the two couples discuss a mutual friend who is delighted the government is considering introducing licensed brothels and "tolerance zones", where street prostitutes are allowed to operate.
Of course he will follow another government recommendation - and wear a condom.
But they are unlikely to be allowed to smoke after sex since the brothel will be a public place.
10:35pm
AFTER settling down to watch Question Time - to keep abreast of any new government initiatives - it's off to bed.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2004.

Officials do the North Lambeth Walk

Lambeth
Officials do the North Lambeth Walk
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/026656.pdf
There was a festive atmosphere in Waterloo and Kennington last Monday June 21 when Lambeth officials and councillors joined tenants and residents at the launch of their new Area Housing Office.
Released: July 5, 2004 3:58 PM
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 05, 2004.

Finance & Administration Officer

Lambeth
Situation Vacant
Finance & Administration Officer
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/026642.pdf
For further information, please refer to advert.
Released: July 5, 2004 10:34 AM
Filesize: 13kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 05, 2004.

Cricket

Independent Home > Sport > Cricket
Ramprakash plays the Lions' king
Surrey's technician leads the carnage as party-time comes to The Oval. Stephen Fay reports
04 July 2004
The good news was lit up in red outside the Hobbs Gate at The Oval. "Sold Out" it said. That meant there would be a crowd of 6,000 at the building site in Kennington for the Surrey Lions' Twenty20 game against the Hampshire Hawks, and they got what they came for. Mark Ramprakash's 50 came up with the fifth six of his innings. Mark Butcher's 50 was rather more circumspect, taking 36 balls compared to Ramps' 32, and then Adam Hollioake lit into the Hampshire attack, falling only six short of his own 50.
Surrey reached 198 well above the par score of 150 because they scored 71 in the last five overs of the innings. The jewel in this crown was the controlled hitting of Ramprakash, demonstrating a simple truth about the 20-over slog: the better the technique, the harder the hitting.
The slaughter of the innocents began later in the day than the textbook suggests it should in Twenty20 cricket. The crowd in the public stands sat back expecting a heroic attack from Ali Brown, but he was out for three in the third over. Scott Newman was bowled in the first over having scored only four.
Greg Blewett, the elegant Aussie who has flown over to London to play for three weeks, should have reassured The Oval's loyalists, but he blew it again. On his debut on Friday evening he was out for a single. He improved that score fourfold yesterday before getting bowled by James Bruce, an Old Etonian whose figures of 3 for 21 in four overs explain Surrey's somewhat hesitant start.
But the crowd was well pleased, and so would the Surrey management be. There were plenty of children and some babies. There were pints in the fists of young men but the atmosphere was relatively demure. Another sell-out crowd is expected next Friday to watch the Lions, who won the competition in its first year and made a convincing start this season with a 10-run win against Sussex at Hove on Friday night. That was the first Twenty20 game for Steve Rixon, Surrey's new Australian coach, but he has already identified the secret of the format. "The biggest key to success is the enjoyment factor. Go and have a good time and the performance will look after itself," he says.
A wicket was cut close to the boundary, promising an unusually high quota of sixes, more surely than the five Surrey managed in scoring 221 on Friday, which equals the record score so far.
Hampshire had something to prove to themselves before anyone else. Out for 95 at Chelmsford on Friday, their fifth straight defeat in Twenty20 cricket.
The England and Wales Cricket Board are cocky enough about another success to have released ticket sales figures: before the tournament began, 110,000 tickets had been sold for 45 group matches. That includes 15,000 tickets for Middlesex v Surrey at Lord's on 15 July, beating the previous record of 14,862 at Old Trafford last year for Lancashire v Yorkshire.
Last summer's sun, which gave the first year of Twenty20 cricket such a great send-off, is reflected in the marketing ploys introduced this year. Essex, Glamorgan, Hampshire and Worcestershire are creating beaches on the boundary, the latter featuring "Sand, two hot tubs with waitress service, palm trees and fairy lights, fridge with alcopops/Bud, cocktail beach bar, drinks serviced in coconuts with umbrellas and straws, and an npower lifeguard." It is easy to make fun when counties try to compete with the fun fair, but they seem to have pulled it off. Perhaps it is because of Twenty20's limited duration. Rixon prefers it to the protracted jollity of one-day cricket in Australia.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2004.

Activities for the school holidays

South London Press
Activities for the school holidays
Jul 2 2004
YOUR readers should know about the Lollard Street Adventure Playground Project, which is happening from July 26 to 30 at Lollard Street, Kennington, and the Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Holiday Club (August 1-6) at St Mark's Church, Kennington, as part of Soul in the City.
From July 26 to August 5, Soul in the City plans to mobilise 15,000 young people from around the UK and other nations in community projects, sports and music initiatives, children's clubs, and other schemes across Greater London.
These have been developed in conjunction with more than 490 local churches, and other partnership organisations such as the Metropolitan Police and local government, to ensure that they are tailored to meet areas of real local need, and effect lasting social change.
Soul in the City is a Christian initiative which seeks to emphasise that "actions speak louder than words". From July 26 to 30, 40-50 young people will be engaged each afternoon in renovating the Lollard Street Adventure Playground.
The playground is situated in Lambeth and sees up to 200 children and young people making use of it each day during the school holidays. The young people involved will be painting, weeding and clearing the site.
From August 1 to 6, St Mark's Church will be running a holiday club for eight to 12-year-olds each afternoon, based on Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. During the week, the young people will get a chance to sing, dance, act and be involved in art and craft activities, as they prepare to perform the musical on August 6 at 7pm.
Anyone wishing to find out more about Soul in the City, including how they can take part, can either ring 01923 333331 or visit: www.soulinthecity.co.uk
Richard Kirby
St Mark's Church,
Kennington

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 03, 2004.

'Vindictive and divisive'

South London Press
'Vindictive and divisive'
Jul 2 2004
I BELIEVE neither Douglas Batchelor (Letters, June 25), nor anyone else, has been able to make a logical case for banning hunting - but that does not stop them demanding more time to pursue their petty obsession.
However long a Hunting Bill would spend in the Commons - and his suggestion that it could be dealt with in the same way as emergency terrorism legislation is, to me, clearly absurd - the Government would be prioritising hunting above other far more important issues.
Mr Batchelor knows well that in a recent poll which asked people whether the Government should concentrate on health, immigration, Iraq, hunting or education only one per cent of Labour voters chose hunting.
A Government which wants to reinforce its commitment to public services and re-engage with the electorate would be insane to return to what I say is such vindictive and divisive legislation.
Tim Bonner,
Head of Media
Countryside Alliance
Kennington

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 03, 2004.

Men are jailed in card clone scam

BBC News
Men are jailed in card clone scam
Two Romanian men have been jailed for a credit card cloning scheme that could have netted Ł2m in Cornwall.
Iaon Buda, 33, received three years, and Alexandru Zanharie, 23, was given a 12-month sentence.
They had earlier admitted conspiring to steal money by copying cards put into a cash machine at the Asda supermarket in St Austell.
At Truro Crown Court, Judge Philip Wassall recommended the men should be deported after serving their sentences.
Computer transmission
The two men, who were recruited by an international gang, were arrested after Buda, of Buckingham Place, Brighton, was spotted by a supermarket customer acting suspiciously.
He was tampering with a cash machine and going to a red sports car parked in a nearby disabled bay, the court heard.
A tiny camera used to record PIN numbers and a false card reader, capable of recording the details of 2,000 cards, transmitted information to a computer in the boot of the car.
The potential financial loss, at Ł1,000 a card, was Ł2m, the court was told.
Paul Rowsell, defending Buda, said he was a decent, hard-working family man who earned only Ł80 a month as a primary school teacher in Romania.
He came to England expecting to get legitimate work to provide a better life for his wife and three children, but had managed to send back only Ł100.
Rawdon Crozier, representing Zanharie, from Kennington Road, south London, claimed he had been exploited by cynical and evil people.
He was only "a minnow" in the operation with no real prospects of benefiting from it, Mr Crozier said.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/3857737.stm Published: 2004/07/01 15:28:59 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 02, 2004.

Unitary Development Plan

Lambeth
Unitary Development Plan
Revised Deposit Unitary Development Plan
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/policydocument/026469.pdf
Released: June 28, 2004 10:39 AM
Filesize: 1609kb
Summary of UDP Representations and Council Responses
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/policydocument/026527.pdf
Released: June 30, 2004 11:57 AM
Filesize: 1373kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 30, 2004.

Terror suspect may be extradited

BBC News
Terror suspect may be extradited
A Moroccan terror suspect wanted by Spanish authorities is being held in London, Scotland Yard has confirmed.
Farid Hilali, 35, is being held under a European arrest warrant from Spain and has been linked with the Madrid train bombings and 11 September attacks.
On Monday he appeared before Bow Street magistrates for the first part of the extradition process, and was remanded in custody until 5 July.
He has been held at Belmarsh prison on immigration charges since September.
A spokesman for Bow Street magistrates court confirmed the extradition charge related to Mr Hilali's alleged "participation in a terrorist organisation contrary to the laws of the government in Spain".
Terror suspect
Mr Hilali was originally arrested in September 2003 in Kennington, south London, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
He was not charged but was discovered to have entered the country illegally and was detained at London's Belmarsh prison.
The Moroccan is suspected of helping to plot the 11 September attacks and was an alleged accomplice in the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people in March, the Times reported.
He is also thought to be known by the alias "Shakur" and was named on an indictment in Spain last year for allegedly using the country as a base to plot the 11 September attacks, the newspaper reported.
The indictment also included al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
Fast-track process
European arrest warrants were created to improve cross-border cooperation.
The warrants, which came into force in Britain on 1 January, are part of a new fast-track extradition process.
Under the procedure, extradition could now take three months, compared to six months under the previous system.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk/3853153.stm Published: 2004/06/30 13:02:04 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 30, 2004.

Manor from heaven

Guardian: Society
Manor from heaven
Even on a reasonable wage, many people struggle to afford high rents. But an innovative new concept enables nurses, teachers and social workers to live in short-lease 'des res' accommodation - without paying through the nose. Mark Espiner reports
Mark Espiner
Wednesday June 30, 2004
It is in one of the poshest areas of Hartlepool and was built to a grand design early last century by a Tyneside shipyard owner. Its palatial interior includes a ballroom and swimming pool. Light wells break through from the first floor to illuminate the large hallway below. The east and west wings contain more than 30 rooms.
But it is not the heirs of this industrialist's fortune who have inherited Tunstall Court, nor has it been snapped up by a popstar or City trader. The people who have the run of this mansion are not exactly what you would call to the manor born.
Emma Hunt, 25, is a D-grade staff nurse working on ward 10 of the University Hospital of North Tees. As she herself confesses, living in such a place would normally be "way beyond my means". When she was a student on only Ł440 a month, she had to live at home with her parents and, even after she qualified, might still have not flown the nest had not Tunstall Court opened its grand doors to her. At Ł25 a week rent - about a quarter the going rate - and with all bills and council tax included, it is the most affordable accommodation she has ever had, with no parental strings attached.
One of Hunt's house (or, rather, mansion) mates is PC Anthony Jewson. He too was living at home with his parents. "The going rental rate here is one of the highest in Britain," he says, "That's why I was living at home."
Jewson, 29, has been with the Northumbria police at Houghton-le-Spring for two years and earns Ł21,500 a year. In the six months or so that he has been at Tunstall Court, he says he has managed to save around Ł4,000 for a deposit on a new house.
It sounds like key worker heaven. So how on earth can it be true?
The answer is that the country that gave us Big Brother - the ultimate in alternative housing - has come up with an ingenious, but much less inane, accommodation solution. Dutch company Camelot has identified a gap in the property market and is commercially exploiting it so that key workers are the winners. And its cleverly contrived short-term use for thousands of empty buildings across the country benefits everyone.
Whether it's a mansion such as Tunstall Court or a disused care home, a huge warehouse awaiting development or a residential property sitting empty, Camelot liaises with the owner to broker a mutually convenient deal. The company calls it the "Camelot Way" and it goes like this.
Property owners worried about their empty buildings falling into disrepair, being vandalised or becoming a target for squatters approach - or are approached by - Camelot. The company assesses the building and tells the owner what it needs to do to make it safe and habitable. It then recruits, selects, interviews and thoroughly vets - according to National Security Inspectorate standards - people it calls "guardians" to live in the building. Camelot likes the guardians to be key workers or professionals who will make the building their short-term home.
In effect, they act as passive security guards, and pay Camelot cheap rent, with all bills included, while the buildings owners pay anything between Ł50 and Ł500 a week, which works out about 10 times less expensive than installing 24-hour security guards and cameras.
The one drawback for the guardians is that they are not tenants, but are simply licensed to live in the building and can be moved at any time. Camelot says, however, that it undertakes to give a minimum of four months in any one property - which includes a month's notice - and endeavours to move guardians from one property to another.
In London, those moves could be from a loft-style apartment with panoramic views of the city to huge rooms in a disused library in the East End for Ł50 a week.
For James Whiting, the Grade II listed Consulata Missionary College at the southern end of the Northern Line, with its own orchard, is a welcome and magnificent contrast with his workplace. He has a Ł300-a-week night job fixing track for London Underground. The rent savings he has made have been invaluable, he says.
Admittedly, Braganza old people's home in Kennington, south London, isn't quite the address you like to brag about. Indeed, it has the whiff of something far less glamorous than the grand ballrooms and bowling greens of Tunstall Court. But it still provides a spacious home that would normally be way beyond the means of many, such as Mark Traboulsi, who works in the Transport Police's command and control centre.
Traboulsi, 30, was living in Brighton with his brother and jumped at the chance of cheap rent and three rooms. He admits that it might be a bit strange having a bathroom that still has equipment to help old people in and out of the tub, but the guardians living there have created a little community for themselves. In the outsize communal kitchen, he has quickly made friends with the other guardians, who joke that he's their in-built security. And while the scheme is not the answer to the nation's key worker housing crisis, it has changed these people's lives.
The man responsible is 39-year-old Joost van Gestel, a friendly Dutchman, who brought Camelot to the UK two years ago. "We have 8,500 people in Holland living in schools, churches, offices, warehouses, monasteries, cinemas and flats," he says. "The phenomenon is called 'anti-kraak', which in Dutch means anti-squatting, but to be honest only 10% of owners are worried about squatting. The other 90% want to prevent vandalism, water leaks and fire risks."
He seems completely at home in his central London office. And so he should be; it is a property that he and his workers - most of whom, including Van Gestel, also live in Camelot properties - are putting through its anti-kraak paces.
Van Gestel explain why key workers are central to his strategy. "It's a trust thing," he says. "We explain to the owner that it's key workers, people who are working, who are quite happy to live in a place for a few months to save some money and live near their working place. Key workers are our target group."
In 10 years, Van Gestel has sufficiently built up trust in Holland to look after some 3,000 properties. "We work a lot with housing associations in Holland, where they give us streets or part of a town to manage," he says.
It is starting to happen here, too. The London boroughs of Southwark and Camden have both used Camelot, and Tunstall Court is actually owned by Hartlepool council after it became a state-run school.
Alongside the key workers are the professionals unwilling, or unable, to pay ridiculous rents, and the artists who don't make enough from their craft to pay Ł150-plus a week.
There are people such as physics graduate Bas Vellekoop, who has used his knowledge and skill to revive the full broadband network that was in the building - a Hoxton warehouse, in east London, overlooking the canal, and formerly used as offices. His home, which he has transformed into a loft-like space, has separate rooms that are occupied by five others. They all share the kitchen and bathroom facilities. Bas is a composer, and the cheap rent is giving him time to develop his skills.
On the floor below it's the same story. Emily Stein and her record producer friend, Tom Giles, love the cheap rent as they attempt to make their career breakthroughs. They are also putting considerable work into making their living quarters look magnificent. With its red painted floors, open plan kitchen and huge living room, it looks like a styled set for a lifestyle magazine.
When Van Gestel is asked about how he hopes to expand his business - there are only 200 guardians in Britain - he immediately switches to outlining the exciting properties that are just coming on to his books, such as a lighthouse located on the Wirral.
A castle in Northampton could be next. That makes sense. Where else would you get to rent a castle, if not from a company called Camelot?
Details: www.camelotproperties.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 30, 2004.

Just like the old times as IDS takes centre stage

Telegraph
Sketch
By Benedict Brogan
(Filed: 29/06/2004)
Just like the old times as IDS takes centre stage
Iain Duncan Smith popped up yesterday to unveil a memorial to his brief leadership of the Conservative party. Seven months on from his forced removal, his followers gathered for a ceremony to open what they hope will be a monument to his legacy. It's a south London thinktank.
Former American presidents get lavishly endowed libraries charting every minute of their administration; French presidents build themselves glass pyramids, wonky opera houses and national libraries that leak; in the heart of the African jungle there is an empty cathedral bigger than St Peter's built by a now-dead dictator.
On that basis Mr Duncan Smith might have hoped for a bit more than an office next to Lambeth Tube station. A cricket pavilion, perhaps, with some repro Corinthian columns stuck on the front. Or a Heathrow departure lounge, named after him, with reclining seats and free cough sweets.
He has struggled to be noticed since being so unceremoniously bundled out of the back door by his Parliamentary colleagues.
The Commons committee responsible for works of art abandoned plans to commission an official Ł10,000 portrait, the first time a former Opposition leader has been so snubbed. Obscurity seemed to be beckoning a touch too enthusiastically.
But not yesterday. It was just like old times.
He was among friends, the star attraction for more than 100 people who, like him, are little noticed and get no gratitude for their work on behalf of the poor and vulnerable.
Indeed, very few of those present were MPs.
The location, for true believers in IDS, was more than appropriate. Christ Church in Kennington has been a centre for non-conformist worship for more than two centuries. Wilberforce spoke there, and the spire was donated by Abraham Lincoln's family to acknowledge its support for abolition.
For an hour, in this modern church hall rebuilt after the Blitz, we were able to relive the highlights of the IDS years, a sort of "This was your Life" called for the opening of the Centre for Social Justice.
The old gang was there to cheer him on and the pews were packed with the community workers and activists he met on his visits to drug centres and youth homes up and down the country.
Nick Wood and Mike Penning, his press officers, were there to handle the media.
The two Annabels from his private office were on hand, as were Owen Patterson, his parliamentary aide, and Tim Montgomerie, once his private secretary and now the brains behind the CSJ, which as a mission will press the Tories to remember the less fortunate.
Betsy joined us as well, looking restored after the ordeal of a Commons inquiry into her affairs.
William Hague is on the board. Oliver Letwin spoke and is also on the board despite his close involvement in the events that led to Mr Duncan Smith's ejection. David Willetts, who clocked up nearly as many miles as IDS touring sink estates, turned up.
Even the rastafarians with the multi-coloured bonnets who livened up Mr Duncan Smith's last conference speech were there alongside community workers from Glasgow council estates.
Standing before a stained glass window commemorating prophets and preachers through the ages, IDS did not disappoint them.
His speech was full of the IDS trademarks Westminster has come to love: passion for his cause, enthusiasm for his party, words substituted at random, sentences that run on beyond their usefulness.
But it was his message - that politicians can no longer afford to ignore communities racked by alcohol and drug abuse - that mattered to his audience.
They know, as Westminster may be about to discover, that a strong idea coupled with dogged enthusiasm will achieve more than a plaque, a portrait, or a glistening library.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 29, 2004.

How I carried a torch for the Olympics (and passed it to Beefy)

Independent Home > News > UK > This Britain
How I carried a torch for the Olympics (and passed it to Beefy)
The rain came down but nothing could dampen the elation of sports writer Alan Hubbard who took part in the London leg of the Athens 2004 relay yesterday
27 June 2004
As someone who has always carried a torch for the Olympics I never dreamed that one day I would be doing that very thing. But there I was around lunchtime yesterday, the Eternal Flame held aloft, trotting along towards Ian Botham, waiting to bat next at the Oval.
The surprise invitation had come from the International Olympic Committee three months ago. Would I like to be one of the torchbearers for the London leg of the Athens 2004 relay? It would be the first time the flame would pass through London since 1948.
Apparently they had decided I was something of an elder statesman among Olympic scribes. Athens will be the 10th summer Games I have covered.
Even for an allegedly hardened hack it proved a highly charged emotional experience. My Olympic odyssey began in Tokyo in 1964. The only Games I have missed since then were those in held in Atlanta 1996, when I was sports editing for another newspaper.
Flaming June! The Greek gods weren't smiling on south London yesterday and inevitably it rained on our parade. But spirits, like the flame itself, refused to be doused. The 31-mile journey had begun on Wimbledon's Centre Court after the flame's arrival by chartered 747 from Paris - a city, like London, that is bidding for the right to stage the Olympic Games in 2012. Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under four minutes, lit his torch from the silver lantern in which it had been transported.
But the Wimbledon weather continued to do its worst and Sir Roger, 75, had to carry the torch through the Wimbledon clubhouse rather than parade it around Centre Court.
He then handed it on to a track-suited Tim Henman and the flame was off on its eight-hour journey, by foot, taxi, bus and wheelchair through south and east London, the West End and finally to Buckingham Palace in the hands of five times gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave.
The celebrations were topped off with a free concert in the Mall with rock and soul legends Rod Stewart, Ozzy Osbourne and James Brown as the star performers. They were joined by others, including Will Young, Ronnie Wood, and Emma Bunton, performing her new single.
But the real star of the day had to be the flame itself. I had watched it lit in a moving ceremony at ancient Olympia on a sweltering April noon. Since then it has been making an unprecedented global journey, embracing, for the first time, all five continents.
London is the 21st of 33 cities on the 4,800-mile route before the Athens Olympics begin on 13 August. In all, some 11,000 torchbearers will have helped it along its way. All previous Olympic host cities will have been visited as well as those that hope to stage the Games in the future. Today it is in Barcelona and tomorrow Rome.
My own run-on part in this epic happened, by sheer coincidence, in Harleyford Road, Kennington, where I was born 66 years ago, then bombed out during the Blitz.
Nostalgic yes, and personally moving, too, although I suspect I did not move as fast as some of the fit and famous, such as Audley Harrison, Matthew Pinsent, Colin Jackson and Sir Richard Branson.
It probably took me more time to complete my allotted 400 metres than it still takes Sir Roger Bannister to run a mile. I shuffled my portly frame towards Botham, doing my best to hum the opening bars of Chariots of Fire while glancing at the flame to ensure it wasn't singeing what is left of my hair. "From Bulky to Beefy," I smiled as I stopped in front of the former England captain, but he didn't see the joke. He was too busy wondering how to light his torch from my flame. "What do I do now?" he asked anxiously.
One of the dozens of escort runners accompanying the huge convoy of cars and outriders moved forward to remind us that we had to touch torches, rather like boxers touching gloves for the final round. These are fuelled by gas, and the flame has to be extinguished as soon as your run is over.
Astonishingly, I found myself besieged by spectators wanting to shake my hand and pose with them for photographs, even though they did not know me from Adam Ant (though someone did ask if I was Jimmy Greaves). One young mother even asked me to kiss her baby while holding the torch.
The flame had been passed to me by Parvez Ahmed, 18, one of 17 youngsters nominated by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, because of their community youth work. They get to keep the torch, unlike the rest of us who have to fork out Ł240 if we'd like it as a souvenir.
You have to have it, of course, as a reminder of something really special in your life, something that for me had begun with a humbling experience the evening before, when I stood in line at City Hall to collect the uniformed running gear alongside the likes of Sir Roger, the former boxer Michael Watson, now bravely recovering from brain damage, and Dame Mary Peters, who I saw win her pentathlon gold medal at Munich 32 years ago. "I don't know if I can even run 400 metres these days," she laughed.
But of course she did, as did Jonathan Edwards, Floella Benjamin, Davina McCall from Big Brother, a host of unsung heroes, and Bernie Ecclestone's missus. The Formula 1 magnate was waiting, movie camera in hand, at her starting point.
We had all been asked to nominate someone to act as a marker, a recognisable face to send you on your way. I chose my son. It happened to be his birthday, but actually it felt more like mine.
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 27, 2004.

WALK – 300 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY IN VAUXHALL

Vauxhall Festival 2004
Saturday 26th June/2pm
WALK – 300 YEARS OF BLACK HISTORY IN VAUXHALL
Starting point at the Café, Bonnington Square, SW8
A Walk through Vauxhall looking at 300 years of black history in the area led by Steve Martin, writer and researcher in London’s black history.
020 7793 1110
Free

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 26, 2004.

Bombs or bollards: arrested for sketching on the South Bank

Independent Home > Argument > Letters
E-mail responses to letters@independent.co.uk, giving postal address and telephone number (no attachments).
26 June 2004
Bombs or bollards: arrested for sketching on the South Bank
Sir: Ron Dare (Letters, 25 June) says the majority in this country wants a Home Secretary who "will take whatever legal measures are required to protect them"; but the evidence which would legitimate the detention of those imprisoned in Belmarsh (and therefore the proof that acts of terror have been averted) has not been made public. Mr Dare may suppose that there is no smoke without fire and that if so far no bombings have occurred in the UK since 9/11, it is thanks to Mr Blunkett's detentions.
On Easter Monday I was in central London sketching locations of South Bank entertainment sites on the Waterloo South Bank footbridge in preparation for a meeting with a client to whom I hope to sell a signage system. The two police officers who approached and asked what I was doing did not believe me in spite of the product brochures and client contact lists I said I had in my bag. They did not ask to see them but called another half dozen constables, then helped themselves to a bag search. On finding philosophy texts in my bag (a subject I happen to write on) whose authors were Iranian-Islamic (12th and 16th century!) they then marched me to Waterloo police HQ.
Following an hour-long conflab over the contents of my bag (which included a foreign language newspaper of all things) the officers emerged to announce my arrest under the terms of the Prevention of Terrorism Act "on reasonable suspicion that I was engaged in activities constituting a risk to public security". Small circles in my sketch indicating bollards along a footpath were taken to be intended bomb placements.
I spent four hours (having already been detained for three and a half) in a cell in Kennington police station wondering whether I might not be joining those in Belmarsh where Mr Blunkett could detain me without explanation and, in the interest of public security, refuse to divulge the alleged evidence. If the majority in this country need protecting, they had better ask who the enemies of democracy currently are.
DAVID KUHRT
London N4
© 2004 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 26, 2004.

Torch heads to London

BBC News
Sat 26 Jun 2004
Torch heads to London
The Olympic flame begins a 31-mile trip across London at 1100 BST on Saturday, starting on Centre Court at Wimbledon. | MAP KEY 1. Wimbledon. 1100 BST 2. Wandsworth. 1120 3. Brixton. 1200 4. Kennington... BBC News
Go to this link for full details
http://article.wn.com/link/WNATD760F59AE4049FA4FF7FABF9CEC1E762?source=templategenerator&template=worldnews/search.txt

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 26, 2004.

OAP's bravery snares robber

South London Press
OAP's bravery snares robber
Jun 25 2004
By Court Reporter
A THUG who beat up a disabled pensioner in a lift for Ł20 is likely to escape jail.
Patrick Carney, 40, followed 68-year-old Foster Limerick into a lift with two accomplices and pinned him against the wall before ripping open his pockets.
But the pensioner whacked Carney over the head with his walking stick, drawing blood.
His bravery left a DNA clue which helped police to identify and arrest the defendant.
Carney, who has a string of previous convictions, admitted one count of robbery at Inner London Crown Court on Wednesday.
But Judge Quentin Campbell said he would take a "lenient" approach and send him to be tested for a place on a drugs rehabilitation course.
The judge said: "This was a terrible thing to do, your victim was weak and needed a walking stick when you and two other thugs robbed him.
"For the rest of his life, whenever he goes out, he will now be scared stiff of other cruel thugs like you doing this to him.
"You deserve a substantial sentence but I am going to consider the possibility of an alternative sentence as you say you wish to break your drug addiction."
The court had heard that Mr Limerick was in the Vauxhall Walk Estate in Kennington on August 4 last year when he noticed a man following him.
As he opened the door to his block, Carney and two other men ran in behind him. Once in the lift they turned on their frail victim and stole Ł20.
Cops viewed CCTV footage from the lift and arrested Carney three months later after finding his blood on Mr Limerick's jacket.
Nick Wrack, defending, said Carney, of Tyres Street, Kennington, had a long-term addiction to crack.
Carney, had admitted one count of robbery. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on July 26.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2004.

Mum pleads for decent school

South London Press
Mum pleads for decent school
Jun 25 2004
A MUM made an appeal to council bosses for a decent school for 70 vulnerable children.
Gill Manvell told Lambeth's executive committee about The Michael Tippett School which has pupils with severe learning difficulties and in some cases physical disabilities.
She described how the school's building is too small and was branded unfit by Ofsted inspectors.
Michael Tippett opened in Oakden Street, Kennington, in 2001 after a shake-up of special schools. Parents were told the school would get a new building in West Norwood but plans were shelved because of lack of funds. That site is earmarked for a new secondary.
When the school building became overcrowded, older students were moved four miles away.
It has been proposed to move the school to a building in North Lambeth. Another suggestion has been to move older pupils to Kennington.
Ms Manvell said: "They can't disappear - they are straightforward and very loving human beings who are an example to us all.
"Don't find a box to hide them in."
A council spokeswoman said: "The pupils represent one of the most vulnerable groups within the borough and the council is acutely aware of its duty to them."
She said two bids for Government cash had been declined but the council was awaiting the outcome of a third.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2004.

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY

Evening Standard
24/06/04 - Free Guide section
Go for the burn
By Libby Norman, Metro Life
OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
London carries the flame for the first time since 1948 and the 140 torchbearers represent a who's who of UK sporting heroes.
Faces to look out for include Sir Roger Bannister, Dame Mary Peters, Sally Gunnell, Tim Henman, Ian Botham, Frank Bruno and Jonathan Edwards.
The flame has arrived from Paris (en route to Barcelona) but for the day it's here it's being carried through parts of London Olympic flames don't usually reach.
It starts at Wimbledon at around 11am and continues east, via Kennington and Camberwell to Greenwich before heading over the Thames.
The final leg of the route along the Mall is followed by a free concert for lucky ballot-winning Londoners.
The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club Church Road, SW19 (020-7983 4100). Sat 26 Jun, 11am, free.
Top 5 places to watch the relay:
WIMBLEDON VILLAGE, 11AM
A good opportunity to see two sporting highlights, as you can capture the atmosphere of Wimbledon fortnight (see listings) and watch the torch begin its 48km route through 11 London boroughs. The official start time is 11am.
CUTTY SARK GARDENS, GREENWICH, 2PM
Crossing the Meridian around 1.30pm, the torch will then be carried across the river to Canary Wharf. If the crowds are too dense in Greenwich, cross to Docklands via the foot tunnel and you can see the torch arrive by boat at Island Gardens.
TATE MODERN, 4PM
Bankside is an excellent vantage spot as you can take a trip to tate Modern while you're waiting for the torch to crisscross the river. The torch heads over Tower Bridge around 4pm, passes City Hall and then crosses the Millennium Bridge around 15 minutes later to head north to Oxford Street, accompanied by school children from across the capital.
SOUTH KENSINGTON, 6PM
The flame is due to arrive by bus in front of the V&A on Cromwell Road, SW7, at around 6pm. To do that, it has crossed through Hyde Park, which makes a leafy picnic spot-cum-vantage point.
THE MALL, 7PM
The crowds should be thickest here as the procession reaches its finale, but the run down The Mall to Buckingham Palace at around 7.15pm offers the best atmosphere. At journey's end, there's an official lighting at the cauldron ceremony.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/insiders/guides/articles/11559262?version=2 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2004.

KENNINGTON GARDEN SOCIETY SUMMER SHOW

KENNINGTON GARDEN SOCIETY
SUMMER SHOW
Saturday, 3rd July 2004
ST ANSELM'S CHURCH HALL
KENNINGTON CROSS
ADMISSION 25P
SHOW OPENS AT 2.30PM
*Horticultural * domestic * handicraft * flower arranging * senior citizen and children's classes open to non-members *
10p per entry
Prize giving at 3.30pm
ENTRIES TO THE CHURCH HALL BY 11.30AM
*PLANT STALL * BRING AND BUY * RAFFLE *
ALL ENQUIRIES TO 020 7582 2327

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 23, 2004.

Rider stable following collision

BBC News
Rider stable following collision
A motorcyclist is in a stable condition after he was in a collision with an unmarked police car outside a Tube station in south London.
The man was taken to hospital after the incident at about 0150 BST on Monday outside Oval station on Kennington Park Road and Harleyford Road.
Road closures were in place around the area while police investigated but all roads have now reopened.
Scotland Yard said the motorcyclist's condition is not life-threatening.
He is receiving treatment at a south London hospital.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3825195.stm
Published: 2004/06/21 08:16:13 GMT
© BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 22, 2004.

Camera Club Exhibition

‘Children of the Achachilas’
A Photographic Exhibition By
Marj Clayton
June 26 – July 2nd 2004
The Camera Club 16 Bowden Street SE11
Gallery Hours 11:00 a.m to 10:00 p.m
Tube Station – Kennington (Northern Line)
Private View July 1, 2004 7:00p.m
www.marjclayton.com
Tel: 020 8503 5171

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 21, 2004.

Vauxhall Festival 2004

Vauxhall Festival 2004
Go to this link for details of the Vauxhall Festival which runs until 10th July.
http://www.vauxhallfestival.org/index.htm
Programme includes theatre, one-man show, play reading, lunchtime and evening concerts including classical, choral, flamenco, jazz, ballads, swing, highlands & islands, Latin-American and salon music, a 4th July musical celebration, an Italian evening, historical walks, studio open days, art, photographic and garden exhibitions, lectures, walks, open gardens, parish fete, a City Farm open day, an event in a Grade II listed loo, children’s workshop, family picnics and family music day.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 21, 2004.

Ejected 'fans' fly home in disgrace

Times
June 18, 2004
Euro 2004
Ejected 'fans' fly home in disgrace
From David Lister in the Algarve and Sam Coates
TEN England football fans arrived back at Heathrow in disgrace last night after being voluntarily deported from Portugal following violent clashes in Albufeira.
The ten, who appeared in court in Albufeira on Wednesday, arrived shortly after 9pm and were greeted by scores of police officers. Seven received suspended sentences and could be forced to surrender their passports to prevent them attending future overseas football games. Three were acquitted, on condition that they agreed to leave the country and do not return within a year.
Garry Mann, 47, a firefighter from Faversham, Kent, who was given a two-year jail term on Wednesday after being singled out in a Portuguese court as a ringleader, was not among the group.
The fans, dressed casually in T-shirts, shorts and jeans, were kept on board the jet until the rest of the passengers had disembarked.
While all ten faced police questioning at the airport, the seven who received suspended sentences could be forced to surrender their passports.
About 30 police officers, some of them from the Football Intelligence Unit, were waiting inside the arrivals gate at Terminal 2 as the plane touched down.
Another 30 England fans are to fly home today after agreeing to be deported for allegedly fighting with police.
The group, who looked bruised and bloodied as they appeared before Albufeira Criminal Court, spent the night in a detention centre in the Algarve after being accused of rioting early on Wednesday morning.
The group, all handcuffed, were escorted by military police from a theatre next to the court, where they were taken just before the hearing because there were too many of them to hold at the courthouse. Several had black eyes and cuts on their faces, and bloodstains on their clothing. One wore a T-shirt ripped almost from top to bottom.
British police sources said ten of the accused were known to police, but did not have convictions. They were arrested in a second night of violence on “the strip”, a mile-long street of bars and tattoo shops in Albufeira, the most popular resort with British holidaymakers on the Algarve. Five had minor criminal convictions.
Those named in court included Richard Freeman, 25, from Reading; Denis Gallagher, 34, from Newquay, Cornwall; Stephen Weston, from Carlisle; Brian Ward, from Louth, Lincolnshire; Andrew Mountford, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire; Michael Kelly, from West Dulwich, South London; Christopher Bony, from Gateshead, Tyne and Wear; Nicholas Rogers, from Kennington, South London; and Christopher Hodgkinson, from Warrington.
They will have a trial in Portugal towards the end of this year but do not have to attend. It was unclear whether any jail sentences handed down could be served in Britain. Before leaving Portugal, they will have been allowed to give statements to police to be used at the trial but they did not have to do so.
Last night thousands of England fans danced and sang after watching the Switzerland match in bars on the strip in Albufeira. Sunburnt men pulled off their tops and hoisted their friends on their shoulders, chanting “Rule Britannia” and “If it wasn’t for the English, you’d be Krauts”.
Outside the La Bamba bar, where fighting has erupted twice over the past few days, two units of armed riot police kept a watchful eye on the fans and occasionally passed up the street between them. The atmosphere was good-natured, although several local bar-owners said they were expecting a repeat of the earlier violence.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 19, 2004.

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 14 June 2004
The Olympic Torch
will be carried through our area by "a celebrity" on Saturday 26 June. It leaves Brixton at 12.00 and travels via Stockwell, the South Lambeth Road, Vauxhall and the Oval to arrive at Kennington Open Space at 1230. The Open Space is just behind Kennington Park - on the left as you go down Camberwell New Road from the Oval, opposite S.J. Carter tool hire.
There is a rare opportunity to visit the
Lambeth Palace Gardens
if you visit the Lambeth Parish Fete from 2-5pm also on Saturday 26 June. You can enjoy the beautiful gardens, listen to the Southwark Concert Band and the Archbishop Sumner School Steel Band, and enjoy raffles, sideshows, games, home and country produce, plants and flowers, bric-a-brac, china and glass, books. There will also be a tea tent, spicy food, hot dogs, and ice cream. Admission Ł3 (or concessions) includes a guide to the garden.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 18, 2004.

Black eyes and cuts on display as louts face court

Black eyes and cuts on display as louts face court
By Richard Alleyne in Albufeira
Telegraph
(Filed: 18/06/2004)
Dozens more English hooligans appeared in Portuguese courts yesterday after being arrested during a second night of violence in Albufeira.
While thousands travelled to the northern city of Coimbra for England's second match of Euro 2004, the 35 were herded into a tiny, hot courtroom and told their championship was over. They would be deported at the earliest opportunity.
During a hearing that lasted more than six hours, the men, some sporting black eyes, ripped clothes and cut faces, thought they had escaped justice by agreeing to go home.
It later emerged that they would still face trial at a later date and, if convicted, face prison, probably in Britain.
Of the 35, all but two had been arrested in the early hours of Wednesday as a hard-core group of about 50 hooligans rampaged through an area of the resort densely populated with bars.
The other two had been picked up later after being caught on police videos.
The night of violence, the second in the area known locally as "the strip", appeared to be organised and police were convinced that "hooligan generals" had masterminded the trouble.
Yesterday they were brought from holding cells in Faro, the capital of the Algarve, and marched, handcuffed, into the Tribunal da Comarca de Albufeira.
Most tried to hide their faces, only looking up to acknowledge friends and family, who shouted words of encouragement.
A boy of 12 shouted to his father to look up and then took a picture of him on his mobile phone as he was escorted by a military policeman into the court.
Few of the 35 suspects were identified in open court and the authorities refused to give out a full list of the names of those accused.
Only Michael Kelly, 39, from West Dulwich, south London, and James Everett, 46, were clearly identified. Michael Rogers, of Kennington, south London, stood out because his hair was dyed pink.
The judge, who also refused to be identified, asked whether they would object to being deported. None did.
They were then told that they would have to fill out an affidavit of evidence which would be used in any subsequent court hearing.
If after 30 days the authorities felt there was a case for prosecution, each man would stand trial. They did not need to return to Portugal for trial but, if they were convicted, they would be fined or imprisoned, probably in England.
David Swift, who heads the British police contingent in Portugal, said 18 of those in court were not known to the authorities. Of the others, 10 had a variety of criminal offences against them, for dishonesty, drugs or disorderly behaviour. Another five had received cautions or reprimands. Mr Swift said his officers would seek football banning orders where appropriate on the deported fans.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 18, 2004.

Mourners in crash

Mourners in crash
Jun 15 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
TWO sisters and their young children were in a smash with a van and a lorry as they drove to their dad's funeral.
The women, who had a 12-year-old and a baby in their car, were heading to Streatham Cemetery when the crash happened on Friday morning June 11.
Their navy blue Ford Fusion was in collision with the small lorry but the family escaped without serious injury.
A white Mercedes Benz van with a Belgian registration plate was caught up in the melee. It ended up on its side yards from the junction of King's Avenue and Atkins Road in Clapham.
The elder of the sisters, from Kennington, had driven to Brixton Hill to pick up her younger sister and baby to take them to the cemetery off Garratt Lane in Tooting.
Their 84-year-old father had passed away the previous day and as the family are Kurdish Iraqis, their custom is to bury the deceased the following day. The sisters' brother, Hogar Marof, was on his way to the funeral from his home in Chislehurst when he heard the news and rushed to the scene.
As police helped his shocked sisters, he told the South London Press: "We should be following the coffin. We are supposed to go now."
The crash happened just before 11am and the family funeral was due to start at 2.30pm.
Mr Marof added: "My sisters phoned me and told me to make a U-turn quickly and come back here. I was shocked - especially as it happened today.
"Now I just want to get to the funeral and finish it."
The area around the smash was cordoned off by police and King's Avenue and Atkins Road were closed for three hours.
A 30-year-old man who was in the van was taken to St George's Hospital, Tooting, with a cut elbow.
The lorry was being driven by a 42-year-old man. He was taken to the same hospital complaining of pains in his knee.
The sisters and their children did not require hospital treatment. No arrests have been made, but cops are investigating the cause of the smash.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 15, 2004.

Queen's Birthday Honours

Telegraph
Queen's Birthday Honours
(Filed: 12/06/2004)
Go to this link for a full list:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/06/12/nhons112.xml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 12, 2004.

Queen's Honours

Times
June 12, 2004
Queen's Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours List - MBE
Ian Day Adams. Chair, Manor of Kennington Residents Association. For services to Social Housing and to the community in Kennington, London. (London, SE11)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 12, 2004.

Luxury homes don't sell, says housebuilder

Telegraph : Money
Luxury homes don't sell, says housebuilder
By Philip Aldrick (Filed: 10/06/2004)
One of the south-east's luxury housebuilders has ditched the premium end of the market in favour of low-cost homes because of flagging demand.
Country & Metropolitan, which until 2002 was selling Ł2m homes, yesterday offloaded its final property at Gerrards Cross for Ł830,000. It now plans to sell Ł100,000 "micro-living" flats.
Stephen Wicks, chief executive, said: "We made the decision to withdraw from the premium sector about two years ago because we were concerned about the levels prices were reaching.
"The way the market has gone, it's all about affordability. Those people at the top end are staying put but there is still demand at the bottom of the market."
Although a number of builders have pulled out of the premium market to focus on homes of between Ł200,000 and Ł500,000, Country & Met's move is the most extreme. The company is targeting "first-time buyers and key workers, with prices ranging from Ł100,000 to Ł300,000".
It already has a site in Kennington, London, which it hopes to develop into 60 "very designer" 350sq ft one-bedroom flats that it expects to market at Ł100,000. Mr Wicks said: "There will be sliding wall partitions to incorporate the bedroom into the living room, stripped floors, balconies and decking."
By specialising in low-cost homes and urban regeneration, the company hopes to avoid "planning gain" - a development tax whereby housebuilders have to build council flats on up to 50pc of the site as a condition of planning approval.
Country & Met wants to draw up leases that limit ownership of the flats to Government-defined "key workers", such as police and nurses, even on resale. In return, it hopes to be excused from "planning gain". That way, Mr Wicks says, the company will be able to maintain its margin. He added: "The Government has created such a vast list of key workers that I don't think it will really hit the resale value."
Country & Met, which builds around 900 homes a year, has bought 10 sites in London and the home counties that it hopes will produce around 273 homes under its current plan.
The company's decision follows a profit warning by rival Countryside Properties, partly blaming difficulty selling homes over Ł400,000. Country & Met shares rose 7 to 188.5p.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 10, 2004.

Ł700 goes up in smoke

Ł700 goes up in smoke
Jun 8 2004
South London Press
ABOUT 5,000 people turned up at the annual cannabis march and festival on Saturday.
The march started at Kennington Park, and was followed by a festival in Brockwell Park.
The event was due to be held on May 8 but was postponed because Brockwell Park was waterlogged after torrential rainfall.
Event organiser Shane Collins said: "Thank you to the thousands of people who took part in the march.
"The sixth annual legalisation of cannabis march and festival is probably the best we have ever had.
"It was definitely worth all the effort but we are still about Ł700 short of making the books balance."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 08, 2004.

A house party

South London Press
A house party
Jun 4 2004
NEIL Pierce of House FM and Soul Heaven fame is special guest at House Huntin' tonight.
He joins Paul "Trouble" Anderson and Ras T at the Telegraph, Brixton Hill, tonight 9pm to 4am. Ł7.
Batacumba's DJ Cliffy and Spiritual South - whose single in 2003 was Gilles Peterson's tune of the year - ensure the weekly Good Friday gets off to a memorable start at South London Pacific, Kennington Road, tonight. Free before 9pm, Ł3 before 10pm, then Ł5.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 04, 2004.

Conman prowls estate

Conman prowls estate
Jun 1 2004
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
A CONMAN posing as a waterboard official tricked his way into the home of an elderly couple and stole their savings.
Detectives are hunting the bogus caller who left the pensioners with no cash to buy food or pay their utility bills for the rest of the month.
The thief wore a yellow workman's jacket when he called at the couple's Kennington home.
He produced a fake ID card with "Waterboard" printed on it and asked the pensioners to turn on their taps and flush the toilets.
But as the couple did so, he ransacked their home and stole their life savings.
Detective Sergeant Charlie Fleury warned people not to allow strangers into their homes - even if they appeared genuine - without an appointment.
The DS said: "The victims are still extremely distressed by this burglary.
"Not only have they been conned out of their savings they have also been left with the emotional fear of callers to their front door."
The distraction burglary took place between 4pm and 8pm on Friday, May 21, at Sangate House in Royal Street, North Lambeth.
Police believe the same conman - described as white, aged 40-55, with grey hair - is responsible for a string of burglaries on the estate on the same day.
Anybody with information should call Kennington police station on 020 8649 2436 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
What do you think should be the punishment for criminals who target the infirm and elderly?
Text: 86633 with SLPTALK at the start, followed by a space and then your comment
Each message costs 25p (Virgin network phones not compatible)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 03, 2004.

Open Garden Squares Weekend: Harleyford Road Community Garden

Open Garden Squares Weekend
12th & 13th June 2004
Harleyford Road Community Garden
Opposite Durham Street (5 mins from Oval tube)
Garden Open Day: Sunday 13th June 2-5pm
FREE ENTRYLive music - tea + cakes
Find your local secret garden!
Details: Amanda 020 7582 5282
www.opensquares.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 01, 2004.

Forecourt maintenance

Forecourt maintenance
We are looking for someone to sweep up the forecourt area of our communal block of flats on a weekly basis. The area includes 3 parking spaces as well as basement entrance area. This should take less than two hours.
If you think you could help us, we'd be pleased to hear from you. Please telephone Cathy on 020 7793 0268 or email cathyvpreece@aol.com
Nils Battye & George Costa
9 Brawdale Road SE22
020 8299 1545
(m) 07958 250191

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 29, 2004.

The hidden history of Kennington Park

The hidden history of Kennington Park
As part of the Vauxhall Festival, Stefan Szczelkun is again giving a walking talk around Kennington Park. The hidden histories of Kennington Park reveal its importance to London and our notions of democracy.
The tour will take about 50 minutes and is free.
1.55pm July 4th 2004
Meet outside Oval Underground Station

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), May 29, 2004.

Jumble Sale

JUMBLE SALE

Saturday, 10th July
11am until 2pm
St Anselm’s Church
Kennington Cross SE11
(at the junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Road)
If you have items you would be willing to donate – they can all be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (9th July) between 5.30-8pm – or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.
Friends of Kennington Park
155 Kennington Park Rd, SE11 4JJ
t: 7582 2849
e: FoKenningtonPark@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), May 29, 2004.

CÉLIA CHANTE... CELIA SINGS...

SOIRÉE CABARET FRANCAIS TO CELEBRATE BASTILLE DAY
CÉLIA CHANTE... CELIA SINGS...
Chansons and classic Jazz ballads
in French and English:
SONGS OF PARIS & PASSIONS,
OF LIFE, LOVE & LONGING
OF INDEPENDENCE & REVOLUTION!
Saturday 17th July at 7pm
St Anselm’s Church Hall
Kennington Cross SE11
(at the junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Road)
Tickets: Ł15 (includes food and a drink)
To book, telephone 020 7793 0268
The evening includes an Auction and a Raffle that include the following items:
lTwo gastronomique menus with a bottle of Muscadet at the Lobster Pot
l Meal for two plus a bottle of wine at The Amici Restaurant, Kennington
l Tea for two with Kate Hoey MP on the terrace of the House of Commons
l Meal for two and drinks at the Kennington Tandoori
l Lithograph of Kennington tube station by Peter Snow
l Signed photograph taken in Kennington Park by local photographer John Hoyland
l Signed copy of her novel The Art of Treason by Anne Widdecombe
l Bottle of House of Commons Whisky signed by Tony Blair
l Pedicure shampoo and set for a dog – Goddard’s Vet
l Free health check including flea and worm treatment for a dog Goddard’s Vet
l A lady's hairstyle from Exstatic of Kennington
l A head of dreads or hairstyle of your choice from Don Abaka of Windmill Row
l Tickets for two, and complimentary cocktails at the South London Pacific
l A meal for two and a bottle of wine at Pizza Express, Kennington
l A pedicure for a cat or a dog – Goddard’s Vet
l Free health check including flea and worm treatment for a cat – Goddard’s Vet
l Chocolates from Yogi News
l “Lambeth, Kennington & Clapham” by Jill Dudman, Britain in Old Photographs series
Kennington Association
C/- 235B Kennington Lane SE11 5QU
E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com W: www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), May 29, 2004.

“The Tradescant Story”

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Updated 18 May 2004
“The Tradescant Story”
is the next (7pm Monday 21 June) in the series of talks held on Monday evenings at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11. Mary Searls will talk on the Museum of Garden History, and on creating the garden there from plants known to the great garden explorers, John Tradescant father and son.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 22, 2004.

And so it came to underpass...

South London Press
And so it came to underpass...
May 21 2004
AS I am employed by a company based near Kennington Road, I (reluctantly) need to use the pedestrian subway to complete my journey to work.
Since the recent rains, this has been made somewhat more difficult by the closure of the route over to the Tabernacle side of the area.
While acknowledging that the heavy rain had caused some problems for the local council, is it really acceptable for them to have been gripped by total inaction regarding the dispersal of the water in this subway?
The sum of their efforts has been to seal it off with cones and tape, emergency measures certainly; but still in place nearly two weeks after is, I feel, not an acceptable solution to the problem.
It should not be too difficult to get the appropriate equipment down to this site to pump out the residual water and return this subway to normal use.
The more acute problem of inadequate drainage should be dealt with as soon as possible, regardless of any long-term proposals for the redevelopment of the area, as none of us should have to tolerate this example of local council inefficiency.
Perhaps Southwark council might give all of us an explanation of its lack of a solution to this matter?
Brendan Murphy
Leytonstone,
East London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 21, 2004.

Bravery rewarded

Bravery rewarded
May 20 2004
By Greg Truscott
Streatham Post
A SPECIAL commendation ceremony has honoured the heroism and professionalism of Lambeth's police officers and exceptional work by members of the public.
Relatives looked on in pride as 39 officers were presented by Borough Commander Dick Quinn with citations for professionalism above and beyond the call of duty.
They included PCs Mark Duncan and Martin Wells who saved the life of a two-week-old baby who had stopped breathing.
Also honoured were Detectives Kwesku Graves and Kirsty Shaw, who tackled an armed gang during a robbery and recovered Ł25,000 in stolen cash.
The ceremony at the Brit Oval cricket ground last week also heard how nurse Claire Ruscoe came to the aid of an elderly man who had collapsed from a heart attack in a busy Kennington street, and saved his life with the help of PC Robert Ellison.
And special recognition was given to Lloyd Leon, former Mayor of Lambeth, for his work as a lay visitor in the borough's police stations and his commitment to improving police and community relations.
Cmdr Quinn said he was inspired by the professionalism of his officers and the selfless actions of the people who live and work in Lambeth.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 21, 2004.

Canon Sir Nicholas Rivett-Carnac, Bt

Telegraph
Canon Sir Nicholas Rivett-Carnac, Bt
(Filed: 20/05/2004)
Canon Sir Nicholas Rivett-Carnac, 8th Bt, who died on May 4 aged 76, exercised a remarkable ministry as Vicar of St Mark's, Kennington Oval, in multi-racial south London, from 1972 to 1989; having undergone an evangelical conversion after ordination, he became a leading figure in the charismatic movement.
Home Office statistics indicated that this was one of the most socially deprived parishes in the country. But the services at St Mark's were characterised by a high degree of spontaneity and informality. The large congregations were made up of local residents, many of them with acute personal and social problems, and a high proportion of young single people from further afield - all of whom were attracted by the dynamic quality of the church's life and the warmth of its fellowship.
Care groups undertook a great deal of pastoral work in the parish; a coffee bar and counselling service at the church was never without customers; reports of the apparently miraculous healing of sick people were not uncommon, and the annual income rose to Ł150,000. When Ł75,000 was needed for the refurbishment of the church in 1979, the congregation produced the money in eight weeks.
Rivett-Carnac was not, however, an extrovert character skilled in beating the evangelical big drum. On the contrary, he was a man of gentle manner and one who was happy for others to occupy the limelight; but he had a deep concern and compassion for the underdog and the dropout, and he exerted considerable influence over individuals and groups by means of a powerful mixture of psychology and piety.
Thomas Nicholas Rivett-Carnac was born on June 3 1927. His father, the younger son of the sixth baronet (also an Anglican clergyman), ended his naval career as a vice-admiral, commanded the battleship Rodney from 1941 to 1943 and was rear-admiral in charge of the Normandy beaches during the Allied invasion of Europe in 1944.
The baronetcy was created in 1836 for James Rivett-Carnac, who was chairman of the East India Company for two years in succession, MP for Sandwich for many years, and Governor of Bombay from 1838 to 1841.
Nicholas Rivett-Carnac went to Marlborough, after which he joined the Scots Guards. He spent 10 years with the regiment, serving as a platoon commander during the fighting in Malaya, when he was mentioned in dispatches, and returning home in time to take part in the Coronation procession in 1953.
Two years later, he left the Army and took a job in the City, but this did not suit him. He then spent some months in Spain, seeking inspiration for the thriller novels he hoped to write. When the inspiration was not forthcoming he returned to London, where a chance encounter led him to social work in Bermondsey.
He was greatly influenced by the preaching of Dr Leslie Weatherhead at the City Temple, and, after training and serving as a probation officer from 1957 to 1959, Rivett-Carnac went to Westcott House, Cambridge, to prepare for Holy Orders. He was ordained in 1963.
His first curacy was in the tough parish of Holy Trinity, Rotherhithe, where he stayed for five years and, in addition to his parochial duties, worked among drug addicts in the West End of London. It was in the course of this work that he underwent the conversion experience that shaped his future ministry.
Next, he spent four years as a curate at the fashionable Holy Trinity Church, Brompton, where he opened the crypt on Saturday evenings for homeless people and dropouts and, for a time during an interregnum, found himself in charge of the parish.
Rivett-Carnac's gifts were now becoming widely known in London, and in 1972 the Bishop of Southwark, Mervyn Stockwood, invited him to cross the Thames to begin what turned out to be a ministry of extraordinary influence at Kennington Oval. In the same year, on the death of his uncle, he succeeded in the baronetcy.
From 1978 to 1982, Rivett-Carnac was Rural Dean of Lambeth; he was an honorary Canon of Southwark Cathedral from 1980 to 1996, then Canon Emeritus. Following his retirement in 1989 he became an honorary curate at Little Common and shared in a marriage renewal project, a special ministry for single people and the establishing of a prayer centre in the stable block at Ashburnham Place, near Battle.
He was Pastor, the Kingdom Faith Ministries, at Roffey Place, Horsham, in Sussex, from 1989 to 1993, and Pastor, Ashburnham Place, Battle, from 1993 to 1996.
He married, in 1977, Susan Marigold MacTier Copeland, who shared fully in his work. There were no children. The heir to the baronetcy is Sir Nicholas's brother, Miles James Rivett-Carnac, who was born in 1933.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 20, 2004.

Situation vacant

Lambeth
Situation Vacant
Finance and Admin Officer
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/025805.pdf
For further information, please refer to the advert
Released: May 18, 2004 5:49 PM
Filesize: 13kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 19, 2004.

The drugs don't wok

The drugs don't wok
May 18 2004
South London Press
A GANG that supplied drugs from a Chinese takeaway has been caged for a total of 16 years.
Two men and a woman were sentenced at Inner London Crown Court yesterday for using the Royal China restaurant in Streatham High Road as a drugs den.
From the front counter the gang of three served up food.
But from the back door they supplied ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis and even offered a drugs delivery service to their customers.
Following a tip-off, police officers found more than Ł66,000 of drugs hidden among rice and noodles in the kitchen and in their warehouse outlet in a nearby flat owned by the lynchpin of the drugs gang, Ci Kwan.
Royal China owner Kwan, 43, of Lambeth Walk, Kennington, was caged for six years after pleading guilty at a previous hearing to conspiracy to supply ecstasy, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of ketamine with intent to supply.
Accountant Rena Wong, 28, and Cheng Huang, 35, denied any part in the crime but were convicted at their trial in February.
Wong, of Lambeth Walk, Kennington, was caged for three years and 10 months for conspiracy to supply ecstasy, conspiracy to supply cannabis and possession of ketamine with intent to supply.
Huang, of Streatham High Road, Streatham, was jailed for six years after being convicted of conspiracy to supply ecstasy and conspiracy to supply cannabis.
Jailing the trio, judge Peter Grobel said: "You Kwan were right at the centre of this conspiracy. I accept there may have been some intimidation but that goes with the territory.
"You were happy to keep this poison in your flat and sell it in your Chinese takeaway.
"Huang, you minded the shop and stored drugs in your bedroom. You were not just an employee of Kwan's, you were a colleague and seriously involved.
"Wong, this is likely to put an end to your career as an accountant."
The gang will be brought back to court for a confiscation hearing on August 2 when they will be stripped of the thousands of pounds they made through selling drugs.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 18, 2004.

Unearthed: story of the WW2 pilot who saved the Palace

Independent
Unearthed: story of the WW2 pilot who saved the Palace
Veteran relives moment he flew into Nazi bomber as dig begins to excavate his Hurricane
By Anthony Barnes, Arts and Media Correspondent
09 May 2004
It was an astonishing act of bravery which many believe saved Buckingham Palace from a direct hit by a German bomber. Fighter pilot Ray Holmes, out of ammunition after downing another plane from the skies, took the decision to fly his Hurricane directly into an enemy aircraft over central London at the tail end of the Battle of Britain.
Disabled by the impact, the German Dornier bomber ploughed into Victoria Station while Mr Holmes's plane crashed into a nearby street, burrowing into the ground. Mr Holmes bailed out shortly after impact and is still alive today. Now the shell of the Hurricane, buried beneath the road ever since, may be hauled from its tomb during a live excavation for Channel Five later this month.
Mr Holmes's extraordinary act of courage occurred on 15 September 1940 as Britain was besieged by German aircraft and his 504 Squadron was scrambled from Hendon to intercept 17 Dorniers on a bombing run over London.
In an interview accompanying the dig, Mr Holmes, aged 89, said: "I saw three Dorniers on their own. I shot one of them down. The other two turned round and I gave chase after them.
"All the other aircraft had disappeared. I discovered that I was heading for this Dornier. When I fired, my guns didn't operate; my ammunition was used. So I carried on and took his tailplane off with my wing. His tail came off and he went nose down. But I found out that it had damaged my aerodynamics. I had to get out."
As the Dornier plummeted to the forecourt of Victoria Station, Mr Holmes bailed out with his plane landing in Buckingham Palace Road.
"My boots had fallen off with the jerk of the parachute. I was heading for the electric rails of Victoria Station. Luckily I missed those and headed towards the roof of a three-storey house. I ended up dangling just off the ground with my feet in a dustbin."
It has long been assumed the Dornier was heading for the palace, as the building had come under fire just days earlier. Chris Bennett, who is leading the excavation team, said: "We don't know for sure that the palace was the target but that was one obvious target."
The project to find the Hurricane has been a 12-year labour of love for Mr Bennett, an aviation archaeologist, whose dig will partially paralyse a busy area of the city.
Mr Bennett said: "There is that thrill of being the first to hold the control column after all this time. It sounds a bit of a cliché, but it is like shaking hands with history."
Jimmy Earley, 80, witnessed the incident as he played football nearby. He told The Independent on Sunday: "All of sudden there was a terrific ratatatat. We looked up and saw these planes, a small one chasing a larger one. It crashed into the bigger plane and fell from the sky and landed just 20 yards from us. It frightened us a bit, you know."
He ran to see the spot where Mr Holmes had landed. "He was still smiling. What a bloody hero - to smash into a plane all that way up. We shook his hand and there were crowds of women all holding him and kissing him."
The same rapturous reception did not greet the German pilot who was beaten by a mob when he landed in Kennington and died the following day.
The dig team hopes to unearth the Hurricane during Fighter Plane Dig ... Live on 30 May. Normally metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar would be used to find the exact spot, but the amount of debris in London's streets and the depth have made that impossible. "We're 80 per cent sure we're right but we really won't know until we dig," Mr Bennett said. "When we find it, it won't look much like an aircraft. It hit the ground at something like 350 miles an hour."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 09, 2004.

Machete gang is caged

Machete gang is caged
May 7 2004
South London Press
A GANG of ruthless machetewielding robbers who terrorised their victims - including pensioners and a young child - have been jailed.
The vicious thugs, jailed for a total of 35 years, committed a string of violent raids on businesses and homes in April and May last year and in one robbery threatened to kill a young mum and her four-year-old son if she went to police.
Just days earlier during another house raid, brave victim David King, 64, was left with deep gashes to his arms and legs when he was slashed as he tried to protect his partner after the gang burst in during the middle of the night.
Kingston Crown Court heard how the gang led by sadistic thug Lee Sheehan, 34, burst into the young mum's Norwood house and beat her with a police baton and threw her four-year-old son to the ground before threatening him with a machete.
The gang fled with thousands of pounds worth of jewellery, a DVD player and other electrical goods.
A few days earlier Sheehan raided the Norwood home of Annette Philips and David King, again wielding a 24-inch machete.
Kingston Crown Court heard how Sheehan forced his way into a computer warehouse in Kennington before brutally laying into the slightly-built nightwatchman.
Sheehan repeatedly punched his victim as he lay on the ground covered in blood before sneering: "Next time you'll remember to lock the main gate."
The men jumped into their van before driving at police officers who had walked in on the raid.
The gang managed to make their escape by smashing their way through the gates of the warehouse.
The night-time raid took place on May 9 last year.
Sheehan, of Mitcham, admitted four counts of robbery, one charge of conspiracy to rob and three counts of handling stolen goods. He was sentenced to 13 years on Tuesday.
Walker, of Streatham, admitted one count of robbery and was sentenced to seven years.
Paul Gray, 33, of West Norwood, admitted one count of conspiracy to rob and one of handling stolen goods. He was jailed for nine years.
Joanne Job, 37, of Clapham, admitted conspiracy to rob and handling stolen goods and was given five years.
Nadia Biressi, 37, of Norwood, admitted one count of handling stolen goods and was sentenced to 12 months.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2004.

Knifed in the chest

Knifed in the chest
May 7 2004
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
A DOORMAN was lucky to escape with his life when he was stabbed in the chest by a punter he had ejected.
The knife narrowly missed the heart of the doorman, puncturing his lung.
He was rushed to hospital after the attack at the Queen Anne pub in Vauxhall Walk, Vauxhall, on Saturday, April 17.
The bouncer had ejected a man of "oriental appearance" between 7pm and 8pm on the day of the attack for being loud and abusive.
The man left the premises after an altercation only to return an hour later with three other men, one of whom was brandishing a hammer.
It was used to smash a window while the main suspect walked into the pub and stabbed the doorman.
Police want to speak to anyone who was in the pub in the afternoon or later in the evening.
Detectives believe there were 20 to 30 customers inside when the stabbing took place.
The knifeman is described as oriental, of thin build and aged in his late 20s to early 40s.
He is around 5ft 2in tall with short dark hair and was wearing a dark shirt with a black waistcoat and dark trousers.
Information to Detective Constable Gary Moncrieff at Kennington CID on 0208 649 2440 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
All calls will be dealt with in strict confidence.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2004.

Sell-off shock

Sell-off shock
May 7 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
A BUMPER sell-off of around 80 properties could raise Ł20million for a cash-strapped council.
Lambeth council has drawn up a list of properties deemed "surplus to requirements", including two schools, an old fire station and an empty hospital.
Kennington's Lilian Baylis School is up for sale - the secondary is due to move to a new building in Kennington Lane in January.
So is Norwood Park Primary School on Gipsy Road, which is due to move to new premises.
The Old Fire Station in Clapham, the former Annie McCall Hospital in Stockwell, Raleigh Hall in Brixton and the South London Theatre in Norwood are also on the list.
A report on the sales states most of the properties will be offered for sale by public auction or tender, although in 13 cases, existing tenants will be given first refusal.
If the sales get the green light from councillors at Monday's executive meeting and fetch their prices, they should raise Ł20million.
Deputy leader of Lambeth Labour group, Councillor Jackie Meldrum, accused the council of not consulting on the sales.
She said: "Without this information local people and their representatives have been unable to suggest possible alternative uses for these buildings.
"We need new schools, buildings for community hubs and GPs need surgeries - where are they all going to go if these are sold off?"
Lambeth's executive member for finance, Cllr Ashley Lumsden, said the sales were discussed at a full council meeting in February. The public have know since March and the council has consulted with tenants on individual properties.
He claimed the sales will not always be to the highest bidder as some are designed to help the community.
He gave the example of the South London Theatre, which will have the chance to buy its freehold off the council at a reduced rate, and The Rising Sun pub, in Larkhall Lane, which the council wants to be used for community benefit.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2004.

Sublet or B & B

Sublet or B & B
My mother and godmother are coming to visit for a week, commencing 18 May.
Is there anyone going away who might be interested in subletting for a week, or perhaps interested in offering B & B? I live in Kennington Cross and would love to have them stay locally - sadly our place is too small.
Any response would be gratefully appreciated! I can be reached via email or on 07970 506 983. THANK YOU!!

-- Kaethe (kaethe@kpc.demon.co.uk), May 06, 2004.

Trail of blood leads to seriously hurt woman

Trail of blood leads to seriously hurt woman
May 4 2004
South London Press
POLICE followed a trail of blood to a woman who had been beaten about the head with a copper pipe and robbed of her purse.
The 43-year-old victim suffered two large cuts to her head - one three inches long - when she was attacked from behind by two men.
Police received reports of a woman screaming. They found her by following the blood on the pavement.
She was given first aid and taken to hospital where she was treated for her injuries.
The robbers escaped with the woman's purse, which contained small change, after beating her to the floor with the weapon.
The attack took place as the woman turned into Rita Street from Fentiman Street in Clapham, at around 9.50pm on Wednesday last week. Detective Constable Simon Biscoe has appealed for witnesses and information.
He said: "This vicious attack has left a woman seriously injured - and all for the sake of some loose change.
"The violence used was shocking and an exception to the trend, where robbery in Lambeth has been reduced by nearly 18 per cent in the last year.
"Their cowardly actions must be brought to justice and we need the public's assistance in providing information."
The only descriptions of the attackers available are of two men, one wearing a white T-shirt, the other a dark shirt.
Information to Kennington Priority Crime Unit on 020 8649 2484, or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 05, 2004.

Alexander Macintosh

Alexander Macintosh
It is with the greatest sadness that I write to tell you that Alexander Macintosh died at home this morning ( Monday May 3rd). His ex-wife Jane rang to tell me the news and to say that he died peacefully and,once he knew there was no hope, he wanted to go quickly.
The funeral will be for family only but there will be a service later for everyone. Jane asked me to pass on the news to as many people as I could and I would be grateful if you could inform those for whom I have no addresses.
As some of us have discussed, we would like to organise a permanent memorial for Alexander in Vauxhall Park in recognition of all he did for all of us who live in this community. Vauxhall Park looks beautiful at the moment- a fitting memorial to him for all the work he did there.
Philippa.

-- Philippa (owens@dco.demon.co.uk), May 04, 2004.

The Camera Club

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 3 May 2004
The Camera Club
invites all local residents to join them for a glass of wine at the Friday 7 May opening night of an exhibition of photos taken by Lambeth residents. The exhibition is open from 6-8pm at the club's premises at 16 Bowden Street, SE11, just behind Kennington Cross. Local residents interested in photography might well like to join the club which offers a superb range of facilities, including a digital suite for manipulating and printing digital images, as well as a studio and darkroom for more traditional photo technology. Lambeth residents get a one-third discount on the normal annual fee.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 04, 2004.

vincent - the full story

Channel4.com > Culture
vincent - the full story
As a man with a religious background, he would have undoubtedly noted St Mark's Church in Kennington, started in 1822 to a design by architect DR Roper.
http://www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/V/vincent/walks.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2004.

Sort out these parking spaces

Sort out these parking spaces
Apr 30 2004
WITH all the concerns about the effect of the congestion charge zone on local shops inside the zone, it was good to see both London Assembly member Val Shawcross and Kate Hoey MP visiting shops in Jonathan Street and Vauxhall Street just inside the zone in Kennington, Vauxhall.
One of the main concerns of shopkeepers is the lack of free short-term parking spaces for passing trade. All local parking spaces are for residents only or for use of shopkeepers only (loading/unloading only) and these are never full.
Shopkeepers need a change in the designation of these parking spaces to allow passing customers to park for free and shop.
The Lib Dems who run Lambeth council complained bitterly about the imposition of the boundary through Kennington, claiming that it would hurt businesses on the boundary.
But when they have a chance to help, it seems they do nothing.
Shopkeepers are facing a variety of problems at the moment and some may go under. Lambeth Lib Dems should stop shedding crocodile tears and change the designation of these parking spaces now.
Sam Townend (writing in a personal capacity),
Committee member
Friends of Kennington Cross

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 30, 2004.

Roots and Shoots plant sales days and June Open Weekend

Roots and Shoots plant sales days and June Open Weekend
As Summer approaches, so does our our Annual Open Weekend!!
We will be open On June 12th and June 13th from 11am - 4pm.
There will be tours around the Wildlife Garden with our insect expert!!
Beehive demonstrations – see our famous bees, last seen on BBC news!
Story telling in the Lambeth’s Dragons Lair
Plant sales and plant advice from our garden experts
Sales of local London honey
Refreshments
Come and experience a bit an inner London oasis!!
Plants for Sale
AT
ROOTS AND SHOOTS
WALNUT TREE WALK
LONDON SE11 6DN
Tel: 020 7587 1131
(entrance in Fitzalan Street)
OPENING TIMES
for May and June
10am- 4pm Monday– Friday
(closed Bank Holidays)
10am- 2pm Saturdays only
plus
GARDEN WEEKEND
Sat 12th and Sun 13th June
11am- 4pm
Roots and Shoots Reg. Charity No. 1064070/0
Training young people to reach their potential

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 30, 2004.

ID Cards

Southwark Council is seeking your views on ID cards at http://www.southwark.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 29, 2004.

Knifeman threatens mother and baby

Knifeman threatens mother and baby
Apr 27 2004
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
POLICE hunting a gold-toothed robber who threatened a shop customer with a knife as she cradled her baby want to speak to this man.
A knife-wielding robber with two gold incisors threatened to stab a shop assistant and the terrified woman when he held up a video rental store in Clapham Road, Kennington.
The assistant, the woman and her child were ordered into the storeroom as the knifeman and an accomplice ransacked the shop for cash, DVDs and computer games. The two men then left, locking their victims in the shop. A passer-by released them and police were called.
Police are now anxious to trace the woman with the baby who left the scene before officers arrived.
Detective Constable Paul Donoghue said: "These callous robbers need to be caught. They were determined to steal property and unusually threatened a member of the public to achieve their goal.
"We need to speak to the lady who was threatened and is a key witness."
The robbery took place on April 8 just before 10pm. The robber armed with a knife is described as 5ft 7in tall, black and aged about 30. He was wearing a green woolly hat with white stripes, a waist-length dark jacket and blue jeans.
The second suspect is described as 6ft 2in tall, black and about 25 years old. He was wearing a black, hooded jacket with a furry hood and a Burberry check bandanna over the lower part of his face. Both men were last seen walking towards Hanover Gardens.
Call Kennington Crime Unit on 020 8649 2434 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
020 8710 6435 email: crime@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 28, 2004.

Situation Vacant: Teacher

Lambeth
EMA Teacher
For further information, please refer to advert.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/025433.pdf
Released: 27 April, 2004 03:35
Filesize: 985kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 28, 2004.

Archbishop's intervention in politics

Times: Letters
April 27, 2004
Archbishop's intervention in politics
From Mr David Grayson
Sir, I think it is legitimate for Rowan Williams to ask questions about our declining engagement with elected politics and respect for politicians and the political process. Iraq may be part of this, but I suspect that there are deeper factors.
For more than 20 years, we have been moving to a more professional political class; intellectually bright people, but perhaps with less of what Lord Healey used to call “hinterland” — a range of other life experiences to bring into politics.
This is compounded with more layers of elected offices; for example, devolution has yet to produce reductions in the size of the House of Commons. Nor should we fall into the trap of equating interest in politics in general, for example the environment or global poverty, with elected politics. There are a variety of ways that citizens concerned with political issues can contribute positively.
Yours faithfully,
DAVID GRAYSON,
19 Gilbert Road,
Kennington, SE11 4NZ.
April 26.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 27, 2004.

Dukes of Burgundy

Telegraph: Wine
Dukes of Burgundy
(Filed: 24/04/2004)
Tasting the vintage is a test of stamina – and jabbing elbows – in the search for the ultimate bottle of the world’s most seductive wine, writes Andrew Catchpole
Last month, hundreds of writers, wine merchants, restaurateurs and wine-makers descended on the pretty stone villages of Burgundy for an annual homage to the world’s most seductive, complex and infuriating wine region. Known as Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne, it’s a week-long marathon of wine-tasting, in which red-faced Burgundy fanatics come together in rambling, subterranean cellars to search for the ultimate bottle.
The event requires immense stamina, a well-trained palate and very un-British elbow work to fight through the crowds. The tasting frenzy is greatest along the much-eulogised slopes of the Côte d’Or. Here, between Dijon and Chalon, the steeply tiled Burgundian church spires are like giant pins in a lifesize patchwork map flagging up world-famous wine villages as you skirt the vineyards.
The evocative names of Vosne-Romanée, Nuits-St-Georges, Volnay and Meursault are enough to lure even a hardened teetotaller from the main road. As a Burgundian once told me, the size of the congregation in the village churches ebbs and flows according to the quality of the communion wines.
The reason Burgundy has such a following is easy to understand. At best, the reds are infused with supple red and black fruits and an earthy complexity, which makes for the greatest Pinot Noir experience in the world. The whites combine poise and concentration with a mineral intensity. It’s a sublimely elegant style of Chardonnay that is copied, but rarely equalled, elsewhere.
“The essence of Burgundy is all about the individual character of the soil,” says Nicolas Potel, a young wine-maker at Nuits-St-Georges. Traditionally, wine-making here is divided between large négociants, or companies, which buy in and blend their wines, and smaller growers who produce wine from their own vines. Potel is a maverick who makes small batches of wine with other growers’ grapes. Each of his wines is different, reflecting the spirit, or terroir, of a small patch of vines.
It’s a complicated business. “There are 100-odd appellations [or ACs] from which the wine can take its name,” says Potel. Towards the top of the pile are Premiers Crus, with the village name often affixed to that of a vineyard, and Grands Crus, which may only have a single vineyard name.
Following an excellent tasting of Premier and Grand Cru wines in the maze-like cellars of Beaune négociant house Bouchard Pčre et Fils, Bernard Hervet offers to show me around.
“The legacy of the Napoleonic inheritance laws dividing land between siblings means growers often own as little as one or two rows of vines in one of the great Crus,” says Hervet. The golden rule is to look for the name of the producer on the bottle. Without this knowledge, Burgundy can be damagingly expensive and disappointingly hit and miss.
You get the picture standing among the gnarled low vines of the Montrachet Grands Crus. A price tag of Ł2.2 million an acre makes these poor-looking, stone- strewn soils the most expensive agricultural land in the world.
The golden hillside arcs downwards, from the slopes of Chevalier Montrachet, via Le Montrachet, to Bâtard-Montrachet. Each has a patchwork of differently aged, differently tended strips of vines. “Each strip belongs to a different grower,” says Hervet. “And each produces a subtly different wine.”
Les Grands Jours de Bourgogne perfectly captures the contrast between this region and its great French rival, Bordeaux. Part of the charm of Burgundy is its relaxed, rural air. This is not a region of immense bourgeois châteaux and conspicuous wealth. The wine-makers are often old farmers and their ruddy-faced offspring who happen to own vines.
The 2002 vintage is looking good for both red and white, although, as ever, there are plenty of rustic shockers and badly made wines. It is incredible how much difference there often is between wines from neighbouring vineyards.
Stepping back and watching the semi-organised chaos of the tasting frenzy, I realise why the intricate charms of Burgundy will never be reproduced anywhere else in the world. This is the most French of French wine regions. Long may it remain unchanged.
Tasting tips
Do not miss René et Vincent Dauvissat for finely honed Chablis with an incredible mineral intensity.
Try Dujac for superb quality Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-St-Denis and Chambolle-Musigny.
The phenomenally expensive, legendary wines of Domaine de la Romanée Conti are, for many enthusiasts, the greatest expressions of Burgundy.
Vosne-Romanée domaine Anne Gros makes several outstanding wines, with great concentration and classy complexity.
The charismatic Nicolas Potel represents a new generation of micro-négociants, making smallish quantities of superb wine from very carefully sourced grapes.
Wines of the week
Domaine des Malandes 2002 Chablis 1er Cru Vau de Vey (Ł11.99; Edward Sheldon, 01608 661409; Wine Service, 01342 837333; Wicked Wines, 01377 255725). This is everything a good Chablis should be, with elegant, concentrated fruit. Roll out the finest oysters and langoustines for a heavenly marriage.
Domaine Borgeot 2001 Rully-Villages (Ł11.99; Oddbins). The rambling Côte Chalonnaise may lack the reputation of the Côte d’Or, but this charmingly fresh, mineral-edged wine, with its buttery hints, is excellent value for money. A sure hit with lighter fish dishes, moules mariničre or warm chicken salads.
Saint-Romain 2000 Alain Gras (Ł11.80; Tanners, 01743 234455). An excellent find that shows what the often underrated appellation of Saint Romain can achieve. The Burgundian hallmarks of smooth fruit over earthier depths make this a fine choice for boeuf bourguignon or a poulet de Bresse.
Volnay 2000 Vieilles Vignes, Nicolas Potel (Ł18.45; Berry Bros. & Rudd, 020 7396 9600). Nicolas Potel, despite having no vines of his own, crafts excellent wines, such as this rich, smooth and complex Volnay, with consummate care. This would be a superb match for beef, duck or almost any type of game.
Wine merchants
• Haynes Hanson & Clark, 25 Ecclestone Street, London SW1 (020 7259 0102; also in Stow-on-the-Wold, 01451 870808). Superb source of small parcels from top growers in Burgundy’s most renowned villages.
• Montrachet Fine Wines, 59 Kennington Road, London SE1 (020 7928 1990; www.montrachetwine.com). Serious wines from Master of Wine Charles Taylor for those seeking to invest in or drink the finest Burgundy.
• Morris & Verdin (020 7921 5300; www.morris-verdin.co.uk). Burgundy-phile Jasper Morris has assembled an impeccable list of top Burgundies from small growers.
• Domaine Direct, 6-9 Cynthia Street, London N1 (020 7837 1142; www.domainedirect.co.uk). An extensive list specialising in smaller houses selected with an uncompromising eye for quality over volume.
• Bibendum Fine Wines, 113 Regent’s Park Road, London NW1 (020 7449 4120; www.bibendum-wine.co.uk). This slick Primrose Hill merchant provides fertile hunting ground for several of the most sought-after names in Burgundy.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2004.

Cannabis festival to go ahead

Cannabis festival to go ahead
Apr 23 2004
South London Press
A CANNABIS festival is set to go ahead after an agreement was reached on the cost of staging it.
Event organiser Shane Collins, who is Green Party London Assembly candidate for Lambeth and Southwark, met Lambeth council on Monday.
The authority will charge Mr Collins a Ł7,000 letting fee plus a Ł5,000 deposit to hold the festival in Brockwell Park.
The event on May 8 will begin with a march from Kennington Park - about 5,000 people are expected to attend.
The council's licensing committee granted a music and dance licence for the festival at its meeting on Tuesday.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr Collins said: "Financially the event is on a knife edge. If it rains we are stuffed.
"The cost has shot up. Last year it cost 52p per person. Now it is Ł1.40 per person. For a free event that is a huge increase.
"This year we have scaled down the event considerably and we have cut back on the sound systems. We always leave the park cleaner than we find it."
A council spokeswoman said: "The usual commercial rate is Ł7,000. The Ł5,000 deposit on top of that, in case there is any damage to the park, is recoverable.
"We are assuming there will be a turnout of 5,000 people at Ł1.40 per head but there will probably be more people than that.
"We can't give Mr Collins a reduced rate for community groups and charities because he does not meet the criteria.
"We are anxious to stress it is nothing to do with the nature of the event.
"Cannabis is illegal but campaigning for it to be made legal is a person's democratic right and we have no problem with people exercising that right."
What do you think about the cannabis festival going ahead?
Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2004.

Asylum boss uses football to teach kids

Asylum boss uses football to teach kids
Apr 23 2004
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
TWO years ago, June Thomas-Crandon knew nothing about football - now she has been voted team manager of the year.
June became drawn into the beautiful game through her job working for the asylum seekers' team at Lambeth council.
Her role is to support young people aged 16 to 18 who have arrived in Britain alone and are seeking asylum.
Clapham Common
After deciding to set up a football team, June wasted no time in getting some of the boys down to Clapham Common for a kickabout.
Despite her lack of football knowhow, June took on the role of coach to the boys, who hail from countries including Eritrea, Uganda, Congo, Vietnam, Somalia and Kosovo.
As the team improved, June took on a trained coach and the boys played their first competitive game.
They were noticed by Street League, a football league for people who are in some way disadvantaged.
The Lambeth boys started in the third league but were quickly promoted to the first and, with up to 40 keen to play, June had to create two teams - Lambeth All Nations and Lambeth Stars. Between them, they have won five cups, one plate and seven individual team prizes.
One player, 19-year- old Izedin Harusha, from Kosovo, is on trial playing for Woking FC. The boys train with a coach from Street League every Friday in Kennington Park and play a match once a month.
Player Hamed Ghariib, 16, from Somalia, has been in the team for a year.
He said: "I have made many friends. When I started to play, I couldn't speak English. Other players have helped me to learn." June, who is now setting up a girls' team, said: "I want to try to help them develop certain skills. Even if they can't speak the language, they learn to communicate through the football."
Street League has just named June its team manager of the year.
When they are not playing football, the lads are all in full-time education and live in supported housing provided by Lambeth council.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 23, 2004.

RUMOURS DOG STAR SPACEY

Daily Record
RUMOURS DOG STAR SPACEY
Apr 23 2004
HOLLYWOOD star Kevin Spacey yesterday jokingly brushed off rumours about why he was walking his dog in a London park at 4.30am.
The theatre director, who refuses to discuss his sexuality, claimed he chased a thief who stole his mobile phone as he strolled in the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park in Kennington last Saturday.
Spacey, 44, said: 'I would like to put to rest a rumour that has been spreading about town ... that David Beckham would donate Ł100,000 to the Old Vic if I took him off the front pages for a few days!'

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 23, 2004.

Spacey makes light of 'mugging' and pledges future to the Old Vic

Independent
Spacey makes light of 'mugging' and pledges future to the Old Vic
By Louise Jury
Arts Correspondent
23 April 2004
Kevin Spacey was forced to fend off questions about his private life yesterday as he announced the new line-up for his first season as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.
As part of a glamorous new future for the London venue, Sir Ian McKellen is to star as a panto dame at Christmas, while Spacey and Neil Pearson will perform in other shows.
But the news conference to announce the programme was overshadowed by persistent questions about why the Hollywood actor had wrongly reported being mugged in a Kennington park on Saturday. Gazing at a sea of journalists swelled beyond the ranks of the normal arts correspondents yesterday, Spacey said that he was pleased editors had finally decided theatre was worth writing about.
Aware of there being greater curiosity among those present over how he was mugged - or conned - of his mobile telephone while walking his dog in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park at 4.30am on Saturday, Spacey made light of the incident. He said: "I would like to put to rest a rumour that has spread about town in the last few days, that David Beckham offered to pay Ł100,000 to the Old Vic if I took him off the front pages for a few days."
Smiling at all other questions about dog walking, Spacey announced that, in the tradition of actor-managers epitomised by Laurence Olivier in the 1960s, he would star in two plays at the theatre and direct another starring Pearson and Hugh Bonneville. At Christmas, Sir Ian will make his first appearance at the Old Vic for 40 years.
Spacey, the star of American Beauty and The Usual Suspects, made clear his commitment to living in London and running the new Old Vic Theatre Company in the 186-year-old venue. "I'm not going to be giving up my film career entirely, but my primary focus is going to be this theatre," he said. "It won't be easy. But it will be worth the risk."
Until nine years ago, his experience had been almost exclusively in the theatre, "the most satisfying place to be as an actor", he said.
He said the first production this September would be a Dutch hit unknown in UK, Cloaca, by Maria Goos, which will star Stephen Tompkinson as well as Pearson and Bonneville, with Spacey directing. The second will be Aladdin with McKellen as Widow Twankey, followed by the European premiere of National Anthems, by the American writer Dennis McIntyre, in which Spacey will star. He first performed it 15 years ago and "felt so strongly" that he acquired the rights and has held them ever since.
The final production of the first season will be The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry, a stage play better known in its film version, which starred Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn. Spacey will star as CK Dexter Haven.
The Old Vic is being run as a commercial venture, but there will be 100 seats at Ł12 for under-25s at every performance to attract new audiences.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 23, 2004.

I will stay in Britain, says Spacey

Telegraph
I will stay in Britain, says Spacey
By Chris Boffey
(Filed: 21/04/2004)
Kevin Spacey, the Oscar-winning actor, has pledged to stay in Britain despite being the victim of theft in a park and then facing ordeal by innuendo about his sexuality in tabloid newspapers.
Spacey, 44, the artistic director of the Old Vic, said: "For all this to happen at such an exciting moment for me as we are poised to announce our first season at the Old Vic on Thursday is unfortunate. I do not love London any less."
Yesterday, Scotland Yard took the unusual step of authorising officials to back Spacey's version of the events that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning when he was conned out of his mobile phone and arrived at Kennington police station bleeding from a head wound.
A spokesman said Spacey had initially told police that he had been mugged. "This was a misunderstanding of the use of the term that is common among victims of crime and members of the public," said the spokesman.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 21, 2004.

Fears for dope fest

Fears for dope fest
Apr 20 2004
South London Press
A CANNABIS festival could be cancelled if a deal is not reached over the cost.
Due to be held in Brockwell Park on May 8, the festival would involve a march from Kennington Park which is expected to attract about 5,000 people.
However, organisers say they cannot afford the commercial rates for hiring Brockwell Park, which are higher than rates paid by community groups.
Event organiser Shane Collins, who is Green Party London Assembly candidate for Lambeth and Southwark, said: "If we can't get recognised as a community group we will have to call it all off."
Mr Collins claims the commercial rates would be Ł9,000.
Lambeth council was not able to confirm the figure yesterday.
A spokeswoman said: "There is a meeting this morning.
"Last year they got a discount but there was a special reason for it - a new policy was being introduced."
An application for a music and dancing licence will be put before the council's licensing committee at Lambeth Town Hall at 7pm tonight.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 21, 2004.

Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Ask Kevin Spacey

Times
April 20, 2004
People with Andrew Pierce
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Ask Kevin Spacey
Kevin Spacey, like the former Cabinet minister Ron Davies, has discovered the perils of walking in a South London park after dark.
The Hollywood actor was duped by a young man into handing over his telephone in the park near his Kennington flat at, erm, 4am as he was walking his dog.
Spacey, the artistic director of the Old Vic Theatre, gave chase, tripped over his dog lead and cut his head. He went into a police station and reported that he had been mugged, but after hospital treatment returned to withdraw the complaint.
He went on the Today programme yesterday to talk about the Old Vic but preferred instead to talk about the mugging in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, Lambeth, that never was.
In a bravura performance worthy of his two Oscars, Spacey, a friend of Peter Mandelson, said: “Walking your dog in the park is a perfectly normal thing to do, but . . . they are always trying to, you know, (say) ‘What was he doing in that park at 4.30am? ’ My doggy had to go!”
Spacey, who denies scurrilous gossip that he is gay, said: “I fell for a con. Some sob story about somebody needing to call their mother and could they use my phone. It was such a good con, that I dialled the number myself, when somebody answered I finally handed my phone. I feel like the biggest fool that has ever lived.”
He decided not to press charges: “There is a difference between assault and theft and it wasn’t on for me not to not come clean about my own embarrassment.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 20, 2004.

YEAH, RIGHT KEV...

Mirror
YEAH, RIGHT KEV...
Apr 20 2004
By Alexandra Williams
HOLLYWOOD star Kevin Spacey yesterday admitted he had lied to police about being mugged in a park on a 4.30am dog walk.
The double Oscar winner reported an attack to police but withdrew the complaint hours later.
Yesterday he revealed he was actually tricked into handing over his mobile phone and hurt his head tripping over his dog chasing the thief.
He said: "I fell for a con. Some sob story about somebody needing to call their mother and could they use my phone. It was such a good con, that I actually dialled the number myself and when somebody answered I handed over my phone.
"And this kid took off and I was so upset I ran after him. It was late in the morning and I was walking my dog. It was about 4am, and I tripped up over my dog, and I ended up falling on to the street and hitting my head.
"And now I'm bleeding relatively profusely, I'm extremely upset, I feel like the biggest fool that has ever lived. I march over to the police station and I say I got mugged."
The 44-year-old claimed he had fudged the facts due to embarrassment - and in the hope police would "run out and find this kid a block later". The actor, who has fought rumours he is gay, also said the early-hours dog walk was "a perfectly normal thing".
Yesterday a police source said: "He's lucky the police are not pursuing him for wasting time."
Spacey "came clean" about the Mirror's exclusive on Saturday's incident at Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park near his home in Kennington, South London, on BBC Radio 4. The American Beauty star explained why he withdrew the claim, saying: "I thought there is a difference between assault and theft."
He went on: "I just want to apologise to the police and any readers and anyone who picks up this story thinking it is actually true."
Asked about his early-hours walk he said: "You know walking your dog in the park is a perfectly normal thing to do... My doggy had to go!"
He later looked uncomfortable when the Mirror tried to ask him about the theft as he dined in the Old Vic's Pit Bar. An aide said: "We are going to make a statement but not yet."
Police are not investigating.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 20, 2004.

Spacey's walk in the park turns into the mystery of the mugging that never was

Independent
Spacey's walk in the park turns into the mystery of the mugging that never was
By Ian Burrell, Media Editor
20 April 2004
As the Oscar-winning star of The Usual Suspects, Kevin Spacey has been acknowledged at the highest level for his ability to convey a complex tale of criminal behaviour.
But try convincing the officers at Kennington police station in south London, who were amazed to see the Hollywood actor walk into their nick at 5am on Saturday morning bloodied and claiming that he had been the victim of a violent attack.
Mr Spacey said he had left his home nearby to take his dog for a walk at 4.30am in the Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, off St George's Road. He claimed to have been assaulted and robbed of his mobile phone.
The officers took details from the actor and drove him to the accident and emergency department at St Thomas' Hospital, south London, where his wound was treated. A couple of hours later, Mr Spacey returned to the station and withdrew his earlier allegations, leaving the officers in a state of some bewilderment.
Kennington, an inner London neighbourhood that includes the Oval cricket ground and the Imperial War Museum, has its share of social problems but is home to many famous figures in business, entertainment and politics, including Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary.
But it is not every day that a Hollywood actor reports being a crime victim in these parts and despite the star's attempts to draw a veil over the incident, it was only a matter of time before the news reached a wider public.
Reports emerged yesterday morning that Mr Spacey had been "brutally mugged" and "beaten" in a violent attack.
The actor was so stung by reading what he knew to be a false version of what happened that within hours he was addressing national radio, apologising profusely and asking to "set the record straight".
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: "What actually happened is, I fell for a con and I was incredibly embarrassed by it. Some sob story about somebody needing to call their mother and could they use my phone. It was such a good con I dialled the number myself and when somebody answered I handed [over] my phone. This kid took off and I was so upset I ran after him. I tripped up over my dog and ended up falling on to the street and hitting my head.
"And now I'm bleeding relatively profusely. I'm extremely upset. I feel like the biggest fool that has ever lived. I march over to the police station and say I got mugged. And I'm thinking they are going to run over and find this kid a block later. They take me to the hospital and they were very kind.
"That is one of the reasons I went back on Saturday morning to the police station. I woke up after a couple of hours' sleep and I thought, 'There is a difference between assault and theft' and it just wasn't on for me to not come clean about my own level of embarrassment and being humble at the fact that I got taken by the oldest con going."
He said he wanted to apologise to the police and to members of the public who had been misled by the reports that he had been beaten up.
Scotland Yard, which had earlier taken the view that because the allegation had been withdrawn there was nothing to investigate, said yesterday afternoon that it was looking into the matter but treating it as a theft and not as the robbery that had originally been reported.
The episode is embarrassing to the actor, who has become a popular figure on the London social circuit since he agreed to become the artistic director of the Old Vic theatre.
Mr Spacey is good friends with the former cabinet minister Peter Mandelson, who is a trustee of the Old Vic, which opened in 1818 and is one of London's oldest theatres. When he was appointed, the Hollywood star staged a glittering fund-raising event featuring Sir Elton John and Courtney Love. Tickets for the event cost Ł1,000. The actor has promised to appear in at least two plays a year and to direct other productions. His love affair with the Old Vic goes back at least six years, to when he appeared there in The Ice Man Cometh and won a Laurence Olivier award for his performance. He has bought a home close to the theatre, which is near where the phone incident is alleged to have taken place. Mr Spacey grew up in New Jersey as the youngest of three children. He was expelled from Northbridge Military Academy after only a few months and was sent to a high school in California where he developed his love for drama, playing Captain Von Trapp in a school production of The Sound of Music.
His film career includes roles in such movies as LA Confidential, A Time to Kill and The Negotiator. Spacey, who is close friends with former American president Bill Clinton, won a second Oscar for his starring role in the drama American Beauty.
Questions are also being asked as to why a super-wealthy Hollywood star would risk his safety by venturing into an inner city park at 4.30am.
But Mr Spacey, who denies rumours that he is gay, explained that his early morning perambulation of Kennington was inspired by nothing more than his pet's need of a little relief. "My doggy had to go," he said.
Somewhat ironically, Spacey's film career began with a role as a petty thief in the 1986 film Heartburn.
His big break came with the part of Roger "Verbal" Kint, a creepy, smooth-talking eye-witness in 1995's The Usual Suspects, for which he won an Academy Award for best supporting actor. The same year, he produced a chilling performance as a serial killer in the thriller Seven. Spacey has played almost every type of character in the crime genre. A role as the cocky detective Jack Vincennes in LA Confidential in 1997 was followed by a part as a murder suspect in Midnight in the Garden of Good Evil.
But his best known part has probably been that of Lester Burnham, a middle-aged man on the verge of a mid-life crisis in the dark, suburban satire American Beauty. Within four days of the film opening, Spacey was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 20, 2004.

Loos: Fling might be good for Beckham marriage

Online Ireland
Loos: Fling might be good for Beckham marriage
2004-04-19 19:40
Rebecca Loos claimed today that her alleged fling with David Beckham might actually be good for his marriage.
The former PA said news of the England captain's alleged infidelity could strengthen the star's relationship with wife Victoria.
And she blamed the former Spice Girl for letting the affair happen, saying: "If there hadn't been a gap in that bed I wouldn't have been in it."
Loos gave her second TV interview in the space of a week to Channel 4's Richard and Judy show.
Describing the alleged fling with the footballer as a mere "hiccup" for the Beckhams, she said she hoped the marriage would survive.
"Every relationship goes through hiccups. That's what keeps a relationship strong and keeps it going in many ways." she said.
Co-presenter Judy Finnigan asked her: "It's been speculated that the affair happened because he was lonely, because Victoria was not in Spain. Do you agree with that?"
Loos replied: "To a great extent I would, yes. I feel that if there hadn't been a gap in that bed I wouldn't have been in it."
Beckham has dismissed her claims as "ludicrous" and his lawyers are said to be considering legal action over fresh revelations.
Asked if she felt guilty about the alleged affair, Loos replied: "I did play a part in it."
Presenter Richard Madeley spluttered: "50% of it, love."
She shot back: "Well, so did he. And we know now I wasn't the only one," referring to claims made by Malaysian-born escort girl Sarah Marbeck.
Loos claimed Beckham had insisted to her she was the only "other woman" in his life.
"We were in bed and I said 'you must have had so many lovers'," she said.
"He said 'no, of course not, I'm far too much of a public figure'."
Loos said she had "stupidly" believed his claims.
And she complained about opinion polls which show the public blame either her or Victoria for any affair, but not David.
"It's often that, isn't it, that the guys get a pat on the back," she said.
The privately-educated PA said she had never set out to do a kiss-and-tell.
"I didn't fall for the England captain, I didn't fall for the image, I fell for the man behind that," she insisted. "That was where my feelings came from."
She laughed off suggestions that she was to make Ł1m (€1.5m) for her story, claiming the real figure was "nowhere near" that sum.
But her publicist Max Clifford claimed today she had made Ł800,000 (€1.2m) so far and is relishing her new-found fame.
"I can see it in her eyes," he told the Evening Standard. I can tell she loves the money and the attention."
He said that when Loos came to him she "was worried that she wouldn't be able to work again as a PA. I explained that the money I could generate from this would mean she wouldn't have to work again."
And she may have two more bombshell kiss-and-tell stories up her sleeve.
Bisexual Loos has had sex with two other "major stars, one male and one female", Clifford claims.
She certainly looked every inch the celebrity as she arrived at the Richard and Judy studios in Kennington, south London, for the interview.
Wearing Posh-style oversized shades and swathed in a pale green pashmina, she smiled for waiting photographers before sweeping into the building with her new agent Cheryl Barrymore, ex-wife of shamed TV star Michael Barrymore.
Meanwhile, Victoria will be hoping to win the PR war when she makes her first official public appearance tonight.
The former Spice Girl is due to sing at the Royal Albert Hall, at a party thrown by her management company 19.
The company is celebrating its 19th birthday and Victoria is due to take the stage in her first official public engagement since the Beckham story broke.
Her former Spice Girl pal Emma Bunton is also on the guest list, along with 19 artists Will Young, Gareth Gates, Rachel Stevens and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 20, 2004.

Domestic cleaner

Could anybody recommend a cleaner for a couple of hrs a week ? Much appreciated,
Mark

-- Mark Thompson (mark_j_thompson@ml.com), April 19, 2004.

Spacey's mugging mystery

19/04/04 - Showbiz news section
Spacey's mugging mystery
By Ed Harris
Evening Standard
Kevin Spacey was today at the centre of a mystery after telling police he had been mugged - and then withdrawing the allegation.
The Oscar-winning actor told officers he was attacked and robbed of his mobile phone while walking his dog in a London park at 4.30am on Saturday.
He is said to have reported the assault to police within 30 minutes and was given hospital treatment for a minor head injury.
However, hours later, Spacey, 44, is believed to have gone back to the police station where he made the complaint and withdrawn the robbery claims.
Scotland Yard confirmed that a man in his forties had been mugged in a park in Kennington.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "He reported the robbery of his mobile phone while walking his dog in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park.
"He later contacted police that day and withdrew the allegation. That is the end of it from our point of view."
The spokesman could not confirm whether the man needed hospital treatment for his injuries.
The park is close to the Old Vic theatre, where the Hollywood star, who won Oscars for his roles in The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, was made artistic director last year. He also lives nearby.
Spacey is believed to have been treated in the accident and emergency department of St Thomas' Hospital, and waited several hours before telling police he did not wish to pursue the matter, according to today's Daily Mirror.
The park is not known as a haunt for muggers.
In the past the actor has denied rumours that he is gay.
During an interview with the American magazine She four years ago, he said: "It's not that I want to create some mystique by maintaining a silence about my personal life.
"It's just that the less you know about me, the easier it is to convince you that I'm the character on the screen."
The American-born actor invested at least Ł 100,000 of his own money in the Old Vic, pledging to revive the glory days of the 1,000-seat theatre, opened in 1818 and one of the oldest in London. He said at the time: "It's something I feel strongly about."
Spacey marked his appointment as artistic director by hosting a moneyraising concert with Sir Elton John, for which tickets cost up to Ł 1,000. American singer and actress Courtney Love was the undoubted star of the show, wearing a Daffy Duck outfitto sing a duet with Sir Elton before stripping to her underwear.
In addition to his Oscars, Spacey received a Bafta award for American Beauty four years ago and has been nominated for three Golden Globes.
He has also won awards in the West End: his electrifying performance in The Ice Man Cometh - at the Old Vic - won him the Laurence Olivier Award.
Spacey has pledged to appear in at least two Old Vic plays a year, in addition to directing productions.
Last month he was reported to be hoping to entice one of Hollywood's leading actresses to star with him on the stage of the Old Vic in the comedy The Philadelphia Story.
People connected with the play were understood to have been sounding out the possibility of perhaps Cameron Diaz or Gwyneth Paltrow sharing top billing with him next spring.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/showbiz/articles/10307565?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2004.

FoLWOS website

Breaking News from the Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 18 April 2004
You might like to look at the new webpage of the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space:- http://folwos.blogspot.com/ an energetic group who have already done much to improve the green space between Lambeth Walk and Kennington Road.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2004.

Spacey withdraws mugging allegation

Ananova
Spacey withdraws mugging allegation
Kevin Spacey told police he was mugged while walking his dog in a London park at 4.30 in the morning, but then withdrew the allegation....
story date: 19/04/2004
Kevin Spacey told police he was mugged while walking his dog in a London park at 4.30 in the morning, but then withdrew the allegation.
The Hollywood star suffered a minor head injury during the incident and was later treated in hospital.
Spacey went to a police station near where the mugging took place in Kennington, South London, and told officers his mobile phone had been stolen.
The Sun says he later he withdrew the allegation.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "A man attended a police station at 5am on April 17 suffering a minor head injury to report the theft of a mobile. He later contacted police to withdraw the allegation."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2004.

Spacey hit by mugger

The Sun
Monday, April 19, 2004
Spacey hit by mugger
By ANDY WILKS
KEVIN Spacey was attacked by a mugger in a London park, it was revealed yesterday.
The Hollywood star suffered a minor head injury.
Spacey, 44, walked into a nearby police station at 5am and told how the thief stole his mobile phone as he was walking his dog half an hour earlier.
But hours later he withdrew the allegation. The actor, who won Oscars for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty, said he was assaulted near his home in Kennington, South London.
He was later treated in hospital. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “A man attended a police station at 5am on April 17 suffering a minor head injury to report the theft of a mobile.
“He later contacted police to withdraw the allegation.”
The park is close to the Old Vic theatre where Spacey — dogged by rumours about his sexuality — became artistic director a year ago.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2004.

Museum of Garden History - Annual Spring Plants and Gardens Fair

Lambeth Local News
5th April - 18th April 2004
Museum of Garden History
Annual Spring Plants and Gardens Fair
The Annual Spring Plants and Gardens Fair transforms the Museum again into a 'plantaholic's' dreamland, filled with plants displayed and sold by leading specialist nurseries, many offering rare and unusual plants.
Nurseries taking part this year include:
Priorswood Clematis - one of the leading clematis nurseries with a range of both popular and unusual clematis, many displayed in flower so you can see what you're buying. New to this year will be climbing Clematis on frames for the instant gardener;
River Gardens, specialist box hedge and topiary growers;
Pioneer Nursery - Hertfordshire's well-known growers of hardy, half hardy and tender perennials who always have something new to tempt even the most experienced gardener;
Nutlins Nursery - unusual shrubs and climbers for the connoisseur;
W&S Lockyer - specialist auricula nursery, who have the National Collection of double auriculas;
Usual & Unusual Plants - specialist perennials;
Southview Nurseries - specialist perennials, period plants including dianthus.
In addition, Michael Rustic will be selling restored historic garden and kitchen implements.
Entrance to the Fair includes access to the Museum's cafe, shop and garden, which are open all day.
Sunday 25th April 2004
10.30am - 5.00pm
Ł 3 (Ł 2.50 concessions, Children free)
Museum of Garden History
Lambeth Palace Road
London SE1 7LB
020 7401 8865

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 14, 2004.

The Courtyard Cafe has now re-appeared in the Museum of Garden History (right next to lambeth palace) serving much the same style and quality of food as before in a more spectacular yet equally peaceful environment, the ex-Palace Church (is it called St Mary's?). Lots of buses past the door, Houses of Parliament etc on the doorstep ( . . .splash) and plenty of space to stretch out, see the exhibits or wander the garden.

-- ian nicolson (ian.nicolson@which.net), April 14, 2004.

Handyman

HANDYMAN
For handyman jobs, contact Levi Roberts on 07971 292321 or 020 8769 0313. He does carpentry, gardening, handyman, decorating... He has done some decorating and carpentry work for a neighbour, and some carpentry for me. He lives in Streatham. Nice chap, thorough and reasonable rates.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 14, 2004.

Telegraph: Announcements: Deaths: SEVERN.—Kenneth MC.

Telegraph: Announcements
Deaths
SEVERN.—Kenneth MC., suddenly on Tuesday, April 6th in London. Beloved husband of Betty, devoted father of Jane, Jillian and John and much loved grandfather of Martin, Anna, Emily, Michael and Chloe. Private cremation, no flowers. Donations, if desired to the Haemochromatosis Society at Hollybush House, Hadley Green Road, Barnet, Herts., EN5 5PR. Telephone. 020 8449 1363.
10 Apr 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 11, 2004.

War anniversary wins Ł7m party money from the lottery

Times
April 07, 2004
War anniversary wins Ł7m party money from the lottery
By Robin Young
BEVIN BOYS, Bletchley Park codebreakers and Land Girls were celebrating yesterday after news of a Ł7.3 million fund to pay for events to celebrate their contribution to the British effort during the Second World War.
The cash will be used for reunions, street parties, dramas and musical events between now and November 2005 as part of the Home Front Recall scheme, which is being jointly funded by the New Opportunities Fund, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Communities Fund.
The scheme will also help to pay for larger projects, including the development of an education centre at Bletchley Park, the wartime intelligence centre where the German Enigma code was cracked.
Separate funding was announced in February to pay for the British soldiers, sailors and airmen who defended their country.
Yesterday’s announcement is to honour the former codebreakers, firefighters, nurses, seamen, miners and others who served on the Home Front. “We all played our part,” Hilaire Benbow, a former sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), said. “That should be remembered by present and future generations.”
Bids for Home Front Recall funding will be invited from organisers at a local, regional and national level.
Liz Forgan, the chairman of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said that particular attention would be paid to bids that helped to perpetuate the memory of the sacrifices made by the British people during the Second World War, by schemes that involved several generations.
Warwick Taylor, vice-president of the Bevin Boys Association, whose members were called up as young boys to work alongside regular miners during the war, said the Home Front Recall programme would fund a host of events and exhibitions. “This is what it’s all about, letting the younger generation know. We’ve got to keep it alive,” Mr Taylor said.
The Arctic Convoy veterans’ group will be applying for Home Front Recall funding to stage a final reunion in Portsmouth this year for British and German survivors.
Mr Benbow and seven other survivors were at the Imperial War Museum in Kennington, South London, yesterday for the opening of an exhibition devoted to the Normandy landings in May 1944.
They have all provided personal mementoes for display in the exhibition, which celebrates the biggest combined forces’ operation in history. Among the exhibits are secret briefing documents and papers written by General Eisenhower and Field Marshal Montgomery.
Mr Benbow, whose Distinguished Service Cross “for gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty” on D-Day is displayed alongside seven other medals he won, said that the exhibition revived poignant memories of June 6, 1944. At the time Mr Benbow, of Datchet, Berkshire, was a boat officer in a flotilla taking US Rangers to Omaha Beach. But his craft grounded on a sandbar and was swamped almost as soon as its ramp went down, leaving him and his crew to make their way under mortar fire until they found another vessel to take them back to Tilbury.
Lieutenant-Colonel Terence Otway, DSO, was also keenly interested in the exhibition. On the night of June 5, 1944, he was commander of the 9th Parachute Battalion of the 6th Airborne Division, dropped in Normandy to put the Merville Battery out of action before the seaborne troops arrived.
In the attack, Colonel Otway remembered, he was left with only 150 men out of the 750 troops who had taken off from Britain. “And, after the attack,” he added, “there were only 65.” He led his men to overrun the German battery, taking 23 prisoners. He said: “I think this exhibition is absolutely first class.”
The exhibition opens to the public today and runs until May next year. It is accompanied by a drama-documentary to be shown on BBC One.
THE LONGEST DAY
Operation Overlord was the largest seaborne invasion in history
15,000 American and 7,000 British troops were parachuted behind enemy lines by 2,395 planes and 867 gliders
132,715 troops and 10,000 vehicles landed
The invasion fleet comprised five forces, one for each landing beach
There were also French, Polish, Norwegian, Greek and Dutch ships
The Allies suffered 11,000 casualties on D-Day, of whom 2,500 were killed
There were 10,536 sorties by bombers and fighters, and 3,262 by transport aircraft, about one a minute for the 24 hours of the “Longest Day”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 09, 2004.

'Can I give my mum a cuddle?'

'Can I give my mum a cuddle?'
Apr 9 2004
South London Press
A GUNMAN begged a judge for one last cuddle from his mum as he was sent down.
Danny Doyle, 19, and Daniel McLean, 20, were jailed for a total of 14 years for rob-bing a convnience store.
Doyle, of Limes Walk, Nunhead, had been with a gang collecting a drugs debt from Winnall, Hampshire.
But he told a jury he had only acted as a lookout when his three accomplices went on to rob a shop in the town.
Jurors at Winchester Crown Court rejected his account and found him guilty of robbery and possession of a firearm.
As he was sent down for six years on Thursday last week, Doyle cried out: "Can I give my mum a cuddle please?"
He was then heard calling "I love you, Mum", as he was led to the cells.
McLean, of Kennington Park Road, Kennington, admitted all three charges relating to the robbery in September last year, and received eight years.
Sentencing, Judge Patrick Hooton said: "We are living in a society where gun crime is becoming a very serious and deadly problem.
"Those people in the shop might have thought they were going to be killed.
"It is difficult to imagine the fear of someone with a gun in their face."
A third man, Omar Brown, 25, from Limes Walk, Nunhead, was cleared of all charges.
He punched the air when acquitted, saying: "Thank you God."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 09, 2004.

St Agnes Place

South London Press
Move out call hits 30-year occupiers
Apr 9 2004
By Zara Bishop
SQUATTERS who have lived in a street for three decades are facing eviction to make way for homeless people on a South London council's housing waiting list.
Residents moved into empty houses in St Agnes Place, Kennington, in 1974 and the road is now home to about 70 families.
One of the three-storey houses is a community centre where hot meals are served and there are yoga classes, a studio with music equipment and computers.
Former resident George James, 49, said: "There is not any place like it. We understand the needs of our community."
Community centre user Marilyn Ellis said: "Groups like ours have been cleaning up the community. Without us the community is going to go down.
"We are the only people emphasising problems such as rats and weeds and Lambeth council wants to take away our properties."
Fellow centre user Riki Loy said: "I used to go to Kennington School and come here after school or in lunch breaks.
"To evict us would mean a lot of people losing out."
South London record producer Charles Bailey visited St Agnes Place on Monday with London mayoral Green Party candidate Darren Johnson.
Mr Bailey said: "There are a lot of people who need this place.
"It seems quite basic but people need it.
"I would like to see this project get proper funding."
A council spokesman said: "Lambeth successfully defended a legal challenge in respect of these 12 properties and the Central London County Court ordered the current occupiers to vacate the properties.
"Due to the high level of demand for quality affordable housing in the borough we are actively seeking to provide alternative forms of social housing in Lambeth.
"Lambeth council has a duty to homeless people and to existing tenants in overcrowded and unsuitable property.
"Supplying affordable housing in St Agnes Place and elsewhere is essential to meeting our obligations."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 09, 2004.

WPC lied about rape to keep boyfriend

Times
April 03, 2004
WPC lied about rape to keep boyfriend
By Sam Coates
A POLICE officer who pretended she had been raped in an attempt to prevent the break-up of her relationship was yesterday spared jail.
Sarah Hunter, 22, claimed a gang of black youths assaulted her and then watched as one of them raped her in Kennington Park, South London.
The allegation, made last July, prompted a “painstaking” investigation. The park was sealed off, dustbins emptied and grass combed for clues. Police were told that any black youths on the streets should be questioned. Hunter’s ex-boyfriend, still a serving officer, came under suspicion.
Despite repeated opportunities to withdraw the allegations, she stuck with her story.The investigation was only halted when another policeman said she had spent the night of the alleged rape with him. Hunter subsequently resigned from the police force.
Justice Jonathan van der Werff sentenced Ms Hunter to a two-year community rehabilitation order.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 07, 2004.

Property

Times
April 02, 2004
Features
Follow your own council
Our correspondent meets an investor who buys ex-local authority properties on her doorstep
BUY-TO-LET investors often have a favourite type of tenant. Some target top executives whose corporate employers foot the bill. Others perceive young professionals as the most reliable and profitable. For Haydee Softley, it’s the lower end of the market that provides the richest pickings. And for her purpose, former local authority homes are ideal.
Over the past four years, since she became a full-time property investor and landlady, Haydee has bought and sold 45 properties, most of them ex-council homes in South London. Her hunting ground stretches from Borough to Kennington via Elephant & Castle. It’s an up-and-coming part of London where prices are still rising and big council estates dominate the skyline. But most importantly it’s on her doorstep and she knows it very well.
“I have been living around the area for years and you get to know the streets. I like areas that are a bit quirky but also have a lot of oomph,” she says. “Even if the market falls, prices would still keep on rising down here because there is so much improving going on.”
Former council housing often conjures up images of poor-quality buildings, difficult neighbours and crime. As Haydee puts it: “A lot of people are scared of buying ex-local authority homes because they are not pretty to look at.”
But research from Residential Property Investment Management (RPIM) suggests she is on to a good thing. Figures from the property investment company show that the average “yield” (the rental income expressed as a percentage of the property’s value) on an ex-local authority let is just over 6.5 per cent while the yield on Victorian lets is 6 per cent. Graham Gould, of RPIM, says: “As property prices have risen, ex-local authority has become more attractive — it is often the only property a first-time buyer can afford in London.
“Although it has not yet happened, ex-local authority property could experience more capital growth than traditional Victorian property as first-time buyers compete to get on to the property ladder.” That said, the study also shows that the location of the property is as important, if not more so, than the type of home. “The secret of property investment is the specific property that is purchased. A good-quality ex-local authority property will perform better than a poor Victorian property.” The best-performing Victorian property in the company’s portfolio provided a yield of 33.6 per cent, the worst 13.3 per cent. The best ex-council home brought in 27.1 per cent, the worst 17.7 per cent.
Haydee has ten properties in her portfolio. She buys mostly at auction and, for every purchase, views between 30 and 40 different homes. She targets ex-local authority homes because they are cheaper and often more spacious than the equivalent period property.
Her ideal buy-to-let is on the edge of an estate and in a brick building fewer than seven storeys high. Flats on the top floors of tower blocks are often difficult, if not impossible, to mortgage. Her research involves walking around the estate early in the morning “to check whether there is any loud music playing” and late at night “to see if I feel safe. I wouldn’t buy anywhere I wasn’t prepared to live”.
Although Haydee does not shy away from buying crumbling homes, she views these as “turnaround” properties to do up and sell on fast. A rental home must require no more than a paint job. “The idea with buy-to-let is that you spend the minimum amount of money from start to finish in order to achieve the best possible yield,” she says. “It’s not rocket science. It’s common sense and a lot of legwork.”
THIS former local authority flat offers easy access to the City for just Ł175,000. It has two double bedrooms and a 12ft 10in by 11ft 10in living room. Both Borough and London Bridge Tube stations are about a 15-minute walk away. You can expect about Ł1,000 a month in rent and the annual service charge is Ł400. Movingspace.com: 020-7793 1999, www.movingspace.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 07, 2004.

Cop's 'rape' was made up

Cop's 'rape' was made up
Apr 6 2004
South London Press
A POLICE officer falsely claimed she was raped by a black youth because she was upset over the end of a relationship.
Sarah Hunter, 22, said she was attacked by a gang after a night out with friends. Colleagues launched a "painstaking" investigation to track down the alleged rapist, Inner London Crown Court heard on Friday.
Hunter's ex-boyfriend was even treated as a suspect.
But her story fell apart four days after she made the allegations - when another police officer said he had been with her at the time of the rape claim.
Tudor Owen, prosecuting, said: "The alleged incident happened on the weekend of July 26 and 27 last year.
"She spoke with a fellow police officer and told him that she had been assaulted while walking home alone at night. She had had a relationship with a police officer which at that time he wanted to end.
But she did not want it to end. He asked her if she wanted to report the assault and she said no.
"But as the conversation went on, she said that more had happened than simply the assault. She said she was approached by a group of four black males.
"One said he knew she was a copper and hit her.
"But then she began crying and said she had also been raped by one in the presence of the others."
The officer persuaded her to make a complaint.
CID officers sealed off the alleged crime scene in Kennington and appealed for witnesses to come forward.
Hunter even took officers to the park where she claimed the rape had taken place. Her former boyfriend then told detectives she had threatened to accuse him of rape if he ended their relationship.
"Even at this stage there was no recognition that the allegations she had made against the black youths were false," added Mr Owen.
Hunter later admitted she had made up the story. She has since left the police.
Judge Jonathan Van der Werff told her: "This false allegation was extremely foolish and seriously criminal.
"It is a terrible and dreadfully irresponsible thing for a woman to make a false allegation she has been raped."
Hunter, of Meadow Field Drive, Eaglescliff, Stockton-on-Tees, near Middlesbrough, was given a two-year community rehabilitation order after admitting perverting the course of justice.
Speaking after the sentence, Lambeth police borough commander Dick Quinn said: "It is clearly unacceptable for anyone to make a false allegation under any circumstances.
"As with all rape allegations, Lambeth police investigated with the utmost professionalism and care. Once it was established the allegation was false, the decision to prosecute was made without hesitation."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 06, 2004.

Youth locked up after OAP dies

Youth locked up after OAP dies
Apr 6 2004
South London Press
A KINDLY 83-year-old great-grandfather died after being attacked and robbed by a teenage boy, a court heard.
The youth, 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, demanded money from elderly widower James Brown as he walked home. After telling the youth to leave him alone, Mr Brown was forced into a headlock and pulled to the ground. He was then dragged into a nearby alleyway while the teenager and an accomplice stole Ł120 from the pensioner's pockets, and his watch and wallet.
Mr Brown, of Minerva Close, Kennington, died four days after the attack, Inner London Crown Court heard on Friday. The youth was originally charged with murder - which was reduced to manslaughter and then to robbery, which he admitted.
Sally Howes, prosecuting, said: "The defendant, together with his friend, approached Mr Brown as he was making his way to his home. They grabbed him around the neck and a struggle followed.
"Mr Brown was put on to the ground after being put into a headlock. The pensioner was then pulled into a nearby alleyway close to his home, where they left him on the floor with his pockets turned inside out."
A post-mortem revealed Mr Brown died from a preexisting neurological problem which may or may have not been aggravated by the attack.
Scientists tested a Nike top found in the teenager's home and discovered fibres on it from Mr Brown's blazer, the court heard. The teenager was arrested two days later, on September 3 last year, after a witness named him.
Amanda Cotcher, defending, said there "could be no excuse for the teenager's actions", but added he had a troubled childhood. He had witnessed the murder of his father, and been brought up by a physically abusive crack cocaine addict.
Sentencing the youth to three-and-a-half years in a young offenders' institution, Judge Jonathan van der Werff said: "This was a nasty robbery carried out by fit young men on a vulnerable old man.
"He died days later in hospital.
"The pathologist cannot say that what you did to him caused his death. But I do not forget the extreme violence that you quite unnecessarily used."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 06, 2004.

From Brixton Market to haute cuisine

Evening Standard
05/04/04 - Career news section
From Brixton Market to haute cuisine
By Elisha Carter
It was my mother who taught me to love food. Some of my earliest memories are of watching her working in the kitchen, although I never dared get involved. That was definitely women's territory. My father comes from the West Indies, and my mother from Zimbabwe. The food we ate at home was typically Afro-Caribbean - curried chicken, rice and peas, yam puree and fried plantain.
It never failed to impress me that with a full-time job as a midwife and eight children of her own to look after, my mother always managed to provide a home-cooked meal in the evening.
With my six older sisters, my older brother, parents, and assorted family friends crammed round the table, mealtime at our home in Kennington, south London, was always a great social event.
We did all our food shopping at Brixton Market and as a boy I would go with my mother every Saturday.
There, you would see trays of pigs' trotters, halal chicken hung in rows by their feet, Caribbean fish and vegetables and tubs of colourful Indian spices all jostling for space in the never-ending maze of market stalls. As you can imagine, my mother bought in bulk and was an expert at working on a tight budget.
Nowadays, as head chef at Lola's restaurant in Islington, I buy ingredients from the best independent suppliers in the country, but I'd like to think I have learned a thing or two about haggling from watching my mother shopping at Brixton Market.
At Pimlico School, I was one of three boys - along with 22 girls - who took home economics at GCE O-Level. The boys would usually make a few comments at football practice but it didn't bother me. I enjoyed the practical nature of cooking. And of course, I liked to eat.
In the sixth form I took a CPVE - a forerunner to the NVQ - in hospitality, which included an industry work placement. I was sent to Shell House to help out in the directors' private dining room.
We prepared canapés, prawn cocktails, beef bourguignon and trifle, among other things. These dishes seem quite provincial now, but at the time I'd never seen such ornate and exotic food.
I was amazed at how fast the chef moved around, chopping, arranging and tasting food. There was so much to do, but she appeared to be so calm and organised. At the end of the two-week placement I had decided that I wanted to be a chef.
When I told my mother, she laughed and told me that if I was serious, I should go and get a job at The Ritz Hotel. Looking back, I think she was joking, but the next day, off I went to Green Park, knocked on the kitchen door and asked if I could have a job.
They told me to come in for a trial, and after a while I was offered an apprenticeship. I couldn't believe my luck.
After two years at The Ritz, it was time to move on. I heard about a position at Gleneagles Hotel, in Scotland. I called them up and they offered me the job.
I was 21, and still living at home. I felt I needed to break away. Scotland seemed like the perfect opportunity to leave the distractions of London behind, get my head down, and concentrate on learning to cook.
My friends were shocked when I told them, and said I'd be back in a month. In fact, I stayed for more than a year.
At the hotel, I was a commis chef - basically an assistant who prepares the food and makes pastry.
In that year I learned a lot about cooking and a huge amount about myself.
I had lived in London all my life. I didn't know anyone in Scotland, and at first it was quite lonely. Things were made even harder by the fact that I could barely understand the Scottish accent. I had to start from scratch, but after a while I got into the swing of things.
In 1992, I heard that there were jobs going with chef John Burton Race, at his two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Reading. Once again, I packed my bags and literally turned up on their doorstep.
Getting a Michelin star is no mean feat, and two is something very special. John's kitchen was run with military precision and there was no room for error.
If you did something incorrectly, he would make you throw it away and start again. If you were slow, he would tear a strip off you in front of everyone. I learned very quickly to never make mistakes.
If I hadn't been determined to make a success of my career I think it would have been then that I threw in the towel. Instead, as always, I kept my head down, and worked hard.
Eventually, John sent me to train with Raymond Blanc at his two-Michelin-starred restaurant in Oxfordshire, and then to Ledoyen in Paris. With that sort of experience under my belt, the world was my oyster.
After working with such elaborate French recipes, I decided to go back to London and work for Richard Corrigan at Lindsay House in Soho.
His was a more natural, rustic way of cooking, using offal, pigs' trotters, and marrow - ingredients seen by many as " secondclass" foods.
His no-waste approach to food reminded me of my mother's cooking and I would say that it was Richard who has most influenced my own style.
Having worked in some of the top kitchens in the country - and under some of the top chefs - in 2003, I felt I was ready to take the reins and become a head chef in my own right.
At Lola's, I'm in at 8 o'clock every morning to start the stocks and sauces, and I don't leave until past midnight. I never take my eye off the ball - whether that be refining the menu, or making sure the staff and décor are up to scratch.
We get quite a few celebrities through the doors. People tell me "so-and-so's in tonight" but the names mean nothing to me. I'm generally too busy to worry about such things.
At the moment, I don't have much of a life outside of work, but my fiancée Tracy is very supportive. We met six years ago, and have two daughters, Allyiah, who is three, and Analise who was born last year.
Over the years, my enthusiasm for food has rubbed off on Tracy. She now does virtually all the cooking at home. I still go home for family meals whenever I get the chance and my mother still doesn't let me in the kitchen.
I've eaten the finest foods, in the most expensive restaurants in the world, but nothing can beat a home-cooked meal with my family.
My parents came to sample my cooking a few years ago. They rarely go out to eat, and I think they were slightly overwhelmed by all the pampering. They were also incredibly proud of what I'd achieved.
If you ask me the secret of my success, I would have to say that it's down to just very hard work.
Interview by Barney Calman
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/jobs/careernews/articles/10097754?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 05, 2004.

Breaking News from the Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Breaking News from the Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 4 April 2004
The KENNINGTON PLAYPROJECT
offers the following EASTER HOLIDAY PROGRAMME 2004 from 1000 to 1800 on the following days:-
MONDAY 5TH APRIL - Plastercast mask painting
TUESDAY 6TH APRIL - Sewing and Embroidery Bunnys
WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL - Clay Egg Decorations
THURSDAY 8TH APRIL - The Great Golden Egg Hunt
TUESDAY 13TH APRIL - Cinema trip 12-3pm, Flower-making
WEDNESDAY 14TH APRIL - Pool and tabletennis competition
THURSDAY 15TH APRIL - Cooking and bead-jewellery
FRIDAY 16TH APRIL - Bar-B-Q, face-paints and wacky-races
The project is located at the corner of Bolton Crescent and St Agnes Place. (7735 7186).
The OVAL COMEDY CLUB
featuring the West End's best comics is now every Wedneday at 8pm at The Fentiman Arms, 64 Fentiman Road, SW8. Admission Ł5, OR Ł4 NUS (must show ID). Food (and no doubt drink!) available. 7735 3308.
The Friends of Kennington Park Annual General Meeting
is to be held at 7pm on Monday 26th April 2004 at St Agnes Church Hall, Kennington Park Gardens/St Agnes Place SE11. Please come along and find out the latest news about what's happening in the Park. If you've ideas and want to get more involved, why not stand for election to the committee? This is your chance to influence what happens in your local Park so we hope to see you there. It's your park - come and have your say!
The Friends of the Durning Library
are organising further evening events at 7.00pm for 7.30pm at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11 (Ł2 suggested donation Nibbles and drinks available).
Monday 10 May: "Murder in the Library"
Local authors John Fullerton, Sarah Diamond and Edwin Thomas are members of Criminal Minds, home to nine successful writers from different backgrounds and generations. Find out more about crime writing and what makes it so popular. Whether you like psychological, historical, action-adventure or political thrillers, they promise to amuse, surprise and inform.
Monday 17 May: "Kennington Revealed"
Local resident and official London tour guide Mary Frost will give an amusingly different view of Kennington's history.
The Kennington Association (7793 0268) are organising a
BAZAAR
on Saturday, 22nd May from 11am until 3pm at St Anselm's Church Hall, Kennington Cross SE11 (at the junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Road). It will feature new and nearly new items, books, tombola, bric-a-brac, cakes, jumble, etc: If you have items you would be willing to donate - they can all be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (21st May) between 5.30-8pm - or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 04, 2004.

Union anger at job cuts

Union anger at job cuts
Mar 30 2004
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
THE union representing 52 gardeners whose jobs are under threat is to take legal action against a council contractor.
Cleanaway - which was awarded the ground maintenance contract for Lambeth's 64 parks and green spaces - intends to make 52 of the 105 staff employed at the borough's beauty spots redundant.
Gardeners and ground maintenance workers say parks like Clapham Common, Brockwell and Kennington Park will fall into disrepair if jobs are axed.
But Cleanaway claims it will be able to provide the same level of service with just half the workforce.
Representatives from the GMB union, which is acting on behalf of the gardeners, claim there has been inadequate formal consultation with the union regarding the job cuts, which Cleanaway intends to push through by April 1.
Legislation states employers must tell the Secretary of State for Employment and the union how many redundancies are to be made in a formal document called an HR1.
This document was sent to the Secretary of State in February but was not received by the union until one month later, preventing formal redundancy consultation from beginning.
GMB union representative Richard Ascough said: "The GMB will vigorously defend its members' interests at tribunal to ensure that our members are compensated for the lamentable lack of consultation."
A spokeswoman for Cleanaway said: "The HR1 form has been lodged with the Secretary of State and Cleanaway has met with the union, which has been aware of this situation since August 2003.
"Cleanaway is happy that it is meeting all the requirements of the process."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 31, 2004.

Property

Independent - Money > Property > Homes
Bowled over
Patricia Wynn Davies meets a couple who turned a skittles club into a knock-out home
31 March 2004
Architect Peter Camp lives with his wife Katherine Virgils, an artist, and their two sons in Kennington, London
For about three years, we'd been searching for a bigger home in Kennington. We loved its central London position and the mix of Georgian terraces and semi-industrial. We look out to some of the most graceful architecture devised by man, but gasometers are visible above the rooftops, Tony's Café is next door, and on a fine day roars from the Oval cricket ground and the chimes of Big Ben ring around our courtyard.
When I first saw what we later named Bowling Hall, my first instinct was to say to my wife: "You'd better come and see this." The space covered the lower ground floors of two grand Georgian houses set back from the road opposite Kennington Green, plus a big extension running the length of the back garden of one of the buildings. The idea of "courtyard living" flashed across my brain.
The houses were laterally converted in the Sixties before planning became more restrictive, with flats on the upper floors and the Irish Bowling Club below. Skittles enthusiasts enjoyed many an after-hours drink here, I'm told, but by the early Eighties the club's heyday was over.
The bowling hall became an office space, sub-divided into little rooms, and was then left empty for five years. This was how I first saw it - it was advertised as a commercial property - decaying, dingily lit by old strip lights, and full of old furniture and rubbish. Down one side of the extension were the signs of its past life, the high, narrow windows of the defunct skittles alley.
It looked a complete mess, but it offered enormous possibilities and with our two growing sons, we needed much more space, ideally at ground-floor level, than we had at the time. We felt confident about the task ahead - our previous home had involved designing and building a residence from scratch on the flat roof of an apartment block in Chelsea.
Size was an important factor for us - 2850sq ft of building surrounding 2000sq ft of overgrown and neglected garden. But it was the courtyard aspect that clinched it , the possibilities of the garden and the fact that all the living space was adjoined by it. We imagined being able to walk out into the garden from any part of the building, or criss-crossing the garden to get access to different parts of the house -- and all this within a listed Georgian setting.
The exterior still retains a kind of anonymous, semi-neglected feel at street level, which is a foil for what we've created beyond. The dimensions - from the front door to the back wall is 125ft - offered us tremendous scope. The design I decided to use is based on the "Elizabethan procession" concept found in hall houses of that period. You proceed through a series of public spaces, each becoming more intimate, until you reach an inner sanctum.
The delineations, or "thresholds", between the public spaces - reception hall, kitchen and dining area, main reception hall - are informal, employing mahogany and opaque-glass sliding panels rather than using conventional walls. The layout of the building also enabled me to create separate activity and/or sleep zones for us and the children or visiting friends at opposite ends of the courtyard, linked by a communal living area.
Lowering the level of the garden by three feet was a critical feature in creating a sense of continuity between the inside and the outside of the building. Most of the rooms, including the main bedroom, now open on to the terrace and lawn via large, sliding glass doors. A eucalyptus and a palm tree add a touch of the exotic. The project is naturally a reflection of my professional life, but Katherine also saw the chance to transform a decrepit space into a modern showplace for her work.
What we made into the main hall has skylights and four big, sliding doors into the garden and it's better than a gallery. We hold an annual Open House in the autumn where Katherine and other artists use it to display up to 70 paintings. It's at times like this that the flexibility of the house really comes into its own, with people spilling out on to the lawn and re-entering from various vantage points. Katherine uses the house as a workspace, too, and with so much light and greenery she can work here for days at a time without getting cabin fever.
I wanted to use the best of modern techniques and materials; the many metres of hosing carrying the under-floor gas heating mean that no unsightly radiators spoil the lines of the interior and low-emission, argon-filled glass in the doors to the courtyard ensures that heat generated inside gets reflected back.
We spent Ł200,000 on the changes we made, but property values have risen and because we converted commercial premises into residential, we got the VAT back. Most importantly, the house has turned out to be everything we dreamed of, as I remind myself in the summer when short-cutting across the lawn from the kitchen to the bedroom with the morning coffee. The one-time skittles club is now a fully-functioning exercise in inside/outside single-storey living in an urban setting.
Peter Camp can be contacted at peter@peterbellarchitects.co.uk, 0207 387 8483; Katherine Virgils at pckv@freenet.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 31, 2004.

ART NIGHT: Oval Bookshop

ART NIGHT
Wednesday 28 April
Meet two of our great local authors and artists
7pm-9:30pm
at the Oval Bookshop
28B Clapham Road London SW9 0JQ
(On the corner of Claylands Road
100m from the Oval Station)
* Giles Waterfield, celebrated local novelist, will be reading from his two great novels and answering questions
&
* Paul Ryan, local artist, will be launching an exhibition of his work including some sketches of local sights. He has exhibited internationally and his work is included in such major collections as the British Museum and Royal Mint.
For further information telephone 0800 389 0463
Admission: Ł 3 including one glass of wine and refreshments
Doors open at 6:30pm
(The next OVAL BOOKSHOP authors' event will be in May featuring another famous local author Rupert Christiansen. For further details please telephone the shop.)
!!! 10% OFF ALL SHOP STOCK ON AUTHOR'S NIGHTS !!!
Oval Bookshop
The Oval Bookshop is an independent bookseller serving the local community. Our stock includes some 7000 new books and hundreds of films (including classic British and foreign language). What we don't have in stock can usually be supplied within a few days.
We also have some of the best art cards around and a wide range of opular games including Monopoly, Cluedo, Risk, quality chess sets, Mancala, Jenga, Connect 4, Scrabble, etc.
Seating, fresh coffee and other hot drinks are available and there's a play area for children. We also have regular evening events. We are ready and waiting so the only thing that's missing is you!
28B Clapham Road London SW9 0JQ
(At the corner of Claylands Road
100m from the Oval Station)
Open 10am-5:30pm Monday to Saturday
Tel 0800 389 0463

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 30, 2004.

KENNINGTON PLAYPROJECT : EASTER HOLIDAY PROGRAMME '04

KENNINGTON PLAYPROJECT
EASTER HOLIDAY PROGRAMME '04
MONDAY 5TH APRIL - Plastercast mask painting
TUESDAY 6TH APRIL - Sewing and Embroidery Bunnys
WEDNESDAY 7TH APRIL - Clay Egg Decorations
THURSDAY 8TH APRIL - The Great Golden Egg Hunt
FRIDAY 9TH APRIL - GOOD FRIDAY CLOSED
MONDAY 12TH APRIL - EASTER MONDAY CLOSED BANK HOLIDAY
TUESDAY 13TH APRIL - Cinema trip 12-3pm, Flower-making
WEDNESDAY 14TH APRIL - Pool and tabletennis competition
THURSDAY 15TH APRIL - Cooking and bead-jewellery
FRIDAY 16TH APRIL - Bar-B-Q, face-paints and wacky-races
KENNINGTON PLAYPROJECT - OPEN 10AM TO 6PM
DURING EASTER HOLIDAY PERIOD, CLOSED AT WEEKEND AND BANK HOLIDAYS
WE ARE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF BOLTON CRES AND ST AGNES PLACE
CONTACT NUMBER 020 7735 7186

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 30, 2004.

night caller

night caller
by Joshua Levine
White Bear Theatre, Kennington
30th March - 19th April
Friesian Theatre Company in association with Brown Cow Films Ltd
Friesian Theatre Company presents the London premiere of this darkly comic drama.
Outrageous late-night DJ Steve Emmin shocks his audience and humiliates his callers in a bid to exorcise his demons.
But when one listener confronts him in person we find that she too has a secret that has led her to his door...
This new production follows a highly successful run at the Edinburgh Festival.
"near perfect dialogue... a compelling portrait of three burnouts on the hard shoulder of life" The Stage
Steve Emmin... "the bastard son of Howard Stern and Bill Hicks" The Scotsman
Directed by Sophia Reed
Produced by Brown Cow Films Ltd
With Charlie Daish, Sonia Forbes Adam and Catherine Greenwood
Designed by Libby Watson
30th March - 19th April
Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday 4pm
Ł 10 (Ł 6 concessions)
The White Bear Theatre Club
138 Kennington Park Road
London SE11 4DJ
2 mins from Kennington Tube, Buses 133, 159
www.whitebear.uktheatre.net
Box Office: 020 7793 9193

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 29, 2004.

London: On guard and in pocket

Times
March 28, 2004
London: On guard and in pocket
A London home for Ł150 a month? It’s possible — if you become a property guardian and don’t mind living in a library or a warehouse, says Julie Sinclair
Spending half your salary on rent for the sake of a London postcode is not everybody’s idea of living. From Wimbledon to Walthamstow, an 8ft x 9ft shoe box in a house full of strangers will rarely cost less than Ł350 a month. Add bills and upgrade to a double and you could be spending Ł650 a month, leaving anybody earning less than Ł20,000 a year stuck indoors with the heating off.
So when Francis Ives, a 35-year-old art graduate, was offered a 1,500sq ft room in Hackney for Ł150 a month, it sounded too good to be true.
The catch was that the room was in an abandoned library, where he would be living as an anti-squatting guardian for a Dutch company, Camelot Property Management.
All Ives had to do, in exchange for the keys, was keep an eye on the place, report any leaks and go about his daily business. Camelot provides water, electricity and a secure building; the rest is left to the guardian’s imagination.
The first thing Ives did was convert his room into a live-work unit, giving him the studio space he needed to create his abstract art. “I had to do a lot of work when I moved in, but it’s fantastic once you realise the potential,” he says.
Ironically, an old polling-station sign still glued to the front door, the bars on the windows and the bed linen hanging behind them, all give the place the feel of a squat.
“It’s a bit prison-like,” Ives admits, “especially with the reflections you get from the bars on the windows. But it’s a great solution for anybody who hasn’t got any money.”
Greg Quixley, 31, a PE teacher from Cape Town, is guarding a Grade II-listed missionary college in Totteridge, north London.
“I used to live in a tiny box room in Wimbledon for Ł400 a month,” says Quixley, “but now I live here for Ł150 a month. There are about 40 rooms, and three of us living here. The money I’ve saved has helped me to buy a house back in Cape Town.”
Camelot’s guardians could find themselves in anything from a factory to a lighthouse, sharing with up to 50 others. To ensure they don’t end up squatting in the flats they are there to protect, they are bound by a licence, rather than a tenancy agreement. This guarantees them a minimum three months at a property, but gives them no residency rights, meaning they can be evicted at a month’s notice.
Camelot vets guardians, who must provide passports, a Ł300 deposit and an education and employment history.
Another option for footloose Londoners is to sign up as a property caretaker with Ambika Security, which entered the market as guardians of the Crown Estate. Bagshot Park, now home to Edward and Sophie, and a Ł15m property in Regent’s Park were among the company’s portfolio of properties to watch over.
Caretakers can be asked to provide security 24 hours a day — and asked to leave at 24 hours’ notice.
Ambika’s caretakers pay nothing, and could be living like kings for free. But as Ambika’s clients also include local councils, caretakers could also find themselves in a rescued squat on a troubled council estate.
For it is not only tenants who benefit from these novel security arrangements. Property owners can save up to 90% of the Ł5,000 a month it costs for traditional security guards. “When squatters move into a derelict building, the cost of repairing the damage can be endless,” says Joost van Gestel, Camelot’s owner.
The guardians, at least, know a good deal when they see one. For Chris Harper, 27, a music teacher from Reading, the embarrassment of having “Braganza Old People’s Home” as an address is outweighed by the fact that he’s two minutes’ walk from Kennington tube and has several of the building’s 100 rooms to himself.
“I’ve got two toilets!” he says. “It’s crazy.”
Ambika, 020 7376 9740, www.ambikaproperty.com; Camelot, 0700 226 3568, www.camelotproperty.com/uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 28, 2004.

City of Cultures

City of Cultures
By Rahul Jacob
Financial Times
Mar 26, 2004
The few credible moments in the British film Love Actually, last year’s cynically commercial Christmas blockbuster, mostly take place at Heathrow airport.
The arrivals area teems with people from every part of the world, hugging and kissing relatives and friends as they clear immigration.
It is a microcosm of London at its multicultural best and an image I have often wished were replayed again and again on the giant screens that loom over Leicester Square in the capital’s West End.
Corny? Perhaps, but like many recent converts, I tend to overdo it. I arrived in London about a year ago from Hong Kong, carrying, along with the warm clothing I hadn’t worn for years, outmoded preconceptions about the city.
I liked London from the time I first visited in 1988 from New York, but regarded it as less multicultural than the American metropolis.
I was wrong on several counts. To my amazement, my work permit for five years was processed in three days, even though there can be few professions in London where there is less of a labour shortage than journalism.
The immigration lawyer who helped so efficiently happened to be South African and the movers, when my furniture arrived a few months later, were Albanian.
Unwrapping some family photographs, including several of my mother wearing a saree, they seemed delighted to find that I had grown up in India. It has been that kind of year. Everywhere I go, I bump into people from somewhere else.
In London now for a year, I have come to believe it is the most happily mongrelised metropolis in the world. The foreign-born proportion of the population may be higher in New York and Los Angeles, but the ease with which people from elsewhere in the European Union, Australia, New Zealand and other parts of the world are able to live and work in the UK is striking.
While interracial marriage is rising in the US, in London it is already a fact of life. In New York, the ghettos I inhabited were professional or national; my friends were either other Indians who had come out to the US on scholarships as I did, or other journalists, who were American.
In London, my closest friends include an American, a British-born Indian married to an Italian, an Italian married to a Scotsman, an Indian schoolmate and his wife – whose sister and brother are married respectively to a half Sri Lankan, half English civil servant and an Englishwoman – and two women who are English but who have spent most of their working lives in Asia.
A few weeks ago, I met Petrit Luci on a Monday evening when a friend and I wandered into the Cinnamon Club, an upscale Indian restaurant within walking distance of the Houses of Parliament that is frequented by the British political establishment.
Luci served us drinks at the restaurant’s downstairs bar and as we left, I asked him where he was from. His reply floored both the English friend I was with and me. Luci arrived in the UK from war-torn Kosovo four years ago.
He was pleasantly surprised, he told me when I interviewed him a week later, by the courtesy of government officials he encountered at the camp for asylum-seekers in Oxford where he spent his first three months. "The first thing that impressed me was that the police officer said, ‘It doesn’t matter where you are from, you should feel safe here.’"
Luci also appreciated other acts of thoughtfulness; one of the employees at the camp routinely gave him cigarettes and the staff took pains to inform him that there was a separate area for Muslims to pray. (Luci was born Muslim, but is not religious.) "I don’t know if I have been lucky. I have no bad memories," he says.
Inspired by the meeting to write this article, over the next fortnight or so I kept a mental log of the "foreign" population in London I met by chance.
The list turned out to be long – very long in fact – and included an Italian academic married to a medical researcher whose parents emigrated from Sri Lanka in the seventies, a Palestinian dry cleaner in my neighbourhood, a parking attendant from Ghana who moonlighted as an office cleaner while he also studied accounting, a school teacher from Hong Kong and a New Zealander who trades forward contracts in electricity for Shell.
Diaspora derives from the Greek, "to scatter," and just about every diaspora has been liberally strewn over London. Walking out of a restaurant called, as it happens, The Real Greek Souvlaki Bar, I asked the waitress where two assistant chefs were from. The chef was Greek, she said, his assistants were from Angola. Angola!
The phenomenon extends well beyond the restaurant industry. A recent article in the Independent, a UK newspaper, billboarded the foreign-born staff at a hospital in north London; its nurses came from the Philippines and Kenya, its doctors from Spain and Nigeria and its medical director from Pakistan.
The UK is often seen as the least "European" government in its foreign and economic policies, but because of London’s relaxed labour laws, thriving service industry and its role as the region’s financial capital, at street level the cosmopolis represents the European ideal at its best.
It is in London not in Paris nor in Frankfurt where there is the greatest concentration of a pan-European workforce.
Brussels may be where the bureaucracy sits, but London is where the heart of the European Union beats most vibrantly.
The Cinnamon Club, hospitals, and trading floors of brokerage houses across the city reflect that diversity. "We have 22 nationalities working here.
The English are teased for being the only ethnic minority," jokes the Cinamon Club’s owner Iqbal Wahhab. Wahhab himself was norn in Bangladesh. The woman at the cloakroom turned out to be from Kazakhstan.
Despite such globe-spanning variety in so many of London’s workplaces, immigrants are making something of a comeback as a favourite whipping boy of politicians and the press. It is a refrain that goes back centuries: Elizabeth I worried about London being overrun by Africans, saying, "There are of late diverse blackamoores brought into these realms of which kind there are already here too manie."
The prospect of additional countries from Eastern Europe being included in the European Union in May has stirred up a similar cacophony of criticism – headlines such as "500 immigrants EVERY day to swamp Britain" and "Gypsies’ Guide to NHS Scrounging’ – in the country’s reactionary tabloid press.
The danger is that this fantasy world imagery of grasping, scrounging immigrants swamping Little England will slow the steady march of integration and assimilation being played out on London’s streets every day.
Sanjeeva Dissanayake, who spent part of his childhood in Sri Lanka and is a doctor who works in pharmaceutical research, says he cannot remember immigration being such a hot topic 10 years ago. "My ex-secretary said, ‘It’s the immigrants who cause the problems.’ I felt quite sad. (This started with) the media and the politicians, but people are being affected."
I had been invited to dinner at his mother’s home by Dissanayake’s sister and after we had finished a Sri Lankan feast, his Italian wife, Donatella Maraschin, returned to the theme. During a recent visit to the hospital for pre-natal tests, she said she had been treated rudely at St Mary’s in Paddington in central London, because she speaks English with an Italian accent.
"I don’t think this is England per se. It’s a human reaction to foreigners," says Maraschin, who has a PhD from Reading University and teaches there.
Maraschin then defused her criticism by saying that the attitude to outsiders was much more welcoming in the UK than in her native country. "In Italy, even if people are Albanian, they call them all Moroccans. Even if you are a legal alien, it is difficult to rent because people don’t want you around," she says.
That faith in Britain’s openness is what brought Petrit Luci to London. "My friends said, ’If you go to London, they treat you the same as others.’ I had friends from Kosovo who were educated but they had to work in the building industry in Germany," he says. "Here some of my friends from Kosovo are in management."
This is the same abacus Jotham Annan, a British student at the Royal Academy of Drama and Art (Rada) whose parents moved to the UK from Ghana, refers to when I ask him about whether he feels British or Ghanaian.
"If you do things by the book, you can get somewhere here. I love England - anything I’ve wanted to do, I’ve been able to do. I went to arguably the best drama school in the world and now I’m working with Trevor Nunn (the acclaimed British theatre director)," said Annan. I saw Annan in a staging at Rada of Kafka’s The Trial but by the time I interviewed him, he had landed the part of Horatio in Hamlet directed by Nunn at the prestigious Old Vic theatre.
Despite its recent political rhetoric on East European immigrants and asylum-seekers, the British government has over the past few years become more liberal – not less – in allowing employers access to people from all over the world who have skills that are in short supply. David Thompson, the celebrated chef at the Thai restaurant of the Halkin Hotel, says obtaining work visas is very easy for his restaurant’s cooks, usually taking just six to eight weeks.
UK Home Office figures show that 44,443 healthcare staff from countries outside the EU were issued work permits last year, a 27-fold increase on the number issued 10 years ago.
This carefully calibrated confusion by the British government, between its strident public pronouncements on immigration to pacify the right-wing press in the UK and its pragmatic public policies designed to attract a workforce from all over the world to keep businesses ticking, may now be veering in the wrong direction. "The debate about immigration is silly," said a Palestinian dry cleaner in my neighbourhood. "We do the work that the English are no longer willing to do."
The irony is that as London becomes more multinational by the day, its cosmopolitanism as well as its economic opportunity is becoming a draw for people from all over the world. Tim Naylor lived much of his life in a village called Turangi in New Zealand before he moved to the UK aged 27 "I feel at home here. It’s not where I was born that’s for sure.
There are times when you feel there’s the whole world in this city," the now 41-year-old commodities trader for Shell said. "London seems more of a melting pot than New York. In New York, you have a Greek neighbourhood and an Italian neighbourhood. In London, you go from one neighbourhood to another and everything is completely mixed up."
I asked Lucy Chan, a teacher in a south London school in Catford whose students are mostly from Africa and the Caribbean, what she might miss about London when she and her husband, Tim, who works for the UK foreign service, move to northern China this summer. "I will miss the kind of life we have here. I see London as my home," she replied. "Going back (to Hong Kong) would be very comfortable, but it is easier for me to integrate here than for Tim (there) because London is so diverse."
The very foreignness of her surroundings in a south London school where 40 languages are spoken by a student body from places as far-flung as Somalia, Sri Lanka and the Caribbean had made her feel at home."I feel privileged because I understand them; they have very little English and I know how difficult it is to speak a foreign language," she said.
Perhaps the secret of London’s success as a home to so many different nationalities is that is almost impossible to feel foreign in a city where you are likely to hear Cantonese at one street corner and Italian at the next, where your corner shop is run by Sri Lankans and where your minicab late at night is driven by a Nigerian. At one of the meetings of the FT Weekend soon after I arrived, I was surprised to find that nearly half the staff at the meeting were foreign-born. London seems to me more of a mosaic than its US counterparts: Assimilation is much more of a two-way street.
For me, London is now primarily coloured not by its magnificent parks and monuments but by the different faces of its cosmopolitanism.
Last summer, just a few months after I arrived, I was jogging along the south bank of the river Thames when I chanced upon a performance by a young Greek band. Swept along by the music, a grandmother, with the easy self-assurance of women her age, jumped up and did a solo rendition of what I guessed was a Greek folk dance.
She then tried to draw several men into the dance but had no takers until a young Chinese woman gallantly joined her. I watched this bit of uniquely London street theatre with elation. I had just arrived that afternoon from a short trip to Copenhagen, which suddenly seemed monochromatic. It felt good to be home again.
Rahul Jacob is the FT’s leisure editor
Places you should go
North
The White House kosher restaurant, 10-12 Bell Lane NW4. For a traditional Jewish meal, snack or takeaway. Nearest Tube: Hendon Central
Hummingbird, 84 Stroud Green Road N4. One of the capital's first Caribbean restaurants. Nearest Tube: Finsbury Park
Ringcross community centre, Lough Road, N7. Colombian cooking demonstrations and recipes. Nearest Tubes: Holloway Road/ Caledonian Road
Kolos Super Market, 230 Stoke Newington High Street N16. Newly opened East European grocery store. Nearest Tube: Manor House
East
Columbia Road open-air flower market for plants from all over the world. Sunday 8am- 1pm. Nearest Tube station: Bethnal Green
Whitechapel market has a number of stalls catering for the Bengali and Somali communities. Open Mon-Wed, Fri and Sat, from 8.30am-5.30pm, Thurs 8.30am – 1pm. Nearest Tubes: Aldgate East/Whitechapel
Latinos No.1, 510 Kingsland Road, London E8. Colombian art, crafts, coffee, fast food, music and fashion. Nearest Tubes: Bethnal Green/Old Street
Pellicci's, 332 Bethnal Green Road E2. One of the East End’s oldest and most famous Italian restaurants. Nearest Tube: Bethnal Green
South
The White Eagle Club, 211 Balham High Road SW17. Traditional Polish food and drink and Zabawa dancing. Nearest Tubes: Balham/Tooting
Hoa Noam, 126 New Cross Road SE14. Traditional Vietnamese cuisine at reasonable prices. Nearest Tube: New Cross Gate
Bhangra Mix, Dukes, 349 Kennington Lane, London SE11. Second and last Saturday of every month, 10pm-3am. Unique club where Bhangra & Bollywood take control with a twist of Arabic House Soul and international tunes. Nearest Tube: Vauxhall
O Cantinho de Portugal, 135 Stockwell Road SW9. No-frills Portuguese home cooking on the seafood-dominated menu. Nearest Tube: Brixton
West
Bar Salsa, 96 Charing Cross Road. Spanish music and dancing. Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Adam I Agusla, 258 King Street W6. Polish delicatessen, sandwich bar and restaurant. Nearest Tube: Hammersmith
Brazilian Touch Café, 40-42 Oxford Street W1. Traditional Brazilian meals and snacks. Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus
Misato, 11 Wardour Street. W1. New budget Japanese restaurant in Chinatown. Nearest Tubes: Piccadilly Circus/Leicester Square.
Nearest Tubes given as a guide only. In some cases overground rail services or buses may run nearer
Compiled by Katie Boulton

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 28, 2004.

'I'll blow your face off' says gunman

'I'll blow your face off' says gunman
By Greg Truscott,
South London Press
A MAN was threatened with a handgun and told his face would be blown off if he refused to hand over his mobile phone.
The terrified 43-year-old was punched to the floor and kicked after handing his phone and wallet to an armed gang who had followed him into a quiet residential street.
He suffered a black eye and injuries to his shoulder in the frightening street robbery.
The man had come out of Stockwell Tube station and was walking along Clapham Road, Stockwell, when he passed a group of youths.
The youths followed him into Durand Gardens where one of them tried to grab his mobile phone. The victim was struggling with the youth when another pulled a black handgun and pointed it at him.
The gunman told the terrified victim he would "blow his face off" if he did not surrender the phone.
The robbery happened at around 10pm on Thursday, March 18. The suspects are described as black youths.
The victim believes there were between four and six in the gang.
The gunman was 6ft tall, of slim build and aged around 20, with a South London accent and wearing dark clothing, including a dark baseball cap. A second suspect was shorter with a "squeaky" South London accent. Anybody with information should call Kennington Priority Crime Unit on 020 8649 2434 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
020 8710 6435 email: crime@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 27, 2004.

Readers and writers festival programme

Lambeth
Readers and writers festival programme
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/drawing/024980.pdf
Released: March 25, 2004 4:06 PM
Filesize: 410kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 25, 2004.

Victory for major in sex case

Victory for major in sex case
By Patrick Sawer
Evening Standard
24 March 2004
An army warrant officer who claimed she was "pestered" into having an affair with a cavalry major today lost her case of sex discrimination against the Ministry of Defence.
Mother- of- two Angela McConnell, who admitted to a tribunal she had liaisons with three other officers, including a lesbian affair, said her reputation had been ruined and the verdict had shattered her faith in British justice.
She had accused the Army of treating her differently from the major once their affair - banned under strict rules - was exposed.
The warrant officer claimed she was recommended for demotion to corporal or dismissal while Major Alastair Ross was allowed to retire on a full pension.
She also told the 17-day employment tribunal in Southampton she believed her career in the King's Royal Hussars would be jeopardised if she rejected the advances of the major, who had been granted anonymity.
Her third claim was that she believed a letter from Major Ross's solicitor was a bid to blackmail her into dropping the sexual discrimination case by threatening to expose one of her other affairs.
Today, as the tribunal threw out all three claims, she said: "I'm bitterly disappointed. The way the Army was allowed to rake up my past was disgusting. It destroyed my faith in British justice."
She added: "The hearing was the most depressing episode in my life, yet I've come out stronger. My marriage is over but I have a new job, a new home and a new life.
"Within the first week of the hearing I knew we were going to lose. Everything was stacked against me. The court allowed the MoD to expose my sex life but refused to let Ross be questioned about his string of affairs."
Mrs McConnell, 41, from West Lulworth, said she had tried to kill herself when her husband George discovered her relationship. Only the thought of her two children stopped her. Major Ross, who lives in Kennington, had strongly denied Mrs McConnell's accusations. He told the tribunal: "I am certainly not a sexual predator. I think womaniser is the expression."
Mrs McConnell repeatedly denied claims by Wendy Outhwaite, counsel for the MoD, that she was " flirtatious and promiscuous".
John Mackenzie, representing Mrs McConnell, said today: "The message that comes out loud and clear from this tribunal is that any woman in the Army who institutes proceedings under the Sex Discrimination Act risks having their sexual reputation comprehensively trashed."
The Army strictly forbids sexual relationships between commissioned officers, such as the major, and other ranks, ranging from private to warrant officer.
The MoD today said: "We've received formal confirmation of the decision and we are considering it and respond in due course."
Mrs McConnell's estranged husband criticised the verdict. The 43-year-old fireman said: "It's a travesty. The Army set out to portray her as some sort of slapper and protected Major Ross.
"They went to incredible lengths to dredge up incidents from her past. She has been treated most unfairly."
... but his career is now in ruins
By Nigel Rosser
Evening Standard
24 March 2004
The ease with which he let his "brain be overruled" by sexually available women has today cost Major Ross his job, his livelihood and his wife.
His admission of affairs with two female soldiers forced him to resign his commission in the King's Royal Hussars and caused his wife Francesca to leave Britain for a new life in Brussels. And he has swapped his pretty cottage in the Wiltshire countryside for a flat in Kennington where soon all he will have left of a once glittering army career will be a Ł85,000 pay-off and a modest pension.
The major says leaving the Hussars was one of the worst things that has ever happened to him. "Removal meant I would be ostracised from the people with whom I had grown up and spent the majority of my adult life. All this has been humiliating."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 24, 2004.

Sport: Questions & answers

Times
March 21, 2004
Questions & answers
Your sporting conundrums solved
Q When was the first football fixture between Wales and England, and where was it played?
Derek Griffiths, Wrexham
A Wales played their first international match in 1876, with Scotland providing the opposition. The Welsh played one international in each of the next two years, both against Scotland. Then on January 18, 1879 — four days before the Battle of Rorke’s Drift in the Zulu War — Wales played England for the first time, losing 2-1 at Kennington Oval, London. The next year, England played Wales at The Racecourse Ground in Wrexham, winning 3-2. In 1881 Wales scored their first international victory, and their first over England, when they won 1-0 at Blackburn with a goal from John Vaughan of Oswestry. The two countries then met annually up to and including 1914, when the first world war brought a temporary halt to the fixture.
Alan Hughes, St Asaph
Send questions or answers to Peter Boyle, Q & A, The Sunday Times sport, 1 Pennington Street, London E98 1ST, or e-mail peter.boyle@sunday-times.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 21, 2004.

Child robbed

Times
March 20, 2004
News in brief
Child robbed
Three armed robbers who snatched a Ł10 note from the hand of a four-year-old girl were each jailed for 15 years at Inner London Crown Court. Dane Grant, 26, David Noel, 18, and Leon Dixon, 24, stole Ł7,500 from Wazobia Travel in Kennington, southeast London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 20, 2004.

What lies beneath?

Times
March 19, 2004
What lies beneath?
By Stephen Smith
As terror alerts make the rest of us scared to take the Underground, our correspondent describes how he overcame his phobia by walking through the capital's subterranean labrynth at night
DEEP below London, I stumbled through a dark tunnel, trying not to think about the rats eyeing me from the gloom. It was impossible to orient myself in the unvarying brick passage, even though I must have been through it a hundred times before. I was on the Northern Line, but I was making the journey in a way that few commuters would care to experience it: on foot. Thankfully, I was not being led to safety from a broken-down Tube. Nor was this a horror conjured by terror alerts, in which I staggered from a train-wreck after an attack. No: I was pursuing a fascination I had developed with the subterranean city though, ironically enough, this itself had begun in fear.
Long before the threat of terrorism was making most people think twice about taking the Tube, my own aversion was already well developed. After years of living in the country, the Underground made me short of breath with anxiety. Where possible, I avoided it altogether. If there was no way around it, I would attempt the trip only once I was kitted out with a portable juju of smelling salts, battered rosary, a ring that my girlfriend had given me and a phial of tonic made to a fortifying homoeopathic recipe, ie, practically neat alcohol. I suffered from a kind of claustrophobia. It didn’t only apply to being in a confined space such as a compartment on the Underground, but it was there that it made most sense. It was really a city-phobia.
In time, I made the paradoxical discovery that there was a relief to be had from this in the lonelier stretches of the Tube, down where few people went and no mobile phones rang. Marc Augé, a French author who wrote a book about the Paris Métro, said: “Solitude: this would probably be the keyword of the description an impartial observer might be tempted to make of the social phenomenon of the Métro.” As is well known, though, the London Underground often makes solitude impossible. I came to wonder if it wasn’t the press of my fellow travellers that bothered me, more than the subterranean experience itself. Exploring the Tube by footslogging the track seemed a good way of putting this idea to the test.
To enter the Underground at night is to be a witness to the occult habits of the inverted city. In the early hours of the morning, the current is turned off and the Tube network, like a giant octopus uncoiled on a seabed, goes through its intimate routines of preening. Platforms are swept, lifts fixed. Chipped and distressed concrete sleepers are effortfully levered up and swapped for fresh slabs. The night shift is also the time when Tube workers tell tales about their strange, upside-down domain. “Do you know the main thing that we have to get rid of?” asked Mick Murphy, of London Underground, as he led the way along the tracks from London Bridge station to Bank. “Human hair.”
With thousands of people circulating through the network every day, there was hair loss of alopecian proportions, as well as a massive sloughing off of skin. The Tube was a wind tunnel of psoriasis. The other detritus in the tunnels was wallets, said Mick. I was baffled until he explained that it was a by-product of pick-pocketing: thieves snaffled purses and pocketbooks, filleting them and dropping what was left through the windows at the end of the carriages.
Mick and I were on our way to meet a man named Billy. Billy does an extraordinary job: he walks the Northern Line for a living. He’s a patrolman, pacing out the deserted tunnels with his lamp and his walkie-talkie and his large box-spanner. As he makes his solitary rounds, Billy keeps a lookout for cracks in the rails and checks the bolts that hold them on to the sleepers. He was only a conversation away by walkie-talkie, but he was lost to the eye in a maze of tunnels. At last, his lamp winked like a glow-worm in the gloaming. In his Ulster brogue, Billy explained that he had started his shift by getting on the line at Kennington as soon after midnight as it was safe to do so, and it was his intention to reach Old Street before sun-up — or, more pertinently, before the power came back on again.
Billy was an uncompromising ploughman of his own furrow. So, although the hour and the place were congenial to supernatural cogitations, I expected only the shortest of shrifts from him when I asked him who or what might occupy the tunnels at night — other than himself, of course. I was duly surprised when he replied: “I didn’t necessarily see a ghost but I had a very strange experience once.”
It was about ten years ago, he said. He was walking the Jubilee Line in those days. It was 2.30am and he was patrolling between Baker Street and St John’s Wood. He was taking a breather on a stretch of the line that was quite well lit. “I was sitting there, having a drink, and suddenly I felt this wee draught. You know how warm it can get down in these tunnels? Well, it was very surprising to go cold all over like that.” Billy had been staring directly ahead of him, his gaze fixed on the line. There was a powdery ballast between the rails, he said.
“As I was looking, I saw footprints appearing in the ballast. It was going right past me, whatever it was. I was frozen.”
As Billy watched, the ballast continued to be disturbed in the same way, with what appeared to be footprints heading deeper into the tunnel, as if an invisible figure were walking away from him. “After it got about ten metres away from me, it stopped,” said Billy. “The worst part of it was that I had to go in the same direction. I felt incredibly cold, like I was in a freezer. But after I got past those first ten metres, I started to feel OK again.”
Risking ridicule, Billy described what had happened to his fellow patrolman, called Wilson. “I thought Wilson was going to laugh at me. But not a bit of it. He said that at one time, a long time ago, there was a patrolman killed on that stretch of the railway. He was knocked down by a runaway train.” Billy smiled apologetically. “They say that the driver got out at Finchley to go to the loo and never put the brakes on.”
For the most part, the phantoms of the Underground favour its ghostly, disused stations, of which there are now more than 40. The abandoned stop of Aldwych once served the theatres of the Strand. It is said that an old palace of varieties was demolished to make way for the railway. A grande dame who once trod the theatre’s boards was so indignant that she haunts the old station.
Perhaps the most exotic shade inhabits British Museum, a lost halt on the Central Line. The station opened in 1900, but within half a dozen years faced competition a short distance away from Holborn station on the Piccadilly Line. Eventually, Holborn was expanded and Central Line trains no longer called at British Museum, though its tiled walls can still be glimpsed from trains heading west out of Holborn. Before it closed in 1933, there were reports that the station was frequented by the ghost of an Ancient Egyptian, a mummy who had fled from the nearby galleries, and newspapers offered rewards to readers who were brave or foolhardy enough to spend the night on the platform. This legend, one of many arising from the buried city, is echoed in a sarcophagus motif that decorates the walls of Holborn platforms to this day.
For many Londoners it's the future that haunts them now, not the past: the accident of timing that might place them on the wrong train at the wrong time. Some friends of mine have avoided the Tube since the anthrax scare of a couple of years ago, and today others are joining them. It is as if they have caught my former fears just as I have overcome them. Curiously, though the threat is real, the strange solitude of the Tube is not an experience I would now willingly give up.
Underground London: Travels Beneath the City Streets by Stephen Smith is published by Little, Brown, Ł17.99.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 19, 2004.

The boys are back ...

South London Press
The boys are back ...
Mar 19 2004
SOUTH London comedy duo Adam and Joe may have packed up the toy box but they're still treating fans to their daft humour with a slot on XFM. Joe tells KELLIE REDMOND about Laurence Llewelyn Bowen's bum...
IF ADAM and Joe were to do a remake of current hit movie Lost In Translation they'd like to "dress Bill Murray up as a teddy bear and put Scarlett Johansson in a sexy duck outfit".
It's good to see the pair haven't lost their touch when it comes to their much-loved technique of recreating famous films using toys (the Star Wars re-enactment with plastic figures being a favourite). But while their award-winning cult Adam and Joe Show, filmed above The Body Shop in Brixton, may now be long gone, the pair are still treating fans to their own brand of daft humour as presenters on alternative music station Xfm on Saturday afternoons.
The South London duo are keeping the seats warm for latest national treasures Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, who are away for six months following the phenomenal success of The Office and are working on a follow-up.
It's the second time they've sat in for them, says Brixton-based Joe: "We wanted to get into radio, Adam used to DJ in Cheltenham when he was at college so we went to Xfm saying we'd like to do something."
He adds: "Then when Ricky and Steph had to go off and collect awards seven days a week, we were approached."
Has it been huge pressure stepping into the shoes of Gervais and Merchant?
"I guess it's a little bit of pressure, because we knew their show was very popular, but we are just trying to do something that's us."
Hence, regular features such as reviewing films they've never seen.
"It's quite easy as you have an idea of what the film's going to be like," he laughs.
"And not seeing a film never stopped some critics writing about them."
And because he and Adam have very different music tastes ("I'm into R'n'B and hip-hop and Adam's very much into indie music") each week they get listeners to decide between a track they've each picked.
But, be warned: if Joe suddenly adopts a husky voice mid-voting he's cannily pretending "the mic's a cat" to gain an unfair advantage over his co-presenter.
"I presented Front Row [arts show] on Radio 4 for a while last year," he explains.
"They train your voice to sound Radio 4 - the trainer told me to talk as if I was whispering in the ear of a lover in bed or talking to a cat.
He laughs: "She then cut two small triangles out of a piece of paper, and then stuck them on the mic to look like cats ears.
"It's so soothing, that sometimes I employ my Radio 4 voice to seduce the listener - so they pick my track over Adam's."
So what's been your Xfm radio highlight so far?
"When we get an email, as we know someone must be listening the show," he says dryly. The pair first met as 13-year-olds at the "very poe-sh" Westminster School in central London, and now live a short distance from each other in South London.
"Adam lives in Stockwell, one side of the Brixton Road, and I live the other, in Brixton/Herne Hill."
Joe continues: "I grew up in Stockwell for the first 25 years of my life. Then I moved to Kennington, Vauxhall, then briefly to the East End for two-and-a-half years. But just had to come back."
When they were making The Adam and Joe Show in the mid-90s they could often be seen hanging out at The Dogstar, but now married (Adam has a baby girl), they've swapped clubbing for live music: "We both go to gigs at Brixton Academy and last saw Beck there."
On the music front, not many people may know that while making their show in the late 90s, the pair also experimented in making pop promos - including one for Pixies frontman Frank Black, no less. In terms of being in front of the camera, last year they made Adam and Joe Go Tokyo! for BBC Three.
"It was amazing. I don't know how many people watched it, but in terms of a free holiday for Adam and Joe it was great!"
But did they fulfil the challenge and "make it big" in the land of the Rising Sun?
"Not really. The most exciting was when we had this group of girls follow us around. People thought we were Western pop stars, so eventually we had several hundred people following us around."
He adds: "We'd definitely like to do another series and have a go in a different country."
And there's those Surf adverts with Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Keith Harris and Orville.
"They are great fun. Adam and I started making our own TV shows and it was just the two of us doing everything, the lights, filming...so doing an advert where someone does your make-up and someone else does the lights, it's great."
He adds: "Laurence was very, very nice. He's got a lovely woman's bum and lovely hair. He told dirty jokes all day."
Meanwhile, in terms of the future, there's good news for fans of their 90s TV show: "We are working really hard on a DVD of all four series of The Adam and Joe Show," reveals Joe.
"We are hoping to release that in August."
He says they are also working on "something dramatic" for TV, but can't reveal too much at the moment.
"We also really want to do a low budget film, quite a stupid comedy, with elements of animation like Monty Python."
And, fingers crossed, starring lots of toys.
***Adam and Joe, Saturdays, 1-3pm, on Xfm 104.9fm.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 19, 2004.

Howard's harem

Evening Standard
18/03/04 - News and city section
Howard's harem
By Joe Murphy, Evening Standard Whitehall Editor
They are young, chic and professional - and a far cry from the Blue Rinse Brigade.
These are the women who will be standing for the Conservatives at the next general election.
And party officials hope that "Howard's Harem" - as they have been nicknamed by certain non-PC officials at party headquarters - will boost Michael Howard's image in the same way that the "Blair Babes" did for Tony Blair in 1997.
In recent weeks, a series of successful young women have been chosen to stand for the party in a string of constituencies - including crucial targets where Labour MPs have slim majorities.
The selections are being hailed by Tory officials as a sign that the party is finally shedding its male, middle-aged image.
Penny Mordaunt, 31, a communications consultant who lives in Kennington, was selected to fight Portsmouth North - where Labour's Syd Rapson has a 5,134 majority.
She said: "I got interested in politics after doing aid work in Romanian orphanages and saw how problems were caused by bad political decisions."
She said of the recent spring conference in Harrogate: "It used to be a dull affair but there was a young buzz this year."
Sarah Richardson, 30, a freelance journalist living in Pimlico has been selected to stand in the East Midlands for a Euro MP seat.
She said: "My role is to give a voice to people who would struggle to be heard."
Ms Richardson, who is engaged to another Tory candidate, Damian Collins, added: "A lot of my social circle is people involved in the Conservative Party, and they tend to be young women working in the City or the media.
"It sounds a bit of a cliché to say it is glamorous - mostly it is hard work."
And finance manager Justine Greening, 34, was picked to stand in Putney, one of the key London target for the Tories once held by ex-Cabinet minister David Mellor.
She will take on Labour's Tony Colman, who won a slim 2,771 majority in 2001.
She said: "We are seeing a whole new generation coming through but glamour doesn't matter - what matters is that you talk to people about the things that matter to them.
"The bottom line on the doorstep is whether you have the ideas and commitment to make a difference. The average age of Tory candidates is coming down and there are more professional people with experience of the real world coming through."
The Conservatives have also chosen their first openly lesbian candidate. Margot James, 46, a millionaire businesswoman, will fight Holborn and St Pancras against sitting Labour MP Frank Dobson.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/9713092?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 18, 2004.

Estate ban for teenager after reign of terror

Estate ban for teenager after reign of terror
Mar 16 2004
South London Press
A TEENAGE troublemaker who abused neighbours and set off fireworks outside their homes has been banned from the Kennington Park Estate.
The 15-year-old, who was alleged to have been involved in a one-man reign of terror on the estate, has been made the subject of an interim Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) banning him from coming within a mile of his former home.
Lambeth council also obtained a Possession Order on the premises occupied by the boy in response to complains from other residents.
North Lambeth area committee chairman Councillor Charles Anglin, who is Lambeth's executive member for community safety, said: "Troublemakers should get the message: "They will not get away with this sort of behaviour."
As well as the ASBO, two families have already been evicted in north Lambeth for antisocial behaviour, and action is under way against a resident in Vassall ward.
As part of a new borough wide antisocial behaviour strategy the council, the police and other agencies are now getting together in each town centre in Lambeth to discuss problem cases and agree action. Residents have been asked to report any antisocial behaviour to the police.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 17, 2004.

Banning order tackles persistent anti-social behaviour

Lambeth
Banning order tackles persistent anti-social behaviour
A persistent troublemaker in North Lambeth has been banned from coming within a mile of his former home on Kennington Park Estate.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/024851.pdf
Released: March 15, 2004 2:13 PM
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 16, 2004.

MONDAY EVENINGS at the DURNING LIBRARY with the Friends of Durning Library

MONDAY EVENINGS at the DURNING LIBRARY with the Friends of Durning Library
Dear Friends
A reminder about this Monday evening's event at the Durning Library.
Best wishes
Cathy
FRIENDS OF THE DURNING LIBRARY
Evening events at 7.0 for 7.30 -- all welcome
(come early - space limited)
Held at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Ł2 suggested donation
Nibbles and drinks
Kennington and Oval stations. 3, 59, 159, 322, 360 buses
Monday 15 March: "Can We Avert Climate Catastrophe?"
Where can we find the real facts about climate change? Are the relevant scientists in disagreement about the facts? How real and imminent is the threat of climate catastrophe? Can we avert it, and if so how much time have we got? These are some of the questions that John Mead, member of the UNED-UK Energy & Climate Change Panel and of the Christian Ecology Link, will try to answer. (This when the government's chief scientist is quoted as seeing climate change as a greater threat than terrorism - and as being advised not to go on about it.)
Monday 19 April: Councillor Anthony Bottrall, followed by our AGM
Councillor Bottrall, Lambeth's Executive member for Education, was one of the people who saved the Durning Library from closure. Now he is responsible for Lambeth libraries and much else. After his talk, our AGM is your chance to decide the future of the Friends.
Monday 10 May: "Murder in the Library"
Local authors John Fullerton, Sarah Diamond and Edwin Thomas are members of Criminal Minds, home to nine successful writers from different backgrounds and generations. Find out more about crime writing and what makes it so popular. Whether you like psychological, historical, action-adventure or political thrillers, they promise to amuse, surprise and inform.
Monday 17 May: "Kennington Revealed"
Local resident and official London tour guide Mary Frost will give an amusingly different view of Kennington's history.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), March 14, 2004.

The Andrew Davidson Interview: Brown’s totally opposite number

Times
March 14, 2004
The Andrew Davidson Interview: Brown’s totally opposite number
Budget day will see the dour anorak pitted against the genial boffin in the Commons — and Oliver Letwin is looking forward to it immensely
YOU can expect many things with Oliver Letwin, shadow chancellor of the exchequer, but short answers are not an option. I blame his parents. Both academics — what hope did he have? “I guess,” he agrees, “the fact of them being interested in political and economic ideas did have an influence on me being interested in them, and I did spend quite a lot of time as a child and as a teenager with people who thought about these kinds of things, and talking and arguing with people who were philosophers and economists and historians probably made me more interested in arguments rather than artisan politics...” At least, I think he said “artisan” but sometimes Letwin, 47, speaks with such flow, popping in the unexpected just to keep you on your toes, that neither tape nor human can quite make it out. Then, just when you’re floundering, he’ll let loose a high-pitched giggle and throw you a lifeline, before rushing on.
On Wednesday he will be using his very singular style of egg-headed, wordy reasonableness to provide the opposition’s response to Gordon Brown’s budget. Don’t expect him to be brief. Sitting in his cramped office in Speaker’s Court at the House of Commons, clearing a space for me at a little table on which mounds of books are piled, you get the impression that he is rather looking forward to this one.
Is he expecting any surprises? “Well, I doubt if Gordon will either change significantly the path of spending compared with the pre-budget reports, or announce huge tax rises to meet the black hole he has got. What he will do instead is fiddle around at the edges. Most of the changes we will notice 24 to 48 hours later — that’s his normal form — and there will be some sweet and cuddly things in it, and when you look through the detail you will notice that there are all sorts of other things that he hasn’t done, indexations he hasn’t performed, or, I quote, “loopholes” he has closed, trying to scrabble round and collect some pennies to try to minimise the extent of the black hole without admitting its existence and without therefore admitting Labour’s third-term tax rises...”
Right. Those “third-term” rises being the ones which Letwin and others are conjecturing that Brown, a “tax junkie”, will have to impose to pay for the increasing amount of money flowing into public services. Keep up. The poshly amiable Letwin, before he won his Dorset parliamentary seat in 1997, worked as an academic, a policy wonk and a banker for NM Rothschild, selling privatisation overseas, and it all shows.
But he’s good company.
Of medium height, slightly paunchy — he’s recently been “Atkins-ed” — with a halo of black curls framing a chubby face, he acts more like a jolly public-school teacher, shirt-sleeved and bubbly, than an earnest politician.
Behind the amiability, there’s a degree of complexity, too. Letwin boasts Russian-Jewish grandparents who settled in America, and American academic parents who settled here and then overlaid him with British Establishment values, so he’s rarely short of surprises. He is, for instance, already admired by many for his refusal to conduct political business in the time-honoured combative style. If he likes someone else’s idea, he says so.
“I just don’t think what is interesting about politics is sitting behind a brick wall and lobbing grenades at other people,” he says. He prefers “to shift the centre ground” of an argument. The jury is still out on how effective that is proving. His performance next week, tackling the first budget since he was appointed shadow chancellor in November 2003, will give a good indication.
In the longer term, Letwin has to win over the business vote before the next election. That used to be something the Conservative party could rely on. Not any more. Many in business still seem to gravitate towards Labour simply because the alternative, for the best part of a decade, has not looked that great.
But things could change. With a new leader in Michael Howard, growing resentment about the amount of red tape choking firms, and anger over the government’s U-turn on promises to encourage enterprise, there is fertile soil to be tilled. You just wonder how well Old Etonian Letwin, with his garrulous swot style, will play among the self-made men who fled the Conservative party for New Labour.
Has he won Sir Alan Sugar’s vote yet? Letwin purses his lips. “I think it would be invidious to talk about individuals,” he says, before explaining why many are starting to come round. Blame Gordon Brown. “Fifteen regulations per working day, Ł54 billion of additional business taxation” — managers now spend too much time worrying how to get through the tax and regulation thicket, and not enough time attending to output.
In addition, he says, Labour has pumped cash into the public sector, but to little tangible benefit. He rattles out statistics: some 600,000 extra public- sector employees, the cost of running the civil service has doubled, the NHS has received 37% more funding but only 5% more treatments, public services have got 54% more.
“What Gordon has achieved is a machine that keeps on enlarging and taxing and regulating and keeps producing extremely low output in comparison to input.” That, in turn, effects productivity growth as a whole across the economy.
Letwin’s alternative? Well, he has yet to reveal his own detailed fiscal plans for the economy, but he has pledged that he will maintain the growth in spending on schools and the NHS while keeping taxes at current levels and, possibly, if conditions allow, reduce them.
How will he do that? First, by taking 100,000 jobs out of the civil service over six years — all by natural wastage — then by eliminating inefficiencies.
Will voters buy it? That’s a tough question. Letwin argues that there is an alternative to an ever-larger state, that more control must be passed to the individual, that we must be able to choose our schools and hospitals, and makes a good case for it, but sometimes the blizzard of words leaves you snowblind for detail. And on a personal level, there’s a side to Letwin — the one he sells as his erudite Honest Joe approach to politics — that actually can make him seem rather divorced from reality and, occasionally, a bit of a twit.
Hence those stories that he was, allegedly, sent into hiding at the last election after inadvertently admitting that the Tories would cut public spending by Ł20 billion. Then last year he told the press he would rather be a beggar than send his children to state school. Some rather admire him for his candour, but it’s not exactly going to mop up the less-well-off vote.
Likewise, when I ask him how much he earns as shadow chancellor, or even as an MP, he lets out a high-pitched giggle and says he has no idea (MPs are paid Ł56,358). And recounting his hobbies, he goes: “Oh I ride, I walk, I read and, most of all, I talk, hahaha.” At times like this, when the foppish laugh takes over, Honest Joe seems to mutate into Mad King George. No wonder critics say he lacks political bite.
But colleagues at Rothschild, where he worked with John Redwood advising foreign governments on privatisation, say he is tougher than many think, and a good business-getter.
“Oliver is hugely intelligent and highly numerate,” says Nigel Higgins, head of investment banking at Rothschild, “but most importantly he has the ability to simplify and explain things, without it seeming glib.”
His 17-year stint at Rothschild — he resigned as a director only in December — was certainly lucrative. Letwin and his wife, Isabel, who works as a lawyer, have a nice home in his west Dorset constituency, where he plays tennis, and another in London’s Kennington. He drives not one, but two Land Rover Discoveries (one blue, one green). “I use one in Dorset and the other for running up and down,” he explains, not thinking it the slightest bit odd.
So what motivates him? “Oh I adore this,” he says, waving his hands around. Others suggest that he was strongly influenced by his mother, Shirley Letwin, who was a formidable right-wing academic and fascinated by politics. They note that since his mother died, Letwin, who once mirrored her adherence to free-market policies, has actually got rather more liberal.
Now he’s addicted to the public forum and it makes his coming confrontation with Gordon Brown all the more eagerly anticipated. Both share a mastery of the brief but the contrast in styles — the dour anorak versus the genial boffin — couldn’t be greater. “Oliver is my favourite person in British politics,” says Redwood. “So nice, so decent and so friendly.”
So nice that it’s hard to believe Letwin will be able to land any punches on the chancellor. When I notice a fat tome about Gordon Brown, on top of the book pile on his table, and joke “know thine enemy”, he looks positively affronted.
“Enemy?” says Letwin, “No, not enemy. ‘Opponent’, I think, might be a better word.” Then he beams a vicar-ish smile. No doubt he will take great pleasure in surprising us all in the coming months.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 14, 2004.

Oliver Letwin's Working Day

Times
March 14, 2004
Oliver Letwin's Working Day
THE shadow chancellor wakes every day at 6am, except Friday, at his house in Kennington, southeast London. Oliver Letwin catches a bus to the Houses of Parliament and is in his office by 7am, dealing with his e-mails. Later he breakfasts on bacon and eggs in the Lords canteen. On Fridays he is up even earlier, at 4.30am, so he can drive to his Dorset constituency before the rush hour.
His days at the Commons are spent mainly in meetings with the press and with colleagues. “This job is not so much a department as concerned with everything. I spend a lot of time trying to absorb all the detail that goes with it. Sounds dull doesn’t it?” Letwin will also spend at least two hours a day dealing with constituency business. It’s a marginal seat, so he has to be hands-on. He will often work until 10pm. “Some days I get home at 8.30 for supper, which is lovely.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 14, 2004.

Court circular

Times
March 12, 2004
Court circular
KENSINGTON PALACE
March 11: The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron, Medical Women’s Federation, this morning visited the Belgrave Department of Child and Family Psychiatry, King’s College Hospital NHS Trust, Denmark Hill, London SE5.
Her Royal Highness afterwards visited the Breast Screening Unit at King’s College Hospital NHS Trust.
The Duchess of Gloucester later visited Eaves Housing for Women, Lincoln House, Kennington Park, 1-3 Brixton Road, London SW9.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 12, 2004.

Ladies Who Lunch: The Dog House Wed 14th April

Hi All
I have made a booking at The Dog House pub for 1pm, Wednesday, 14th April.
The Dog House
293 Kennington Road
Kennington Cross SE11 6BY
7820 9310
All ingredients are sourced from organic and free range suppliers at Borough Market and all meats and fish sourced from organic local butchers.
The Dog House pub offers Nibbles and Side Orders, Starters and Snacks, Baguettes, Ciabattas and Burgers. Main dishes include Goats Cheese Parcel (Ł6.45), Organic Scotch Steaks (Ł7.95), Creamy Fish Pie (Ł6.95), Honey Glazed Pork Chops (Ł6.25) and Sausages of the Day, plus the Specials Boards. They also do Salads, Pasta and Tarts and Home Made Desserts ('full of fat, cream and sugar').
Go to this link for a map:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=SE11 6BY
Can you please let me know if you can join us?
Many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 11, 2004.

Kennington Gardens Society: SPRING SHOW

KENNINGTON GARDENS SOCIETY
SPRING SHOW
Saturday 27th March 2004
St Anselm's Church Hall
Kennington Cross
ADMISSION 25P
SHOW OPENS AT 2.30PM
* Horticultural * domestic * handicraft *
* flower arranging *
*senior citizen and children's classes open to non-members *
10p per entry - Prize giving at 3.30pm
ENTRIES TO THE CHURCH HALL BY 11.30AM
* PLANT STALL * BRING AND BUY * RAFFLE *
ALL ENQUIRIES TO: 020 7582 2327

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 10, 2004.

OVAL COMEDY CLUB

OVAL COMEDY CLUB
EVERY WEDNESDAY AT 8PM
The Fentiman Arms
64 Fentiman Road
London SW8
Nearest tube: Oval/Vauxhall
THE WEST END'S TOP COMICS COME TO SOUTH LONDON
ADMISSION Ł5, OR Ł4 NUS (must show ID)
FOOD AVAILABLE
FOR MORE INFORMATION & BOOKING: 020 7735 3308
The shows will run until July at least and take place in the function room above the pub.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 10, 2004.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
Jury is still out on congestion charge effect
Mar 1 2004
One year on and the congestion charge seems to be working - but at what cost? While we're told town traffic levels are down, it is the independent traders who are hit hardest.
OSCAR MORTALI looks at the charge one year on and asks: 'Is it really a success?'
THEY said it was a disaster waiting to happen. Just over a year ago, London ushered in a new era in the form of the congestion charge. All the talk in the days, weeks and months leading up to the big day was of impending doom.
Traffic would pile up on perimeter roads, cameras would fail and an already creaking public transport system would not cope, they said.
And above all, people just wouldn't pay.
At 7am on February 17, 2003, journalists and film crews gathered on the freshly drawn-up boundary lines, where outer London meets inner London, ready to chronicle the widely predicted chaos.
It never happened. Now the congestion charge is being heralded as a roaring success.
The number of cars entering the zone has dropped by 50,000 a day - a fall of 38 per cent - as drivers abandon them in favour of public transport. The London bus in particular has seen an unprecedented rise in passenger numbers.
A quick glance at the figures back this up.
Initially the scheme was expected to raise Ł180 million to rein-vest in public transport in its first year, Transport for London then lowered this estimate to Ł130 million.
Today, it is suggested the first 12 months will reap around Ł70 million in hard cash.
Journey times are down, the predicted chaos has failed to materialise and, despite a few early glitches, Capita, the private firm charged with running the congestion charge, recently met its second performance milestone.
Inside Zone 1, everything is coming up roses.
De Polla didn't vote in the last mayoral election.
But he sure is going to in the next one. Rolf is co-owner of Wot On Earth - an independent organic food firm based on an industrial estate just outside the congestion zone in Vauxhall.
Ask Rolf whether he thinks the charge has been a success and he'll give you a very straight answer. "It's killing us," he says.
Walk up the stairs to his office and directly to the right, there is a sign plastered which reads: "CONGESTION CHARGE --HAS IT BEEN PAID?"
Wot On Earth has forked out nearly Ł5,000 in levies and fines over the first 12 months.
A small but well-established operation, the company has two vans which between them, make around 20 drops a day in and around London.
They do not qualify for a fleet discount because their fleet is not big enough.
And they can't deliver at night because the work involves dropping off perishable goods which can't be left outside premises.
They employ one driver who, at times, inadvertently enters the zone. But, like many London drivers, he is not always sure.
The bosses only know when a Ł40 demand lands on their doorstep.
"It's been a complete and utter disaster for us," says co-owner Jeremy Jaffe. "It is designed to catch people out. There are no barriers to stop people entering, there is no safety net.
"If you take a wrong turn, you pay." Rolf says: "I thought the mayor was meant to be on our side. All he's done is made it harder and harder for us to survive."
Wot On Earth has been hit hard. Bosses have taken out a hefty business loan to keep the company afloat.
Last month, Ken Livingstone launched a new congestion charge consultation, inviting Londoners to come forward with their comments.
Rolf and Jeremy are realistic enough to know the chances of it being scrapped are slim, but they have a few suggestions.
"For every other part of our business we are invoiced on a monthly basis," said Rolf. "Why can't they set up a similar account for the congestion charge?
"If these cameras can tell you how many times you've entered every day, surely they can just send us a bill at the end of the month telling us how many fivers we owe them."
Jeremy added: "If they're really serious about lowering pollution, why don't they use the money to give small businesses like us a grant to convert our vehicles to LPG fuel? "It's common sense isn't it?"
In Kennington, traders have also been badly hit. Some have already shut up shop and chosen not to renew leases after seeing profits plummet by up to 30 per cent.
For them the problem is not so much paying the charge, as many traders qualify for the 90 per cent discount, but the knock-on effect of the fall in customers driving into the zone.
Mark Rogers, of the Kennington Association, said: "The businesses just inside the zone are missing out on passing trade. "Very often that is the difference between making the rent and not making the rent.
"This is not the West End, this is a largely residential area and apart from more heavy traffic on boundary roads, they are losing their amenities as shops shut down.
"It's a quality-of-life issue." Twelve months on, the congestion may be hailed a success up at City Hall, but closer to home the jury is still out."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 09, 2004.

PUBLIC MEETING: BUSES IN NORTH LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK

SE1 Direct 175: what's on this week
PUBLIC MEETING: BUSES IN NORTH LAMBETH AND SOUTHWARK
Monday 8 March 7pm in St Anselm's Church Hall, Kennington Cross SE11
(286 Kennington Road, at the junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane)
In response to complaints about the bus services in North Lambeth and Southwark the Kennington Association is getting together with the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall town centre forum to organise a public meeting about buses. London Buses will be represented by Andrew Boag and Belinda Danino. The area's councils will be represented by John Stewart of Lambeth Council and Trevor Wilding of Southwark Council. The meeting will be joined by local politicians Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, Cllr Caroline Pidgeon, deputy leader of Southwark Council, Cllr Andrew Sawdon, executive member for transport, Lambeth Council and Valerie Shawcross,London Assembly Member for Lambeth & Southwark.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 08, 2004.

Property

The special costs of high-rise life
Jo Thornhill
Mail on Sunday
8 March 2004
HIGH-rise flats offer great views, but they also attract sky-high mortgage rates. Buyers might have to pay more than three times the average rate for a home loan - as much as 14%.
And that is if they can find a lender to give them a mortgage. Many will not consider loans for flats above the fourth or fifth floor.
This is because high-rise properties are considered to be a greater fire risk. They might also have higher maintenance costs, which has a bearing on the borrower's ability to repay a loan.
Flats in high-rise blocks suffered most in the house price slump of the early Nineties, making lenders even more wary.
But a mortgage for a high-rise home is not impossible, as parole officer Chieme Ekwem discovered. Chieme, 44, struggled for two years to find a mortgage on his Ł88,500 council flat on the 16th floor of a 17-storey block in Kennington, south London.
'When I started looking for a mortgage, I had no idea that it would be so difficult,' says Chieme, 44. 'I already had a deposit from Lambeth Council under the Right to Buy scheme and I only needed to borrow Ł50,000, but lenders turned me down many times.'
Alliance & Leicester told Chieme it could lend on a high-rise block, but it must be brick-built. Chieme's property is concrete.
Then he managed to find a smaller, specialist lender that agreed to a loan, but it wanted to charge interest at 14% - three times the best residential mortgage rates on the market.
'I had just about given up,' says Chieme, 'but then I saw an advert saying HSBC would lend on high-rise properties. I tried there and the bank approved the loan. It was such a relief.' He now pays mortgage interest of 4.74%.
Sian Lehrter, head of mortgages at HSBC, says the bank looks at applications case-bycase and it would not refuse to consider a property just because it was on the 16th floor.
But, she says, borrowers must be wary. 'We may ask for a more detailed survey or valuation for high-rise flats,' says Lehrter. 'We look at issues such as whether the lift works; the condition of shared staircases and hallway; and what sort of maintenance fees are charged.
'We are flexible and will make an independent assessment. But borrowers should also be careful. If lenders won't grant a mortgage, you have to think it might not be the right property to buy.'
As well as A&L and HSBC, Bank of Scotland, Leeds & Holbeck and Portman will consider lending on highrise flats, depending on structural quality and the valuer's comments.
Cheltenham & Gloucester, part of Lloyds TSB, and Northern Rock will lend up to the fourth floor and NatWest will lend up to the eighth.
Sally Laker, an adviser at Mortgage Intelligence in Bournemouth, says: 'Lenders will often look for a property with standard construction and market appeal. It will have to be in good condition and be in a popular location.
'New high-rise developments in central London are always looked at differently, so buyers with this type of property should not have too many problems.'
The final part of Financial Mail's authoritative guide to making the most of your money points the way to the best starter funds
Going up in the world
• GO to a specialist estate agent accustomed to dealing with high-rise property and ask which lenders are best to approach. Alternatively, use an independent mortgage broker.
• ASK other owner-occupier residents in the block which lenders provided their mortgage.
• LENDERS will want to know that the building is structurally sound. Also, check out how much the maintenance costs will be for the shared areas of the flat.
• MORTGAGE providers will want to be sure that any communal areas and lifts are well maintained as this affects the saleability of the flat.
©2004 Associated Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 08, 2004.

The Friends of Kennington Park: Annual General Meeting

The Friends of Kennington Park
The Friends of Kennington Park
Annual General Meeting
7pm Monday 26th April 2004
St Agnes Church Hall, Kennington Park Gardens/St Agnes Place SE11
Come along and find out the latest news about what's happening in the Park. If you've ideas and want to get more involved, why not stand for election to the committee? This is your chance to influence what happens in your local Park so we hope to see you there.
Everyone is welcome to come along and share their views but please note that only paid up members of FOKP are eligible to vote. Join the FOKP by picking up a membership form from Kennington Park café or the Durning or Brandon libraries.
It's your park - come and have your say

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), March 06, 2004.

Burglary in Kennington

Burglary in Kennington
We were burgled last night, while we were at home. The Thief/Thieves used a piece of wood through the letterbox to flick open the Banham lock. Please warn all your members to LOCK THEMSELVES IN when they are at home. It seems so improbable that we all forget to do it.
I would appreciate if you would circulate the attached too-as Charlotte is totally distraught at losing her diary, business diary, Palm Pilot and business contacts. The diary and handbag are both by Hermes- the bag is Brown, the diary roughly 3" by 7" is red leather-bound.
Thank you
Richard Strange
REWARD
A number of items were stolen from us recently, including a SONY digital video camera, SONY digital still camera, two Palm Pilots and some credit cards.
Also stolen was a large brown ladies handbag containing a number of personal, irreplaceable effects.
If by any chance you know anything about the theft, or happen to find the bag, or the red leather diary and business card case it contained, please call
0771 049 0658.
If you require a reward, one will be given, no questions asked.
Thank you

-- Richard Strange (Strangetti@aol.com), March 04, 2004.

Kennington interest on eBay

Kennington interest on eBay
I'm not sure if anybody in the Association might be interested in a bit of Kennington's history but there is an item on eBay (www.ebay.com) ...item No 3708137127... 1771 Rare Document from Kennington Manor. The bidding finishes 8.3.04. 18.49 GMT. The item is in America.
Highest regards
Frank

-- Frank Manning (frankmanning@rdplus.net), March 02, 2004.

Spicing up the political menu

South London Press
News
Spicing up the political menu
Feb 27 2004
YOUR columnist evokes the spirit of "Tandoori Nights" in the jotting about the Kennington eatery (South London Press Diary, February 20) with the snaps of politicians ranging from Geoff Hoon to Charles Kennedy, plus Ann Widdecombe with various colours of hair.
There is another rival establishment, also with pictures of politicos, just a few metres walk away, which in the Major years was a regular supplier of the hot stuff to 10 Downing Street. So let's be fair to everyone. Not only is the food excellent at both these establishments, it is perfectly true that you can have strange dining companions.
One night just gone, the leader of Lambeth council, Peter Truesdale, arrived to meet me, only to find that the woman at the next table was the leader of West Oxfordshire council - not a good omen as they [her council] are putting up taxes by 33 per cent.
Don't worry: we aren't.
Some of your readers may be interested to know a new meaning of "to tandoori" since the said curry house was where the leader of Lambeth council and I agreed the terms and conditions for the current Lib Dem Conservative administration in Lambeth.
That was about two months before the election in 2002 when we already knew Labour was heading for the political trots. Clearly, we need to publish that evening's menu, but it certainly included a bottle or so of Kingfisher lager and gave us plenty to chew on ...
The real interest, though, is around the tandoori, which kept us tikka-ing along for several weeks and stopped Labour bhaji-ing us. This is a tasty dish that usually comes orange-coloured - and you certainly wouldn't consume it if it was blue.
However, to "tandoori" in town hall jargon means to spice up a deal to keep Labour out of office, if they lose majority control and are booted out of office. I wonder if Michael Howard and Charles Kennedy are going to follow our example and start paratha-ing [partying] there.
Councillor John Whelan
Deputy leader and Conservative group leader,
Lambeth council

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 01, 2004.

Death-crash scooter man fined

South London Press
News
Death-crash scooter man fined
Feb 27 2004
A NOVICE scooter rider who fled after hitting a cyclist and leaving him fatally injured in the road has been fined for careless driving.
Barry Lee, 18, struck 61-year-old cyclist Kim Vinh Thi shortly after 6am on Blackfriars Bridge on a damp and cold winter morning. Southwark Crown Court had heard he picked his scooter up from the road, dusted himself off and rode to work without stopping to help the injured cyclist.
Mr Thi, who was wearing a bike helmet and had flashing red lights on the rear of his cycle, died two weeks after being struck by Lee.
Lee, of Fitzalan Street, Kennington, was cleared by a jury of causing death by dangerous driving on February 21, 2003.
He was convicted of a lesser charge of careless driving by the jury this week.
Judge George Bathurst-Norman told Lee: "I give you credit for the fact that you did go to the police at the end of the day."
The judge fined Lee Ł1,000 and ordered him to pay it at a rate of Ł100 per week.
He was also disqualified from holding a driving licence for two years, when he must pass a test. Lee had denied causing death by dangerous driving.
He pleaded not guilty to two further matters, a charge of failing to stop and a charge of failing to report an accident.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 27, 2004.

Classic painting is stolen from hospital

South London Press
News
Classic painting is stolen from hospital
Feb 27 2004
A classic painting valued at around Ł18,000 has been stolen from the chapel of St Thomas' Hospital.
The painting, measuring 2ft by 3ft depicts the Holy Family, St Anne, St John and two angels.
It was last seen on the previous Friday at around 5pm and staff realised it was missing on Sunday evening.
The painting was donated to the hospital and is said to be greatly valued by both staff and patients.
Anyone with information should contact Sergeant Scott McDonald of the Kennington Beat Crimes Unit on 020 8649 2467 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 27, 2004.

Birdwatchers

Birdwatchers
A quick note to any wildlife watchers. For the past 2 days there has been a flock of Fieldfares in Kennington Park. I counted about 30 this morning and although common in the countryside at this time of the year, they are winter visitors, I have never seen any in Kennington Park before. To those who are interested they look very like Thrushes, slightly smaller, they feed on the grass and roost together at night in the trees.
For more information about the breed, go to http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/fieldfare.htm

-- Frances McKay (frances@francesmckay.com), February 26, 2004.

Congestion Charging

Telegraph: Motoring
The true cost of a fiver
(Filed: 21/02/2004)
A year on since the congestion charge was introduced in London, James Foxall looks at its effects on the capital, and considers its proposed expansion
Five pounds doesn't amount to much nowadays. It'll buy you little more than a gallon of petrol and in many pubs it won't even buy you two pints of lager and a packet of crisps. But for many car drivers, residents and businesses in Britain, the humble fiver has taken on a far greater significance than its monetary value.
It was thanks to Ł5 that Monday February 17, 2003, became a momentous day in British motoring history. An otherwise unremarkable, grey winter's morning heralded London's moment in the world spotlight as it became the first European capital city to tackle its road transport problems head-on. In an unprecedented move, it forced drivers to pay for road space between 7am and 6.30pm from Monday to Friday.
Ken Livingstone, London's mayor and the instigator of the congestion charge, warned it was going to be a "bloody day" for the capital. Many watched out of morbid fascination, as if expecting the streets to fill with burning cars and rioting motorists seeking retribution on authorities apparently hell-bent on bleeding them dry of cash. The expectations of others were less dramatic. They simply wanted to see if the congestion charge worked, and if it would be coming to a road near them.
Drivers carped but there were certainly no riots and now, like buses that turn up three at a time and overcrowded train carriages, the Ł5 fee has become just a daily irritant to many of the capital's commuters. For others it has led to a complete change in routine; for businesses, it has cost millions of pounds.
For Michael Goldfarb the congestion charge prompted probably the most expensive 14 seconds of his life. The journalist had timed his journey to perfection, entering London's central zone at 6.30pm on the dot and thereby avoiding the charge - or so he thought. But while his VW Golf's clock said it was 6.30pm, the atomic clock at Rugby didn't agree. Employed by the cameras that take pictures of vehicles entering and driving within the central zone's eight square miles, Rugby's clock showed that he entered at 18.29 and 46 seconds. As Michael thought he was outside the charging times, he didn't bother paying. That'll be an Ł80 fine, thank you very much.
Others have also been tripped up by a payment system that critics say is quirky and designed to catch drivers out. Mike Wiltshire from Bristol came to London for a long weekend. Aware that he had to pay the congestion charge for the Friday and Monday he spent in the capital, he was shocked to discover that he couldn't pay both together on the Monday. That's another Ł80 fine, discounted to Ł40 for prompt payment.
Paul Watters, head of roads and transport at the AA, believes examples such as these have done the system no favours: "We are concerned that there isn't more information for people coming from out of town. And if Transport for London (TfL) is going to be so rigorous about its timings it should have lights on the border of the zone to tell people when it's in operation."
TfL is unsympathetic. "Drivers have a duty to find out how the system operates and to obey its rules," a spokesman said. However, the AA argues that it suits TfL to have a degree of woolliness about the rules. When the motoring organisation surveyed drivers who regularly travelled into London, 57 per cent said they were put off driving into the capital by the difficulty of paying the charge, while the Ł5 itself deterred only 45 per cent.
The congestion charge has also failed to raise the money Livingstone promised to bolster London's creaking transport system. The start-up and operating costs are estimated at Ł361 million, but when TfL finally releases figures for the congestion charge's first year, it will show that rather than the anticipated Ł200m (revised down to Ł120m by the time the scheme was launched), the charge will have accrued only Ł68m. The figure is apparently so low because the original Ł5 calculation was made without taking into account special discounts and exemptions for residents and workers in the zone. But of more concern is that Ł50m of the revenue raised is expected to be from fines. "That says there is something wrong with the system," said Watters. "Penalties shouldn't be a revenue stream. That just shows desperation. They don't want people to comply, which is terrifying." Edmund King, executive director of the RAC Foundation, added: "People who have incurred penalties wrongly have had to work too hard to prove their innocence. But the way Capita, which administers the system, is paid means it's not in its interest to be lenient or flexible."
And that isn't the only area of concern. Of the 35,000-40,000 penalties issued each week, TfL estimates that it drops about 60 per cent when drivers appeal. Of those that aren't discarded, between one and two per cent go to independent arbitration, which finds in favour of the motorist in 50 per cent of cases. That's more than half a million motorists who have had to waste time proving their innocence. Meanwhile, more than 20 per cent of fines are being ignored altogether.
As if aggrieved car drivers weren't enough of a bureaucrat's bad dream, the system for dishing out penalties is highly labour-intensive. Although cameras using automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) software photograph cars in the zone and computers match these to a database of drivers who have paid the charge, the snaps of cars that are identified as non-payers have to be checked manually. And still a 51-year-old farmer from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire received a penalty because his 8mph combine harvester had allegedly been caught in the zone. A system this unwieldy, as well as a call centre to answer questions and protests, not to mention camera maintenance, will have cost TfL between Ł90m and Ł100m for the year.
Then there's the cost to business. The John Lewis Partnership, whose flagship store on Oxford Street is within the zone, has been particularly outspoken. And it's easy to see why: turnover in that one shop is down by between 12 and 15 per cent. Communications director Paul Burden said: "We can make comparisons with other stores and see Oxford Street is lagging. In the current economic climate, two or three per cent can be a pretty important contribution to profit."
If business has borne the brunt of the cost, there's no doubt that individuals have been in the front line when it comes to having their lives changed. The number of cars entering the zone has gone down by 38 per cent. But despite this remarkable figure, the charge has only hit its target of a 15 per cent vehicle reduction.
The explanation for this apparent contradiction lies in the deterrent effect of the charge to individuals. There are one million more bus journeys a day than before the charge, cycling is up by 30 per cent, motorcycling is up by 20 per cent and taxi trips have increased by 20 per cent. This is countered by an unaffected number of lorries and vans delivering goods and more journeys by drivers who live within the zone and pay a heavily discounted charge.
This is reflected in the business world too, where larger operations that rely on vehicles to go about their daily business haven't been hit as badly as small companies. Pimlico Plumbers is a case in point. Based at Waterloo, it is well inside the central zone and has benefited greatly from the congestion charge. Owner Charles Mullins explained: "We're picking up a lot of work from one-man bands who are less inclined to come into the zone. For smaller outfits the administration makes coming into the zone a real headache."
Pimlico Plumbers has also benefited from the charge's success in reducing traffic volume. "There's less congestion so our engineers can get around quicker. We spend about Ł2,500 a week on the charge [businesses pay Ł5·50 per vehicle per day] but we make more than that back because on average an engineer has time to fit another job into his working day," Mullins said.
So, love it or hate it, the charge has at least done what it set out to do and reduced traffic within the central zone, although the early average speed increase of 3mph has now dwindled to 2mph as road and traffic engineering works have made a comeback; nearly eight miles of new bus lanes have been installed in the past 12 months, for example. Three quarters of delivery firms say their journey times are no better now than they were a year ago.
And outside the zone? Doom mongers were predicting hordes of motorists clogging up roads on the zone's perimeter waiting for the clock to tick past 6.30pm. That hasn't happened, just as in residential areas such as Kennington, bisected by the zone's south-eastern boundary, property prices appear to have been unaffected. However, according to the road-monitoring service Trafficmaster, journey times outside the zone increased as drivers who formerly passed through or into the zone found alternative routes.
Apart from the system's bureaucracy, there are still some glitches. Bus management has been poor, as King observes: "Now we have gridlocks caused by too many buses. And there are still problems with some traffic lights inside the zone - but the people affected have paid good money to be on London's roads."
There are more clouds on the horizon. TfL's next project is to extend the zone westward to take in more of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. This would add about 100,000 motorists to the 40,000 already inside the zone; to make the economics of the system work, the 90 per cent residents' discount might have to be abandoned.
About 700 local residents turned up at a public meeting this week to voice their opposition, but they aren't the only ones anxiously awaiting consultation over the extension. Paul Burden, who also acts as a spokesman on behalf of the Oxford Street Association, said: "We know restaurants and theatres are worried. We don't think there is a single retailer who doesn't have some concerns." Even the pro-toll Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors found that 90 per cent of central London retailers and 75 per cent of leisure businesses believed the charge had reduced custom, and suggested that there had been a fall in commercial rents.
If you get the impression there's been quite a lot of "suck it and see" surrounding congestion charging, you're right. Of course TfL experts spent hours poring over their projections but there were some things that were impossible to predict: the high cost of running the system and the number of discounted charges that would be given, to name two vital ones. And both have had an effect on the disappointing figures. "If you were to do a cost-benefit analysis of the whole scheme, we believe it would be marginal," said Paul Watters.
The Road Users' Alliance has warned other local authorities to think carefully before introducing similar schemes. RUA director Tim Green said: "London has always been much less dependent on the car to deliver its customers and workforce than other conurbations, which are therefore at higher risk."
But some cities seem undeterred. Edinburgh is forging ahead with a scheme that will roll out in 2006. Unlike London's method, drivers will be charged Ł2 for crossing a cordon around the city's central zone. Also unlike London, it hopes to benefit from the capital's experience and avoid the cumbersome backroom bureaucracy. But despite the dissimilarities it does rely on London as an example. The executive member for transport from the City of Edinburgh Council, Andrew Burns, said: "If London had failed dismally there's very little chance we would have followed, and I think it's the same for other cities such as Leeds and Bristol which are considering charging drivers."
So because it's achieved its primary purpose of reducing traffic in a central zone, there's every chance that congestion charging could be coming to a city near you soon. But is it just charging for the sake of it? Several experts we spoke to suggested that TfL could have achieved its 15 per cent traffic reduction target by some judicious road narrowing, further manipulation of the traffic light phasing and one way systems, not dissimilar to the "ring of steel" implemented in the City of London after the 1993 terrorist bomb in Bishopsgate.
But if you're a car hater like Ken Livingstone and you're going to make yourself unpopular with drivers, you might as well go the whole hog. And if it's proved one thing, congestion charging has shown the power of the humble fiver.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 21, 2004.

Congestion Charging

Congestion charge - what the mayor saw
Feb 20 2004
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
South London Press
THE congestion charge is NOT harming trade, according to Transport for London's (TfL) own report one year into the scheme.
Speaking on the first anniversary of the scheme on Tuesday, congestion charge director Malcolm Murray-Clark insisted concerns over the effect on business were "misguided".
The TfL report also points to its own survey of 700 businesses which found that factors other than the charge were a bigger influence on profit margins.
The claim directly contradicts concerns expressed by many independent traders who over the past year have told the South London Press that businesses were being crippled as a result of the Ł5-a-day scheme.
Mr Murray-Clark said: "The report shows that concerns over the effects on business are misguided and that negative perceptions are unsubstantiated."
Traffic-busting London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: "Before the introduction of the charge, London's roads were clogged with slow-moving traffic and congestion was costing business Ł2million a week.
"The scheme has made a real difference in getting London moving again."
The figures, on traffic levels at least, back up Mr Livingstone's claim.
One year on and central London has seen traffic delays slashed by 30 per cent and an 18 per cent reduction in cars entering the zone.
However, while an undoubted success in cutting traffic in Zone 1, concerns remain about the effect on business.
The report states the charge was introduced during a time when the economy was being affected by the knock-on effect of war in Iraq and the prolonged closure of the Central Line.
TfL concludes the charge was responsible for less than six per cent of the reduction in trips to central London.
A survey of 700 business, inside and within 500m of the zone, found that economic factors, tourism, company factors and seasonal changes were all placed above the charge as influences on business performance.
However, TfL's claims that business has not been harmed are not likely to cut any ice with traders in and around the zone in Kennington and Vauxhall where shopkeepers are shutting up shop.
They claim they are losing out on casual trade because fewer people are driving in and around the zone.
Many also claim the scheme is designed to catch out drivers and say the rule of 25 vehicles in a fleet to qualify for a discount is far too high to help small business with less than five delivery vans.
Conservative mayoral candidate Steve Norris, who has always said he would scrap the scheme if elected mayor in June's election, bemoaned the detrimental effect on businesses and said: "If this is Livingstone's idea of a better city, it certainly is not mine."
020 8710 6437 email: transport@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 20, 2004.

Postcards of Kennington Park

Postcards of Kennington Park
branches against the sky
The seasons in Kennington Park
John Hoyland’s Photography is now available as postcards, on sale for 50p each from the Café in Kennington Park
http://www.morefoma.com/johnhoyland/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 20, 2004.

Another local website: Events in Kennington

For a list of upcoming events in Kennington, go to:
http://www.knowhere.co.uk/126_events.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 20, 2004.

B&B accommodation in Kennington

Contact Richard Bartlett or Jeff at 57 Walnut Tree Walk, Kennington SE11 on 020 7735 5375, minimum stay 2 nights. Alternatively, cheaper accommodation is offered in Jamyang Buddhist Centre which is in what was once a court house and what were prisoners' cells are now B&B accommodation. Call 020 7582 1002 between 2pm and 6pm Monday to Thursday.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 19, 2004.

Dear Sun

The Sun - LettersWednesday, February 18, 2004
Dear Sun
I SEE Abu Hamza is exploiting the UK’s hospitality and attacking ethnic groups in an abuse of his right to free speech.
Just what difference is there between this and the words of Robert Kilroy-Silk?
The Commission For Racial Equality hit out at Kilroy but are silent on the opinions of Hamza.
Bias prevails, not the equality their name suggests.
PAUL WHELAN
Kennington, SE London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2004.

Another local website

There is another local website that may be of interest at:
http://www.movethat.com/London/My/Kennington/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2004.

Past Preserved - Nooks & Crannies in Charlie Chaplin's London

Just to let you all know that the Kennington Walk will be repeated at 2.30pm on July 10th from Kennington Tube. Should be slightly warmer!
Best wishes
Cathy
Guided walks from Kennington Tube Station
The Original LONDON WALKS
London, PO Box 1708, London, NW6 4LW
Telephone 020 7624 3978 (or 020 7794 1764)
Recorded Information 020 7624 9255 (or 020 7624 WALK)
http://london.walks.com/
Past Preserved - Nooks & Crannies in Charlie Chaplin's London
Saturday, July 10th 2:30pm Kennington Tube Stop
Going On A London Walk
To go on a London Walk, meet your guide and fellow walkers on the pavement just outside the designated LondonTube Stop (Underground Station) at the time stated.
Your guide will be holding up copies of the distinctive white London Walks leaflet. There is no need to book for any of the London Walks
A London Walk lasts about two hours.
And they always take place, rain or shine. Each walk ends at or near a LondonTube Stop (Underground station).
How Much Does It Cost?
A London Walk costs Ł5 - or Ł4 for senior citizens, full-time students, and Discount Walkabout Card holders. The Walkabout Cards are a bargain so do ask your guide for one! Children under 15 go free if accompanied by their parent(s).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 15, 2004.

MONDAY EVENINGS at the DURNING LIBRARY with the Friends of Durning Library

MONDAY EVENINGS at the DURNING LIBRARY with the Friends of Durning Library
Dear Friends
A reminder about this Monday evening's event at the Durning Library.
Best wishes
Cathy
FRIENDS OF THE DURNING LIBRARY
Evening events at 7.0 for 7.30 -- all welcome
(come early - space limited)
Held at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Ł2 suggested donation
Nibbles and drinks
Monday 16 February: "Mr Guy's Hospital and the Caribbees"
Medical historian Jane Bowden-Dan will be discussing the medical care of Caribbean slaves sent "home" from the West Indies by London merchants and treated at Guy's Hospital. Was it humanitarian concern or enlightened self-interest which led to the slave Samson being treated by premier surgeon Samuel Sharpe?
Monday 15 March: "Can We Avert Climate Catastrophe?"
Where can we find the real facts about climate change? Are the relevant scientists in disagreement about the facts? How real and imminent is the threat of climate catastrophe? Can we avert it, and if so how much time have we got? These are some of the questions that John Mead, of the UNED-UK Energy & Climate Panel, will try to answer.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), February 14, 2004.

Gasworks Gallery

Call for Participants!!!
Gasworks Gallery
155 Vauxhall Street, The Oval, London SE11 5RH
Tel: 020 7582 6848 Fax: 020 7582 0159
www.gasworks.org.uk gallery@gasbag.org
The Gas Board
Gasworks Gallery's Billboard Project:
Have Your Portrait Taken by Photographer Eileen Perrier
Gasworks Gallery in Vauxhall Street SE11 is looking for local residents to take part in a new project - having their portrait taken by up and coming local artist/photographer, Eileen Perrier.
The Gallery is currently closed for refurbishment and will re-open again in summer 2004. When we re-open we will have a street level display area called The Gas Board which will be used to exhibit four artists' projects a year.
Eileen Perrier is the first artist to be selected for The Gas Board. We would like to invite local residents into the building during the refurbishment to have their portraits taken. The resulting images will be printed by Eileen and displayed as a series of changing posters on The Gas Board throughout the summer months.
Participants will be presented with their portrait at the end of the project as a thank you for taking part!
If you are interested and free on either of the following days [see below] to come down to Gasworks please give Fiona or Matthew a call on 020 7582 6848 to book a place.
The photo sessions will take place on Sat/Sun 3rd and 4th April 2004.
Everyone is welcome to participate and Eileen is happy to take group portraits of family or friends. Pets are also welcome. Each session will last approximately 15 mins for individuals and 30 mins for groups, and refreshments will be served.
This project has been support for Arts Council England - Grants for the Arts, Metro Imaging and Space Studios.
For images or further information about this project and the exhibition and events programme for 2004 please contact Fiona Boundy or Matthew Poole on 020 7582 6848 or email: press@gasbag.org
Gasworks Gallery Offices will be open Monday - Friday 9.30 - 6pm during the refurbishment
Gasworks Gallery is part of Triangle Arts Trust Registered Charity No. 326411
Gasworks Gallery is financially supported by Arts Council England, London
More details at: http://www.gasworks.org.uk/shows/eil_per/index.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 14, 2004.

The Camera Club

The Camera Club is planning an exhibition of photographs by residents of Lambeth. Please submit up to 5 10x8" photographs with your name, address and phone number to: The Lambeth Residents' Photography Exhibition at the address below by 31 March 2004. The photos will be selected by a panel nominated by Lambeth Council and the Club. The exhibition will start on Monday 3 May and will be opened by the Mayor of Lambeth during that week.
The Camera Club
16 Bowden Street
Kennington
London SE11
020 7587 1809

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 14, 2004.

Crime

Robbery thug holds knife to OAP's throat
Feb 13 2004
By Crime Reporter Greg Truscott
South London Press
A CALLOUS robber put a four-inch knife to the throat of 70-year-old man in a bid to force shop assistants to hand over cash.
The pensioner was shopping for groceries at the Costcutter store in Baylis Road, Waterloo, when the raider burst in and grabbed him.
He put a knife to the throat of the elderly customer and told shop staff to hand over takings.
But staff hit a panic button and the robber was forced to flee empty-handed into Millennium Park and onto the Tansworth Estate.
The brave pensioner, who was not injured in the attack, attempted to chase the robber despite requiring a walking stick to get around.
Detective Constable Paul Donoghue has appealed for witnesses and information regarding the attempted robbery which took place around 5.40am on Friday, January 30.
He said: "This was a particularly hideous and unprovoked attack on a senior citizen going about his daily business. Thankfully he was not injured.
"This type of violence towards a member of the public is rare and we need to catch this dangerous man."
The suspect is described as a light-skinned black male, 19 to 20 years old, 5ft 10in tall and of stocky build. He was wearing a bright blue top and a light blue scarf to cover the lower part of his face.
Information to the Kennington Priority Crime Unit on 020 8649 2434 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."
020 8710 6435 email: crime@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 14, 2004.

Property

Evening Standard
11/02/04 - Property news section
Going, going, gone
By David Spittles
The auction year begins this week with an exciting mixed bag to suit all budgets.
Perhaps auctions are the way forward for first-time buyers keen to employ a bit of lateral thinking: clubbing together to buy with friends; or for making a shared investment with relatives, who want to renovate and sell once their youngster has made enough money to put down an independent deposit. Auctions can help you to get on the ladder at a realistic price.
You cannot get a guaranteed bargain at auction - rival bidding can ratchet up prices. But it is possible to pick up property that cannot normally be bought through estate agents.
Unmodernised period houses, for example, are usually sold direct to small developers for conversion. Dozens of such properties are due to go under the hammer this month.
Some are wrecks, others require cosmetic improvements, a few are split into bedsits but could be returned to single residence. Some have desirable addresses, others are in up-and-coming pockets of the inner city.
Increasingly, properties are being offloaded by councils and housing charities that are merely looking for the best price on the day. Executor sales can also throw up attractively priced homes.
One such property is a handsome, doublefronted house in Brixton being sold by FPDSavills (lot 61, 16 February), with a guide price of Ł 500,000.
The firm's Paul Mooney says auction buyers became more price sensitive last year, and he expects this to continue in 2004.
However, there is 'unlimited appetite' for the right sort of property such as Victorian or Georgian town houses. 'A lot are in bad condition and so not for the faint-hearted. But it's a fantastic chance for someone who wants to design a house from top to bottom.'
When buying an unmodernised house you must do your detective work before the sale. 'We recommend getting a survey, whatever property you intend buying,' says Gary Murphy of estate agent Allsop.
When instructing a surveyor, request a breakdown of likely repair costs. A full structural survey could easily cost Ł 800. Have your finance lined up and be aware of the maximum loan a mortgage lender will grant.
The valuation put on the property by a lender may be considerably below the hammer price, leaving you with a shortfall to find.
Auction firms are trying to make the process easier for buyers by arranging pre-sale viewings and offering mortgage and legal advice. It is also possible to bid via the internet.
Auctionwatch is a personalised search service that identifies properties according to your requirements - type of house or flat, price, location and so on.
'It keeps you one step ahead of the pack,' says David Sandeman, managing director of Essential Information Group, which provides the service.
'Time is of the essence when you buy at auction. Usually there is only a two- or three-week gap between the catalogue being sent out and the auction taking place, which isn't long.'
At any one time EIG has a database of about 28,000 properties supplied by 180 auction firms. The service costs Ł 95 plus VAT for three months.
You state your requirements - say, an unmodernised house in Clapham - and EIG emails details as soon as it gets them from auction firms.
The list is updated twice a week. You can then visit the company's website (www.eigroup.co.uk) and get a picture of the property, description and location map.
Historic information on 280,000 properties is also available, so you can check past and present values.
'This is useful because a lot of buyers get excited by the guide price, only to be disappointed on the day of the auction when bidding is much higher,' adds Sandeman.
Andrews & Robertson, which covers mainly south-east and south-west London, says there is a trend of young families buying part-vacant homes. Houses with a sitting tenant are about 30 per cent cheaper.
Some young couples with small children do not mind sharing a large house with a tenant occupying a couple of rooms or a self-contained flat at the top, because it can be a way of getting a house in a desirable street for the price of a flat.
When the owners are better off, they may be able to buy out the sitting tenant. But it is a bit of a gamble in terms of the tenant leaving. It could be two years or 20 years. Or perhaps never.
Andrews & Robertson has a three-storey house in Thrale Road, Streatham, SW16, that is part-occupied by a regulated tenant and has a guide price of ÂŁ210,000 (lot 33, 17 February).
Houses sold by London boroughs including Wandsworth, Southwark, Lambeth, Merton and Enfield are also on offer in the Andrews & Robertson auction, with guide prices starting at less than Ł 200,000.
Lewisham and Hither Green are improving on the back of the success of Canary Wharf. Also at the Andrews & Robertson auction in Wellmeadow Road, SE13, a doubled-fronted terrace has a guide price of Ł 220,000 (lot 56). In Somerset Gardens an elegant early Victorian house overlooking a green has a guide price of Ł 350,000 (lot 43).
The company is also offering three adjoining terraced houses in a conservation area in Kennington (lot 29) - guide price, Ł 975,000 - perhaps for a buyer to keep one, rent one and sell one.
Close to the Olympic regeneration site in Hackney is a four-storey semi with planning permission for conversion into four flats (lot 28, FPDSavills). The guide price is Ł 470,000.
A terraced house (lot 5, FPDSavills) on the Jesus Green estate in Bethnal Green, close to Colombia Road flower market, has a guide of Ł 280,000.
London commuters may be tempted by a listed house overlooking the village green in Finchingfield, Essex.
It comes with a timber barn suitable for conversion and has a guide price of Ł 280,000 (lot 69, FPDSavills). Meanwhile, a detached 1930s house in Purley - guide price of Ł 390,000 - is also expected to attract strong bidding (lot 33, FPDSavills).
Auction dates
Allsop: tomorrow (020 7494 3686)
FPDSavills: 16 February (020 7824 9091)
Andrews & Robertson: 17 February (020 7703 2662)
Clive Emson: 19 February (01622 630033)
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/9097596?version=1 ©2004 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 13, 2004.

PUBLIC MEETING - Buses in Kennington

PUBLIC MEETING
Buses in Kennington
7pm on Monday, 8th March
St Anselm's Church Hall
Kennington Cross SE11
(286 Kennington Road, at the junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane)
· Is crime a problem on your bus route?
· Are buses safe?
· Do driving standards concern you?
· Is a new bus route needed?
· Is a new bus stop needed?
· Should buses be more frequent?
· Does the wrong type of bus serve your area?
· Are there any other issues you want to raise?
Guest panellists include:
· Andrew Boag, Service Change Advocate, London Buses, TfL
· Belinda Danino, London Buses, TfL, Borough Liaison - Lambeth
· John Stewart, Transport Users Group, Lambeth Council
· Trevor Wilding, Transport Group Manager, Southwark Council
And we will be joined by:
· Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall
· Cllr Caroline Pidgeon, Deputy Leader, Southwark Council
· Cllr Andrew Sawdon, Executive Member for Transport, Lambeth Council
· Valerie Shawcross, London Assembly Member for Lambeth & Southwark
Come along and have your say!
Northern line tube: nearest stations - Kennington or Oval
Buses: 3, 59, 159, 322, 360
Walking (or 1 to 2 bus stops) distance from:
Tube stations: North Lambeth, Vauxhall, Elephant & Castle
Buses: 36, 436, 133, 185, 155, 333
Organised by Kennington Association in conjunction with Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall (KOV) Forum
For further information contact Kennington Association at KenningtonAssn@aol.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 12, 2004.

Congestion charging

Evening Standard
'Cost to companies could top Ł250m'
By Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Affairs Editor
9 February 2004
The first year of the congestion charge has hit business hard in central London, traders claim.
Shops and restaurants on Oxford Street alone believe they are Ł100 million worse off as a direct result of customers staying away. Across the West End as a whole, the total could be at least Ł250 million, it is feared.
The campaign against the charge has been led by department store chain John Lewis, which pointed to the stark contrast in the financial performance of its shops inside and outside the zone.
Sales at its flagship Oxford Street store were down two per cent in the first six months of the charge, compared with a 10 per cent surge in takings at its shop in Kent's Bluewater centre.
Director Paul Burden said: "We were concerned before the charge came in that not enough research had been done to establish what impact there would be on the flow of customers into the West End.
"It remains our feeling that the underperformance at Oxford Street cannot be explained by other factors. The strength of other shops outside central London... suggests there is a special negative factor at work."
The chain has commissioned Professor Michael Bell of Imperial College London to research how badly Oxford Street has been hit.
An Evening Standard analysis of the impact across the zone reveals that: A third of retailers are thinking about quitting central London. A quarter said they have cut staff, with sales in the area down by between five per cent and 20 per cent.
The number of central London shoppers was down by an average 11.6 per cent over the first 50 weeks of the charge, said retail analysts Footfall. For Greater London outside the zone, the fall was 2.1 per cent. At Bluewater, shopper numbers rose two per cent and sales were up four per cent.
Restaurant takings in central London are down between five and seven per cent said Mike Gottlieb, Restaurant Association president. Some areas have been hit far harder. Augustinho Vivairos said his tapas bar on Kennington Lane has seen a 50 per cent fall in trade since last February. "We're ruined," he said. "At lunchtime it's dead."
Smithfield meat market trade fell an estimated 20 per cent over the past year. Gary Lawrence of the Smithfield Tenants Association said: "Our customers are businesses and restaurants from all over the South-East but quite a few don't come here any more." Business organisations said the situation is desperate for hundreds of firms, with the lost trade often making the difference between profit and loss, or even survival and bankruptcy.
Colin Stanbridge, chief executive of London Chamber of Commerce, said: "We take no pleasure in pointing out that our research has shown there is a real and pressing downside to the congestion-charge experiment."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 09, 2004.

Ladies Who Lunch The Beehive Wed 10th March

Ladies Who Lunch
The Beehive
Wed 10th March
Hi All
I have made a booking at The Beehive pub for 1pm, Wednesday, 10th March.
The Beehive
60-62 Carter Street, London SE17 3EW
7703 4992
Staff are dressed in black bow ties and white aprons, and the meat is supplied by Hester's of Kennington!
The Beehive pub offers an extensive menu including snacks, sandwiches, various beef and chicken burgers, seafood, vegetarian dishes, and steaks plus a board of daily specials and desserts. The additional lunch menu includes soup, potato skins, brie wedges, calamares, prawns in filo, nachos and ribs.
Go to this link for a map:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=SE173EW
Can you please let me know if you can join us?
Many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 07, 2004.

New BBC3 comedy set on the Brandon Estate

February 07, 2004
The Times
One to watch
Sean Lock's future is built on solid foundations, says Michael Odell
Take a good look at Sean Lock and decide if you are happy with your home. Having rendered, pointed, lagged and extended houses from London to Peterborough, the 40-year-old former builder who is now a stand-up comedian and the writer and star of the BBC comedy 15 Storeys High, may have laid your floor or put up your walls.
Born in Woking, Surrey, Lock left college in the grim early 1980s and spent his time drinking, travelling and labouring on building sites. It was the latter which inspired Fifteen Minutes of Misery, a Radio 4 prototype of 15 Storeys High. Lock was an established face on the stand-up circuit, but the cult success of that show, co-written with Mark Lamarr and now beginning its second series, seems set to launch him into the mainstream.
Lock plays Vince, whose tower-block existence is the launchpad for some extraordinarily well-written comedy with plot strands and incidental characters worthy of vintage Seinfeld.
“Any comparison with basically the greatest sitcom ever written is, of course, very flattering,” says Lock, who coolly combs our chat for gag openings. “I’d probably be less disciplined about tying up all the plot strands if I didn’t have Mark Lamarr using his microwave writing technique. I write five days a week but he’ll process a script in four hours and start yelling:
‘You’re not sending out the script until we’ve thought of a better ending for that!’ ” Lock is currently thinking of a better beginning, middle and end for a script for Slings & Arrows, a feature film project about a fading darts player, to star Johnny Vegas and Lee Evans.
It’s a far cry from his first stand-up gig in 1989. Lock had tried drama school but dropped out and began laying floors in East London. When he saw an ad for new comedy talent at a pub he took the plunge. His first joke was a skit on the Specials’ anti-apartheid anthem Free Nelson Mandela, in which Lock sang for the liberation of Myra Hindley. Unsurprisingly, his debut performance played to glowering silence. “But you got 15 quid for staying on stage, and I stood my ground,” he remembers.
15 Storeys High draws on the lows in Lock’s life, the nadir coming when he was working at a mental hospital. On Fridays the steel bins carrying waste food from the kitchens would be full. It was Lock’s job to stop patients from climbing up to eat the rancid leftovers. But, though 15 Storeys High may share the grim urban settings of a Ken Loach film, it is both warm and funny. It was filmed on an estate in Kennington also used as a location for The Bill. Locals had got used to seeing fictional crack dealers running down the walkways. They expected a similar portrayal of estate life from 15 Storeys High, but since the first series he has been delighted by the local response.
“A couple of people on the estate told me they thought it showed the sense of community that exists there. A tower block is basically a honeycomb where all types of life thrive, good and bad.” But it’s also a strikingly male world, something which he feels lucky to have got away with as a writer.
“I do feel more and more that TV is being written for women. Writers are asked: ‘Who is this show for?’ And unless you say: ‘22-year-old women working in the media who eat a lot of salads,’ commissioning editors aren’t interested. I didn’t create the show to answer a brief. I’m the last guy to answer that commissioning editor question by saying: ‘Me. It’s aimed at me. ’Cos I like it.’ ”
15 Storeys High, Thursday, BBC Three, 11pm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 07, 2004.

Cops sorry for bungle over drugs

South London Press
News
Cops sorry for bungle over drugs
Feb 6 2004
By Crime Reporter Greg Truscott
POLICE have apologised after names and addresses of residents who took a stance against drug dealing in their neighbourhood were handed to a suspected dealer.
Special policing arrangements were put in place when officers realised confidential personal information about the residents had been given to the alleged dealer in error.
The "indefensible mistake" occurred when officers served a court summons on the suspected cannabis dealer.
Attached to the summons were the names and addresses of nine residents of Landor Road, Brixton, who had supported police action to rid the street of dealers.
The residents had given comments to the police about widespread intimidation and fear the drug problem caused their neighbourhood.
The statements, together with police evidence, will be put before magistrates to seek Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) against four suspected cannabis dealers that would ban them from the area.
But when police served the first summons on one of the four alleged dealers telling him to attend court for the the special hearing, it named and gave addresses of the residents who supported the action.
Superintendent Stuart Lowe, of Kennington police, said the error was an "indefensible mistake".
Supt Lowe said: "I regret unfortunate mistakes were made and apologise to the people concerned.
"We failed in this case. I have undertaken a full review of police action.
"We will learn from this. I am committed to working with the community of Landor Road to ensure antisocial drug dealing does not take place in the area.
"The partnership of Kennington Police and the residents of Landor Road is crucial to the success of driving drug dealing away."
He added special steps were taken as soon as the error had been realised.
Supt Lowe said: "This should not have happened.
"I initiated some immediate action following the disclosure which included contacting those persons immediately whose personal details had been disclosed and providing an array of reassurance measures suitable for their concerns.
"There have been no incidents that I have been aware of due to that unfortunate disclosure."
In December, police carried out a massive raid on drug dealers in Landor Road with the full backing of local residents.
020 8710 6435 email: crime@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 06, 2004.

Woman slashed by robber

South London Press
News
Woman slashed by robber
Feb 6 2004
A 28-YEAR-OLD woman was slashed across the cheek and sustained injuries to her teeth and ear when she was robbed.
The woman had to be taken to hospital for treatment after the violent mugging in Crimsworth Road, off Thorparch Road, South Lambeth, at around 7.15pm on Monday, January 26. Her handbag was stolen in the attack.
Detective Constable Tracy Kenward, of Kennington Police, said: "This was a completely unnecessary attack on a defenceless woman.
"Her cheek was slashed and she sustained other injuries to one of her teeth and her right ear.
"If anyone saw the incident or has any information about the person who carried it out, we urge them to contact police."
The attacker is described as a 5ft 4in to 5ft 11in-tall black male with a shaved head. He had a London accent and was wearing a multicoloured, pastel, rugby-style shirt. Information to Detective Sergeant Ed Facer at Kennington Robbery Squad on 020 8649 2484 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 06, 2004.

Debut gig for MPs' new boy band

BBC News
Debut gig for MPs' new boy band
By Ben Davies
BBC News Online politics staff
A band with a difference made its debut on Thursday night as four MPs put aside all political differences and play their first public gig.
The idea of being locked in a church with only politicians for entertainment might see a lot of people losing their religion.
But this Iron Maiden speech is proof that even in British politics, harmony can be found amongst the discord.
And who knows, these Parliamentary Idols may even strike the right note.
Good chords?
But whatever happens when MP4 - that's the name of the band by the way - takes it away, the audience know that it is in a good cause, Macmillan Cancer Relief.
And having heard them strum, it's fairly safe to say that they are going to be something of a highlight in a night of recitations and sketches starring the likes of Michael Mates, Michael Ancram and Lord Falconer. In fact, it is possible they will quickly become a fond memory as they are due to be followed on to the stage by Nigel Evans, Lembit Opik and Stephen Pound. A case of send in the clowns.
They star in a sketch called 'The Jerry Springer Show - I've got a secret'. Laugh? I nearly did after catching them in rehearsal.
MP4 have a bit of a pedigree. Keyboard player and SNP member Pete Wishart is the only MP to have performed on Top of the Pops when he was in a band called Runrig.
Sixties legend?
"I've got a little bit of musical experience, shall we say," he remarked to BBC News Online.
And he is not the only one to have slid the boards.
Labour's Ian Cawsey - lead singer and bassist - used to be in a Sixties band called the Moggies and an Eighties band called Chinese Whispers.
And he still plays.
"Occasionally I get together with colleagues back home and just do the odd booking and it's kind of the thing you don't really miss when your not doing it but when you get back on stage and do it again it's a really important thing in my life so we're really looking forward to tonight.
"We've been rehearsing in Kennington for about a month and we're helped ironically by the House sitting hours being different now because on a Tuesday, business finishes at 7pm so that means that we can go for a couple of hours then.
"When the hours changed we all said that MPs would find something to get up to in their spare time and it was either sex, drugs or rock and roll and the whips thought rock and roll was the best option."
No premier performance
Another member, Labour MP Kevin Brennan joined the band when he heard they were looking for a guitarist.
"Tony Blair wasn't available so I agreed to do it," he joked.
Their drummer, meanwhile, is Conservative Greg Knight.
"Today St Johns, tomorrow Wembley stadium," said Greg Knight in a reference to the church they are playing in and a well known north London building site.
"I started playing drums at school but I haven't played for 12 and a half years," he continued.
"I'll be dusting off the drum kit tonight. Hopefully it won't be too painful - I think I've got the edge on the home secretary on the drums having heard him play recently."
Recording ambition
That was a reference to one of the more tooth-grinding moments of recent political history when the prime minister and David Blunkett delighted a group of teenagers by joining them in an entirely impromptu jamming session at their school.
But the question anyone who follows events in politics must want to ask is just how a bunch of people of widely different political perspectives can stand to spend time with each other voluntarily? "The things that unite us are our love of music and our concern for the future of the British music industry which is facing a number of threats at the minute not least from pirated music," says Mr Knight.
"It's for the Macmillan charity so we've actually had no disagreements whatsoever on any aspect of this project."
But had there been no shouting, screaming or emotion? "No there's been none of that so far but it's early days," said Mr Wishart.
"Give us a chance. I'm sure the famous musical differences will emerge."
Two tune gig
As for their next step, the MPs are planning to record a CD with some financial sponsorship from the British Phonographic Industry.
They may even write some of their own songs.
But for their first gig they are confining themselves to just a couple of numbers.
"We're doing 'Can't buy me love' the old Beatles number and a Travis number 'Why does it always rain on me?' So old and new - a bit like the Labour Party," said Mr Cawsey.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/3463441.stm
Published: 2004/02/05 19:26:30 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 06, 2004.

Vauxhall Street

Lambeth

Temporary closure of Vauxhall Street
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/024013.pdf
Released: February 2, 2004 9:50 AM
Filesize: 7kb
Humps in Vauxhall Street
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/024012.pdf
Released: February 2, 2004 9:49 AM
Filesize: 6kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 02, 2004.

Monday Evening events coming up at the Durning Library

Breaking News from the Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 31 January 2004
There are some interesting
Monday Evening events
coming up at the Durning Library at 167 Kennington Lane, just by Kennington Cross SE11. They run from 1930 but it is best to get there as soon as possible after 1900 as space is limited. The first, on Monday 16 February, is entitled
"Mr Guy's Hospital and the Caribbees"
Medical historian Jane Bowden-Dan will be discussing the medical care of Caribbean slaves sent "home" from the West Indies by London merchants and treated at Guy's Hospital. Was it humanitarian concern or enlightened self-interest which led to the slave Samson being treated by premier surgeon Samuel Sharpe?
And the second, on Monday 15 March, is entitled
"Can We Avert Climate Catastrophe?"
Where can we find the real facts about climate change? Are the relevant scientists in disagreement about the facts? How real and imminent is the threat of climate catastrophe? Can we avert it, and if so how much time have we got? These are some of the questions that John Mead, of the UNED-UK Energy & Climate Panel, will try to answer.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), February 01, 2004.

Karate classes

Renshinkai Southern Academy
Have a look at the British Institute of Karate Organisation's site at http://www.bik.org.uk/
Sessions are held at:
Effra Community Club, Lollard Street, Kennington - training for beginners and juniors. Every Wednesday, 6.30pm - 7.45pm).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 29, 2004.

Monty off duty – forgotten photos reveal the private man

Times
January 29, 2004
Monty off duty – forgotten photos reveal the private man
By Robin Young
A FORGOTTEN cache of photographs of one of Britain’s most famous war heroes is to be auctioned in Scotland. Pictures of Viscount Montgomery of Alamein normally show him in battledress and jaunty beret, but the new set show him in private, with royalty, politicians and stars.
They include the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, Winston Churchill, President Eisenhower and the comedian Bob Hope, along with one of him smiling in a hospital bed with nurses standing to attention.
Dave Smith is auctioning the 38 pictures next month. He said yesterday: “No one really knew these existed. So for them to turn up out of the blue like this is truly astonishing. They were given to me by the owners of a book shop in Stonehaven who have had them in their posession for some time.”
The only clue to the original owner is a message in the album, “For Mrs Hunt from her friend Ed Murrow”. An Ed Murrow was a US broadcaster of the 1940s and 50s.
Mr Smith said: “The pictures must either have been taken by or belonged to someone who knew Montgomery well. The pictures are really informal and I just wonder who took them. Six are signed, and even Montgomery signatures alone can reach over Ł100.” Montgomery commanded the Eighth Army in 1942 and led a successful campaign through North Africa, Sicily and Italy.
In 1944 he spearheaded the invasion of Europe, which led to the defeat of Germany.
Off the battlefield, he went on to play an important part in the formation of Nato before his death in 1976. A room is dedicated to his memory and to memorabilia of his life at the Imperial War Museum, near his birthplace in Kennington, South London. Mr Smith, who runs an auction house in Inverbervie, Kincardineshire, where they will be sold on March 27, added: “I think there will be a lot of interest in these pictures.
“Many of them are signed and give a real insight into what the man’s personal life was like. They are certain to appeal to people interested in Montgomery. He was a fascinating character.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 29, 2004.

Cricket

The Brit Oval
Jan 27 2004
South London Press
SURREY County Cricket Club's world famous Kennington ground will be renamed The Brit Oval after a new sponsorship deal.
The agreement with Brit Insurance Holdings plc comes into force in the upcoming 2004 season. It will provide revenue of Ł500,000 per season for Surrey - including branding for the the club's white and coloured shirts.
Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said: "This new partnership couldn't have come at a better time as next week work starts on our ambitious redevelopment of the Vauxhall End of the ground."
* SURREY CCC will also merge the recreational and professional game under the brand name, Surrey Cricket.
This will increase the potential for young Surrey cricketers to rise through the ranks as well as fully integrate club cricket into Surrey Cricket's base, at the Brit Oval in South London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 27, 2004.

Kennington Walk

Go to this link for details of a walk around Kennington that takes in some attractive Duchy of Cornwall premises as well as the Prince Consort's Model Lodge. The site of the pleasure gardens is used by the Vauxhall City Farm situated opposite.
http://www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkkenningtonintro.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 27, 2004.

Good Dentist

I can recommend G K Ooi & Associates, Dental Surgeons, at 302 Kennington Road, SE11 4LD Tel 020 7582 1668. They do NHS work too.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 26, 2004.

Good Dentist

Having moved into the area recently, could anybody recommend a good dentyist in the area. Much appreciated

-- Mark Thompson (tommo_98@hotmail.com), January 26, 2004.

Cycling Training UK

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 24 January 2004
Cycling Training UK
There are now large numbers of cyclists on our roads, encouraged by the congestion charge and the opportunity to avoid the stress of driving/public transport. Those living in Lambeth can be taught cycle safely - which means to be aware, and to ride assertively - in free 2 hour training sessions with Cycling Training UK, based in Lambeth Walk. Their number is 7582 3535.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2004.

Squatters fight for homes

BBC News
News in brief
Squatters fight for homes
Squatters who have been living in south London for nearly 30 years are fighting to keep their homes.
Up to 150 people live in properties on St Agnes Place, Kennington, which includes the headquarters of the Rastafarian community.
But Lambeth Council now wants to reclaim the properties to turn them into social housing.
The squatters have been threatened with legal action but say they are prepared to use "direct action" to defend their homes.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/2945575.stm Published: 2004/01/23 06:55:14 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 23, 2004.

'Nothing left to do but strike'

BBC News
'Nothing left to do but strike'
Tens of thousands of civil servants will stage a two-day strike next week after voting for industrial action over pay.
Audrey Di Rizzio, who works as an admin officer at a Job Centre Plus in Kennington Park, London, will be striking on Thursday and Friday.
She has worked for the department for nearly 15 years and earns Ł12,000 a year for a 25 hour week.
She told BBC Radio Five Live she was fully behind the decision to strike.
"Only because I feel that it's the only thing left to do at this stage", she said.
"I can't afford to lose two days' wages but I'm prepared to do that if it's going to make my employers listen and make a difference and realise that we can't manage on what we are earning now.
"The pay offer they have given is not sufficient."
'Violent clients'
Ms Di Rizzio is a single mother with three children.
She supplements her wages with Child Tax Credit - Ł134 a week - which she says does not make much difference.
"It's not enough to raise my children," Ms Di Rizzio said.
She said her job could be very stressful. "Some of the clients that we see can be violent and threatening. I have dealt with situations myself where I have had to call for assistance from security guards. It's a very stressful job."
Ms Di Rizzio said she thought a reasonable wage for the job she did would be Ł20,000 a year.
"For the hours that I do and the stress that I take on board, I'd say no less than Ł20,000."
She said she realised the strike would affect people using the job centre.
"But in the long term if we are paid the money we deserve for the hours that we do and the work that we do and the stress that we are put through, then they will get a much better service."
She said strike action was the last straw.
"They have negotiated and negotiated and negotiated and there's nothing left to do but strike."
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/business/3417693.stm Published: 2004/01/21 16:39:36 GMT © BBC MMIV

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 22, 2004.

Situation Vacant

Lambeth
Situation Vacant
Temporary KS2 Teacher - Archbishop Sumner C of E School
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/023720.pdf
For futher information, please refer to the advert.
Released: January 20, 2004 11:22 AM
Filesize: 14kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 20, 2004.

Kennington is coming back to life following the Christmas/New Year break.

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 18 January 2004
Kennington is coming back to life following the Christmas/New Year break.
The first event is a public meeting of the
Friends of Kennington Park
on Monday, January 26th at 7pm in the Kennington Park Estate Community Centre, 8 Harleyford St, SE11. It is your opportunity to influence plans to make the park a greener space.
Next,
the Camera Club
based just off Kennington Cross, is opening its doors to the people of Lambeth on Saturday 31 January from 10am until 8pm. They offer free portraits for you and your family; but you need to book first so give them a call. Also visit their darkrooms and see work in progress. Listen to a lecture on the history of this famous club. Witness your portrait being printed out in the digital suite, and then have a cup of tea or coffee in the gallery. Their address is 16 Bowden Street, SE11. http://www.thecameraclub.co.uk/
And before or after your visist to the Camera Club, you can go to a grand
Bazaar
from 11am until 3pm also on Saturday, 31st January. The venue is St Anselm's Church Hall, Kennington Cross SE11 (Junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane). The bazaar will feature new and nearly new items, books, tombola, bric-a-brac, cakes, jumble, etc. And if you have items you would be willing to donate - they can all be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (30th January) between 5.30-8pm - or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am. For further details contact: the Kennington Association (7793 0268) or KenningtonAssn@aol.com.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 19, 2004.

Friends of Kennington Park - Public Meeting - Monday, January 26th at 7pm - Kennington Park Estate Community Center, 8 Harleyford St, SE11

Friends of Kennington Park
Public Meeting
Monday, January 26th at 7pm
Kennington Park Estate Community Center
8 Harleyford St, SE11
A greener park
More trees, more plants, a link between the two parts of the park.
Find out more about plans to make the park a greener space and the money to pay for it.
It's your park - come and have your say

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), January 18, 2004.

BAZAAR: Saturday, 31st January, 11am until 3pm, St Anselm's Church Hall, Kennington Cross SE11

BAZAAR
Saturday, 31st January
11am until 3pm
St Anselm's Church Hall
Kennington Cross SE11
New and nearly new items, books, tombola, bric-a-brac, cakes, jumble, etc: If you have items you would be willing to donate - they can all be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (30th January) between 5.30-8pm - or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.
For further details contact: Kennington Association, C/- 235B Kennington Lane, SE11 5QU, t: 7793 0268, e: KenningtonAssn@aol.com, w: www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), January 18, 2004.

Captain Cook discovered Hawaii on this day

Ananova:
Captain Cook discovered Hawaii on this day
Events which happened on this day in history include:
1778 Captain Cook discovered Hawaii.
1788 A penal settlement was established in Botany Bay, Australia.
1879 The first England-Wales football international was played at Kennington Oval in London, England winning 2-1.
1882 AA Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh, was born in St John's Wood, London.
1911 US pilot Eugene Ely, in a Curtiss aircraft, made the first landing on the deck of a ship - the cruiser Pennsylvania moored in San Francisco Bay.
1912 British explorer Captain Scott reached the South Pole - only to find the Norwegian Amundsen had arrived 35 days earlier.
1933 The "bodyline bowling" row flared up in an Australian v England Test match in Adelaide.
1944 The 900-day siege of Leningrad ended.
1977 In the worst rail disaster in Australian history, 82 people died when a Sydney-bound train was derailed.
Story filed: 08:06 Sunday 18th January 2004

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2004.

The Camera Club is opening its doors to the people of Lambeth

The Camera Club is opening its doors to the people of Lambeth
Saturday 31 January, 10am until 8pm
Free portraits for you and your family; but you need to book first so give them a call. Visit their darkrooms and see work in progress. Listen to a lecture on the history of this famous club. Witness your portrait being printed out in the digital suite, and then have a cup of tea or coffee in the gallery.
The Camera Club
16 Bowden Street
Kennington SE11
Tel: 020 7587 1809
http://www.thecameraclub.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 17, 2004.

Bringing squats back to tenants

Bringing squats back to tenants
Jan 16 2004
By Robert Dex
South London Press
SIX family homes worth about Ł3million have been reclaimed from squatters.
And the first families have just moved in to the three storey, five-bedroom houses in Southwark.
The homes in Brook Drive, Kennington, were first occupied by squatters in April 2002.
But they were evicted only for another gang to take over and stay for more than four months.
Last year the South London Press revealed how the homes were being lived in rent-free.
Work to convert the houses from flats back to family homes began the day after the final eviction in June last year. And the council's head of housing, Councillor Beverley Bassom, handed over the first sets of keys to the families moving in to their new homes.
Cllr Bassom said: "These refurbished properties have come a long way since the squatters were evicted last summer and I am delighted to be handing over the keys.
"There is a shortage of large, family homes in Southwark, so I'm glad to see genuine tenants moving in.
"The other four remaining properties are still undergoing work and we hope to hand them over at the end of the month."
Angry neighbours were left frustrated as the squatters reconnected gas, electricity and water supplies to the homes and posted up notices warning people not to interfere.
Adrian Taylor, who lives nearby, said: "We had screaming matches in the middle of the road and there were people brought home by the police some nights."
* In 1999, squatter Timothy Ellis won the right to keep a Brixton house worth Ł200,000 after living there for 12 years.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 16, 2004.

Running for Ella

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Updated 13 January 2004
Running for Ella
This little girl is Ella Owen with her father Ed Owen, who works for Jack Straw, a local resident. Ella has cystic fibrosis - a disease for which a cure may be found within the next few years. A number of Kennington residents, politicians and others are therefore working together to raise Ł100,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust by running in the 2004 London Marathon. Please click on http://www.runningforella.info/ to support this excellent cause.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 16, 2004.

Ladies Who Lunch - Mansion House - Wed 4th February 1pm

Ladies Who Lunch
Mansion House
Wed 4th February
Hi All
I have made a booking at The Mansion House pub for 1pm, Wednesday, 4th February.
Mansion House
46-48 Kennington Park Road SE11 4RS (opposite St Mary Newington church)
7735 2291
Mansion House offers an extensive menu including pizzas, plus a board of daily specials and desserts.
Starters
Nine starters ranging from Soup of the Day at Ł 1.95 to Giant mussels cooked in a choice of white wine and tomato or a cream and herb sauce for Ł 3.95.
Main Courses
Seven dishes ranging from Bangers & Mash (Cumberland sausages with creamy mashed potatoes, red wine and onion gravy) at Ł 4.95 to Braised Shoulder of Lamb (Slow baked until it falls off the bone, served with salad and potatoes) at Ł 7.50.
Homemade Hamburgers
A choice of beef, flame-grilled chicken breast, vegetable or lamb, served in a floured bap, garnished with salad and served with chips at Ł 5.95.
Steaks
Choice of Aberdeen Angus chargrilled T-Bone (16oz+), Sirloin (10oz+) or Fillet (8oz+) from Ł 10.95 to Ł 14.95, all served with a choice of new potatoes or chips, fresh vegetables or salad and French onions, and a peppered, chasseur, red wine and onion, or Madeira sauce.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=531636&y=178412&z=0&sv=531636,178412&st=4&tl=Mansion+House+-+location&bi=bgcolor=cccccc&lu=N&ar
Can you please let me know if you can join us?
Many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 15, 2004.

Situation vacant

Lambeth
Administrator EDU/51a
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/023549.pdf
Released: January 12, 2004 2:42 PM
Filesize: 28kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 14, 2004.

Mum lays wreath at murder scene

Mum lays wreath at murder scene
Jan 13 2004
By Crime Reporter Greg Truscott
South London Press
THE mother of a 24-year-old woman whose battered body was found dumped on an estate will today lay flowers at the scene to mark the second anniversary of her daughter's unsolved murder.
On Sunday, January 13, 2002, the body of Jacqueline Nyeko was found in a storage area on the Ethelred Estate, Black Prince Road, Kennington.
A post-mortem revealed she had died from head injuries.
Jacqueline was last seen alive in St John's Crescent, off Brixton Road, Stockwell, late in the evening on Thursday, January 10, three days before her battered body was discovered.
Detectives believe Jacqueline was in the McDonald's restaurant in Brixton Road at around 4pm on the same day, but do not know where she went between leaving there and being seen in St John's Crescent at around 10pm.
To mark the anniversary of her daughter's murder, Jacqueline's mother, Grace Nyeko, will today lay flowers at the spot where her daughter was found.
A Ł5,000 reward is still on offer to anyone with any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of Jacqueline's killer.
Police are still appealing for sightings of her. She was believed to have been wearing a two-tone beige, woolly hat, a long, beige puffa jacket, a black zip-up jumper, beige trousers and black boots.
Detective Chief Inspector Keith Eldridge, of the Serious Crime Group, said: "Two years have passed since the tragic death of this young woman, and we are constantly reviewing the investigation and re-appealing for information relating to this murder.
"Work on this case has intensified over time and we have not given up hope.
"As time goes on we move ever closer to a breakthrough on this case.
"In the mean time it is important that people come forward to assist us in our investigation.
"Jacqueline's family have been devastated by her death and they just wish to find out what happened to her."
Anyone with information or who may have known Jacqueline is asked to phone the Serious Crime Group Incident Room on 020 8217 6453.
Alternatively information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
020 8710 6435 email: crime@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 14, 2004.

Eye don't believe it

Eye don't believe it
South London Press
Jan 13 2004
By Ben Clover
EYE, eye, eye, eye ... what have we here then?
No, you don't have to book yourself in for an eye test - it's the striking work of Lambeth-based visual artist Martin Jay Thompson.
And while it may look like a theme park attraction, this image is one of the pieces in his latest exhibition, London Exposed, in which he depicts sights familiar to Londoners in unfamiliar ways.
Using tricks and techniques of digital photography, as well as his own eye for re-interpretation, Martin, has created his own vision of the capital.
Other examples of his work include Kennington's Imperial War Museum rendered as a battleship ploughing through the rough seas of London.
Another shows Walworth Road bathed in a riot of colours.
London Exposed is at the Betty Morton Gallery, Brixton, from Friday until February 15.
The gallery will be open from 10.30am to 6.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 2pm to 5pm on Sundays. Call 020-7733 5874 for gallery information.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 14, 2004.

MONDAY EVENINGS at the DURNING LIBRARY with the Friends of Durning Library

FRIENDS OF THE DURNING LIBRARY

Evening events at 7.0 for 7.30 -- all welcome
(come early - space limited)
Held at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Ł2 suggested donation
Nibbles and drinks
Monday 19 January: "From a Place of Conflict to a Place of Peace - the story of The Old Courthouse, Kennington"
In 1995 The Old Courthouse, situated in Renfrew Road just off Kennington Lane, made a dramatic transformation from high-security court hosting figures such as the Krays to peaceful Buddhist Centre. Alison Murdoch will tell the story of how a group of volunteers rescued this Lambeth landmark from the Buildings at Risk register and describe the Buddhist and community activities that it now provides.
Monday 16 February: "Mr Guy's Hospital and the Caribbees"
Medical historian Jane Bowden-Dan will be discussing the medical care of Caribbean slaves sent "home" from the West Indies by London merchants and treated at Guy's Hospital. Was it humanitarian concern or enlightened self-interest which led to the slave Samson being treated by premier surgeon Samuel Sharpe?
Monday 15 March: "Can We Avert Climate Catastrophe?"
Where can we find the real facts about climate change? Are the relevant scientists in disagreement about the facts? How real and imminent is the threat of climate catastrophe? Can we avert it, and if so how much time have we got? These are some of the questions that John Mead, of the UNED-UK Energy & Climate Panel, will try to answer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, London SE11 4HF
t: 020 7926 8682
e: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), January 13, 2004.

Lib Dem attack was unjust

Lib Dem attack was unjust
Jan 9 2004
AS A former member and party activist for the Liberal Democrats, I would just like to speak out in defence of Ray Woolford, who was attacked totally unjustly, I feel, by the Lib Dems (Letters, January 2).
As a former Liberal Democrat in Brixton, he was seen to have - and still has - an excellent reputation as a hardworking dedicated community activist, as a school governor, chairman of the residents' association, and involved in dozens of community projects over 20 years in South London.
His work led to him last year being voted by the national gay newspaper, The Pink Paper, a runner-up Hero of the Year for his community work - a readership you would think would not easily vote for a Conservative. Whilst the Lib Dems promise all things to all men, the Conservatives get on and get things done.
Even on education, I say the Liberal Democrats mis-lead. In Scotland, student loans are deferred, not abolished as they would have people believe. I would say it is their way of misleading people at any cost that has seen many former party activists, such as myself, resign from the party, while the Conservatives are the only major party opposing top-up fees.
Anne Boyle
Kennington (formerly an Angel ward resident)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 12, 2004.

Rescuer denies raping runaway

South London Press
Rescuer denies raping runaway
Jan 9 2004
A SEX attacker posed as a Good Samaritan to rape a teenage runaway minutes after rescuing her from a mugger, a court was told this week.
The girl believed Neil Kinch, 18, from Wal-worth, was trying to protect her when he retrieved her bag from a thug, the court heard.
But it is alleged he later lifted up her skirt in a stairwell and forced himself on her.
A jury at Southwark Crown Court heard on Wednesday how the girl had run away from her South London home a few days before the alleged attack.
She was out with friends on May 4 last year when she was approached by Kinch and his pals, the court was told.
One of Kinch's group made an obscene comment before running off with the girl's bag. Six-foot Kinch chased the boy and retrieved the bag before inviting the girl to flats in the Kennington area.
Prosecutor Tyrone Belger said: "She thought he was trying to protect her from what had happened and avoid the other boys hitting her. In other words she was quite content to go the flats.
"When they got to those flats things turned plainly nasty within a short space of time.
"She tried to stop him. He said 'Don't struggle or I will blow you', meaning hit you or hurt you, but she thought it meant violence caused with a gun. She became very frightened and no longer struggled."
Mr Belger said Kinch forced the girl on to the stairwell and raped her.
Jurors heard how after the attack, Kinch told his victim to stay where she was while he went to get his car. But she immediately ran and told a passer-by what had happened.
Kinch was arrested hours later but claimed sex with the girl was consensual.
Kinch, of Wesley Close, Walworth, denies rape on May 4 last year.
The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 12, 2004.

405 Kennington Road

Dear Neighbours
405 Kennington Road
is to come before the Planning Committee on Tuesday 13th January. The recommendation is to Grant Permission subject to S106 agreement. There is one objection from the Manor of Kennington RA so it may be worth attending the meeting to support this application, No. 03/02562/FUL/DC_OP/12893 The full report can be found on Page 161 of the below link.
Planning Applications Committee - 13 January 2004
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/023527.pdf
Released: January 8, 2004 4:36 PM
Filesize: 8976kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 09, 2004.

Free fruit for schoolchildren

South London Press
Free fruit for schoolchildren
Jan 8 2004
Schoolchildren across England are to get free fruit every day as part of a Ł77 million investment announced by Health Secretary John Reid.
The money will mean that all youngsters aged four to six will get a piece of fruit each day at school as part of Government efforts to promote healthy eating and tackle child obesity.
The pilot National School Fruit Scheme, run by the New Opportunities Fund, has meant that one million children are already receiving free fruit in the classroom.
Dr Reid, who was visiting Walnut Tree Walk School in Kennington in south London, which is already taking part in the scheme, said encouraging children to eat more healthily was vital if rising obesity rates were to be tackled.
"We said that every child aged four to six would be entitled to a free piece of fruit each school day, and this new funding will deliver on this commitment.
"The scheme is a key element of our efforts to combat obesity and encourage a healthier population.
"We're developing action plans on food, healthy eating and physical activity and we've set the food industry a deadline to outline their commitments to reducing salt levels in their products."
Obesity is said to be responsible for 31,000 premature deaths each year in the UK, and increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
Recent figures from the Health Development Agency showed that 15% of 15-year-olds and 8.5% of six-year-olds were now classed as obese.
A survey published by the Department of Health today showed that more than a quarter of children and their families ate more fruit at home after their school joined the fruit scheme.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 08, 2004.

This was 2003

South London Press
From dancing priests to albino squirrels ...
Jan 2 2004
THE year began with heavy snowfalls and by August we had record-breaking temperatures. It was the year we helped save Battersea Zoo and also the year an albino squirrel fell out of a Peckham tree. And it was the year that both Tony Benn and Jimmy White had a crack at the pop charts.
This was 2003
JANUARY
THE new year begins with London's heaviest snowfall for a decade, pictured far right. Snowmen are built, snowballs are thrown and traffic grinds to a halt as the capital is covered in a blanket of snow more akin to Siberia than South London. More than 5cm falls on Tuesday, January 7, transforming the capital into a winter wonderland.
The man dubbed Britain's oldest football hooligan is caged for five years for attacking a police horse during the Millwall riot. Grey-haired Raymond Everest was caught on CCTV after launching a kung fu kick on the animal. The 56-year-old, from Sydenham, becomes the first person to be convicted by a jury of rioting at a football match.
FEBRUARY
The dawn of a new era for the capital is ushered in - in the form of Ken Livingstone's congestion charge. London's roads are eerily quiet on the morning of Monday, February 17, apart from protesters who gather in Kennington and Tower Bridge shouting: "Kenny, Kenny, Kenny - Out, Out, Out!"
The South London Press launches a campaign to help our pensioners safeguard the free travel they call their lifeline. Hundreds put their name to our petition after a report recommends the travel perk should be slashed. The campaign would culminate next month with hundreds of bannerwielding pensioners descending on Westminster and demanding "Keep Travel Free for OAPs".
MARCH
As Britain and the US stand on the verge of war in Iraq, war protest walkouts by thousands of South London schoolkids end with youngsters being arrested and led away in handcuffs. A day of chaos sees students take to the streets demanding peace. Protesters also gather outside Jack Straw's Lambeth home to stage a "die-in".
Brixton's very own black Elvis, Colbert Hamilton, continues to wow audiences across the capital. The 39-year-old pretender to the throne has performed classics such as Heartbreak Hotel and Return to Sender in front of the likes of Madonna and Rod Stewart, and revealed he was once turned away from TV show Stars In Their Eyes after being told all applicants had to be the same race and sex as those they were impersonating.
APRIL
Tot Tommy North is left with horrific injuries after being savaged by a bull terrier. Tommy, just two years old, climbed over a fence into next-door's garden before being mauled by the Staffordshire cross. The Tooting youngster undergoes six hours of surgery after the terrifying attack.
A staggering 7,000 people say NO to the proposed closure of Battersea Zoo after the South London Press launches a campaign to save the popular children's attraction, pictured above right. Among the supporters are Bob Geldof who tells us: "To see it go would be a terrible shame." September sees Wandsworth council eventually buckle under the pressure of our campaign and agree to keep the zoo open.
MAY
Dog owner George Dinham is found dead by his brother, savaged by the prized terrier he adored.
The Wandsworth dad-of-four is found slumped in his front room. Ben, his four-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, comes to the front door, his fur caked with his master's blood. The dog is destroyed. An inquest later finds it was likely that Mr Dinham had a fit before Ben attacked him.
A rare albino squirrel, dubbed Persil, pictured above, is taken to a wildlife hospital suffering from shock and a bloody nose after falling from a tree in Peckham. The miraculous mite, just 6in long, recovers from her injuries after being hand-fed milk in an incubator.
An 89-year-old is sipping tea with her daughter when a double-decker bus ploughs into her living room. Amazingly, no one is hurt in the Streatham Hill smash.
JUNE
Veteran politician Tony Benn puts his legendary speeches to rap music. The outspoken MP teams up with South London producer Charles Bailey and turns MC in a bid to inspire youngsters to vote.
Two men are sprung from a prison van outside Inner London Crown Court in an armed ambush. Clifford Hobbs and Noel Cunningham, from Rotherhithe, escape from the van when its driver is shot in the leg and a guard pistol-whipped in a planned attack. Six months later, the duo are still on the run.
JULY
Snooker legend Jimmy White follows in Tony Benn's footsteps and swaps the green baize for the pop charts with his new single "Minted". The track features Jimmy's unmistakable South London drawl laid over a hip dance beat.
South London priest Father Neil Horan, pictured above left, stuns the world when he does an Irish jig on a Formula One track, as cars hurtle by at 200mph. Race fans gasp in horror as the drama is played out live on television to a world audience of millions. Father Horan is later released after serving six weeks on remand.
AUGUST
South London literally sizzles in recordbreaking temperatures. Brixton beach is filled to capacity as Met Office thermometers record a high of 35.7C - the hottest temperatures in London since records began.
Desperate asylum-seekers set up a makeshift refugee camp on the streets of Brixton after being refused Government aid. The 28-strong group pitch up at the Refugee Council's premises. Sympathetic locals donate, water, food, blankets and cash.
SEPTEMBER
South Bank residents vent their fury after US illusionist David Blaine begins his bid to survive 44 days in a glass box without food. Locals are furious about noise emanating from the Tower Bridge area - including bangs from a drummer. Noise pollution squads are sent in to investigate. Our mascot, Pressley Bear, pictured below right, made a valiant attempt to contact him.
Thousands of South Londoners are left without water for FOUR days after a mains pipe ruptures. Businesses ground to a halt and hospitals switch to emergency supplies as engineers struggle to stem the flow. Thousands of East Dulwich, Peckham, Nunhead and Camberwell residents have to rely on limited water supplies from 17 plastic tanks in the street.
OCTOBER
Millwall FC and Mark McGhee, pictured above inset right, part company "by mutual consent" in a shock decision. McGhee stepped into the Den in 3September 2000. Fans express surprise at the decision taken so early in the season. The team are 12th in Division 1.
* The South London Press pays tribute to Our Heroes - the ordinary South Londoners who have done something extraordinary to make a difference to people's lives around them. London Mayor Ken Livingstone is among those at City Hall to hand out the prizes in a plush ceremony.
NOVEMBER
* The South London Press reveals that Brixton Tube - a station relied upon by thousands - will shut for THREE WEEKS from December 21, after asbestos was discovered in its roof. Traders are furious and expect pre-Christmas profits to plummet.
* Seventy-one years of dog-racing history come to an end as Catford Stadium is shut down for good with immediate effect. Owners decide to close the famous track because of a drop in attendance figures over recent years.
DECEMBER
* Pop megastar Michael Jackson was due to perform at Elephant & Castle's Coronet, the South London Press exclusively reveals. The show is confirmed just days before a warrant is issued for his arrest in the US. The appearance is scrapped after Jacko is charged with child molestation.
* Tourist attraction the London Dungeon sparks outrage after putting novelty Jack The Ripper condoms on sale. The "Jack The Ripper Intimacy Kit", which includes two condoms, lubricating jelly and two antiseptic towelettes, were available at the museum in Tooley Street. Letters of disgust flood into South London Press offices.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 04, 2004.

Car crash on Kennington Lane

South London Press
Car crashes off road
Dec 30 2003
By Robert Dex
A LUXURY car ploughed through a plate glass window after a collision that left a moped rider seriously injured.
The rider suffered a broken leg, fractured eye-socket and spinal injuries after the crash with a silver Mercedes on Kennington Lane on December 18. The car came to rest after smashing through the window of the Cooper South Bank BMW garage.
The road was closed between Durham Street and Kennington Road shortly after the accident and was not reopened until midnight.
The moped rider was treated at the scene by an air ambulance crew and then taken to King's College Hospital in Camberwell.
The driver of the car was unharmed.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 30, 2003.

Ladies Who Lunch - The Pilgrim - Wed 14th January 1pm

Ladies Who Lunch
The Pilgrim
Wed 14th January
Hi All
I have made a booking at The Pilgrim pub for 1pm, Wednesday, 14th January.
The Pilgrim
247 Kennington Lane SE11 5QU (near Tescos)
7793 1143
NB: At our last lunch I got the date wrong and said it would be the 13th but this is wrong as we meet typically on the second Wednesday of the month, which is the 14th! (and I can't make the 13th!). So sorry for any confusion.
The menu offers Lite Bites (from Ł 2.50), triple decker sandwiches served with salad and chips (Ł 4.25), toasted ciabattas served with salad and fries (Ł 5.15), and salads (from Ł 4.95), Nachos (from Ł 3.50) as well as main meals ranging from vegetarian Ricotta and Spinach Tortelloni in tomato and basil sauce for Ł 5.50, to Grilled Salmon on a bed of vegetables with orange and coriander butter for Ł 6.25, and Desserts for Ł 2.50. There are also daily specials.
Can you please let me know if you can join us?
Many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 27, 2003.

Mansion House reopened

Newly re-opened pub/restaurant:
Mansion House
at 46/48 Kennington Park Road, SE11 4RS (opposite St Mary Newington church), tel: 7735 2291.
Mansion House offers an extensive menu including pizzas, plus a board of daily specials and desserts.
Starters
Nine starters ranging from Soup of the Day at Ł 1.95 to Giant mussels cooked in a choice of white wine and tomato or a cream and herb sauce for Ł 3.95.
Main Courses
Seven dishes ranging from Bangers & Mash (Cumberland sausages with creamy mashed potatoes, red wine and onion gravy, and fresh vegetables) at Ł 4.95 to Braised Shoulder of Lamb (Slow baked until it falls off the bone, served with salad and potatoes) at Ł 7.50.
Homemade Hamburgers
A choice of beef, flame-grilled chicken breast, vegetable or lamb, served in a floured bap, garnished with salad and served with chips at Ł 5.95.
Steaks
Choice of Aberdeen Angus chargrilled T-Bone (16oz+), Sirloin (10oz+) or Fillet (8oz+) from Ł 10.95 to Ł 14.95, all served with a choice of new potatoes or chips, fresh vegetables or salad and French onions, and a peppered, chasseur, red wine and onion, or Madeira sauce.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 27, 2003.

'Our miracle baby'

South London Press
'Our miracle baby'
Dec 23 2003
By Health Reporter Jon Ryder
THE adoring parents of little Cameron Carville know he very nearly missed out on ever having a Christmas.
Fiona and Steve's baby was a few weeks old when he was involved in a horrific car accident in Kennington in February.
If that wasn't enough, tiny Cameron was in an ambulance taking him to hospital for a life-saving heart operation when the crash happened.
In the space of a month the youngster managed to cheat death twice - once in the accident and once on the operating table.
Shortly after birth, Cameron - now 10 months old - was diagnosed with a serious heart defect and the family were told he had to go to Guy's Hospital at London Bridge for treatment.
The ambulance travelled through the night from their Eastbourne home as Cameron's parents followed in their car, already preparing for the worst.
But just as they were discussing how they would cope if their son didn't survive the operation, there was an accident in front of them at the junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road.
When they got closer they saw the ambulance on its side and realised the unthinkable had happened.
Fiona, 29, said: "I have flashbacks and I still can't believe it happened. "I went completely numb and I was certain he hadn't survived."
Incredibly, though, a vital drip stayed attached to Cameron as the ambulance rolled over.
He suffered a fractured skull and bruising to the brain, but amazingly, he survived.
"The doctor and senior nursing staff from Guy's were hurt in the crash but they carried on working on Cameron in another ambulance on the way to King's," said Fiona.
"They were completely focused on saving Cameron - they were incredible."
The baby was transferred from the trauma unit at King's College Hospital in Camberwell back to Guy's and, after two weeks of operations, the parents were told Cameron didn't have brain damage.
They then had to wait as the youngster had open-heart surgery - the operation he went for in the first place - and again were relieved to find out it was a success.
Fiona said: "It really was a miracle, but to look at him you'd never know what he had been through - there's only a little mark on his forehead. "He's such a happy, sociable baby. It's a relief to see him really enjoying life.
"Everybody's looking forward to seeing him this Christmas. We're having a big family Christmas at our house so he'll get to play with all the children."
His sister, two-and-a-half-year-old Sorcha, also can't wait to spend the big day with her brother.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 24, 2003.

The fight against hatred ...

South London Press
The fight against hatred ...
Dec 23 2003
By Richard Evans
A PIONEERING scheme has been set up to tackle gay and lesbian hate crime - because of a lack of confidence in the police.
Groups that are not part of the police force will be able to log reports of homophobic and trans-phobic offences when the Lambeth project - the first in London - is launched on January 15.
The borough has some of the highest levels of reports of this type of crime in the capital, but it is thought many incidents go unreported because of lack of confidence in the investigative process.
As well as hate crime against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) communities, the new scheme can be used to report crimes stemming from ignorance of HIV.
PC Andy Hewlett, Lambeth's LGBT liaison officer, is himself HIV positive.
He said: "As an organisation, I feel we have now earned more confidence from our LGBT communities but we are still not where we need to be. As an HIV-positive man, I've personal understanding of the irrational fear and hatred which confronts HIV-positive men and women, which often surfaces with a criminal offence.
"We're very lucky to have involvement of our partner organisations who are taking on the role of non-police reporters. Without their help, there would be no initiative."
There are designated sites where crimes can be reported, and trained staff will give guidance on the next step, along with giving information on support services.
All information will be treated in confidence and personal details do not have to be given, but all reports will be passed to police.
The reporting centres are:
UK Coalition, 250 Kennington Lane, Kennington SE11 5RD, Tel: 020 7793 0046; Streatham Town Centre Office, 85-87 Streatham High Road, Streatham SW16 1PH, Tel: 020 7926 5901; Victims Support Lambeth, 1st Floor, Lincoln House, 1-3 Brixton Road, Kennington SW9 6DE, Tel: 020 7820 0007.
All sites are open during office hours, except the UK Coalition, which does not open until 10am.
What do you think about the new scheme?
Write to South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, Streatham, SW16 2PD or email letters@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 24, 2003.

BOGUS cops have been tricking the elderly out of their Christmas savings

Fake cops' festive scam
Dec 19 2003
By Jon Ryder
South London Press
BOGUS cops have been tricking the elderly out of their Christmas savings in a cruel sting.
The conmen escaped with almost Ł 2,000 in one incident, and police are warning people to be extra vigilant over the festive period.
The theft happened at about 6.50pm on Monday when three men posing as officers called on a house in Cresset Street, Clapham. They said they were investigating a robbery that had taken place earlier that day and convinced the couple to let them into the house.
The conmen then asked if they kept any money in the house and told the couple to check if any cash had been taken.
When they went to the kitchen, one of the men snatched a tin containing Ł 1,900 cash from the woman and ran off towards Stonhouse Street.
The three suspects are all described as white men with Irish accents.
One was around 5ft 8in tall, heavily built with black cropped hair and a scar on the side of his face from his left eye to his jaw. He was wearing a blue zip-up anorak, blue trousers and trainers.
The second was 6ft 2in tall, slim with short blond hair and wearing a blue anorak and grey trousers.
The third was 5ft 10in tall, 30, slim and wearing a blue anorak and jeans.
There was a similar incident earlier the same day at around 5.30pm in Dorset Road. A 71-year-old woman found three men in her bedroom looking through her jewellery drawers and when she shouted at them, they said they were police officers.
One of the men then pulled her woolly hat over her head and shoved her out of the way.
All three men escaped with cash and jewellery worth more than Ł 10,000. The three suspects were again all described as white men with Irish accents, aged about 40, 5ft 10in tall, of medium build and wearing dark clothing.
A spokesman for the police's Kennington Priority Crimes Unit said: "These men have targeted elderly residents and taken their cash saved for Christmas gifts. Anybody with information should contact police immediately so they can be stopped.
"Genuine police officers will always carry official identification with them that must be produced if asked. If in doubt, don't let anybody in and avoid storing large amounts of cash in the house."
Call Kennington Police on 020 8649 2467 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 19, 2003.

Kennington resident to compete in the 19th Marathon des Sables - April 2004

Kennington resident to compete in the 19th Marathon des Sables - April 2004
Mario Rebellato explains:
About the Marathon Des Sables
The Marathon Des Sables (MdS) is a 6 day / 230km endurance race across the Sahara Desert in Morocco, normally taking place at the end of March / beginning of April.
During this time the competitors (myself included!) have to carry all food, cooking equipment, food, survival equipment, etc over ground ranging from sand dunes to uneven rocky ground in temperatures upto 120°F.
Why I'm running the Marathon des Sables
I'm running the Sahara Marathon as a test of fitness and personal endurance, but it's also a chance to raise money for Facing Africa-NOMA, an excellent charity devoted to helping some of the saddest and most unfortunate children on earth. I did think of running 8 marathons on 8 continents to annoy Mr Fiennes or sitting in a box above the Thames for 45 days to peeve Mr Blaine, but I ran out of continents and couldn't find a big enough box. And, let's face it, there's nothing like the sight of the empty sands stretching ahead of you, burning gold and silver by the light of a Saharan moon. Trust me, there's not.
I've been training since January running on average 50 miles a week and I want to beat the time I set myself in 1998 of 53:02:04, so if you think you could support my bid to raise money for Facing Africa, please email me at mario.rebellato1@btopenworld.com.
Alternatively, I do my training on the streets of central London so if you see a rakishly handsome 62-year-old with a rucksack powering along the pavements, stop me and sponsor me!
Links
http://mariorebellato.saharamarathon.co.uk/
www.saharamarathon.co.uk - More information about the MdS (you could run it too!)
www.facingafrica.org - Helping to cure and prevent NOMA (official charity of the MdS in 2003)
www.darbaroud.com - The organizers of the MdS

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 17, 2003.

A Rose for the Nativity - St Peter's Vauxhall Sunday 21 December

A Rose for the Nativity - St Peter's Vauxhall Sunday 21 December
On Sunday 21 December (7.30pm) St. Peter’s Church in Vauxhall hosts “A Rose for the Nativity” - a programme of traditional Christmas songs and dances from SICILY.
It is the first performance in the UK by Salvatore Meccia, leader of the popular Italian band Tammorra. He is supported by Sheelah Hidden & Vittorio Catalano playing a wide range of authentic instruments including guitar “battente”, ciaramelle, tambourines and viola.
Salvatore says: “The songs have simple and spontaneous words, and easy and captivating melody, that magically bring alive the ancient sounds that are so typical of a Mediterranean Christmas.
This music is the fruit of an investigation and a reappraisal of the tradition of our land, but above all the fruit of the lively emotional experience that arises during the concerts each time we give expression to the popular feelings contained in these songs.”
This is direct and beautiful music that will appeal to people of all ages.
Admission is by donation (suggested amount Ł10) at the door. Children under 16 are welcome free. Venue: St. Peter’s Church, Vauxhall, 310 Kennington Lane, London SE11 (Vauxhall Tube station)
The evening is organised by Onion Projects – a new not-for-profit company, based in Lambeth, which promotes cultural exchange projects, as part of its “Season of Goodwill” programme across London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 16, 2003.

PARKING SPACE AVAILABLE

PARKING SPACE AVAILABLE
FROM 1 JANUARY 2004 PAYABLE IN ADVANCE @ Ł260 PER QUARTER (works out at Ł20 per week) IN CAR PARK TO REAR OF ST MARY NEWINGTON CHURCH, 57 KENNINGTON PARK ROAD.
RING and leave details: 020 7582 8897

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 15, 2003.

Buster: hero of Iraq

South London Press
Buster: hero of Iraq
Dec 12 2003
A DOG who sniffed out a stash of arms and drugs in Iraq has been awarded the animal version of the Victoria Cross. Springer spaniel Buster was honoured with the Dickin Medal at Kennington's Imperial War Museum on Tuesday. RICHARD EVANS met Buster and his handler, Sergeant Danny Morgan
ALTHOUGH it was suspected to be a hideout of Iraqi extremists, a search of the building by soldiers failed to turn up anything.
But when Buster gave it the once over, he stopped by a wardrobe and stared at it. "I called the guys in and told them there was something in the wardrobe," said Sergeant Morgan, 38, of the 101 Military Working Dog Support Unit. "They said there was nothing there but I replied that I was 100 per cent sure.
"When we had a close look, a piece of tin fell away from the back of the wardrobe."
Five-year-old Buster had found a haul of AK47 assault rifles, a pistol, six grenades, other ammunition and large quantities of cocaine, cash and propaganda material. "He has taken them off the streets and saved a lot of coalition forces' lives," said Sgt Morgan.
"When we are searching for a bomb, I have to have 100 per cent faith in him and he has to have 100 per cent faith in me. He is not just a dog, he is your life.
"When you are sat in a trench in Iraq and look into his eyes, he reminds you of home. Also, you can tell him all your problems and he never answers back."
Following the war, Buster spent six months in quarantine in Germany before an emotional reunion with Sgt Morgan two weeks ago.
"I called out to him and he looked through the bars, as if to say 'Hold on a minute, that's a blast from the past'. "He wet himself, he was so excited, and when I took him for a walk he didn't leave my side.
"If you can picture what we have been through together during the war - the living conditions, the sand-storms and all that sort of stuff - he looks at you, and you know you have done it together." Following his return from Germany, Buster was well prepared for his big day.
"He had a nice pamper yesterday and the poodle parlour made him look his best," said Sgt Morgan. "I only wish someone had done the same for me.
"He is such a character. He is a gentleman 99 per cent of the time and a rascal one per cent of the time. I just wish I had as much female attention as he gets."
Buster is a particular favourite of Sgt Morgan's six-year-old daughter, Emma.
"She thinks he is a hero. She used to send parcels out with loads of treats for Buster and I would only get a chocolate bar."
And what about the old joke about dogs looking like their owners?
"As long as I don't get big floppy ears, I'll be laughing."
Buster, also a veteran of the war in Bosnia, was awarded the Dickin Medal by Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra at the museum on Tuesday, while war reporter Kate Adie was also there for the big day.
* Buster is the 60th animal to be awarded the Dickin Medal. It has been presented to 32 pigeons, 24 dogs, three horses and one cat. The honour was established in 1943 by Maria Dickin, the founder of the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals. Its aim is to recognise the outstanding bravery of animals serving with the armed forces.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 13, 2003.

Archive images of Lambeth

Lambeth
Date: 8 December 2003
Ref: 1710
Press contact: Dougal Robertson
Tel: 07930 470 491 // 020 7926 2841
Email: drobertson2@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
London archives go dot.com for Christmas
More than 6,000 images of London family life, people, culture, music and history are being revealed to the world from 10 December, thanks to a new website created by Lambeth Council's Archives service. Many images are unique and are being unveiled for the first time at www.lambethlandmark.com. Visitors to the website can order colour and black-and-white photographs from the archive for as little as Ł8.
The complete Landmark Digital Archive contains more than 30,000 images of Lambeth. Many of these images have been donated by local people themselves to help record their family history, to share it with the local community and for the future custodianship of the archive collection.
There is a strong representation of Black History and the entertainment industry in the collection, which reflects some of the community's current interests. From the very beginning of the 19th century Lambeth was regarded as the 'West End over the water', drawing Londoners to its cheap and cheerful attractions. Charlie Chaplin was just one of the international stars with links to the borough. The image collection also records some critical points in Britain's Black History, such as the first performances by the Black Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge at a Lambeth theatre. There are also many historically significant visual records of the experiences of Black families making a new home in South London during the 1950s and 1960s.
Jon Newman, Chief Archivist for Lambeth, said: "We live in a visually-orientated society. These stunning images bring London's past to life in a way that written records alone cannot. You can come face-to-face with people from the past and wonder where they came from, what their story is. The great joy of having the collection available online is that it opens our history to a modern audience, on a truly massive scale, around the world. Some of these photographs have not been brought out of a filing cabinet for generations but now you can see, and even buy, them online."
Councilllor Anthony Bottrall, executive member for education, said: "We are proud this web-based format is being pioneered and developed by Lambeth Archives. People will enjoy browsing through their visual history. It is amazing to see how somewhere as familiar as Clapham Old Town looked so different, even as recently as the 1960s. The Lambeth Landmark website enables you to can click on a search map, select the area where you live, and see all related images, prints and maps."
The Landmark site was developed by Sedasoft using their SiteEngine information management and archiving software. The site is notable for complying with accessibility standards, the Disability Discrimination Act and government guidelines on the structure, design and usability of websites.
Notes to Editors
· The Landmark Digital Archive was created by Lambeth Archives and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. The launch of the website, with the introduction of e-commerce, is an extension of a service currently available in Lambeth's local libraries.
· The launch of the Lambeth Landmark Digital Archive at will take place at Brixton Library, Brixton Oval, on 10 December at 7pm.
· For images and interviews please contact Dougal Robertson in the press office on 07930 470 491.
..ends
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2839
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 11, 2003.

PA Minutes: The Effra Site, Wandsworth Road, SW8

Lambeth
PA Minutes 18.11.2003
The Effra Site, Wandsworth Road, SW8
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/023213.pdf
Released: 9 December, 2003 04:44
Filesize: 43kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 10, 2003.

Community Cricket Ground in Kennington Park

Lambeth
Sports Autumn 2003 update
See Page 6 about Tony Moody and the Communtity Cricket Ground in Kennington Park.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/023119.pdf
Released: 5 December, 2003 12:18
Filesize: 483kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2003.

Property

Telegraph: Property
The century makers: 1953
(Filed: 06/12/2003)
Matthew Sturgis on a vicarage that was built the year that Elizabeth II was crowned
St John's Vicarage, Kennington, London SW9
The church of St John the Divine in Vassall Road, Kennington, was - and is - a fine piece of high-Victorian gothic, created by G E Street in the early 1870s. During the blitz, it suffered considerable damage, and the architect Harry Goodhart-Rendel was commissioned to repair its roof and restore its structure after the war. He was also asked to create two new associated buildings next to the church, a caretaker's house and a "Sisters' House" for a community of nuns.
Goodhart-Rendel was the obvious choice for the job. He had built a succession of imposing churches across the country using a variety of styles. At a time when the majority of the profession was exploring the heritage of International Modernism, he had devoted his attention to unfashionable fields of Victorian and medieval architecture.
He brought both traditions into play in his designs at Vassall Road. In their pointed gables, ecclesiastical detailing, narrow windows and patterned brickwork, the two houses have a strong gothic flavour, but one that never threatens to lapse into mere pastiche.
At the time, his work was little appreciated. The great architectural historian John Summerson said: "Rendel was an architect whose buildings nobody understood and therefore nobody liked." He continued his own course in the face of this general incomprehension, bolstered in part by his faith (he was a Catholic convert). He told James Lees-Milne that his "concerns were the Roman Catholic Church, the Brigade of Guards and architecture - in that order". He had served with the Guards in both world wars and had written a manual on drill. It was a work that - like his religion and his architecture - showed a love of order and a belief in its beneficial effects.
The nuns did not thrive at St John's and their building was subsequently converted into the vicarage. The small chapel that was housed in the steeply-pitched gable roof of the building was converted into a library, lit by the impressive rose-window at its far end.
It is, of course, the sort of building that developers would love to get their hands on. "There was an old convent near here - at Gabriel's Manor - that has recently been converted into flats," says Damien Gibbs, of the Kennington branch of Barnard Marcus. "It has proved very popular. Two-bedroom flats there go for about Ł220,000 to Ł290,000, depending on size. But anything with a bit of character and high ceilings will be at a premium. The fact that the St John's Vicarage looks old but was built relatively recently would certainly count in its favour."
Understanding and appreciation have, it seems, finally caught up with Mr Goodhart-Rendel.
Key events
Elizabeth II crowned; Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reach the summit of Everest; Stanley Matthews wins an FA Cup Final medal as Blackpool beat Bolton Wanderers; massive floods sweep the East Coast, causing hundreds of casualties.
Money matters
At the Army & Navy Stores in London a 'Wool Blanket' costs Ł2 9s 6d, a silver spoon and fork with a Coronation hallmark costs Ł4, and a one-pint thermos flask costs 8s 6d. Train drivers get Ł8 8s 6d per week; footballers accept a maximum weekly wage of Ł15.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2003.

Education

School worries
Dec 4 2003
By Vicky Wilks
Streatham Post
CONCERNS were raised about the balance of sexes in Lambeth's schools and extra traffic at a meeting about a new secondary for West Norwood.
Parents, teachers and others involved in education packed Nettlefold Hall, Norwood, last Thursday.
The meeting had been called by Lambeth council in a bid to get people's opinions on what sort of school they wanted in Norwood.
The school is one of three new secondaries agreed by the Government for Lambeth, where there is a desperate shortage of secondary places --a whopping 58 per cent of the borough's 11 to 18-year-olds travel elsewhere for education.
A city academy is being built in Clapham, a second is planned for Brixton, and the money has been agreed for the Norwood school which could have up to 1,100 pupils including sixth-form students.
It is proposed the Norwood school be built on a 4.8-acre site in Elmcourt Road, which is home to Elm Court special school and an overspill from Kennington-based Michael Tippett special school.
Lambeth's education director, Phyllis Dunipace, told last Thursday night's meeting the council wants to see a mixed, non-religious, inclusive school for local children.
The headteacher of Norwood girls' school, Barbara Williams, pointed out there are already three nearby girls' schools and argued the new secondary should be a small school for boys.
She said: "The last thing we really need is more provision for girls.
"Someone, somewhere should think sensibly about the impact on other schools."
Education bosses say Elm Court school would be temporarily moved and then put back into a new building on the site but the future of the Michael Tippett students at the site is less certain.
The council says that school was only ever there on a temporary basis and it is working with it to find another site.
Concerns were also raised about extra traffic on busy Elm Court Road. Lambeth's education deputy, Councillor Gareth Compton, said: "The Elm Court site is the only site big enough. We accept there are problems with traffic and parking and we need to think creatively about how we deal with that."
Lambeth's head of education asset management, Kevin Donnelly, added: "I cannot think of another council-owned site in the borough of that size that can be made available."
Further consultation about the nature of the school is now due to take place.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 04, 2003.

Roots and Shoots - Christmas Trees

Roots and Shoots - Christmas Trees
Roots and Shoots are now selling Christmas Trees. The centre will be open during the week 10am - 4pm and on Sat 6th and Sat 13th 10am - 2pm. On Sat.13th they will have the Brockwell Park Drummers and mincepies and mulled wine.
Roots and Shoots are located at Walnut Tree Walk (off Kennington Road). For further information please contact Roots and Shoots on 020 7587 1131.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler

-- Gerald Gohler (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), December 03, 2003.

Lambeth pooper scooper patrol

Lambeth
Date:2 December 2003
Ref: 1705
Press contact: Andrea Lake
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: alake@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Lambeth pooper scooper patrol
Lambeth's dog owners are, in the main a responsible group, according to a recent exercise carried out by Lambeth Council. The survey's aim was to canvass public opinion on the council's facilities for clearing up dog mess, and to educate dog walkers about the dangers of not clearing up after fido.
Council officers patrolled Kennington Park, Clapham Common, Streatham Common and their surrounding areas last month to find out if people were clearing up or intending to clear up after their dogs, and to issue warnings to those who did not scoop up their dog's mess. They also gave out poop scoop bags and issued warnings and leaflets about action the council would take against people who didn't clear up after their pets.
The vast majority of dog walkers were supportive of the council's initiative to tackle the problem of dog fouling, and the council has taken on board residents' suggestions that more dog bins were needed and that the laws to tackle dog fouling should be used. They also commented that 'dogs on leads' rules in parks be enforced.
Councillor Clare Whelan, executive member for the environment said, 'We have such wonderful Commons in Lambeth that it is a shame when a few people do not take responsibility for their pets and allow them to foul the parks. This is both dangerous and very unpleasant'.
'This exercise has been very useful for both Lambeth Council and dog owners who use the park. We have learned that there is a need for more bins to collect dog mess and we will be looking at ways of addressing this, and pet owners know that we are taking the issue of dog fouling very seriously.'
ENDS
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2003.

KENNINGTON, OVAL & VAUXHALL FORUM - CHRISTMAS PARTY - FRIDAY DECEMBER 12 from 6pm to 9pm in Saint Anselm's Church

KENNINGTON, OVAL & VAUXHALL FORUM
CHRISTMAS PARTY
FRIDAY DECEMBER 12
from 6pm to 9pm in Saint Anselm's Church
Kennington Cross SE11
Junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Road
Local individuals, groups and businesses are organising this Christmas party for all in the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall area. Bring your family (crčche area for children), neighbours and friends and help us all to:
CELEBRATE THE SEASON and our achievements over the past year;
MEET NEW FRIENDS and EXCHANGE IDEAS with like minded individuals.
If you can help with the event or decorating the space, please call as below.
MUSIC
FROM 6PM: PIANO AND SONGS: David Harrod will play popular classics from folk to carols, to jazz, blues and boogie. Celia will sing timeless ballads with a touch of French and Spanish - all are welcome to bring requests and join in.
FROM 7PM: WORLDWIDE MUSIC DJ: Mike Gebreyohanes will be Djing:
Worldwide music: disco, Ethiopian, Latino, Arabian and Asian.
DANCE
Throughout the evening - as the music moves you. Possible Tangos & Salsa.
REFRESHMENTS
Hot punch and roast chestnuts - teas and coffee.
Wine, beer and non-alcoholic drinks with suggested donations - plus:
PLEASE BRING your own bottle and a dish of your favourite nibbles to share.
TRADITIONAL ETHIOPIAN COFFEE CEREMONY
Fourteen hundred year old ceremony and food - limited numbers only.
NETWORK
There will be areas for information on your group or project - to discuss ideas and gain support. Do call as below if you would like to take or share a materials table.
A BIG WELCOME AWAITS YOU ON 12/12 from 6 to 9
Sponsored by Members and friends of Kennington Oval and Vauxhall Forum: Friends of Kennington Cross, Tibeb Intermedia Cleaver Str, North Lambeth Parish, Danielle Arnaud Contemporary art, Walcot Estate Resident's Association, Pop-In Hair & Beauty, Michael Oliver, Don Abaka, Dolland House TRA, Primestore, Manning Photographers, Fantasy Cleaners, Stothard Arts, Aby Convenience Store, Madeira Star, Jado Café, Yogi News, The Camera Club, Sharon's Florist. ASM Music, Photostatic, Daniel Cobb, Heart of Kennington RA, Vision 4 Vauxhall
If you would also like to be a sponsor or help organise our KOV party, please contact:
Kennington Oval & Vauxhall Forum Chair, Celia Stothard: 020 7735 8525 e: celia.stothard@btconnect.com
For general enquiries and to join the KOV Forum mailing list please contact: Gerald Gohler, North Lambeth area information officer: 020 7926 8295 e: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
THANK YOU

-- Gerald Gohler (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), December 02, 2003.

DANCING WITH STARS

OPEN EAR ORCHESTRA present
DANCING WITH STARS
Thursday 11 December at 7.30pm
St Peter's Vauxhall, 310 Kennington Lane, SE11 5HY
Musicians from the London Philharmonic Orchestra join forces with a range of composers, singers and players from the community to present an evening of music from around the word including Jazz, Rock, Urban Contemporary, Classical, Ballads and Soul.
Musical Director Andrew Peggie
SPECIAL COMMUNITY OFFER Tickets Ł4 Quote: Stars Offer
London Philharmonic Orchestra Box Office
(020 7840 4242 Mon - Fri 10am - 5pm)
For further information on the London Philharmonic Orchestra's community involvement projects, please contact Michelle Abbey, Audience Development Officer on 7840 4206 or at michelle.abbey@lpo.org.uk

-- Gerald Gohler (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), December 02, 2003.

8-20 Dec: Sleep No More

This is Local London
3:06pm Monday 1st December 2003
8-20 Dec: Sleep No More
For twelve nights only, the abandoned 1907 school site of the Beaufoy Building in Kennington will be transformed into the disturbing realm of Shakespeare's Macbeth - infused with the magic of live performance, lighting, sound and installed art and the spirit and suspense of a Hitchcock movie.
Punchdrunk specialises in creating completely immersive atmospheres in which the audience has total control to explore and discover live performance in extraordinary spaces. Sleep No More is the follow up to the company's last promenade-style production, The Tempest, which sold out by the end of its run at the Old Seager Distillery, Deptford at the beginning of the year.
An unmissable, pre-Christmas thriller for those seeking adventure and surprise.
8 - 20 DEC no perf Sun 14 Dec.
THE BEAUFOY BUILDING, 39 BLACK PRINCE ROAD, SE11.
Doors 7pm, Last Admission 9pm Nightly.
Tickets: Ł12, Ł10 concessions, Ł8 under 18s.
Travel: Trains: Vauxhall Underground: Vauxhall, Kennington, Lambeth North, Elephant, Oval Buses: including 3, 59, 77, 155, 159, 322, 344, 260 Licensed Bar. Car Parking On Site.
BOOKINGS: 020 8658 8341.
www.punchdrunk.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 02, 2003.

Public Meeting Monday 8 December 6.30pm

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Updated 30 November 2003
There is to be an important meeting on Monday 8 December to discuss the Lambeth Plan:- a 15 year forward look at issues such such as the environment, crime, health, education and business. The meeting will be held in St John the Divine Community Hall in Frederick Crescent, SW9 from 1830. It will be followed by a social event (with wine and food) from 1945-2100.

-- Cathy (cathyvprece@aol.com), December 01, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

BBC News
News in brief
Letwin criticised school praised by Ousted
The London comprehensive school that found itself at the centre of a political row has received a glowing report from Ousted.
Conservative Shadow Chancellor Oliver Let win said he would rather beg on the streets than send his children to Lillian Bails school in Kennington, south London.
He later apologised for the remark.
But earlier this month, Ousted deemed it to be a "good school" where almost all lessons were satisfactory or better.
Story from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/2945575.stm">NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/2945575.stm Published: 2003/11/29 09:33:14 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 29, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Guardian: Education
School Letwin 'would rather beg' to avoid gets glowing report
Staff and agencies
Friday November 28, 2003
The comprehensive school that found itself at the centre of a political row after a senior Tory said he would rather beg on the streets than send his children there is to get a glowing write-up from England's education watchdog, it emerged today.
Ofsted inspectors who visited Lilian Baylis School in Lambeth, south London, earlier this month judged it a "good school" where 98% of lessons were satisfactory or better.
The shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin apologised after his declaration at the Conservative Party conference in October sparked a furore and led to renewed debate about the quality of inner-city state schools.
Mr Letwin, an Old Etonian who was shadow home secretary at the time, has twins aged 10 and lives in Kennington in Lambeth during the week, returning to his west Dorset constituency at weekends.
Although he did not name the school, it quickly became apparent that it was Lilian Baylis he had in mind. He told a fringe meeting at the conference that middle-class parents paid to go private to avoid such schools.
"In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
"If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live."
Ofsted refused to comment on the contents of its report on Lilian Baylis except to confirm that it was due to be published in January.
But it is understood that when inspectors met the school's governors and senior staff to give them oral feedback on their findings, they said that 64% of lessons they had seen were good or better and all but 2% were at least satisfactory.
The proportion of pupils gaining a minimum of five GCSEs at grades C or better has almost trebled in a year from 6% in 2002 to 17%. Ofsted's report will say that "Lilian Baylis provides a good quality of education," where both the teaching and leadership by the headteacher and his senior staff is also good.
Attendance has improved to stand "at or above the national average," inspectors are believed to have said.
"Overall, Lilian Baylis is a good school. It has made very good progress since its last inspection.
"It does well by its students, identifies their diverse needs and provides them with effective support," inspectors added.
Their judgment contrasted with Ofsted's last report, in 2001, which said: "Lilian Baylis has a troubled history.
"It has suffered from instability in its leadership, a high turnover of staff, uncertainty about its future and a poor, at one time deservedly so, reputation."
Mr Letwin said: "If this is true, I'm absolutely delighted to hear of this massive improvement. I'm hoping in due course to visit the school and I congratulate them on their achievement."
Lilian Baylis head Gary Phillips has asked Mr Letwin to come to visit the school. Mr Letwin has not yet responded to the invitation.
Ofsted reports are supposed to stay under wraps until they are published and Mr Phillips could not comment on the specifics of the latest one on his school.
But he confirmed it was going to be positive and said: "The whole of the school community is ecstatic.
"It really vindicates the choice of parents to send their children here."
Lilian Baylis School has recently undertaken a number of partnerships with local businesses, one of the reasons for the drastic improvement at the school, according to Mr Phillips.
"The City of London Mercers supported the school immensely by setting up a state-of-the-art IT system. The partnerships have given the pupils direct access to IT-professionals, as well as opening possibilities for pupils to do work experience with international companies such as IBM. The kids come back from those internships a great deal more motivated to learn," said Mr Phillips.
Employing four advanced-skills teachers also helped improve the pupils' performances, he said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 29, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Independent: Education
School criticised by Letwin earns glowing report
By Sarah Cassidy, Education Correspondent
29 November 2003
The comprehensive school criticised by Oliver Letwin, who said he would rather become a beggar than allow his children to go there, is to receive a glowing report from England's education watchdog.
Ofsted inspectors who visited Lilian Baylis School in Lambeth, south London, earlier this month concluded that it was a "good school" where 98 per cent of lessons were satisfactory or better. Mr Letwin, the shadow Chancellor, told a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference that he would "go out on the streets and beg" rather than send his children to the comprehensive near his London home.
Mr Letwin, an Old Etonian who was shadow Home Secretary at the time, has twins aged 10 and lives in Kennington in Lambeth during the week, returning to his West Dorset constituency at weekends. He was forced to apologise to the school after telling the meeting that middle-class parents were prepared to pay to educate their children privately to avoid such comprehensives.
Ofsted refused to comment on the report's contents, confirming only that it would be published in January. But it is understood that when inspectors met governors and senior staff, they said 64 per cent of lessons they had seen were good or better and only 2 per cent less than satisfactory.
Mr Letwin said yesterday that he would be delighted if the school received a positive report. "If this is true, I'm absolutely delighted to hear of this massive improvement. I'm hoping in due course to visit the school and I congratulate them on their achievement."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 29, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Fri 28 Nov 2003
School Tory 'Would Beg to Avoid' Set for Glowing Report
By Dominic Hayes, Education Correspondent
PA News
The comprehensive that found itself at the centre of a political row after a senior Tory said he would rather beg on the streets than send his children there is to get a glowing write-up from England’s education watchdog, it emerged today.
PA News has learned that Ofsted inspectors who visited Lilian Baylis School in Lambeth, south London, earlier this month judged it a “good school” where 98% of lessons were satisfactory or better.
Shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin apologised after his declaration at the Conservative Party conference in October sparked a furore and led to a renewed debate about the quality of inner city state schools.
Mr Letwin, an Old Etonian who was shadow home secretary at the time, has twins aged 10 and lives in Kennington in Lambeth during the week, returning to his West Dorset constituency at weekends.
Although he did not name the school, it quickly became apparent that it was Lilian Baylis he had in mind.
He told a fringe meeting at the conference that middle-class parents paid to go private to avoid such schools.
“In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
“If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.”
Ofsted refused to comment on what its report on Lilian Baylis would contain except to confirm it was due to be published in January.
But it is understood that, when inspectors met the school’s governors and senior staff to give them oral feedback on what they had found, they said that 64% of lessons they had seen were good or better and all but 2% were at least satisfactory.
The proportion of pupils gaining a minimum of five GCSEs at grades C or better has almost trebled in a year from 6% in 2002 to 17%.
Ofsted’s report will say that “Lilian Baylis provides a good quality of education” where both the teaching and leadership by the headteacher and his senior staff is also good.
Attendance has improved to stand “at or above the national average”, inspectors are believed to have said.
“Overall, Lilian Baylis is a good school. It has made very good progress since its last inspection.
“It does well by its students, identifies their diverse needs and provides them with effective support,” inspectors added.
Their judgment contrasted with Ofsted’s last report, in 2001, which said: “Lilian Baylis has a troubled history.
“It has suffered from instability in its leadership, a high turnover of staff, uncertainty about its future and a poor, at one time deservedly so, reputation.”
Mr Letwin said: “If this is true, I’m absolutely delighted to hear of this massive improvement.
“I’m hoping in due course to visit the school and I congratulate them on their achievement.”
Lilian Baylis head Gary Phillips has asked Mr Letwin to come to visit the school.
Ofsted reports are supposed to stay under wraps until they are published and Mr Phillips could not comment on the specifics of the latest one on his school.
But he confirmed it was going to be positive and said: “The whole of the school community is ecstatic.
“It really vindicates the choice of parents to send their children here.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 28, 2003.

Weed puts flowerpot men in jail

Weed puts flowerpot men in jail
Nov 28 2003
South London Press
GANG of drug dealers are behind bars after being caught transporting a tonne of cannabis hidden underneath ceramic flowerpots.
Kevin Jones, 41, Paul Eden, 42, and Paul Mcgee, 45, were at the "top of the supply chain" and stood to make massive profits from the top quality resin.
But the trio, jailed this week for a total of 19 years, were snared as they attempted to move the Ł2.2million consignment to a secret lock-up.
Detectives smashed the drugs ring after a two-month surveillance operation which took them across South London.
Jones, followed by Eden and Mcgee in a BMW, was followed by detectives after he picked up the illicit lorry-load on May 13.
When the convoy reached Nine Elms Lane in Battersea, officers pounced and the gang was arrested.
Ken Millett, prosecuting, told Kingston Crown Court: "During the two months, officers followed the defendants to locations and videotaped and photographed their meetings between March and May 13.
"They met at The Greyhound pub in Kennington and The Queen Victoria pub in Rotherhithe. During this period they were seen using a series of vehicles including a transporter, two Mercedes and a BMW."
In the two months, the gang bought cars, mobile phones, four pallets of ceramic flowerpots and a lock-up in Westmore Street, Charlton. Jones, of Douglas Road, Welling, Kent; Eden, of Frankland Close, Southwark Park Road, Southwark; and Mcgee, of Elgis Place, Lambeth, admitted conspiracy to supply a class-B drug.
Jones was jailed on Wednesday for five-and-a-half years, Eden for seven years, and Mcgee for six-and-a-half. Passing sentence, Judge Richard McGregor Johnson said: "You have pleaded guilty to the serious offence of conspiracy to supply a large quantity of cannabis resin, 11kg. You were not involved in the importation of the drugs but you were involved at the next stage.
"You were told of the supply chain in this case. Even if you did not know the quantity of the drugs, you must have known it was substantial as four pallets were to be used.
"The only way the courts can deal with this kind of offence is to show others they are bound to get a lengthy custodial sentence if caught."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 28, 2003.

Ex-lover gets life for horrific hammer attack

Ex-lover gets life for horrific hammer attack
Nov 28 2003
South London Press
FORMER boyfriend who tried to batter his estranged partner to death with a hammer because he wanted to control her was jailed for life this week.
Michael Hibbert, 40, repeatedly bludgeoned ex-lover Mary Caulfield and then told her "you're fine" when she begged for an ambulance.
Miss Caulfield managed to stagger on to her balcony screaming for help but Hibbert dragged her back in to continue the attack.
A friend who arrived at the flat found Miss Caulfield lying wrapped in a bloody duvet on the bedroom floor of her Lambeth home. She spent nine days in hospital, needing 11 stitches in her head and a plate inserted to repair a shattered bone in her left forearm.
Hibbert was convicted of attempted murder by an Old Bailey jury after a four-day trial in July.
Judge David Paget told Hibbert on Monday: "At your trial you admitted striking Mary Caulfield three times with a hammer. But what concerns me is that you tried to minimise what you had done and said you used 'a very small hammer'.
"You did not call an ambulance."
Hibbert had denied trying to kill her and claimed he lashed out in frustration when she ignored his advice about caring for their children.
The couple had been in an "on-off" relationship for a number of years, but they split up in 1999 after having two daughters together. The failed in an attempt to rekindle their relationship in September last year.
Miss Caulfield had been dozing in bed on February 18 this year with one of her daughters when Hibbert suddenly appeared in the room.
The court heard Hibbert went berserk when Miss Caulfield tried to leave the room.
Lisa Wilding, prosecuting, described how Hibbert picked up a hammer.
She said: "The blows came quickly and were heavy. Miss Caulfield was terrified and thought she was going to die."
The court was told Hibbert had wanted to control Miss Caulfield and the way she brought up the children.
Hibbert, of Black Prince Road, Kennington, had denied attempted murder.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 28, 2003.

FRIENDS OF THE DURNING LIBRARY - Evening events at 7.0 for 7.30

FRIENDS OF THE DURNING LIBRARY
Evening events at 7.0 for 7.30 -- all welcome
(come soon - space limited)
Held at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Ł2 suggested donation
Nibbles and drinks
Monday 8 December: The Winter Social
A chance to relax over drinks, snacks and the traditional raffle. (Raffle prizes gratefully received.) Test your local knowledge in Chris Cossey's quiz. As a farewell to this 50th anniversary year, Gordon Johnston will give a short talk on what it was like marching as a cadet in the Coronation procession in 1953.
Monday 19 January: "From a Place of Conflict to a Place of Peace - the story of The Old Courthouse, Kennington"
In 1995 The Old Courthouse, situated in Renfrew Road just off Kennington Lane, made a dramatic transformation from high-security court hosting figures such as the Krays to peaceful Buddhist Centre. Alison Murdoch will tell the story of how a group of volunteers rescued this Lambeth landmark from the Buildings at Risk register and describe the Buddhist and community activities that it now provides.
Monday 16 February: "Mr Guy's Hospital and the Caribbees"
Medical historian Jane Bowden-Dan will be discussing the medical care of Caribbean slaves sent "home" from the West Indies by London merchants and treated at Guy's Hospital. Was it humanitarian concern or enlightened self-interest which led to the slave Samson being treated by premier surgeon Samuel Sharpe?

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 28, 2003.

FoDL: Winter Social - Monday 8th December, 7pm for 7.30pm

Winter Social
Friends of Durning Library
Monday 8th December
7pm for 7.30pm
Relax over drinks, snacks, the traditional raffle and maybe a quiz. Gordon Johnston will give a short talk on what it was like marching as a cadet in the Coronation procession in 1953.
Suggested donation Ł2
Friends of Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane SE11 4HF

-- Cathy (cathvypreece@aol.com), November 26, 2003.

VAUXHALL FESTIVAL

VAUXHALL FESTIVAL
Are you a local resident?
Would you like to get involved in a major local event?We are looking for dedicated and committed individuals who would like to take part in the organisation of the next Vauxhall Festival by joining the steering group.
You would be expected to:
attend regular meetings
share ideas
be proactive
actively participate in the organisation of the Festival.
This event is described as a 'celebration of cultural diversity', we would like this diversity to be reflected in the Steering Group.
If you are interested and would like further information please contact:
Glennette Bowles-Dove
Community Development Manager
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
Tel: 020 7926 2780
Email: gbowles-dove@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Glennette Bowles-Dove (gbowles-dove@lambeth.gov.uk), November 26, 2003.

Traffic order - Changes to parking places - Kennington Road & Green

Traffic order - Changes to parking places - Kennington Road & Green
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/022918.pdf
Released: 25 November, 2003 03:15
Filesize: 10kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 26, 2003.

Vauxhall City Farm AGM

Apologies for the late notification of our AGM, however, many recipients have failed to received their invitations, I can only assume that this may be due to the postal strike.
Vauxhall City Farm is holding its AGM on the Thursday 27th November 2003 at 7pm. We welcome as many people for the community and associated agencies at possible to join in our successes of the past year. We also hope to highlight our plans for the following year. Refreshments will be provided.
For further information please contact Fiona at the farm. 0207 582 4204.<>p>I look forward to seeing all.
Regards
John Robert
Chairman of Vauxhall City Farm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 25, 2003.

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 22 November 2003
The excellent London Walks Company http://london.walks.com/ are coming to Kennington, offering historical walking tours from Kennington Tube Station at 1430 on Saturday 6 December and at 1045 on Sunday 8 February. At only Ł5 per person they are a very good way of learning about the area, and getting some gentle exercise as well!
Lambeth Council have refused to give planning permission for the 180 metre (590 foot) St George's tower at the upstream end of the Effra site just upstream of Vauxhall Bridge. Above is an artist's impression of the view from Westinster Bridge. The proposal will now be considered by a public inquiry in 2004.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 23, 2003.

Guided walks from Kennington Tube

Guided walks from Kennington Tube Station

The Original LONDON WALKS
London, PO Box 1708, London, NW6 4LW
Telephone 020 7624 3978 (or 020 7794 1764)
Recorded Information 020 7624 9255 (or 020 7624 WALK)
http://london.walks.com/

Past Preserved - Nooks & Crannies in Charlie Chaplin's London
Dec. 6 2:30pm Kennington Tube Stop
Feb. 8 10:45am KenningtonTube Stop
Going On A London Walk
To go on a London Walk, meet your guide and fellow walkers on the pavement just outside the designated LondonTube Stop (Underground Station) at the time stated.
Your guide will be holding up copies of the distinctive white London Walks leaflet. There is no need to book for any of the London Walks
A London Walk lasts about two hours.
And they always take place, rain or shine. Each walk ends at or near a LondonTube Stop (Underground station).
How Much Does It Cost?
A London Walk costs Ł5 - or Ł4 for senior citizens, full-time students, and Discount Walkabout Card holders. The Walkabout Cards are a bargain so do ask your guide for one! Children under 15 go free if accompanied by their parent(s).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 22, 2003.

A passage to India (via Borough Market)

PsychoGeography: #8: A passage to India (via Borough Market)
BY WILL SELF
The Independent
United Kingdom; Nov 22, 2003
MY ZEST for the seemingly more adventurous forms of travel has been in decline for decades now. When I visited India in my early twenties it took me about three months to get over the culture shock, nowadays it takes me about three months to acclimatise to a weekend in Wiltshire, a development which makes the country-house party - so beloved of the English upper-middle and upper classes - pretty much anathema to me.
But if I can't be arsed to visit that humungous euphemism "the developing world" (developing into what exactly? A banana? A moth?), at least I know some people who can. Jon Wealleans, an architect of my acquaintance, has made a couple of pilgrimages to the ancient city of Hampi in the central Indian province of Karnataka. Jon, as well as drawing buildings that have yet to be constructed, takes a fierce delight in producing exactingly realistic renditions of Hampi in oils. Over liver and bacon in The Stockpot restaurant in London, Jon waxed lyrical about the unique character of Hampi, a city at its zenith during the Golden Age of India, when Hindus and Muslims cohabited amid opulent, many-pillared temples.
I had an idea: since Jon's paintings were, he assured me, slavishly like the real thing, I could walk from my house in Stockwell to his house hard by Borough Market, and thus encounter the Subcontinent without leaving my own immediate purlieus. I set off in bright autumnal sunlight that was soon palled by the mighty sooty bulk of St John the Divine, Kennington. This is the sort of Victorian neogothic church that should have been dropped - in a friendly fashion - on John Betjeman. John Ruskin Street, which is flanked on both sides by vast estates of high rises, led me to the Walworth Road. In Spring Street market, a long nave of knickers, mobile- phone covers and pigs' trotters, I had a sharp exchange with a stallholder.
"I want a big black cap," I said.
"A big black cap just like that?" the man snapped back. "I've only small blue caps."
"No good," I stressed "but I'll be back."
Jon and his partner Natalie live in a c. 1650 house full of things that might well be on sale in the so-called Thieves Market across the road. The apartments are roomy and wood-panelled; Jon works in a studio on the first floor. The Hampi paintings were all I could've hoped for, like oblongs of half a world away, radiating painful lemon dawn, reeking of untreated sewage, cardamon and chai. The temples had the magisterial appearance of ruins that have yet to be scaled by a recreational multitude, and indeed, as Jon described the 22-hour cab ride from Goa, followed by the coracle ride across the river required to reach them, I felt wholly vindicated by my desire to merely stroll across town in order to visit them.
Jon himself is no stranger to the banjaxed world view. He's currently working on the building which will enclose "Dicken's World" at Chatham, a structure he cheerfully describes as "a big black cube", broken up only by those points where "the rides" emerge. He was also responsible for Madame Tussaud's in Las Vegas, a tricky commission which saw Jon implanting huge airconditioning units into the portico to prevent the waxwork of Don King - which played the role of greeter - from melting away. He has long eschewed the practicalities of his profession - site visits, meetings, etc - in favour of just drawing; so that quite often he rounds an unfamiliar corner in a familiar city only to find himself face-to-face with a building he himself designed, but which he's never seen in the flesh.
But the Hampi paintings are the reverse of this. Like all realist painters Jon attempts to make things look like they ought to do in photographs, but actually can't. In place of the unified focal length of the photographic image, Jon substitutes the saccades of the human eye as it surveys a prospect, zooming in and out, panning continually. Of course, this is quite like an analog of memory itself, as it ranges over space and time, and the Hampi paintings, while at first glance fairly straightforward, on closer inspection suck you into their golden glow of be-here-nowness.
Still, unfortunately for Jon - who takes aeons to paint them - his dealer, Francis Kyle, has been less than supportive. "I've shown these paintings to Indians who've been there," he told the artist, "and even they didn't like them." So now, in a drive to actually make a little money, Jon has turned his attention to meticulously rendering little corners of overcrowded English gardens. I'm sure they'll be a great hit with Francis Kyle's clientele, but personally I shan't be going to the private view; unless, that is, it's held in Hampi.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 22, 2003.

Pensioner denies robberies

Pensioner denies robberies
Nov 21 2003
South London Press
AN ARMED pensioner and his middle-aged accomplice robbed a string of off licences across South London, escaping with laundry bags stuffed full of loot, a court heard this week.
Leroy Samuels, 67, from Brixton, and Alan Gardener, 51, from Sydenham, held terrified staff at gunpoint before handcuffing them and making off with cash, cigarettes and alcohol, it is claimed. It is alleged the duo pocketed more than Ł15,000 in seven raids from January 22, 2002, to February 5 this year.
Stephen Warner, prosecuting at the Old Bailey, said the crime spree had finally been halted after police launched a surveillance operation.
Samuels and Gardener carried out their first raid at an off licence in Clapham and two months later got away with Ł2,300 from Oddbins in Battersea Bridge Road, jurors were told.
Further robberies at Oddbins in Kennington Road, Lambeth, and at off licences in Clapham and Battersea followed, it is claimed.
Samuels, of Langbourne House, Effra Road, Brixton, and Gardener, of Polecraft Lane, Sydenham, deny conspiracy to rob, seven counts of robbery, attempted robbery, and eight counts of possession of a firearm with intent.
The trial continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 22, 2003.

Small Town Gardens

BBC2
Small Town Gardens
Fri 21 Nov, 8:00 pm - 8:30 pm 30mins
By cunning use of materials teamed with planting to melt the stoniest of hearts, Small Town Gardens addresses problems specific to confined areas.
Presenter James Alexander-Sinclair, was promoted from his role of designer in last year's series. With his signature hat and way with words, he follows the journey of each garden from design to completion.
Nick Robinson and Martin Chappell, live in a converted forge in Kennington, South East London. Their tiny enclosed courtyard, the old waiting area for the horses before they were shod, measures only 6x5m.
Chelsea Medal winning husband and wife design team Erik de Meijer and Jane Hudson take on the tricky task of designing the new garden.
Nick and Martin want a sleek contemporary courtyard, with a slightly industrial feel, to complement the original use of the site.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 21, 2003.

Small Town Gardens

BBC2 8pm Friday 21 November
Small Town Gardens
Nick Robinson and Martin Chappell live in a converted forge in Kennington with a tiny enclosed courtyard. Husband and wife team Erik de Meijer and Jane Hudson, take on the tricky task of designing the new garden. With James Alexander-Sinclair.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2003.

Lilian Baylis school

School is on the up
Nov 18 2003
South London Press
"AN EFFECTIVE school that does well by its students". That is the verdict of Government inspectors on a school which hit the headlines after a Tory politician said he would rather "beg on the streets" than send his kids there.
Shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin - then the shadow home secretary - caused a storm last month when he made the comments about Lilian Baylis School in Kennington. Now, an Ofsted inspection of the beleaguered Lollard Street school has concluded it is serving its pupils well. Inspectors found 98 per cent of teaching was satisfactory and 67 per cent good. That compares with respective figures of 80 per cent and 33 per cent when the school was last inspected in 2001. Although GCSE results at Lilian Baylis are low, inspectors said they are on a par with those of pupils at similar schools.
They also found pupils make good progress at the school, even though some have obstacles such as language to overcome.
The school is described as a "calm, stable and orderly community in which students feel safe". Behaviour is said to be generally good.
Headteacher Gary Phillips said: "Students and parents have voted with their feet over the last two years. We are now oversubscribed and have repaid the faith that so many people have put in us. This is merely the first step in the transformation of Lilian Baylis School. Next year we move into our new building and will become a specialist school. After that we will open our sixth form."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 19, 2003.

Local Xmas events

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 16 November 2003
The great Oval Christmas Lights switch-on - with mince pies, steel band and local celebrity - will take place at 1830 on Monday 1 December outside the Lavender restaurant on the Clapham Road near the Oval Tube Station.
Fri 19 December 2003: The Vauxhall City Farm Christmas party will feature reindeer (which will look suspiciously like donkeys) as well as carol singing, mulled wine and mince pies. The party begins at 1900.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 17, 2003.

Colin Hayes

Telegraph
Colin Hayes
(Filed: 17/11/2003)
Colin Hayes, who has died aged 83, was one of the most significant art school teachers of his generation; his appointment to the Painting School of the Royal College of Art in 1949 coincided with its emergence as the dominant force in British art school teaching immediately after the war.
With such colourful characters as John Minton, Carel Weight and Ruskin Spear also on the staff, it represented a formidable array of talent; and if Hayes's name is less familiar than these, it is only because of the essentially reticent temperament of the man, and the largely "back room" nature of so much of his work there.
When he was appointed, aged just 30, by the then Professor of Painting, Rodrigo Moynihan, Hayes already had a considerable reputation as both a painter and intellectual. He soon formed a close association with Carel Weight, who was to take over the Professorship in 1957, and through the influence he exerted Hayes can be seen as the quiet dynamo of the College's golden age.
A whole stream of gifted students - Hockney and Blake, Kitaj and Caulfield among them - emerged in these years, establishing Pop Art as Britain's first truly international contribution to 20th-century art.
Something of the character of Hayes's role at the College can be gauged from Moynihan's famous and revealing group portrait of this time. In The Teaching Staff of the Painting School, the bow-tied Hayes can be seen leaning against a plan-chest, behind Carel Weight.
Together, over the next 20 years or more, Hayes and Weight established a reputation for the Royal College that has been matched since then only by Goldsmith's in the 1990s. After Weight's retirement in 1972, Hayes stayed on for a few more years, before becoming Roger de Grey's deputy at the City and Guilds School of Art in Kennington in the early 1980s.
Such a lifetime of high level and committed full-time teaching might well have left little room for his own work; yet, as a retrospective exhibition mounted for his eightieth birthday in the Friends' Room at the Royal Academy made plain, nothing could have been further from the truth.
A regular over the years at the Academy's Summer Exhibition, Hayes had frequent solo shows throughout his career, most particularly with the late David Wolfers' New Grafton Gallery; and it was Wolfers who once shrewdly observed of Hayes that, although he might give the impression of being a reticent man, "his manner shrouds a colourful and talented painter with a steely core".
It was, though, a steely core combined with an enlightened, if nowadays outdated, concept that artists should practise their art within the art schools at which they teach.
Colin Graham Frederick Hayes was born on November 17 1919. His artistic talent showed itself early: "At 14 I could do a very detailed and accurate rendering of a Hawker Fury," he once observed. After Westminster, he went up to Christ Church, Oxford, but soon found himself working in the Ruskin School of Drawing there.
Further studies were interrupted by the war, which he spent as a map-maker with the Royal Engineers, emerging as a captain. Much of his service was in the Western Desert, where he found time to record the war in some vivid watercolour studies.
Back in England, he resumed his studies at the Ruskin, then situated in the Ashmolean Museum and sharing its space with the evacuated Slade School. His friendship with Peter Greenham (later Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools but then teaching in Oxford) was significant.
As well as both then sharing a preference for a much quieter, darker-toned colour in their painting, they also had a passionate painterly interest in the history of art that expressed itself in some fine critical writing.
Hayes's taste in other artists was always nicely eclectic - Stanley Spencer, Renoir and Rembrandt being among the subjects of his writings; art history, in his view, always formed an inherent part of the make-up of any articulate artist. As for the particular artistic influences on his own work as a landscape painter, Matisse was always a figure of major importance, as was Bonnard.
For Hayes, it was always above all the idea which, for him, "made" the painting, and without which it becomes merely an illustration, a "thing" without meaning. Looking at the boldly coloured paintings from his later life, many of them executed on the island of Evvia, in Greece, where he had a house for 17 years, it is immediately apparent that each one of them starts from a powerful visual idea, a concatenation of form and colour in the landscape that captures a moment of clear sensation - what Matisse called "the feeling I have for life".
Hayes was elected an Academician in 1963, one of a group of younger figures (they included Leonard Rosoman, Freddie Gore, Bernard Dunstan and Hugh Casson) who came to the Academy in the 1960s and played such a vital role in initiating the process of modernisation at the institution which is often attributed solely to the 1970s and 1980s.
Although towards the end of his life a Senior Academician, and therefore no longer involved in committee work, Hayes continued to take an active interest in its affairs, trenchantly observing a couple of years ago (at a time of considerable internal turmoil there), "We can still shove our oar in when it comes to voting".
Colin Hayes died on November 1. He married first, in 1949, Jean Westbrook Law, who died in 1988; they had three daughters. In 1992 he married Marjorie Christensen.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 17, 2003.

Ladies Who Lunch: Kennington Lane Restaurant - Wed 10th December

Ladies Who Lunch
Kennington Lane Restaurant
Wed 10th December
Hi All
I have made a booking at the Kennington Lane Restaurant for 1pm, Wednesday 10th December.
Kennington Lane Restaurant & Bar
205-209 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QS
7793 8313
They have various menus starting with the Express Set Menu which is Ł7.50 for two courses up to the Christmas Menu which is Ł28 for three courses or else a la carte.
Can you please let me know if you can join us?
Many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 13, 2003.

Heathrow faces new flights row

12/11/03 - News and city section
Heathrow faces new flights row
By Hugh Dougherty
Evening Standard
Heathrow airport could receive up to 40 new early-morning flights each day because of a loophole created by the withdrawal of Concorde, it was revealed today.
And the airport could see up to 840 new take-offs or landings each week because of the ending of supersonic flights, anti-noise protesters have calculated.
A conference beginning today at the European Parliament in Brussels is to hear how the way the noise suffered by people in Heathrow's flightpath is calculated has created an anomaly which would allow dozens of new flights to replace each axed Concorde.
Anti-noise campaigners Hacan ClearSkies will also use the conference to unveil research showing that parts of London as far east as Kennington are exposed to noise which is by international standards at "nuisance" level.
An expert report commissioned by the group claimed that because Concorde was so much noisier than any other planes using Heathrow, its effect on the average noise level under official calculations was equivalent to 120 flights by normal jets every day.
Today BAA denied it would increase the number of flights.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/7633049?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Cash-strapped Lambeth fails to collect Ł750,000 C-charge debt
Nov 11 2003
Exclusive By Oscar Mortali
South London Press
TRANSPORT for London (TfL) is waiting on invoices totalling more than Ł750,000 from cash-strapped Lambeth council.
The authority - which is millions in debt - has still not got around to billing TfL for works carried out in preparation for the congestion charge. Lambeth installed 20mph zones, new controlled parking zones, signs and traffic calming measures in time for the introduction of the charge in February.
It is TfL's duty to pay for the work - but eight months on, no invoice has arrived at City Hall. News of the missing invoices emerged at a Kennington Association meeting last month. Responding to calls for more funding for Lambeth, TfL representative Jeremy Evans told the meeting: "We have put a lot of money Lambeth's way at their request for improvements in traffic calming.
"In fact we are still awaiting an invoice for Ł750,000 worth of work which, if they get to us, we will pay for."
A TfL spokeswoman confirmed it had still not received an invoice totalling Ł263,000 for work carried out in the last financial year by March.
Also, no invoice has been received for "rolling work" carried out by September which totals Ł494,000.
The spokeswoman said Lambeth had until March next year to invoice TfL for the Ł494,000 and added: "Although the Ł263,000 was for the last financial year, we will still pay for it as this is money we have set aside for the work."
A Lambeth council spokesman said: "The council has been waiting for its contractor to submit invoices for works carried out.
"The result is that we have been unable to start the process of reclaiming money from Transport for London until now.
"There remains works to be implemented in the financial year 2003/04 which TfL is fully aware of. Once implemented and a contractor invoice has been received, the council will begin the reclaiming process.
"We can assure residents that the council is fully aware of the situation and that all the money will be reclaimed as appropriate."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2003.

Special Meeting of the PA Committee: re. Effra Site

There will be a Special Meeting of the Planning Applications Committee held on Tuesday 18th November at 7pm at St Peter's Heritage Centre, 310 Kennington Lane, (entrance in Tyres Street) SE11 5HY to discuss the Effra Site, Wandsworth Road, SW8 Oval Ward. Links to further details below:
Agenda (PA)
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/022589.pdf
Released: November 7, 2003 11:08 AM
Filesize: 974kb
Agenda Front Page (PA)
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/agenda/022588.pdf
Released: November 7, 2003 11:02 AM
Filesize: 26kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 11, 2003.

Parking

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Updated 7 November 2003
I understand that Lambeth Council have decided not to split the K parking zone along Kennington Lane, and not to create a sub-zone in the Oval area, which (if implemented) would not have been be available to those living outside the sub-zone.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 09, 2003.

Cricket

Times
November 08, 2003
Champions Trophy final awarded to Oval
By Christopher Martin-Jenkins, Chief Cricket Correspondent
THE Oval will be the venue for the final of next year’s Champions Trophy, the ICC competition being staged in England for the first time in September. The Rose Bowl in Southampton, which staged its first international last season, and Edgbaston have won the right to the other matches. Lord’s and Trent Bridge, whose owners had also expressed an interest, will be compensated by the award of one-day internationals earlier in the season.
The three grounds chosen will each stage five matches in a televised tournament between the ten Test nations, plus Kenya and the winner of the ICC trophy to be held in the United Arab Emirates in March. The competition will run from September 10 to 25, with rain days scheduled for all matches. Teams will be seeded on the basis of their official one-day international ranking on December 1 this year, so the exact schedule will not be known until then.
The format divides teams into four groups of three, the winners of each group progressing to knockout semifinals. There is a total prize fund of $1.25 million (about Ł750,000).
It perhaps gives a fair indication of the status of the tournament that whereas most cricket followers could name the winners of the World Cups since 1975, not many could answer who won the last Champions Trophy only a little more than a year ago in Sri Lanka. The answer is that the host nation shared the trophy with India, the other finalist, after two rainedoff matches in Colombo.
“Overall, the allocation of international matches next season is fair and should satisfy everyone,” John Carr, the ECB’s director of cricket operations, said. “The venues for the Champions Trophy were chosen in collaboration with the ICC.”
Considerations included an ICC stipulation that two of the venues should be within an hour’s drive of one another, a criterion just about met by Birmingham and Southampton, or possibly Kennington and Southampton, in a fast car on a good motorway day. The fact that MCC likes to run its own show at Lord’s without being obliged to comply with various ICC requirements also worked against the choice of the ground that has held all four of the World Cup finals held in England.
The Oval holds less than 20,000, as opposed to the near-30,000 capacity at Lord’s, but the Oval’s pitches tend to play better in late season than those in north-west London, where September finals were notoriously prone to early finishes. Roger Knight, MCC secretary, said that to have held more than one match in the tournament would have caused problems with the square and planned improvements in the pavilion that are expected to start next September.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 09, 2003.

Murder in Kennington

Man dies in hospital after street altercation
Nov 7 2003
South London Press
Detectives investigating a man's death have appealed for witnesses.
Joseph Macari, 28, died in St Thomas's Hospital on Monday after he was involved in an altercation with around eight men in Kennington Lane at about 1.15am on Sunday. Another man was taken to hospital after the incident but was discharged following medical treatment.
Police are treating it as murder. An incident room has opened under DCI Stuart Cundy of the Serious Crimes Directorate.
He has asked witnesses to call the incident room on 020-8649 1557 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 08, 2003.

Hospital death follows Kennington brawl

This is Local London
Hospital death follows Kennington brawl
A man is dead and another was hospitalized following a fight in Kennington on Sunday.
28-year-old Joseph Macari, of Swansea, died in St Thomas’s Hospital this morning, following an incident involving eight men in Kennington Lane about 1.15am on Sunday.
Another man aged in his 20s was injured in the same fight. He was treated at St Thomas’s Hospital and later discharged.
Police are not discussing further at this stage his home address.
An incident room has opened at Parchmore Road under DCI Stuart Cundy.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the incident room on 020 8649 1557; if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
A man has been charged in connection with Mr Macari’s murder and another is on police bail pending further enquiries.
9:27am today (Monday 4th November 2003)By Local London Reporter

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 04, 2003.

The LibDems have chosen local councillor & resident Charles Anglin as their candidate for the next general election.

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Updated 2 November 2003
The LibDems have chosen local councillor & resident Charles Anglin as their candidate for the next general election. He will have his work cut out to beat Labour's Kate Hoey whose majority at the last election was 13,000. However, 55% of voters failed to turn out, so there is a good-sized reservoir of undecided voters to whom the LibDems might well appeal.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 04, 2003.

Man accused of street murder

BBC News
Man accused of street murder
A man is due to appear in court charged with murdering a 28-year-old man in south London in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Joseph Macari, from Swansea, south Wales, died at St Thomas's Hospital on Monday, following a fight in the Kennington area, which is believed to have involved eight men.
Another man, who was in his 20s, was discharged from the hospital following treatment.
A Scotland Yard spokesman appealed for any witnesses to the incident, which took place at approximately 0115 GMT on Sunday, in Kennington Lane.
The accused man is scheduled to appear at Camberwell Green magistrates court on Tuesday.
Another man has been bailed to return to a south London police station in December pending further enquiries.
An incident room has opened at Parchmore Road Police Station, Kennington.
The investigation is being led by Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Cundy.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the incident room on 020 8649 1557; if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.
Story from BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/3238867.stm">NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/3238867.stm
Published: 2003/11/03 21:11:43 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 04, 2003.

A sorry saga of day care

South London Press
News
A sorry saga of day care
Oct 31 2003
THE saga of the Liberal Democrats' botched project to close Kennington Park Daycare Centre continues. The centre has now closed and users have been sent off for day care at a variety of other places around Lambeth, often further away from their friends and families.
But it has now been revealed that closing the centre is going to make Ł115,000 less "savings" than intended, money that will now have to be made up elsewhere.
So, not only have the Lib Dems shut down the whole place, but to make up the difference, they will have to axe either six nursing care places, nine residential care places or 12 home care places that are currently allocated to other users in Lambeth.
This is the reality of Liberal Democrat-run Lambeth.
Councillor John Kazantzis
Lambeth Labour spokesperson for Social Services

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 04, 2003.

Window cleaner wanted

Window cleaner wanted
Can anyone recommend an honest and reliable local domestic window cleaner?

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 01, 2003.

Disabled arts festival for London

BBC News: Entertainment: Arts
Disabled arts festival for London
The biggest arts festival of disabled artists and performers ever held in the UK begins in London this weekend.
The second Xposure Festival features the premičre of a new play by actor Simon Startin, as well as a Sadler's Wells concert by Anjali Dance Company.
More than 40 performances will be held over November at nine London venues.
"It's about throwing new perspectives on the world, being challenging and thought provoking," said festival manager Patricia Place.
One of the festival's highlights is the world premiere of Startin's debut play Revolting, which has been funded by the Arts Council.
The play is a black comedy about a man who is reincarnated through history with a different disability each time.
The play starts on 5 November at Jacksons Lane arts centre in Archway, north London.
Startin has recently appeared in Sherlock Holmes at The Royal Exchange in Manchester.
Anjali Dance Theatre will perform their new piece WYSIWYG at Sadler's Wells in central London on 13 November.
Artist Adam Shingler is exhibiting Only Smarties Have the Answer, which satirised his own experiences as a schizophrenic, at the Diorama in Euston.
The festival aims to publicise the legal requirements for disabled access to arts venues such as West End theatres as part of International Year of Disabled People, which is celebrated this year.
Disabled performers have said the law does not go far enough because many theatres have stairs between dressing rooms and stages, making it difficult for disabled actors in wheelchairs to get access.
Other venues showing performances include Oval House Theatre in Kennington, Stratford's East London Dance, Croydon Clocktower and Byam Shaw School of Art at Archway.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/arts/3230649.stm
Published: 2003/10/31 13:41:34 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 01, 2003.

Delays on Northern line

No full Northern line 'until March'
By Ross Lydall
Evening Standard
29 October 2003
Passengers on the Northern line face five months of disruption following the Camden Town derailment, it emerged today.
Services will not be fully restored until March because the points thought to have been to blame for the crash on 19 October will not be brought back into use.
London Underground did not deny reports that Edgware and High Barnet trains would not be able to run down both the Bank and Charing Cross branches until next year.
As a result, all Edgware services will run via Bank after the end of the week, while High Barnet and Mill Hill East services will travel via Charing Cross. Services to all stations on the Edgware branch were restored today, but are running only via Charing Cross this week.
The High Barnet branch remains suspended between East Finchley and Euston, but LU hopes to restart services in a "short while".
Today's resumption of services on the Edgware branch will be at a reduced frequency, with the last train running through Camden Town at 9.15pm to allow engineering work to continue. Replacement buses will then operate between Camden and Golders Green.
Thousands of passengers will be inconvenienced by the delay to restoration of full services. They will be forced to change between branches at Camden Town, Euston or Kennington - leading to further overcrowding.
Mayor Ken Livingstone, who took control of the Tube in July, is expected to update passengers when he addresses today's meeting of the Transport for London board.
A statement from LU said that once services were restored to all stations - probably by the end of the week - trains would "cross" at Camden Town "until further notice".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 29, 2003.

Lib Dems select Vauxhall candidate

From SE1 Direct: http://www.london-se1.co.uk/
Lib Dems select Vauxhall candidate
29 October 2003
London SE1 website team
Local Lib Dems have selected their parliamentary candidate for the Vauxhall constituency, which covers Waterloo.
Charles Anglin has been selected as the Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman. The hustings meeting was held at St Peter's Heritage Centre in Kennington on 20 October. Mr Anglin was chosen by an overwhelming majority of local party members.
Rob Blackie, Chair of Vauxhall, said "Charles Anglin will be an excellent Parliamentary candidate for Vauxhall, and we have high hopes of making Vauxhall a Liberal Democrat constituency."
Talking of his appointment and the challenges ahead, Charles said: "I'm honoured & delighted by this result. There's a big job ahead but as Brent East showed, with hard work the Liberal Democrats can win anywhere in London.
"Vauxhall is good territory for the Lib Dems, with have more councillors than Labour & our vote rose in the 2001 General Election & last years locals. We are the only party who can beat Labour – the Tories are out of it – they've only got one councillor in the whole constituency.
"Local people have had enough of Tony Blair & New Labour, they know that only the Liberal Democrats have the policies to tackle crime, abolish tuition fees and defend the NHS. I will be fighting for local people and local services and I'm fighting to win".
32 year-old Charles has lived in Lambeth for 9 years and has been a local Lib Dem campaigner throughout that time. He was brought up in south London. Charles has been a councillor in Lambeth since 2002 for the Princes ward, covering Kennington and Vauxhall, and has previously held positions on the Federal Executive and Federal Policy Committee of the national Liberal Democrats. He runs his own PR company, which offers advice to charities and other organizations on how to deal with Government.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 29, 2003.

Situation vacant

Teaching Assistants x3
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/022402.pdf
For further information, please refer to the advert.
Released: October 27, 2003 1:10 PM
Filesize: 8kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 28, 2003.

Labour hypocrisy row as MP picks private school

Telegraph
Labour hypocrisy row as MP picks private school
By Liz Lightfoot
(Filed: 28/10/2003)
Labour leaders backed Diane Abbott, the Left-wing MP, yesterday over her decision to educate her son privately, days after condemning a Tory MP for saying he would do the same.
Ian Peacock, a barrister and Hackney Labour councillor, criticised Oliver Letwin on Oct 16, saying he had "outraged parents and teachers by insulting London schools".
But yesterday he said of Miss Abbott: "I think it is every parent's right to make an individual choice and I don't think we can criticise people for the choice they make."
His remarks were mirrored by Stephen Twigg, the minister responsible for London schools, who censured Mr Letwin for saying he would rather beg on the streets than send his daughter to his local, low-achieving state school in Kennington, south east London.
Two weeks ago Mr Twigg said the shadow home affairs spokesman had "insulted the parents, teachers and pupils of every state school in the country".
Yesterday however, he said he had "no comment to make" on Miss Abbott's decision.
Labour MPs were taken by surprise by the news that she had chosen the Ł10,000-a-year City of London Boys School for her son, by-passing four comprehensives in Hackney and Stoke Newington, the constituency she represents.
In the past Miss Abbott has criticised the Prime Minister, for rejecting schools in Islington and sending his sons to the London Oratory School in Fulham, and Harriet Harman, the Solicitor General, for choosing a grammar school outside her constituency. She once said of Miss Harman: "She made the Labour Party look as if we do one thing and say another."
Eric Ollerenshaw, leader of the Conservatives in Hackney and on the Greater London Assembly, said: "It is gross hypocrisy and a pity. Schools in Hackney have been getting better since the Government took them out of the hands of Labour councillors and brought in private contractors.
"Every parent has to do the best for their child, of course, but it is hypocritical to criticise others for something you then do yourself.
"Labour has been in power for six years and it is hardly a vote of confidence in their policies when the party's own MPs do not trust state schools which have been virtually taken over by the Government."
Miss Abbott, 50, a Cambridge graduate, was the first black woman MP when elected 16 years ago.
A member of the Campaign Group of Left-wing MPs, she has urged black parents to become "more engaged in a constructive way" with the school system.
City of London, a selective, first division independent school, came 43rd of 287 in the A-level league table for the fee-paying sector.
Cardinal Pole RC, the comprehensive nearest to Miss Abbott's home, was praised by Ofsted as "a very effective school" but only 40 per cent of pupils gained five or more GCSEs this year compared with 100 per cent at City of London.
Schools in Hackney have been run by a "not for profit" private education trust led by Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector for schools, since the local authority was stripped of its powers for failing in its duties.
Mr Peacock, the council's chief of education, said it was a parent's right to make an individual choice.
He also criticised Mr Letwin 11 days ago on Hackney Labour Party's website saying: "So Oliver Letwin claims he 'would go out on the streets and beg rather than send his children to the school next to where I live'. He includes Hackney schools in this.
"How arrogant! I find his comments deeply insulting to children, parents and teachers in Hackney, who work so hard to achieve results. The last thing we need is comments like these."
But of Miss Abbott, Mr Peacock said: "I don't think we can single out particular parents because of the position they happen to be in.
"It is entirely a matter for parents. I don't really think people can sit outside making judgments."
Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, who faced criticism from Labour Party members over his choice of private education for his daughters, said: "The irony is that the same people who criticised me for the choice I made are now supporting Diane for doing the same."
Joe Deer, spokesman for Hackney Labour Party, said Mr Peacock made a distinction between "Oliver Letwin making comments about policy at a Conservative Party conference" and "Diane Abbott who hasn't made a direct comment".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 28, 2003.

Times: Letter to the Editor

Times
Letters to the Editor
October 28, 2003
IDS and the clamour to replace him
From Mr Nirj Deva, MEP for South East of England Region (Conservative)
Sir, Two years ago, the Conservative Party was trailing 20 percentage points behind the Labour Party in the polls. Today, it is five points ahead. Two years ago, the Conservative Party faced a serious risk of coming third in the local government elections. This year it achieved a massive victory, gaining over 600 seats.
Two years ago, the Conservative Party was bereft of policies, and people were complaining that they did not know what it stood for. Today, the party is awash with some of the most radical and innovative ideas since the Thatcher revolution.
Was this not done under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith (letters, October 25, etc)? I am sick of flashy, smooth, clever politicians who pretend to walk on water. I would prefer a solid, decent man as our next Prime Minister.
Yours faithfully,
NIRJ DEVA,
(Group of the European People’s Party and European Democrats),
169 Kennington Road, SE11 6SF.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 28, 2003.

NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE

NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE
Thursday 6th November 2003
at 7 p.m.
Kennington Park Community Centre
8 Harleyford Street, SE11 5TR
(opposite Oval Underground Station)
Come along and have your say on the following items:
* Kennington and Waterloo Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs)
* Cycling and Pedestrian facilities in the area.
* Consultation on St Thomas' and Guy's Hospital Trust application for Foundation status
Hear about progress on local initiatives around community safety and environmental improvements
Agenda papers will be despatched and available on the website from 29th October.
For further enquiries or information about questions/petitions to area committee please contact: Caroline Strallen at the Town Hall (020 7926 0028 e-mail cstrallen@lambeth.gov.uk) Website www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), October 28, 2003.

SLP: Letter to the Editor

Golden link for trees
Oct 24 2003
South London Press
MANY residents in the heart of Kennington will be disappointed that your feature on the new trees in Stannary Street (South London Press, October 21) failed to mention that they were planted to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
We were not simply the lucky recipients of Trees for London's benevolence, but raised the money at a Jubilee Party last year. We were helped by Rydon Homes, who are developing a new residential property in Stannary Street.
Kate Hoey MP unveiled a plaque (designed by a resident) to commemorate the occasion. We would like to see other developers combine with local residents to improve the local environment, using Trees for London as their agent.
Gordon Johnston
Chairman,
Heart of Kennington Residents' Association

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 27, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

MP tight-lipped over sending son to private school
Angelique Chrisafis
Monday October 27, 2003
The Guardian
The Labour MP Diane Abbott last night refused to answer charges that she had betrayed her own politics by sending her son to a private school. The MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington was accused by the Mail on Sunday of snubbing the government and abandoning her convictions by sending her son, James, to a Ł10,000-a-year independent boys' school in central London.
The borough of Hackney, where Ms Abbott lives, has been identified as one of five boroughs with the worst education standards in London. The number of state school pupils achieving at least five good GCSE grades rose this year, but is still below the national average of 51%. Responsibility for education has been removed from the local council and handed to the not-for-profit Learning Trust chaired by the former chief inspector of schools, Mike Tomlinson.
The City of London School, which Ms Abbott is said to have chosen for her son, James, 12, requires an entrance exam. It boasts extensive sports facilities and a high ranking in the independent schools' league tables.
Ms Abbott said only: "I am not commenting on this issue."
Last month, she said one of the lessons of the Brent East byelection defeat was that the people of Britain needed "education on the basis of merit, not ability to pay" and properly funded and managed schools.
Previously, she had pointed out the difficulties for Labour voters in watching Tony Blair reject local Islington comprehensives in favour of the grant-maintained London Oratory school.
The debate on politicians who reject their local comprehensives was stoked by the shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, last month. He apologised to the Lilian Baylis school in Kennington, south London, after telling a party conference fringe meeting that he would rather beg on the street than send his children to their local school.
Fiona Millar, the former adviser to Cherie Blair, recently argued that parents who removed their children from the state system created sink schools in inner cities.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 27, 2003.

Black History Month at the Imperial War Museum

Imperial War Museum: Films
Black Poppies
25 - 26 October 2003
As part of the Museum's events to mark Black History Month, a weekend of screenings devoted to the involvement of African, Asian and Caribbean peoples in the two World Wars.
Saturday 25th October
10.15am - 11.10am
Unknown Soldiers (2000) Jane Stanton and Granada's documentary explores the little known role played by African, Indian and West Indian soldiers in the two World Wars. With thanks to Liz Horan and Eamonn O'Neal of Granada Media.
11.15am - 12.25pm
First World War films with live piano accompaniment. Films from the IWM's collection showing Indian, African and Caribbean troops serving in various campaigns around the world during the Great War.
12.30pm - 1.15pm
The Dance of Shiva (1998) In the trenches of the Western Front in 1915, a British army chaplain is forced to question his faith as he witnesses hundreds of Hindu soldiers risking their lives for the Empire. Directed by Jamie Payne and starring Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kenneth Branagh and Paul McGann.
1.20pm - 2.00pm
Planes of Hindustan (1940), India Marches (1941), Arms from India (1941), Johnny Gurkha (1945), Indian News Parades. Official films from the Indian Film Unit promoting the role of Indian fighters during the Second World War.
2.00pm - 3.00pm
Caribbean Women (1993) A documentary in which four Caribbean women, Esther Armagon, Lilian Bader, Norma Best and Connie Mark, describe their service in the WAAF and ATS during the Second World War and their lives in Britain since.
3.10pm - 4.10pm
Caribbean Women at War: Ben Bousquet and Colin Douglas, authors of 'West Indian Women at War', will give an illustrated talk about the Caribbean Home Front during the Second World War and the important role played by West Indian Women.
4.15pm - 5.15pm
Black Poppies (1994) Andre Molyneux's BBC documentary in which actors deliver the testimony of African and Caribbean men who have served in the British Army. Contains some strong language. Certificate 12. With thanks To Claire Geddes of BBC Worldwide.
Sunday 26th October
10.30am - 11.00am
Mary Seacole (2000) The story of the pioneering West Indian nurse who provided medical care and support to British soldiers in the Crimean War. Part of the Hidden History. With thanks to Paul Kerr of October Films for lending a copy of the documentary.
11.05am - 12noon
The Empire Needs Men (1998) An account of the involvement of Indian, African and West Indian troops in the First World War, using original film from the Museum's collection. Indian News Parades and West Africa Was There (1945) Indian newsreels released during the Second World War and an official account of the role played by the 81st and 82nd West African Divisions in the Burma campaign.
12.05pm - 1.00pm
Mutiny (1999) A documentary history of the West Indian Regiment during the First World War. Tony Tee, one of the writers and producers of the film, will provide an introduction and take questions at the end.
1.30pm - 2.30pm
West Indies Calling (1943) A wartime film about the West Indian contribution to the war effort, led by Una Marson and Learie Constantine. War and Remembrance - West Indies Calling (1993) A television documentary made at Pebble Mill about West Indian Involvement in the Second World War. Followed by a discussion with historians and veterans.
2.45pm - 3.45pm
We Also Served: Black Women in Wartime Britain 1939 - 45Stephen Bourne will give an illustrated talk highlighting the wartime experiences of black women in Britain including the writer and broadcaster Una Marson (the first black woman programme maker at the BBC), service women such as Lilian Bader (WAAF) and Connie Mark (ATS) and entertainers such as Josephine Baker, Adelaide Hall and Elisabeth Welch. Stephen will also remember his Aunt Esther, a black Londoner, who served as a fire watcher during the Blitz.
4.00pm - 5.00pm
Black Poppies (1994) Contains some strong language. Certificate 12. With thanks to Claire Geddes of BBC Worldwide.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 25, 2003.

Situation Vacant

Sure Start Literacy Development worker
For an application please contact www.lambeth.gov.uk
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/022297.pdf
Released: October 22, 2003 11:43 AM
Filesize: 23kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 24, 2003.

Congestion charging

Times
October 24, 2003
Free way through Livingstone's new traffic zone
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
KEN LIVINGSTONE is planning to double the size of the London congestion charge zone but create a free route through the middle. The Mayor of London also announced plans to test in London a national scheme of charging drivers a toll for each mile they travel via a dashboard-mounted satellite tracking device.
The enlarged zone, which is likely to be introduced in early 2006, would include most of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and several more wards in the City of Westminster.
Mr Livingstone said yesterday that he would keep the charge at Ł5 and give all residents of the new zone the same 90 per cent discount. He admitted that traffic was likely to increase in Central London once the zone was enlarged because the number of drivers eligible for the discount would triple.
The existing congestion charge has prompted 50,000 drivers a day to skirt around the zone or switch to another mode of transport, according to a report published yesterday on the first six months of operation.
Mr Livingstone said that it was essential to have a free road through the enlarged zone to prevent thousands of drivers from taking long detours.
The free route will run north-south along Edgware Road, Park Lane, Grosvenor Place and Vauxhall Bridge Road. The Westway, which would run across the northwestern tip of the enlarged zone, would also be free.
Mr Livingstone said that he would fight the mayoral election next June with a manifesto promising to enlarge the zone westwards.
“Londoners will have a clear choice: Steve Norris (the Conservative candidate) saying he would scrap the scheme and me saying I would expand it,” Mr Livingstone said.
He denied that the free route would become a rat run. “There hasn’t been a single rat run created by the existing zone despite all the doom and gloom in Kennington Lane and elsewhere,” he said. “It would be a big mistake for people just driving through Central London to be forced to go all the way around the inner ring road. Therefore we need a route where you can drive straight through without incurring the charge.”
Angie Bray, the Conservative congestion charge spokeswoman, said that the free route would become a “magnet to traffic trying to get from one side of London to the other without paying and could end up negating the supposed purpose of the charge in the first place”.
Mr Livingstone said he had told senior ministers that he would be willing to pioneer satellite-monitored road tolls, probably starting with a few key congested routes such as the North Circular.
Unlike the existing congestion charge, which is enforced by cameras, the tolls would be flexible, varying according to the time of day, the route and the size of vehicle. “We have said to the Government we are happy to go first. We could do it before the end of this decade,” Mr Livingstone said. The Government is proposing to introduce road tolls for lorries in 2006, but it has said that it would be unable to extend the scheme to 25 million cars until after 2010.
Mr Livingstone said that the tolls should be balanced by cuts in other motoring taxes so that the average motorist did not pay any extra.
The congestion charge will raise Ł68 million this year for investment in transport, only a third of what was envisaged. But Mr Livingstone said that better detection of charge evaders would boost income by between Ł10 million and Ł30 million a year.
Road accidents inside the zone have dropped by about 20 per cent and the feared increase in motorcycle and cycle crashes has failed to materialise.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 24, 2003.

Ladies Who Lunch: The Coriander - Wed 12th November

Ladies Who Lunch
The Coriander
Wed 12th November
Hi All
I spoke to the proprietor at the Coriander Indian restaurant and he said he'd give us a 10% discount and we can certainly eat for under Ł10. He said, "don't worry, we'll look after you". So, I've made a booking for 1pm, Wednesday 12th November. Bobby phoned to say he is coming.
For those who don't know, the newly-opened Coriander restaurant ('A stylish Indian restaurant') is on Kennington Lane, down near Hester's butchers.
The Coriander
322 Kennington Lane
SE11 5HY
7582 9569
Can you please let me know if you can join us?
Many thanks
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2003.

David Blaine

BBC News
Blaine's exit provides excitement at last
by Ian Youngs
BBC News Online entertainment staff
David Blaine's endurance feat came to an emotional end on Sunday after 44 days hanging in a glass box next to the River Thames in London.
Huge crowds, motivated by a voyeuristic fascination and curiosity, used to gather across the river at the Tower of London to see men hung. Now, a few centuries later, their descendents - motivated by the same things - came to watch a man who had been hung for 44 days be brought down.
David Blaine was hung in a box from a crane, of course - and the crowd on Sunday was not baying for blood.
Some were there because they were his biggest fans and had been watching him every day for the last six weeks.
They talked about his compelling "aura" and saw him as a pioneer of human endurance, like an explorer or a sportsman. There was little evidence of the "Blaine-baiters" who previously threw eggs, drove golf balls, cut his water supply and flew a remote controlled helicopter carrying a burger up to his box.
Margaret Moynihan, 26, from Kennington, south London, who had been a daily visitor, said: "It was a very emotional time.
"When he broke down, I had a tear in my eye. I'm glad it's over for him but I'm sad to see him go."
But the die-hard regulars were outnumbered by those who were merely curious - who were attracted by his mystery or who just had nothing better to do on a Sunday night.
Amrit Ahluwalia, 20, said: "I just wanted to see what the atmosphere's like because we live around the corner so I thought I might as well come down.
"It's pretty good - but it's a bit boring compared to his other stunts."
Before he was lowered, the crowd had kept themselves amused by trying to get his attention. One woman had an effective ploy - and the look on his face each time she flashed her breasts proved that he was not all that ill.
And those in the front rows screamed every time he threw one of his possessions out of the box, in the hope that they would get a souvenir.
From his socks and his pencil to his loo roll and a strip of black bin bag that he could have used as a toilet - they were all handed out to dedicated fans.
Coralie Cahill, 11, from Rotherhithe, south London, who got the toilet bag, said Blaine was "stupid" - but would "keep it as a souvenir".
Blaine's stumbling emergence was less spectacular than many had hoped - there had been rumours that the master magician would go out with a bang.
Some thought the crane would swing around and drop the box, with Blaine inside, into the river - leaving him to escape for the grand finale. Or he could have jumped from his box to the ground - as he did after his pillar stunt in New York last year.
Or he could simply have disappeared in a puff of smoke, maybe leaving a white rabbit in his place.
But none of that happened.
Instead, the crane slowly lowered his box, which was then tipped up to help him get out.
Despite fears that he may be too weak to walk or talk, he stepped out, wobbling a little, and delivered his tearful speech - which he had probably been rehearsing in his head for about 43 days.
The crowd loved it - and the few minutes when he was being helped out created the only real excitement of the whole six weeks.
That was because it was the only thing that had actually happened.
Column inches
The remarkable thing about Blaine's stunt was not the magic - there was not any - or the fact that he survived the full 44 days.
The remarkable thing was the reaction he provoked from the great Great British public.
Love him or hate him, he generated a huge amount of interest, opinions and column inches.
At the end of his six-week stretch inside, about 250,000 people visited the site - all to watch a man doing absolutely nothing.
Maybe it was magic after all.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3206044.stm Published: 2003/10/19 23:54:03 GMT
© BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 20, 2003.

Property: Stockwell

Times
October 19, 2003
London: On the frontline in SW9
If you can brave the high crime rate and squatters as neighbours, Stockwell is a fine place to raise a family, says Peter Conradi
The two strapping young men who called recently at our home in Stockwell, south London, came straight to the point. “Would you mind if we squatted next door?” asked the taller one, with bulging biceps, flowing blond hair and a light South African accent. “We could do it up for you.” My wife contemplated the boarded-up front door a few steps away. It was an appealing offer — and not only, she has since assured me, because of the Tarzan-like physique of our prospective new neighbour.
Several months ago, next-door’s owners, the curiously named Ekarro Housing Co-operative, moved out the tenants for an imminent refurbishment. No builder has yet set foot in the place, leaving an eyesore that spoils the road and has a depressive effect on property values.
In the end, however, caution got the better of her. “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to ask my husband when he gets home,” she told Tarzan primly — but took his mobile number just in case.
Stranger things have happened in our five years spent clinging to the edge of the Stockwell Park conservation area. You don’t have to be a pioneer to live in SW9, but an appreciation of the quirkier side of life certainly helps. You also need a willingness to put up with one of the highest crime rates in London: Lambeth leads the Met’s league table on rape and grievous bodily harm, although it manages “only” third place in the murder stakes.
Sandwiched between Kennington to the north and Clapham and Brixton to the south, Stockwell is easily overlooked. The designer bars, organic butchers and other trappings of gentrification have yet to arrive here. This is still firmly part of London’s Costcutter and takeaway- fried-chicken belt.
But who needs Starbucks or Coffee Republic when you could go instead to one of the Portuguese bars and cafes along the Stockwell and South Lambeth Roads? With a Portuguese satellite channel blaring out in one corner, and an old man making a glass of vinho verde last all afternoon in the other, you might almost think you were in Lisbon or Porto.
Anyway, central London is only 10 minutes away on the Tube, there is a dense network of buses and, if you are feeling politically incorrect, you could easily drive. Apart from its central location, Stockwell’s other main attraction is the housing stock in the gaps between the council estates; either side of the A3 are two leafy conservation areas — one, to the east, centred on Stockwell Park Road, and the other, to the west, on Lansdowne Gardens, a unique circle of 16 Grade II-listed houses.
To the north lie Durand Gardens and the glorious, if faded, Albert Square. This is home to the actress Joanna Lumley, Stockwell’s most famous resident — apart from Van Gogh, that is, who lived from 1873-74 in Hackford Road. (The West End play should really have been called Vincent in Stockwell, not Vincent in Brixton.) These roads are lined with elegant, early-Victorian, flat-fronted houses, most with three to four floors, off-street parking and 70ft-80ft gardens. Bargains these days are few and far between, however.
Expect to be pay upwards of Ł650,000 for a four- to five-bedroom house — although that is still a good Ł150,000 to Ł200,00 below the equivalent in Clapham. The better roads cost more, of course: a double-fronted six-bedroom house in Lansdowne Gardens is being sold for Ł995,000, while a five/six-bedroom semi-detached in Stockwell Park Crescent is on the market for Ł1.2m. For that you get 3,776sq ft of floorspace, an 85ft garden and more bathrooms than you could ever use.
Jeremy Payne, owner of the Battersea-based estate agency Woodland Payne, says buyers with children like the lower ground floors — which provide a kitchen and family room away from the formal reception areas — and prices 30% below those in Clapham Old Town.
“The local secondary schools are pretty diabolical and people are a bit concerned about the estates, but on the plus side you get a lot of house, nice neighbours and a decent garden, as opposed to a patch in Battersea,” he says. “There are people who have been there for 15 to 20 years.”
Such loyalty to the area helps create what, in London terms, is an unusual sense of community. The Stockwell Park Conservation Area boasts an active residents’ association that organises street parties, concerts and an annual festival.
There is also the curious annual phenomenon of the Revolving Dinner Party — when as many as 100 people gather for drinks in the local church hall before setting off for starters in one house, main course in a second and pudding in a third. All of this is, of course, conducted in fancy dress.
But be careful as you walk home afterwards. The high crime rate is more than just statistics: yellow police boards announcing a serious assault — or worse — are a frequent addition to the street furniture.
My own children had hours of entertainment one evening watching a police raid on a crack house opposite. But it was not so amusing when a gang of local youths tried to snatch the wallet out of my hand on the doorstep and then tried to chase me through my own front door. The surrounding estates provided the perfect background for them to melt away into — as I discovered when the police took me on a tour to try to identify the perpetrators.
Which, in a roundabout way, brings us back to the squatters. As I left home one morning last week, I noticed the board blocking off the entrance to next-door had been removed and the front window broken. On it was a printed notice announcing the house had been legitimately squatted and warning that anybody trying to force them out risked a Ł5,000 fine or even jail.
Quivering with excitement, my wife rang Tarzan’s mobile, hoping to lure him out of the house. Her disappointment was immediate. “We thought you weren’t keen, and found a squat in north London instead,” he said. Our new neighbours have yet to introduce themselves.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 19, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Wandsworth Guardian
Proposal to extend car charge
A controversial idea to extend the congestion charging zone into north Battersea was unveiled this week by the Kennington Association.
The Lambeth residents’ group wants the Ł5-a-day zone’s boundary extended southwards in an arc from Tower Bridge to Clapham Common North Side, Queenstown Road and Chelsea Bridge.
Such a move would mean Wandsworth borough’s biggest current and future job generators, New Covent Garden and the Battersea Power Station development, would be within the charging zone.
The group, which failed in an last-minute high court challenge to the zone last year, is objecting to London mayor Ken Livingstone’s plans to extend the zone westwards into Kensington.
It argues a bigger slice of south London should be included to prevent communities being split.
But Wandsworth Council said it was opposed to any changes to the zone’s boundaries, arguing that the long-term effects on businesses had not been fully assessed.
It also said the Kennington plan would “divide” the borough, something the council has always argued against.
Transport for London said it had no current plans to extend the congestion zone southwards.
The association now plans to lobby MPs, councillors and Mr Livingstone with its plans.
11:12am Friday 17th October 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 18, 2003.

Dog cooked alive

South London Press
News
Dog cooked alive
Oct 17 2003
By Court Reporter
THIS is the body of Muffin - slowly cooked alive after being left in a car while her owners enjoyed a day out.
The elderly springer spaniel suffered in unbearable temperatures of more than 100F for THREE-AND-A-HALF hours while her owners visited the Imperial War Museum.
Also left in the car was George, a younger spaniel who managed to survive the ordeal.
On Monday this week, owner Douglas Bamsey pleaded guilty to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to a dog, at Camberwell Magistrates' Court.
RSPCA inspector Ian Gough told the South London Press: "It was a terrible, terrible mistake. This family went out for a lovely day out, but they just didn't think."
On May 4 this year, Mr Bamsey and his young family travelled down from their Oxfordshire home for a visit to the Kennington museum.
They brought their two dogs with them.
A statement of the RSPCA inter-view with Mr Bamsey, presented to the court, describes how after driving around for 20 minutes they eventually found what they thought was a safe parking spot, in the shade of trees and houses in nearby West Square.
The car window was left open an inch for ventilation.
What they hadn't considered was the movement of the shadows and sun during the day.
As the family strolled around the museum, the highly distressed dogs were suffering in intolerable heat.
The temperature outside was 72F. Inside the car the RSPCA estimate the temperature was more than 100F.
It was 3pm, after a phone call from a concerned passer-by, before police arrived and freed the dogs by smashing the car windows.
George, the younger spaniel, quickly recovered but after lengthy treatment at Battersea Dogs Home and Putney Animal Shelter, Muffin died.
A statement by a vet who examined the dead dog, states: "The high temperature causes the protein content of the blood to cook - akin to the scrambling of eggs."
She states the area of the liver had literally been poached.
The statement also adds: "In this case, it appears that the two dogs competed initially to get under a shelf in order to get out of the direct sunlight, but there was only room for one dog."
Mr Bamsey, 42, of Meadow View, Witney, Oxfordshire, was given a nine-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay costs of Ł1,382.
RSPCA inspector Mr Gough later told the South London Press: "We have had more calls out this year for this than I can remember, especially with the hot summer we have had.
"It may not necessarily be hot outside but a car is going to be like a greenhouse."
And he warned other dog owners: "Please think about what you are doing.
"We will prosecute."
RSPCA
* The RSPCA was called out 750 times last year to deal with reports of dogs suffering in hot cars
* Already, the number of call outs this year has reached 517.
RSPCA Inspector Ian Gough said: "I suspect these incidents are a lot more common than those we come across."
* During this summer's heat-wave, the RSPCA were STILL called out to reports of dogs being left in cars - even when outside temperatures were touching 100F
* The RSPCA also warns dog owners not to leave pets in hot conservatories or hot sheds for any length of time.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
News
Congestion Charging ahead
Oct 17 2003
IT'S been hailed a success, but not in Kennington. The community, perhaps the fiercest critics of Ken's congestion charge, are not happy. So they have drawn up a plan to extend the zone south.
Transport Reporter OSCAR MORTALI recounts reaction to the plan at a lively meeting in Kennington...
IF YOU think of the congestion charge as a mutant disease, why would you want to pass it on to other communities?" - 243 days later, and the congestion charge is still dividing Kennington.
Mayoral candidates, MPs, councillors, London Assembly members and anybody who's anybody flocked to Kennington on Tuesday night.
There was even some space set aside for residents. The meeting, hosted by the Kennington Association, was entitled Transport and Traffic in Kennington.
But these days "transport and traffic" roughly equates to "the congestion charge" in this part of the world.
The "mutant disease" analogy came from resident Ricky Rennalls, referring to tentative plans by the Kennington Association to extend the zone south into parts of Brixton, Camberwell, Clapham and Battersea.
He said: "This is simply playing pass the parcel."
But criticism of the plan provoked an instant response from John Clemens, chairman of the Kennington Association.
"We support moving the boundary up to river," he said "but we consider this is totally impossible to win - hopeless.
"I do not for a moment say the route we have drawn up here is the route we should go for.
"But I am trying to improve life in Kennington. I am not trying to improve life worldwide, in London or the whole of South London."
Kennington Lane aside, the community is still split.
THE Association's gripe against the charge didn't just begin on February 17.
Months before the Ł5-a-day scheme came into effect, fears were expressed the Kennington Lane boundary would divide the community, increase jams, threaten businesses and increase pollution. Eight months on, it says all its fears have materialised. The community felt so aggrieved, two residents put their names to a High Court challenge to Ken Livingstone. They lost and were landed with a Ł20,000 costs bill. Today, it is still being paid off. At Tuesday's meeting, at a cramped St Anselm's Church Hall, Jeremy Evans, Transport for London's (TfL) traffic manager for congestion charging, stood up and told the community it HAD BEEN consulted.
Conservative Lambeth councillor Bernard Gentry begged to differ.
"I have no doubt TfL do consult, the problem is they don't take notice of the consultation."
Cllr Gentry even went as far as comparing TfL with the old Railtrack, adding: "It has to learn to listen to people, not impose."
It was a point seized upon by Simon Hughes, the Lib Dem mayoral candidate, who this time next year may well have inherited Ken Livingstone's road-pricing scheme.
Mr Hughes said: "I share people's frustrations that the scheme was pushed through rather than adapted, taking into account people's opinions.
"It is very clear that the consultation was not good enough. People who did respond were not listened to.
"Congestion charging should be for the Mayor to propose, but for the people to agree."
The number of cars in town may be down 16 per cent, actual congestion may be down 32 per cent and more Londoners may be turning to different modes of transport. But the good people of Kennington still do not agree.
THE plan to extend the zone south was prompted by a proposed extension west, into well-to-do Kensington and Chelsea. Ken Livingstone has asked TfL officers to conduct a feasibility study into the western extension. By law, a change to the Mayor's transport strategy would be needed.
TfL's Jeremy Evans insisted no decision would be made until AFTER the mayoral election. But association chairman John Clemens asked:
"Kennington is in central London. Kensington and Chelsea is not.
"Is your reason for extending west that residents in Kensington and Chelsea are rich and influential and that people here are seen as small and insignificant?"
The man from TfL insisted this was not the reason. He said the area was already subject to allday congestion, in Zone 1 on the Tube and had natural boundary roads.
The latter of these two points are both ongoing sore points with the residents of Kennington.
Angie Bray, Conservative London Assembly member for Kensington and Chelsea, pointed out: "There is no guarantee that the same deal will apply. People in the extended zone may be offered a 50 per cent discount, not the 90 per cent discount."
Fellow Tory Cllr Gentry added: "You can extend the zone all the way to the M25 if you want, but movement in the zone will increase the larger it gets."
Last year, before the charge was introduced, there were widespread calls in Kennington for the natural boundary of the scheme to be the River Thames.
Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey, a fierce critic of the scheme, said: "Either the boundary stops at the river, or it goes to the South Circular. Either you have one whole borough in, or one whole borough out - you don't go splitting communities."
Rather than the extension south, the "river boundary" proposal met with most approval on Tuesday. An unofficial show of hands backed this up. Whether this is a realistic option remains to be seen.
BOUNDARIES aside if, come May 2004, Simon Hughes does take over Ken's City Hall hot seat, the South London MP has some interesting ideas.
He mooted a buffer zone outside the boundary and would also reconsider the cost of the charge and the hours it would run.
He also suggested a scheme where drivers pay for 25 tickets and use them at their leisure. Or a scheme where drivers get the first five trips free, so as not to deter the occasional shopper.
He said: "On balance it seems to me to have worked - on balance. I say give it a year. You see it through the Christmas shopping period, take it to next February and then you review it.
"Unless the Conservative candidate [Steve Norris] wins, there will be a congestion charge running. We must work on the basis there will be a charge and improve it."
Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem deputy Leader of Southwark council, echoed Simon Hughes.
"We have to see it through into the winter and see how it works."
She said talk of a southern extension was "premature", adding efforts should instead focus on a campaign to get Kennington and Oval in Zone 1 of the Tube map.
Kate Hoey was in agreement with Mr Hughes on one point. The charge is here to stay. "The problem is, once it gets into the income stream, no mayoral candidate is going to stop it."
She then went on to hit out at Capita, the private firm running the scheme on the Mayor's behalf.
"The way it is operated by Capita is a disgrace - an utter disgrace. I am dealing with three dozen cases of inaccurate fines at the moment."
TfL's Jeremy Evans would only say: "I am still not saying it is perfect. We must ensure Capita deliver a proper service and get what we pay for."
LOVE it or hate it, the congestion charge divides people, nowhere more so than Kennington. A major issue in SE11 and across London is the crippling effect on businesses in the area.
It is claimed many traders are on the verge of abandoning the area, if they haven't done so already. TfL's Jeremy Evans said the effect on local businesses were "very much exaggerated." He did add, however, that TfL is looking into the concerns. But Kennington residents fear it will be too little, too late.
Other issues touched upon in Tuesday's gathering included the removal of red route restrictions on Saturdays, the effect of the charge on schools, the effect on pensioners who say their families and friends cannot afford to drive into the zone to visit them and on patients and visitors to South London hospitals.They are all issues yet to be addressed by Ken Livingstone.
Next week, Tory Mayoral candidate Steve Norris is due to launch his campaign in Lambeth.
It's odds on congestion charging will be top of the agenda.
In Kennington it has been top of the agenda for two years.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 17, 2003.

Filming location sought in Kennington (must look like Bombay!)

Filming location sought in Kennington (must look like Bombay!)
Hi Cathy,
A man called Tim Faulkner is looking for a filming location in Kennington for Thursday 23rd October. He wants an interior living room which could pass as Bombay - either with ethnic fabrics, or a ceiling fan and tropical interior ... Can anyone on your list help? Tim is at tim@halfmoon15.fsnet.co.uk
All the best
Mark

-- Mark (mark@mallarkey.com), October 17, 2003.

North Lambeth Info-bulletin

North Lambeth Info-bulletin
For information about forthcoming events in our area, you might like to receive the North Lambeth Info-bulletin which is emailed out every month by the North Lambeth Town Centre team. Please email Gerald Gohler ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk if you would like to be added to the emailing list.
As a taster, here are some local items in this month's edition:
National Apple Day
Date:                Sun, 19 October 2003
Time:                12noon - 5pm
Address:           Roots and Shoots, Vauxhall Centre, Walnut Tree Walk, SE11
Further info: Roots and Shoots on 7587 1131 or email admin@rootsandshoots.org.uk
Event info:
Entry Ł1, Kids free. Apple tasting day with many varieties of apples. Apple peeling competition, apple-on-a-string, honey and bee demonstration, etc. Refreshments available.
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Queen Victoria and her royal descendants
Date:                Mon, 20 October 2003
Time:     7.00pm
Address:           Durning Library,167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Event Info:
Nibbles and drinks included - suggested donation Ł2 in aid of the library.
Victoria headed an unofficial European Union: her 9 children, 40 grandchildren and their descendants sat on most of the thrones of Europe. Some are still there, or have come back. Bobby Golden, who writes books on the royal family, explains with the help of photographs and a large family tree. Organised by the Friends of Durning Library.
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South African Quadrille Dancing
(part of Lambeth's Black History month celebrations)
Date: Wed, 22 October 2003
Time: 3.00 -4.00pm
Address: Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Further info: Durning Library Tel 7926 8682
Event info:
Come and experience South African Quadrille dancing with Elsa Perez. Aimed at senior citizens.
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That's me on the left, in the parka
Date: Wed, 22 October 2003 - Sat, 8 November 2003
Time: 8.00pm
Venue: Oval House Theatre, 52-54 Kennington Oval, SE11,
Access: Induction Loop, Upstairs Theatre is not wheelchair accessible, Car park for disabled visitors, on-street parking nearby
Further info: Box Office 020 7582 7680 bookings@ovalhouse.com www.ovalhouse.com
Event info:
Tickets Ł9/ Ł5 concessions --
that's me on the left, in the parka is a one-man, late night show exploring the universal themes of love and the 'modern curse of self-consciousness'. Bob Karper performs funny and touching stories from his childhood in America and adult life in London, using many characters, music, interaction, slides and film. It is performed entirely at a purpose built piano (complete with trap doors, sliding walls, accordions and more).
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Friends of Kennington Park AGM
Date: Sat, 25 October 2003
Time: 10.00 am
Address: St Agnes Church Hall, St Agnes Place/Kennington Park Gardens SE11
Event info:
On the agenda - fun fairs in the park and other events, dogs in the park.
All welcome.
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North Lambeth Area Committee
Date: Thu, 6 November 2003
Time: 7.00 pm
Address: Kennington Park Community Centre, 8 Harleyford St, SE11
Further info including full papers contact: Caroline Strallen , Tel: 7926 0028 , e-mail: cstrallen@lambeth.gov.uk
Event info: Come and have your say on:
* Library services
* controlled parking zones
* facilities planned for pedestrians and cyclists
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A Month in the Arctic
Date:                Mon, 17 November 2003
Time:     7.00pm
Address:           Durning Library,167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Further Info: Durning Library on 7926 8682
Event Info:
Nibbles and drinks included - suggested donation Ł2 in aid of the library.
An arctic novice, Katrina Phillips spent a month living in an Inuit community within the Arctic Circle in northern Canada. She was there as base camp manager for an expedition retracing the last steps of Franklin's men. (Victorian explorer Sir John Franklin and his men died proving the existence of Canada's Northwest Passage.)
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JOIN THE KENNINGTON, OVAL and VAUXHALL (KOV) ARTS & CRAFTS & ARTISANS GROUP
Show and share your work - HELP BRING MORE LIFE TO LAMBETH.
The Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall area is full of artists and artisans, practitioners and teachers; people who sing, dance, draw, write, weave, knit, cook, design, construct etc. People who MAKE THINGS and DO THINGS but are rarely seen or heard. If you would like to show and share what you do hold workshops, organise open studios, meet-up and sell your work then please send your details to KOV Board member and sculptor, Martha McDonald who is steering this group: c/o Gerald Gohler 020 7926 8295, ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
With the Friends of Kennington Cross (FOKX) and Angus Aagaard, the Arts & Crafts & Artisans Group will be organising a Christmas 'Make it market' in Saint Anselm's church on the 1st weekend in December, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th.
If you would like to be a founding participant in the 'KENNINGTON CROSS MAKE IT MARKET' please send your details to KOV & FOKX Chair, Celia Stothard c/o Gerald Gohler 020 7926 8295, ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk - let us know what you make and would like to market.
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News from Trees for London
Trees for London is an independent charity carrying out tree planting and landscaping projects with local communities across London. On Wednesday the 15th of October 2003, Kate Hoey MP, joined Trees for London, The Heart of Kennington Residents Association and Rydon Homes to plant an Ornamental Pear tree along Stannary Street, SE11.
The Heart of Kennington Residents Association which represents people living in 6 local streets, including Stannary Street, contacted Trees for London earlier in the year with the aim of planting four street trees to mark the Queen's Golden Jubilee Locals believe the trees will have a positive impact on the area helping to reduce pollution and improving the aesthetics of the street. Residents were also asked to chose a tree species the most popular choice was Pyrus calleryana 'Chanticleer' - Ornamental Pear an excellent tree for streets keeping its narrow oval crown and providing good autumn colour and masses of white flowers in the Spring time.
For more information on Trees for London contact Tammy Strickland Tel: 020 7587 1320 Fax: 020 7793 9042 e-mail: tammy@treesforlondon.org.uk
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Eco Building at Roots and Shoots set to get the go ahead
Roots and Shouts have just received news that the National Lottery have awarded them Ł250,000 and are now waiting to hear back from the LDA. They are planning to start building early 2004. The centre will provide training for double the number of trainees currently at Roots and Shoots (up to 40) and environmental education for local schools and community groups. The site in Walnut Tree Walk is now the headquarters for the London Beekeepers and the Kennington Gardeners Guild. It is hoped that the new building will encourage other groups to use the facilities.
Contact Roots and Shoots at admin@rootsandshoots.org.uk or on 7587 1131.
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-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), October 17, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Independent: Education
A tale of two state schools
Oliver Letwin, the shadow Home Secretary, would rather beg than let his children go to his local comprehensive in south London. But there's another one in his Dorset constituency to which he would at least 'consider' sending them. Is he right to make such a distinction - or merely prejudiced? We sent two writers to report from Lilian Baylis School and Beaminster School
By Sarah Cassidy and Hester Lacey
17 October 2003
Lilian Baylis School, Kennington, London SE11
* 600 pupils; 28 full-time and 15 part-time teaching staff.
* 15 per cent of pupils are of white UK heritage; the remainder are mainly Afro-Caribbean, Bangladeshi and Chinese.
* 63 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
* 25 per cent of pupils have special educational needs.
* English is not the first language of nearly half the pupils; one pupil in 10 is still in the early stages of learning English.
* 12 per cent of pupils are on the child protection register.
* 17 per cent of pupils achieved 5 good GCSE grades (C or above).
* The truancy rate is 7 per cent.
* The unemployment rate in Lambeth 9.6 per cent.
It's 3pm and students at Lilian Baylis comprehensive school in Lambeth are streaming out of the school gate. Wearing smart black uniforms, boisterous teenagers spill on to a south London street just five minute's walk from Oliver Letwin's Ł800,000 home. Buses thunder past towards Westminster, while pedestrians jostle through a haze of traffic fumes. From the playground you can see the flag fluttering over the House of Commons, but opposite the school a terrace of houses stands derelict and boarded-up against squatters.
This is the school about which Mr Letwin declared that he would rather beg on the streets than allow his children to become pupils there.
Lilian Baylis School - named after the founder of Sadler's Wells - may not boast the ancient courtyards of Eton, where Mr Letwin was a pupil, but its angular concrete and glass buildings were actually awarded listed building status as a prime example of early 1970s architecture. They have seen better days (the strip lighting and lino floors look dated), and there is little outdoor space for play, but inside the school is warm and welcoming, there is no obvious litter or graffiti and the classroom walls are festooned with bright displays.
Its students appear to be bright, confident, good humoured and articulate young people. But they are still fuming at the insult to their school which comes at a crucial time for the improving comprehensive. The morning after Mr Letwin's remarks the school held special lessons for pupils to discuss what had happened.
Gary Phillips, 39, the headteacher since 2001, is a fierce and energetic chamption of his students' achievements. He is the product of a inner city comprehensive himself, and is angered by those who run down schools like his without ever visiting them. "The students were extremely upset and indignant," he said. "But as a school we discussed what we could do about it. As a citizen if a politician says something you do not agree with you should write and tell them. We have been trying to turn this to our advantage by interesting young people in politics and showing them how they can have a voice."
He believes that children who attend inner city comprehensives can emerge better equipped for life than students who receive an ostensibly more privileged education. "I am a parent myself and I want my children to go to school in their local community, to get to know people and to contribute to that society. If you believe in inclusion, as I do, then you have to believe that everyone should be educated together. If you don't mind having a community in the future that is splintered, one of the easiest ways to achieve that is to educate people separately."
Fifteen-year-old Marianne Looby was one of the many pupils who immediately fired off a furious letter to Mr Letwin demanding that he retract his remarks. "I told him how irresponsible and degrading his comments were. I told him he should come and see for himself rather than talking about things he obviously knows nothing about. My brother and sister both went here and they got really good GCSE results. They were both furious about it too."
Her year-11 classmate Stecy Anguilet, 15, said that while Mr Letwin's criticisms might have been justified four years ago when he first joined the school, it had been transformed since then. "Maybe I would have agreed with Mr Letwin then, but there have been so many improvements that it definitely isn't true now," he said. "We live with this school everyday and we've seen the changes. He hasn't and frankly doesn't know what he's talking about."
Helen Glynn, the school's head of technology, who won advanced skills teacher status in recognition of her skills, argues that Mr Letwin's outburst may reveal the Tory politician's prejudices but says nothing about the school where she has taught for three years.
"I don't think he knows anything about this school," she said. "He has no idea how good the teaching and learning is here." But she admits that teaching at an inner city comprehensive is not for the faint-hearted. "I wanted to work here because I wanted a challenge. These are socially deprived children and they do not all have backgrounds that always support them in their learning."
Just 17 per cent of pupils achieved five good GCSE passes this summer. Yet the school was also recently praised as one of the most rapidly improving in England after results rebounded from just six per cent last year. The school also ranked in the top five per cent nationally on a Government measure of the "value added" by teachers.
The school anticipates reaching 25 per cent next summer compared to a national average of just over 50 per cent.
Truancy and absence levels have also improved, dropping from 14 per cent of lessons missed two years ago to seven per cent this year. Two years ago, 10 students were excluded every week for bad behaviour. This is now down to less than one a week still high but a significant improvement.
Lilian Baylis School has had a troubled history. Problems at the comprehensive went unnoticed until an explosive 1994 Ofsted report branded more than half the lessons as unsatisfactory or poor. The staff then balloted to strike, saying they had lost confidence in the headteacher. Parents began removing their children, and the local authority started to use the school as a dumping ground for problem pupils.
It was one of 18 failing schools named and shamed by David Blunkett after his appointment as Secretary of State for Education in 1997. But the latest Ofsted report, in 2001, concluded that while it still had "serious weaknesses" there were "clear signs the situation is improving".
The school now receives three applications for each of its 120 places, with 15 per cent of pupils from middle class backgrounds. And it is about to undergo a transformation. It hopes to become a specialist technology college and will move to a new Ł23.2m complex, funded by a private finance initiative deal, in November 2004.
But Mr Letwin's comments could not have come at a worse time for the school, which is about to face an Ofsted inspection. Mr Phillips understands that he plans to make a private visit to the school. "He would be very welcome. and there are a great many young people here who are looking forward to discussing his remarks with him. They are a bunch of sharp minded young people and he will be a brave man if he does come to explain himself."
Beaminster School, Newtown, Beaminster, Dorset
*705 pupils, 48 teachers (and 33 support staff).
*"Few" pupils from ethnic minorities.
*Fewer than 9 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
* More than 21 per cent of students have been identified as having special educational needs.
* No pupils come from homes where English is not the first language.
* No children are on the child protection register.
* 65 per cent of students achieved A-C grades at GCSE last year.
* Unauthorised absence is less than 1 per cent.
* 12.5 per cent of the population of the Beaminster ward receive housing benefit or council tax benefit.
* The unemployment rate in Beaminster is 1 per cent.
The market town of Beaminster in Dorset is a picturesque place. Its older buildings are mostly constructed of mellow golden stone. The town's central square boasts tea shops and purveyors of posh knick-knackery. But Beaminster School doesn't quite live up to this genteel feeling. The school moved to its present site on a narrow lane leading up from the square in the early Sixties, and many of the original buildings haven't aged gracefully. In a county that can boast its share of smart public schools, Beaminster's architecture will never stand out.
But despite a certain peeling of the older fabric, there is a smart new science building, added in 1995, and a new sports hall will be built in the next few years. The grounds are outstanding: 30 acres of playing field and greenery, with fabulous views towards the wooded hills that encircle the town, give a feeling of light and air to the whole site. There is a notable absence of litter or (perish the thought) graffiti. You can see why Oliver Letwin - who presumably had this school in mind when he said that "children in west Dorset schools" had better educational chances than children in his part of Lambeth - might find it less horrifying than an inner-city comprehensive. But is he right?
Perhaps the most important thing about Beaminster School is that it retains something of the feel of the village school it once was. It's small for a comprehensive, with just over 700 boys and girls aged 11 to 18 on the roll this year. The atmosphere is friendly and cheerful, and everyone knows everyone else at least by sight, if not by name.
The headmaster, Mike Best, 49, joined the school three years ago. He chose Beaminster, he said, because of the close-knit feel of the area. "It was the community that attracted me," he said. The school has certainly always held a place close to the heart of Beaminster life. Back in the Seventies, to secure the construction of the swimming pool, a public-spirited local man mortgaged his own home. This is in keeping with the school's philanthropic origins. In 1685, a generous benefactor, Frances Tucker, left Ł20 a year to educate "twentie of the pooreste boyes of the parish". Her portrait hangs in Mr Best's study.
The modern, bustling school retains traditional elements, but with an up-to-date twist. Pupils wear a compulsory uniform, but it is a comfortable, hard-wearing, affordable polo shirt and sweatshirt combination. There is still a prefect system, but pupils have to apply for the posts - and be interviewed for them by the existing prefects. Pupils are divided into houses, but in typically unstuffy fashion, these are named after local landmarks.
Beaminster School has a very large catchment area - so much so that this year, the intake had to be increased from four classes to five. About 80 per cent of the pupils are bussed in from surrounding villages, which can lead to transport headaches - car-pooling parents rise to the challenge for the many extra-curricular activities. With 48 teachers, the school currently has a better-than-average staff-student ratio for Dorset. Beaminster achieved specialist technology status in 2001, and the extra funding for further development has been welcome, though feeling chronically on a shoestring budget is no less likely in a country setting than a town one. "No schools I'm aware of feel comfortable about funding," said Mr Best. "Our pupils perform well but they deserve better resources."
Nevertheless, in 2002, 65 per cent of Beaminster pupils achieved five or more GCSEs at grades A-C (the national average is just over 51 per cent). About half the total intake go on to the sixth form, which is run jointly with Sir John Colfox school in nearby Bridport, to offer the widest possible choice of courses. About half of the sixth form then go on to university. The school has received a School Achievement Award for each of the past three years. It also has a "learning base" to support pupils with learning difficulties.
Amy Furness, 15, and Tina Fry, 16, both in year 11, feel that although Beaminster is comparatively small and rural, they don't hanker after a city setting. "I prefer being here," says Amy. "You wouldn't get as much help in a larger school."
"I feel there would be more bullying in a larger school," adds Tina. "There's a better atmosphere in a smaller school."
If there's an unavoidably institutional feel to the beige and pale green corridors, it's balanced by the fact that all the classrooms are immaculately clean and bright, and filled with the pupils' work.
While the school is strong on science, and the state-of-the-art science building opened in 1995 by David Bellamy is a definite source of pride, the arts are not neglected. The school production of The Tempest runs for three days next week, a labour of love for the head of drama, Valerie Goodwin, (her own play, The Magdalen Whitewash, is being performed on stage in Dublin and the United States). Mrs Goodwin, energetic in the extreme and clearly a cherished member of staff, invested in a consignment of raw liver to add authenticity to a recent production of the gory tragedy The Duchess of Malfi.
The 17th-century Frances Tucker would no doubt be amazed by the current sixth form common room, with its comfy sofas and loud music. The sixth-formers also enjoy their own "bistro" facility - far more dignified than joining the feeding frenzy in the main dining hall. On the menu last week was a hot lunch of beef lasagna, or broccoli and mushroom pasta bake with a hot pudding for Ł1.43, plus a selection of sandwiches, burgers and pizza, all fresh-smelling and appetising.
There is a wide mix of backgrounds at Beaminster, so no doubt a Letwin child would find a congenial place. Or, rather, there's a spread of all local backgrounds; there are no pupils who don't have English as their first language.
"Whenever I've talked to Oliver Letwin, I've found him a supporter of comprehensive education," said Mr Best of the recent contraversy. "He is a very active member of the community. When we've sought his support he's been very helpful." Mr Best believes the city-versus-country argument is not as straightforward as the cliché of pale urban urchins and rosy rural children. "There are definite pockets of deprivation here, but you don't see them so clearly because the place is so pretty. I think children are the same wherever they are."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 17, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Independent: Education
Teacher talk
16 October 2003
Gary Phillips is the head of Lilian Baylis, the secondary school in Kennington, south London, which shot to fame last week when the Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin said that he would rather beg than send his children there. Only 6 per cent of the 600 pupils at Lilian Baylis managed five GCSEs grade A-C last year.
What do you think of Mr Letwin's remarks?
They were rather unfortunate, considering that he hasn't even taken the opportunity to visit the school. If the Liberal Democrat spokesperson Phil Willis or Stephen Twigg, the education minister, had expressed their views, I would have respected them because they have visited the school. But Mr Letwin hasn't.
Would you take in Mr Letwin's children if they wanted to come to your school?
They would have to be on the waiting list, I'm afraid. We have a long waiting list of 250 students at the moment.
How does your school compare with Eton, the school that Oliver Letwin attended?
Ours is the best-located school in Britain. It is in the centre of London, close to some of the great art galleries. Our students have worked with the National Gallery and the London Philharmonia Orchestra. They recently performed at the Young Vic Theatre and will be working for the London Jazz Festival. We have close contacts with industry, too. Our students do work experience not with shops, but with companies such as IBM. Last year, a group won the Cambridge University Young Black and Asian Challenge Cup by the biggest margin ever. We have the latest in information technology. There are electronic whiteboards in all rooms, laptops for all staff and a number of modern ICT suites for students to use during the day and after lessons.
How do you rate state schools against independent schools?
Ninety-four per cent of the students in this country go to state schools. I believe that children should be going to school in and with the community they live in.
How do you explain the dismal performance of your school?
I don't think that our performance has been dismal at all. Statistics are a very poor measure. We've made enormous progress in our school. We have been ranked among the top 100 schools by the Government in terms of the "value-added". You cannot compare us with schools that only take elite students. We are very good.
Interview by Gunjan Veda

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 17, 2003.

Postponement of KOV Forum 16.10.03

Postponement of KOV Forum 16.10.03
Dear colleague
A number of Lambeth officers have sent their apologies for unavoidable absence for the KOV Forum meeting scheduled for 16 October 03:
Traffic Engineers have been called to a Council Scrutiny Meeting and could not send a replacement officer to cover the Controlled Parking Zone or review of the Impact of Congestion Charging item.
The officer due to cover the update item on the Unitary Development Plan will now be on strike on that day and again there is no one else to cover that item.
Finally the Town Centre Manager has had a bereavement and cannot get back from a funeral in Scotland in time to attend the meeting. Her manager, who would have normally covered her absence, is already committed to attend another meeting that evening.
Celia Stothard, KOV's chairperson, has agreed that it is better to postpone the meeting rather than have people giving up their evening only to be disappointed that many items of interest would not be covered. KOV Board is meeting on 2 December to plan the way forward for KOV and the Town Centre office will be in touch afterwards with the outcome.
Celia and the Town Centre Manager regret the short notice of the cancellation and any inconvenience caused.
If you have any comments to add to the community plan being prepared for North Lambeth, please forward them, no later than 16/10, to Ian Jackson, Local Strategic Partnership Manager, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW, fax 7926 2752 (ijackson@lambeth.gov.uk)
Apologies to the Kennington Cross Ideas Competition Working Group - due to an error at the printers, page two of the third interim report was omitted. If you would like receive the full report either electronically or as a hard-copy, please contact me.
A hard-copy of this information will be sent to registered KOV Forum members who do not have email.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
on behalf of Celia Stothard, KOV Chair and the North Lambeth Town Centre Office Team:
Frances Forrest - Town Centre Manager
Glennette Bowles-Dove   - Community Development Manager
Yvonne Alexander -    Community Development Officer
Gerald Gohler -    Area Information Officer
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal - Area Services
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), October 15, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

South London Press
News
Tory MP apologises after controversial comment
Oct 14 2003
...But is Oliver Letwin right?
By Vicky Wilks
TORY politician Oliver Letwin has apologised after making his controversial comments that he "would rather beg than send his child to his local school".
The Eton-educated Shadow Home Secretary said sorry to the headteacher of Kennington's Lilian Baylis school - which he did not mention by name but which is the nearest state school to his home.
Despite his apology, he has stuck by his statement that children in inner-city schools do not have the same chances in life as pupils of other secondaries or private schools.
Today, in our phone poll, we ask readers of the South London Press:
WOULD YOU SEND YOUR KIDS TO YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL?
If you think YES call 0901 562 8793
If you think NO call 0901 562 8794
(Calls cost 10p each)
The poll results will be published in next Tuesday's paper.
'Oliver beggars belief'
By Education Reporter Vicky Wilks
LAMBETH'S Conservative education boss has defended an inner-city school after Shadow Home Secretary Oliver Letwin said he would rather beg on the streets than send his kids there.
Eton-educated Mr Letwin told the Tory Party Conference in Blackpool: "In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
"If necessary, I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live."
Soon after, Lilian Baylis School - which, in terms of GCSE results, was the worst performing secondary in the borough last year - found itself in the spotlight.
Tory Central Office was quick to point out that no individual school was named, despite the Lollard Street secondary being the nearest to Mr Letwin, a weekday Kennington resident.
Lambeth Conservative councillor Gareth Compton said Mr Letwin's words were misplaced.
"I don't think Oliver should be too critical," he said.
"The standards at Lilian Baylis in the past were unacceptably low and still are but are improving very quickly.
"I think he, like many other people who live in Lambeth and around the area where Lilian Baylis is, probably haven't appreciated the enormous changes that have taken place in that school in recent years.
"It does take time for changes to become widely known in the community in a situation like this where a school did have difficulties for very many years and only in recent years has started to turn a corner and make such significant progress."
Referring to the school's GCSE pass rate, which has leapt from six per cent to 17 between last year and this, he added: "To [almost] triple results is really a very significant achieve-ment."
The school is neighboured by several deprived sprawling Vauxhall housing estates.
Its last Ofsted report in 2001 showed 63 per cent of pupils were eligible for free meals and nearly half of pupils spoke English as a second language - with the most common first languages being Portuguese, Yoruba, Bengali and Vietnamese.
But last year, the school was among the top five per cent in Britain in terms of its value-added score - which shows how much progress pupils have made relative to their starting point.
Labour leader Steve Reed described Mr Letwin's words as "a slap in the face of our teachers, children and parents who have worked so hard to achieve better results in Lambeth's schools".
Meanwhile, Cllr Compton plans to invite Mr Letwin to tour the school with him. Lilian Baylis headteacher Gary Phillips said: "It is a very successful school and it is hard to understand why Oliver Letwin would want to make such comments without having visited the school.
"We would welcome him to visit and have left a message for him but he has not responded."
Mr Phillips highlighted the school's 300 per cent rise in GCSE pass rates at A*-C, its top value-added score, and other achievements including being awarded an Arts-mark Gold certificate and the Achiever's Cup Challenge at Cambridge University.
FACT FILE
* Number of Lambeth students scoring five GCSEs at grades A-C rose from 28.6 per cent in 1997 to 40.1 per cent in 2002
* A measurement showing how pupils improve, taking into account their ability on entering Year 7, shows Lambeth is above the London and national average
* Lambeth is one of five boroughs set to get cash to improve schools through the Government's London Challenge
* Lilian Baylis was built in 1962 to replace outdated 19th century accommodation
* In 1997, it was placed on the Government's special measures list and stayed there for a record four years.
* Ofsted inspection in 2001 identified weaknesses in standards in national tests, English teaching, attendance and punctuality, use of computers, provision for foreign languages and involvement of parents.
* In 2001, it was ranked 512th of London's league table of 536 secondaries.
* In 2002, the truancy rate was slashed in half by the introduction of pastoral officers.
* This year, the LEA has found improvements in foreign languages, attendance, parents' involvement and upgraded science labs.
* The school is due to be inspected again in November.
* Lilian Baylis will move into a Ł20.4million new building, pictured above, in Kennington Lane in January 2005.
'Courageous words'
RICKY Rennalls, who has a 13-year-old son at Lilian Baylis, has no complaints about the school but said he admired Oliver Letwin's honesty.
He said: "If you look at the kind of private schools that many of the Labour party luminaries send their kids to, then, in effect, they are agreeing with him, but haven't got the courage to come out and say it."
Self-employed Mr Rennalls lives close to the school on neighbouring Ethelred Estate and is a parent-governor there. The family applied for fourschools for Amadeus but chose Lilian Baylis because it was close to home.
Mr Rennalls said: "I accept Lilian Baylis does a very good job under difficult circumstances.
"My son is making progress. He is happy there - there is a real sense of community. I am expecting him to do okay.
"If he doesn't do well it will be difficult for me to say how much is down to the school and how much to external factors."
Regarding Mr Lewtins's subsequent apology to the school, Mr Rennalls said: "I admire his humility and honesty again."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 15, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Minister pours scorn on vouchers proposal
Lucy Ward, education correspondent
Tuesday October 14, 2003
The Guardian
The schools minister, David Miliband, yesterday accused the Conservatives of seeking to provide ways to "escape from state education" after the shadow home secretary, Oliver Letwin, was forced to apologise for an attack on his local state school.
Mr Miliband, presenting awards for achievement in inner city schools, marked out the issue of improvement in struggling schools as a key policy battleground between political parties.
The government aimed to support schools in difficult areas whereas the Tories, who plan an education voucher scheme for parents in inner cities, did not share that ambition, he said.
At last week's Tory conference, Mr Letwin said he would "go out on the streets and beg" rather than send his 10-year-old twins to the state school close to his London home.
Mr Letwin later apologised to the Lilian Baylis school in Kennington, but said he re mained "passionate" about his party's school passports plan. The scheme, an attempt to use market methods to improve school performance, would give parents in inner city areas vouchers worth Ł3,500 to send their children to the school of their choice.
Mr Miliband said the GCSE results for 2002-03 showed performance in authorities targeted under the government's Excellence in Cities programme improved at more than double the rate of schools nationally.
He said: "The Conservatives talk about escaping from state education and the government is talking about improving state education.
"There are many schools we want to see get much better and we will take no lessons from anyone about the need to be ambitious for improvement."
Mr Miliband presented 15 awards to pupils, teachers and mentors from schools involved in the programme, which aims to raise the achievement of pupils and tackle truancy.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 14, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Telegraph
Letwin says sorry over attack on state school
By Andrew Sparrow and Liz Lightfoot
(Filed: 13/10/2003)
Oliver Letwin has apologised to his local comprehensive school for saying he would rather "beg" than send his children to it.
The shadow home secretary said he was sorry for causing any offence to Lilian Baylis School near his home in Kennington, south London.
He did not name the school when he told a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference last week: "If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send [my children] to the school where I live."
But newspapers quickly established that he was talking about Lilian Baylis, a school where only six per cent of GCSE pupils got five or more passes at grade C and above last year.
Yesterday Mr Letwin told Sky: "I have written to apologise to them because I would not want to cause any offence I did think it caused them.
"But I have to say that I am still - and the whole Conservative Party is still - passionate about Damian Green's policy, which is what I was explaining, for better school passports. What that does is to give parents choice which at the moment is available only to those of us lucky enough to have money."
Mr Letwin's apology came as it emerged that many parents on the council estates near Lilian Baylis supported what he said.
Families told The Daily Telegraph that they understood how he felt because they too had sought out good schools further afield because of the poor reputation of Lilian Baylis, in Lambeth. They could not afford private education, but they had to bear the cost of the bus fares.
"No way will my son go there," said Udit Bafakadu. "Ask anyone around here. No one sends their children there. Children round here go to schools in Westminster or Croydon. Families pay the fares because they know the importance of a good education."
She had heard that the school was improving under a new head, but the behaviour of some of the pupils on the streets alarmed her.
Mrs Bafakadu, who has a three-year-old and is pregnant with her second child, said it was unfair to label a school because of the behaviour of some pupils, but people would not take a risk.
"You want the best for your children and you can buy everything for them, but when it comes to education you have to make sure they have a good school because it will affect them for a lifetime."
Julie Ubah said her three daughters had travelled across the borough to St Martin in the Field, a Church of England school described last year as "a very good school" by Ofsted.
"We would have preferred Lilian Baylis because it's on our doorstep, but it had a very bad reputation at the time. The local education authority said I had to send them to Lilian Baylis and refused to pay their fares to St Martin's.
"All three are at university or college now, so it was worth it."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 13, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Independent: Education
Children in care should go to Eton too, says Letwin
By Marie Woolf
13 October 2003
Oliver Letwin, who declared last week he would rather beg than send his children to a London state school, is considering a plan that would mean children in council care being sent to private boarding schools such as Eton.
The shadow Home Secretary, an old Etonian, has launched a working group on the future of local authority care, which will explore the possibility of handing control of care homes to independent boarding schools and charities.
It will examine whether enrolling children in care in the best boarding schools will improve their prospects. Mr Letwin's latest off-beat policy idea, disclosed in an interview with The Independent, was aired as his leader, Iain Duncan Smith, was facing an investigation into his office payments by the House of Commons sleaze watchdog.
The Tory leader denied any "wrongdoing" over payments from taxpayers' funds to his wife, Betsy, for secretarial work. But questions on his future are likely to deepen tomorrow when MPs return to Parliament, and the Tories resume plotting.
Mr Letwin apologised , yesterday to his local comprehensive in London, the Lillian Baylis school in Kennington, which has a high proportion of ethnic-minority pupils, after it was identified in the press as the nearest comprehensive to the MP's London home.
He said he "did not want to castigate that particular school". But he risked inflaming the row by saying children going to such schools would have fewer prospects than those at private schools. They "do not have a chance equivalent to that which children in west Dorset schools have or which children in independent schools have", he said. Mr Letwin said his objection was not the number of children who speak English as a second language in Lambeth schools and said he "couldn't care less if they are full of immigrants".
He also denied he did not want his children to mix with children from disadvantaged backgrounds but was concerned with "the academic standards and the discipline and orderliness of the school".
He said England's most exclusive public school produced future criminals when he was there. "Wherever you go you will be amongst people who vary from saints to sinners. I was among people at Eton who have ended up in jail," he said. Mr Letwin says he has "nothing against the state sector" and would have sent his children to state schools in Dorset, where his seat is, but wanted them to be in London so he could see them more often.
The shadow Home Secretary will shortly publish a paper arguing for volunteers to go into state schools to "help with difficult children".
But the proposal is likely to anger the National Union of Teachers, which has already objected to the increasing use of parents as untrained classroom assistants in schools.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 13, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

South London Press
News
Letwin apologises to Lambeth school
Oct 12 2003
Top Tory Oliver Letwin has apologised to his local school after saying he would rather "beg" than send his children there.
The shadow home secretary said he was happy for 10-year-old twins Jeremy and Laura to attend state schools in his Dorset constituency.
But Eton-educated Mr Letwin said he would not send them to state schools near their London home.
He told a fringe meeting at the Tory conference: "In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
"If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school where I live."
Gaffe-prone Mr Letwin was thought to be referring to the Lilian Baylis School in Kennington.
Mr Letwin told Sky's Sunday with Adam Boulton: "I regret that a particular school was identified by the London press.
"I have written to apologise to them because I would not want to cause any offence I did think it caused them.
"But I have to say that I am still - and the whole Conservative Party is still - passionate about Damian Green's policy, which is what I was explaining, for better school passports.
"What that does is to give parents choice, which at the moment is available only to those of us lucky enough to have money."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 12, 2003.

Sir Antony Buck

Times
October 11, 2003
Sir Antony Buck
House of Commons stalwart whose life turned colourful in his sixties when he married the second Lady Buck
IN SPITE of the solid if unexciting virtues that had made him a Navy minister in the Government of Edward Heath in the early 1970s and a respected Tory MP for Colchester for thirty years from 1961, Sir Antony Buck ended his life still, somehow, associated principally with the activities of his colourful Spanish second wife, Bienvenida Pérez-Blanco, whom he married in 1990. Her subsequent affair with Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Peter Harding resulted in that officer's retirement as Chief of the Defence Staff in 1994, as a result of an entrapment exercise by a newspaper in which she colluded and which provided details of their assignations in London hotels. Buck was always known among his close associates to have a busy extra-marital sex life while in the Commons - he claimed that his first wife did not like London - but nothing prepared his friends for the details that enthralled the tabloid newspapers for weeks.
True, the marriage of the 61-year-old groom to his glamorous 31-year-old bride in March 1990 had, even before it foundered, been the stuff of glossy magazine gossip pages, with Buck coyly going on record as having "misgivings" about the gap between their ages, while his new wife dissented from charges levelled at her by those of her own sex that she was marrying him for his money. Yet this charming prospect of January and May finding lifelong solace in each other's arms was to end in an atmosphere of recrimination.
The divorce action was accompanied by allegations that he had taken two years to consummate their union. Buck in his turn rebutted such aspersions with assurances that everything had been robustly normal about their marriage from the beginning.
Not long afterwards he married Tamara Norashkaryan, a 55-year-old former teacher at Moscow University, who arrived on his doorstep saying she had been attracted to him since she had seen his photograph in a Russian newspaper. Though he said at the time that he had very little money left after arranging to pay a substantial amount to his second wife, he still flew by Concorde with the third Lady Buck to High Moon in Barbados, saying: "You only get married two or three times in a lifetime."
It was a totally unexpected course for one who had been known in Parliament as the soul of reliability. For years it had been said of Buck around the Commons that it was MPs like him who helped the Whips to sleep more easily at nights. For more than 30 years he ranked among the most loyal of Tories. When he voted against his party's line - as he did when he supported Richard Shepherd's Bill to reform the Official Secrets Act, and when he backed Michael Mates's attempt to band the poll tax according to income - it was regarded in the lobbies with some astonishment.
Until that aberration he would have been regarded by almost all his colleagues as a typical knight of the shires in his utter dependability. And his title, awarded in 1983 was a routine reward for long service and good conduct.
Though he lived in style for years in a Georgian country house, surrounded by a 30-acre park, his background was sound middle-class. Soundness, in fact, was one of his characteristics, until his extraordinary metamorphosis as an ageing satyr, though he had always combined it with a natural joviality which made him a popular figure on boths sides of the House.
Philip Antony Fyson Buck was born in Cambridgeshire, the son of a prosperous agricultural merchant and farmer. He was educated at King's School, Ely, and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and seemed an obvious choice for a Cambridgeshire seat. But when he applied for one he was rejected, though he soon found consolation near by in Colchester where in 1961 he won a by-election caused by Cuthbert Alport's decision to go to the Lords.
Buck was a laywer as well as a politician, being called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1954 and taking silk 20 years later. He was also a director of his family firm of agricultural merchants.
But his eye had been on the Commons ever since his schooldays. He had been chairman of the Cambridge University Conservative Association, as well as of the Federation of University Conservative and Unionist Associations in the days when Tory students were looked on with more favour by Central Office than they were later.
Buck concentrated on defence almost as soon as he entered the House. He was a fervent supporter of the Royal Navy, Nato and of a British reliance on American weaponry, particularly Star Wars. Under Heath he became Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Navy) in 1972. But after Harold Wilson and the Labour Party reassumed office in the general election of February 1974 Buck never held government office again. By the time Margaret Thatcher took the Tories back to power at the end of the decade he was seen as being yesterday's man.
He had backed Geoffrey Howe against Mrs Thatcher in the Tory leadership election in 1975, which did not help his prospects. Yet, his party recognised his expertise and acknowledged his past services by electing him chairman of its defence committee, which office he held from 1979 to 1990.
Before that he had been secretary and then chairman of the Conservative home affairs committee and a member of the executive of the 1922 Committee. His other important post was chairman of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman).
He was not afraid to support unpopular causes, co-sponsoring a motion backing the Turkish occupation of Northern Cyprus even though he had twice travelled to Greece as the guest of a public relations firm working for the Greek Colonels.
But on the whole he devoted himself to the interests of his constituency and the Armed Forces. He argued passionately against naval and army cuts, he was all for maintaining Britain's independent nuclear deterrent, and he attacked the BBC for broadcasting Tumbledown which, he thought, gave a biased impression of the Falklands campaign.
Buck retired from his Colchchester North seat at the general election of 1992. (He had previously been MP for Colchester, but the constuencies had been redrawn in 1983.) By this time he was involved in his divorce from the second Lady Buck.
After his third marriage, he largely disappeared form the headlines, though there was a momentary flurry of press interest in his personal life in 1995, when he had to be treated in hospital after suffering cuts to his wrist and arm at his South London home. Police had been called there after a night-time altercation, and Lady Buck was questioned at Kennington police station. Buck did not press charges.
Anthony Buck was married in 1955 to Judy Grant, and they had a daughter. The marriage was dissolved in 1989 and in 1990 he married Bienvenida Pérez-Blanco. The marriage was dissolved in 1993. In 1994 he married Tamara-Norashkaryan. He is survived by her and by the daughter of his first marriage.
Sir Antony Buck, QC, Conservative MP for Colchester, 1961-83, and for Colchester North, 1983-92, was born on December 19, 1928. He died on October 6, 2003, aged 74.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Independent
Letwin finds little choice of secondary schools in Lambeth
By Sarah Cassidy, Education Correspondent
11 October 2003
Despite Oliver Letwin's insistence that he would rather "go out on the streets and beg" than send his children to his local comprehensive, there are some good schools in the shadow Home Secretary's south London neighbourhood.
Unfortunately, half of Lambeth's 10 secondary schools are church schools - putting them beyond the reach of many parents, who complain that faith schools limit their choices. And Tony Blair's passion for church schools means the Government is committed to increasing their numbers.
Only four of Lambeth's secondaries achieved above-average GCSE results last year, of which three were church schools. These included La Retraite Roman Catholic Girls' School, where 61 per cent of pupils achieved at least five good passes. Inspectors judged the school "a very successful and popular school" and noted its "high expectations, both academic and personal".
At St Martin-in-the-Fields High School for Girls, a Church of England comprehensive, 59 per cent scored at least five good passes. But overall, the borough averaged only 40.1 per cent, compared with England's national average of 51.6 per cent.
A spokesman for Mr Letwin said he had not meant to cause offence but wanted to highlight the need to improve choice for all parents. Mr Letwin, who is looking for a school for his 10-year-old daughter Laura, said he would give his "right arm" to go private in the London borough of Lambeth, where he lives during the week.
The comprehensive that so horrified Mr Letwin, who was educated at Eton, is believed to be Lilian Baylis School in Kennington, which came bottom of the London school league tables this year. It was one of 18 failing schools "named and shamed" by David Blunkett after he was appointed Education Secretary in 1997. However, Ofsted inspectors recently praised its improvement. Gary Phillips, the headteacher, said: "It is very upsetting for children and parents to be told their school is no good when they know full well that it is not true."
The issue of faith schools is not confined to Lambeth. If Mr Letwin looked beyond the borough boundaries, he would find that the nearest potential schools for his daughter - apart from Lilian Baylis - are Notre Dame, half a mile away in Southwark, and the Grey Coat Hospital in Westminster, both of which are church schools.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Thu 9 Oct 2003 11:44am (UK)
Anger over Letwin Jibe at State School
By Dominic Hayes, Education Correspondent
PA News
Senior Eton-educated Tory Oliver Letwin has declared he would “go out on the streets and beg” to avoid sending his children to a local inner city comprehensive, it was reported today.
The shadow home secretary said he would consider sending his children to state schools in his Dorset constituency.
But he would rather “give my right arm” to go private in the London borough of Lambeth where he lives during the week than send them to the comprehensive nearest his home in Kennington, the Evening Standard reported.
The school in question is believed to be Lilian Baylis School in Kennington and headteacher Gary Phillips said pupils and parents would be upset by Mr Letwin’s remarks.
At a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, Mr Letwin reportedly said he was trying to get his 10-year-old daughter Laura into a “particular public school in London” as he wanted to see his family during the week.
Mr Letwin continued: “Miraculously the middle-class parents with the money end up getting their children into good schools.
“In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
“If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.
“What about the other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use the state schools because they don’t have the money? We need to give them the choice as well.”
This week saw the Tories promise a voucher scheme for education, which would enable parents to have the Government put the amount of money it spends on each state school pupil towards private sector fees.
Last year, only 6% of GCSE pupils at Lilian Baylis got five or more passes at grade C and above while just 26% of its 14-year-olds reached the Government’s required standard in English and 32% in maths.
Education watchdog Ofsted said in a 2001 report: “Lilian Baylis School has a troubled history. It has suffered from instability in its leadership, a high turnover of staff, uncertainty about is future and a poor, at one time deservedly so, reputation.
“There are some clear signs that the situation is improving, with well-focused and determined leadership from governors and senior managers.”
Mr Phillips said: “It is very upsetting for both children and parents to be told that their school is no good when they know full well that it is.
“We are fully aware that the school’s exam results are lower than the national average but as a result of the Government’s value added scheme which takes other factors – like whether children actually speak English when they arrive at the school – Lilian Baylis is registered as one of the top 100 schools in the country by the Department for Education and Skills.
“I would be much more willing to accept Mr Letwin’s comments if he had ever actually been to the school and I would like to extend an invitation to him to come and look at what we do here before he decides to discuss us again.
“I don’t know what Mr Letwin based his ideas about the school on, but his colleagues in the Conservative party certainly don’t all agree with him.
“Indeed Ken Clarke gave us the Jerwood Prize, one of the highest awards in education, when he was Education Minister.
“I would also point out that it was Lilian Baylis students who won the Black and Asian Achievers challenge at Cambridge University last year – not children from a fee paying school – and that we are the only school in the country that is not a specialist arts college to have been given the Arts Mark Gold award for the excellence of our art department.
“Has Mr Letwin ever wondered if a 100% record of A-C grades at a school which only accepts gifted children from wealthy homes is as much of an achievement as a 10% record of A-C grades at a school where the children can’t speak English when they start there? I doubt it.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

October 09, 2003
Letwin snubs local school with begging gibe
PA NEWS
Oliver Letwin, the Shadow Home Secretary, has declared that he would rather “go out on the streets and beg” than send his children to an inner city comprehensive, it was reported today.
The Eton-educated senior Tory said that he would consider sending his children to state schools in his Dorset constituency.
But he would rather “give my right arm” to go private in the London borough of Lambeth where he lives during the week than send them to the comprehensive there, London's Evening Standard reported.
The school in question is believed to be Lilian Baylis School in Kennington and Gary Phillips, the headteacher, said that pupils and parents would be upset by Mr Letwin’s remarks.
At a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, Mr Letwin reportedly said that he was trying to get his 10-year-old daughter Laura into a “particular public school in London” as he wanted to see his family during the week.
Mr Letwin continued: “Miraculously the middle-class parents with the money end up getting their children into good schools.
“In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school. If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.
“What about the other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use the state schools because they don’t have the money? We need to give them the choice as well.”
This week saw the Tories promise a voucher scheme for education, which would enable parents to have the Government put the amount of money it spends on each state school pupil towards private sector fees.
Last year, only 6 per cent of GCSE pupils at Lilian Baylis got five or more passes at grade C and above while just 26 per cent of its 14-year-olds reached the Government’s required standard in English and 32 per cent in maths.
Ofsted, the education watchdog, said in a 2001 report: “Lilian Baylis School has a troubled history. It has suffered from instability in its leadership, a high turnover of staff, uncertainty about is future and a poor, at one time deservedly so, reputation. There are some clear signs that the situation is improving, with well-focused and determined leadership from governors and senior managers.”
Mr Phillips said: “It is very upsetting for both children and parents to be told that their school is no good when they know full well that it is.
"We are fully aware that the school’s exam results are lower than the national average but as a result of the Government’s value added scheme which takes other factors - like whether children actually speak English when they arrive at the school - Lilian Baylis is registered as one of the top 100 schools in the country by the Department for Education and Skills.
"I would be much more willing to accept Mr Letwin’s comments if he had ever actually been to the school and I would like to extend an invitation to him to come and look at what we do here before he decides to discuss us again."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

BBC News
Anger over Letwin school 'insult'
Shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin has declared he would "go out on the streets and beg" to avoid sending his children to an inner city comprehensive, a report says.
The Eton-educated politician said he would give his "right arm" to go private in the London borough of Lambeth, where he lives during the week, according to the Evening Standard.
The comprehensive in question is believed to be Lilian Baylis School in Kennington, which has achieved below average GCSE results.
Head teacher Gary Phillips said standards had improved and that pupils and parents would be upset by Mr Letwin's remarks.
'Choice needed'
At a fringe meeting at the Conservative Party conference in Blackpool, Mr Letwin reportedly said he was trying to get his 10-year-old daughter Laura into a "particular public school in London".
He added: "Miraculously, the middle-class parents with the money end up getting their children into good schools.
"In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
"If necessary, I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.
"What about the other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use the state schools because they don't have the money? We need to give them the choice as well."
Mr Letwin said he would, however, consider sending his children to state schools in his Dorset constituency.
This week, the Conservative Party promised a voucher scheme for education whereby funding would follow a child.
This, it said, would enable parents to spend the amount of money the government spends on each state school pupil at a school of their choice.
The party says this money could not be used towards a place at a private school, but could, for example go into a school being set up by parents or a charitable foundation.
Last year, only 6% of GCSE pupils at Lilian Baylis got five or more passes at grade C and above.
Meanwhile, just 26% of its 14 year olds reached the government's required standard in English and 32% in maths.
But, in exams taken at 14, the school was rated among the top 5% in England in terms of "value-added" performance, which takes circumstances into account.
Education watchdog Ofsted said in a 2001 report: "There are some clear signs that the situation is improving, with well-focused and determined leadership from governors and senior managers."
Mr Phillips said: "It is very upsetting for both children and parents to be told that their school is no good when they know full well that it is.
'Insulted the parents'
"We are fully aware that the school's exam results are lower than the national average.
"But, as a result of the government's value-added scheme, which takes other factors, like whether children actually speak English when they arrive at the school, Lilian Baylis is registered as one of the top 100 schools in the country.
"I would be much more willing to accept Mr Letwin's comments if he had ever actually been to the school and I would like to extend an invitation to him to come and look at what we do here before he decides to discuss us again."
Mr Phillips added: "Has Mr Letwin ever wondered if a 100% record of A to C grades at a school which only accepts gifted children from wealthy homes is as much of an achievement as a 10% record of A to C grades at a school where the children can't speak English when they start there? I doubt it."
Junior education minister Stephen Twigg said: "Oliver Letwin has insulted the parents, teachers and pupils of every state school in the country.
"We are working with schools to improve standards and give every child, regardless of their ability to pay, the kind of choice that Oliver Letwin wants parents to pay for."
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/education/3177968.stm
Published: 2003/10/09 12:58:00 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Independent
Letwin: I'd rather beg than send child to inner-city school
By Paul Waugh Deputy Political Editor
10 October 2003
Oliver Letwin, the shadow Home Secretary, was criticised yesterday for saying that he would "go out on the streets and beg" rather than send his children to an inner-city comprehensive in London.
The Eton-educated MP told a conference fringe meeting that he would consider sending his children to state schools in his Dorset constituency but he would "give his right arm" to go private in the London borough of Lambeth, where he lives during the week.
Gary Phillips, headteacher of the London comprehensive in question, the Lilian Baylis School in Kennington, said pupils and parents would be upset by Mr Letwin's remarks.
Mr Letwin reportedly said that he was trying to get his 10-year-old daughter Laura into a "particular public school in London" as he wanted to see his family in the week. "Miraculously the middle-class parents with the money end up getting their children into good schools. In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school. If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live. What about other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use state schools because they don't have the money? We need to give them the choice as well."
The Tories are promising a voucher scheme for education, in which the Government could put the amount of money it spends on each state school pupil towards private fees.
Last year, only 6 per cent of GCSE pupils at Lilian Baylis got five or more passes at grade C and above; just 26 per cent of its 14-year-olds reached the Government's required standard in English and 32 per cent reached the standard in maths.
Ofsted, the education watchdog, said in 2001 that the school had a troubled history but there were "clear signs" that it was improving'.
Mr Phillips said: "It is very upsetting for both children and parents to be told that their school is no good when they know full well that it is.''
Lilian Baylis was one of the top 100 schools in the country when factors such as whether children spoke English when they arrived at the school were taken into account, he said.
Stephen Twigg, an Education minister, said: "Oliver Letwin has insulted the parents, teachers and pupils of every state school in the country. We are working with schools to improve standards and give every child, regardless of their ability to pay, the kind of choice Oliver Letwin wants parents to pay for."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

The Scotsman
Fri 10 Oct 2003
Letwin: I'd rather beg than have to use state school
JOHN INNES
THE Eton-educated Oliver Letwin has declared that he would "go out on the streets and beg" to avoid sending his children to a local inner-city comprehensive.
The shadow home secretary said he would consider sending his children to state schools in his Dorset constituency.
But he would "give my right arm" to go private in the London borough of Lambeth, where he lives during the week, rather than send them to the comprehensive nearest his home in Kennington, the Evening Standard reported. The school in question is believed to be Lilian Baylis School in Kennington. Yesterday, the headteacher, Gary Phillips, said pupils and parents would be upset by Mr Letwin’s remarks.
At a fringe meeting at the conference, Mr Letwin reportedly said he was trying to get his daughter, Laura, ten, into a "particular public school in London" as he wanted to see his family during the week.
"Miraculously, the middle-class parents with the money end up getting their children into good schools," he continued. "In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school. If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.
"What about the other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use the state schools because they don’t have the money? We need to give them the choice as well."
This week saw the Tories promise a voucher scheme for education, which would enable parents to have the government put the amount of money it spends on each state-school pupil towards private sector fees.
Speaking after Mr Letwin’s comments, Mr Phillips said: "It is very upsetting for both children and parents to be told that their school is no good when they know full well that it is.
"We are fully aware that the school’s exam results are lower than the national average, but as a result of the government’s value-added scheme, which takes other factors - like whether children actually speak English when they arrive - Lilian Baylis is registered as one of the top 100 schools in the country by the Department for Education and Skills.
"I would be much more willing to accept Mr Letwin’s comments if he had ever actually been to the school."
This article:
http://www.news.scotsman.com/education.cfm?id=1119772003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

Times
October 10, 2003
Letwin puts party image at risk with school snub
By Rosemary Bennett, Deputy Political Editor
OLIVER LETWIN declared yesterday that he would go out on the streets and beg, rather than send his children to a state school in London. Risking months of careful work repositioning the Tories as a party in tune with ordinary people, the Shadow Home Secretary added that he would “give his right arm” to send them to a fee-paying school.
In an attack at a fringe meeting on classroom standards in London, where the Letwin family lives, the Eton-educated banker said he was desperate to get his daughter, Laura, 10, and her twin brother, Jeremy, a place in a public school.
“In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school,” he said. “If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.”
It is likely that Mr Letwin’s son will follow his father into Eton next year.
Labour said his remarks showed that the Tories held state education in contempt and had given up on trying to improve it.
Mr Letwin said he would not mind using state schools in his Dorset constituency, where his family has a home, but wanted to see his children during the week, so the family lived in South London. At the moment, he said, only middle-class parents with good jobs were in a position to buy a private education for their children.
“But what about the other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use the state schools because they don’t have the money? We need to give them the choice as well.”
Unlike senior government ministers, who are obliged by party policy to stick with the state system, most Shadow Cabinet members with children send them to private schools.
Iain Duncan Smith’s four children are all privately educated, although he is keen to point out that his eldest son went to a state primary school before winning a scholarship to Eton.
The Conservatives’ new education policy encourages parents in Britain to consider private education, allowing them to take part of the value of a state education out of the system and spend it where they wish.
Although Mr Letwin’s comments were not out of line with party policy, they will have damaged attempts made by the Tories to appear more in touch with modern Britain, where the majority of families send their children to state schools.
Locals in Kennington, where Mr Letwin lives, said that they thought the school which had attracted Mr Letwin’s outspoken attack was the Lilian Baylis Comprehensive School, which came bottom of the London league table for secondary schools this year.
Mr Letwin, one of the party’s leading intellectuals and thinkers, has proved gaffe-prone in the past. Last year he let a burglar into his house to use the lavatory at 5.15am and ended up chasing him down the street in his dressing gown.
He also said recently that it would take a miracle for the Tories to win the next election, and during the 2001 campaign landed the party in hot water when he said the Tories would cut taxes to the tune of Ł20 billion.
This week his new asylum policy fell flat when said he would send all applicants to a place “far, far away” for processing while admitting that he had no idea where he had in mind.
His latest blunder makes it less likely that he could stand as part of a “dream ticket” in a future leadership contest. He has been mentioned as a possible No 2 to Michael Howard, the Shadow Chancellor, to stand on a platform of unifying the party.
Stephen Twigg, the Junior Education Minister, said: “Oliver Letwin has insulted the parents, teachers and pupils of every state school in the country.
“We are working with schools to improve standards and give every child, regardless of their ability to pay, the kind of choice that Oliver Letwin wants parents to pay for.”
Should Letwin be the next Tory leader?
Send your e-mails to: debate@thetimes.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

I'd beg on the streets to avoid using my local state school, says Letwin
By Andrew Sparrow, Political Correspondent
(Filed: 10/10/2003)
Oliver Letwin said yesterday that he would "go out on the streets and beg" to avoid sending his children to his local inner-city comprehensive.
Mr Letwin, who was educated at Eton, told a fringe meeting at the Tory party conference that he was trying to get his 10-year-old daughter Laura into a "particular public school in London" as he wanted to see his family during the week.
"Miraculously the middle-class parents with the money end up getting their children into good schools," the shadow home secretary said. "In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school. If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school next to where I live.
"What about the other parents in Lambeth who are forced to use the state schools because they don't have the money? We need to give them the choice as well."
Mr Letwin appeared to be referring to Lilian Baylis School in Kennington, where last year only six per cent of GCSE pupils got five or more passes at grade C and above.
At the meeting, which took place on Wednesday night, Mr Letwin said he would consider sending his children to state schools in his Dorset constituency. Yesterday Stephen Twigg, an education minister, said: "Oliver Letwin has insulted the parents, teachers and pupils of every state school in the country."
In a report written two years ago, Ofsted said: "Lilian Baylis School has a troubled history. It has suffered from instability in its leadership, a high turnover of staff, uncertainty about its future and a poor, at one time deservedly so, reputation.
"There are clear signs that the situation is improving, with well-focused and determined leadership from governors and senior managers."
Gary Phillips, head teacher at Lilian Baylis, said: "It is very upsetting for both children and parents to be told that their school is no good when they know full well that it is."
He said that according to the Government's value added indicators, which take into account factors like how many pupils speak English when they arrive, Lilian Baylis was regarded as one of the top 100 schools in the country.
"I would be much more willing to accept Mr Letwin's comments if he had ever actually been to the school," he said.
"Has Mr Letwin ever wondered if a 100 per cent record of A-C grades at a school which only accepts gifted children from wealthy homes is as much of an achievement as a 10 per cent record of A-C grades at a school where the children can't speak English when they start there? I doubt it."
A spokesman for Mr Letwin said he had not intended to cause offence. Mr Letwin's comments were intended to show why the Conservatives thought it was so important to extend choice and excellence in schools.
Mr Letwin is seen as a potential leader by many Tories. But in the past his frankness has got him into trouble and this incident will be held against him by those who consider him liable to "gaffe". He and his wife have 10-year-old twins, Laura and Jeremy. His spokesman declined to comment on their schooling arrangements.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Oliver Letwin/Lilian Baylis

The Sun
Fury over Letwin dig at school
By GEORGE PASCOE-WATSON
Friday, October 10, 2003
TORY toff Oliver Letwin was blasted last night after claiming he would rather BEG than send his kids to a state school.
The Shadow Home Secretary dismissed the comprehensive in his neighbourhood as not good enough for his son and daughter.
The Eton-educated MP said he would be happy for ten-year-old twins Jeremy and Laura to attend state schools in his Dorset constituency – but not in South London where they also have a home.
He told a fringe meeting in Blackpool: “In Lambeth, where I live, I would give my right arm to send them to a fee-paying school.
“If necessary I would go out on the streets and beg rather than send them to the school where I live.” Sources believe Mr Letwin was referring to the Lilian Baylis School in Kennington.
Just six per cent of its pupils passed GCSEs at grades A to C last year.
But a high proportion come from ethnic backgrounds and many do not even speak English.
But the inner-city school, with 600 pupils and 40 teachers, has won several arts and drama contests.
Head Gary Phillips said: “It is another example of the Tories losing touch with the general public.
“Has Mr Letwin ever wondered if 100 per cent A-C grades at a school which only accepts gifted children from wealthy homes is as much of an achievement as a 10 per cent record of A-C grades at a school where the children can’t speak English when they start there? I doubt it.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2003.

Ben-Hur, London, April 3 1902

Ben-Hur, London, April 3 1902
Live horses and 30-ton chariots amaze the critics at the premiere of Ben-Hur, April 3 1902
Samantha Ellis
Wednesday October 8, 2003
The Guardian
Charlton Heston looking more than usually rugged is the image most people have of Ben-Hur. But before it was a film it was a novel, and after that - unbelievably, when you think about the chariot race and other amazing special effects required - it was a play.
Ben-Hur, a Tale of the Christ, was written by the grizzled lawyer and soldier General Lew Wallace while he was governing wild New Mexico. After its publication in 1880, he was deluged with requests to dramatise it, but refused them all because he objected in principle to the portrayal of Christ on stage. When William Young suggested an ingenious solution - Jesus would be represented by a beam of light - Wallace let him adapt it. The result was a hit on Broadway in 1899: it ran for an astonishing 21 years, during which time over 20 million people went to see it.
In 1902, Arthur Collins produced a replica production in London at the Drury Lane theatre. "The staging of such a play," wrote Tatler's critic, "is just the thing that Mr Arthur Collins revels in, for it requires all the ingenuity of a master of stage mechanism to give the play the actuality of the posters." The posters had had quite an impact; the Tatler critic's prose turned purple as he described these "fine samples of American lithography". Not for nothing had Collins poured money into the production, retaining the effects but bringing in a new cast and design team to give London a spectacle such as it had never seen before. As Tatler's critic noted gratefully: "Everything about Ben-Hur is on an enormous scale."
The impressive cast included Constance Collier as the temptress, Iras, despite the fact that she was also starring as Calypso in Ulysses, another stage epic, down the road at His Majesty's. She would run between the theatres and slip out of Calypso's flowing robes into Iras's unkempt wig and exotic, dishevelled clothing. Born in Kennington, like her friend Charlie Chaplin, Collier had been a Gaiety Girl before she switched to "legitimate" theatre, specialising in goddesses, queens and romantic heroines. Doe-eyed, curvy and carmine-lipped, she lamented in her 1929 autobiography that classic Victorian beauties had been overtaken by a succession of "lovely nymphs", leaving the British stage bereft: "There is none of the languid grace or warm beauty of 1900." Noël Coward, another friend and sparring partner, described her in later life as a grande dame, "presiding from her bed, attired in a pink dressing gown, with a Pekingese in one hand and a cigarette in the other".
The press liked the performances. Robert Taber, wrote the Illustrated London News's critic, played the eponymous Jewish prince with "rare personal charm" and the whole was "capitally acted", while Collier was coyly described by the Sketch's critic as "very alluring". But the real star of the show was backstage, in the mighty machinery that made the chariot race come alive.
The Era's critic dutifully detailed how it was achieved by "four great cradles, 20ft in length and 14ft wide, which are movable back and front on railways". The horses - real ones - galloped full-pelt towards the audience, secured by invisible steel cable traces and running on treadmills. Electric rubber rollers spun the chariot wheels. A vast cyclorama revolved in the opposite direction to create an illusion of massive speed, and fans created clouds of dust. It was, wrote the ILN's critic, "a marvel of stage-illusion" that was "memorable beyond all else". The Sketch's critic called it "thrilling and realistic ... enough to make the fortune of any play" and noted that "the stage, which has to bear 30 tons' weight of chariots and horses, besides huge crowds, has had to be expressly strengthened and shored up".
But there was more to Ben-Hur than sensation. The Sketch's critic noted that the opening night crowd included not just "sporting-men", there for the horses, but also "several clergymen", and it was the religious story, with the clever prefigurement of Christ and heart-wrenching melodrama, that finally impressed the audiences. The Sketch's critic was particularly moved by the "beautiful finale, breathing peace to those who have suffered".
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2003.

Bomb raid victims are remembered

South London Press
News
Bomb raid victims are remembered
Oct 7 2003
By Chief Reporter Oscar Mortali
A SERVICE of remembrance is to take place more than 60 years after dozens of men, women and children were killed in a Second World War bomb raid.
At least 54 people are believed to have perished when the explosive device was dropped on a shallow air-raid shelter in Kennington Park on October 15, 1940.
Among the victims were children as young as two. However, no official death toll was calculated and the site was levelled a few days later. It is possible that some bodies were never recovered.
Casualties included residents of Vauxhall Gardens and Kennington Park, and many were from streets between South Island Place and Newington Butts.
Now, 63 years on, a memorial service is to take place in Kennington to pay tribute to those who lost their lives.
The event is the idea of Oval Ward councillor Marietta Crichton Stuart. She told the South London Press: "It is a sad story. After I heard about it I thought it would be a good idea to have a memorial service for the civilian dead."
The Lib Dem Lambeth councillor is now appealing for anyone who lost a relative or friend in the bombing raid or remembers the tragic event to get in touch with her.
She is also inviting residents of the streets and estates involved to the ceremony, due to take place at St Mark's Church at the Oval on Sunday from 6.30pm.
* If you lost a friend or relative in the raid or remember it, email Cllr Crichton Stuart at: crichton@stuart.org or call the South London Press on 020-8710 6437.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 08, 2003.

FoDL: Evening Events at the Library

FoDL: Evening Events at the Library
FRIENDS OF THE DURNING LIBRARY
Evening events at 7.0 for 7.30 -- All welcome
held at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11
Nibbles and drinks - suggested donation Ł2 in aid of the library
Monday 20 October: "Queen Victoria and her royal descendants"
Victoria headed an unofficial European Union: her 9 children, 40 grandchildren and their descendants sat on most of the thrones of Europe. Some are still there, or have come back. Bobby Golden, who writes books on the royal family, explains with the help of photographs and a large family tree.
Monday 17 November: "A Month in the Arctic"
An arctic novice, Katrina Phillips spent a month living in an Inuit community within the Arctic Circle in northern Canada. She was there as base camp manager for an expedition retracing the last steps of Franklin's men. (Victorian explorer Sir John Franklin and his men died proving the existence of Canada's Northwest Passage.)
Monday 8 December: The Winter Social
A chance to relax over drinks, snacks, the traditional raffle, and maybe a quiz. Gordon Johnston will give a short talk on what it was like marching as a cadet in the Coronation procession in 1953.
Monday 19 January: "From a Place of Conflict to a Place of Peace - the story of The Old Courthouse, Kennington"
In 1995 The Old Courthouse, situated in Renfrew Road just off Kennington Lane, made a dramatic transformation from high-security court hosting figures such as the Krays to peaceful Buddhist Centre. Alison Murdoch will tell the story of how a group of volunteers rescued this Lambeth landmark from the Buildings at Risk register and describe the Buddhist and community activities that it now provides.
Monday 16 February: "Mr Guy's Hospital and the Caribbees"
Medical historian Jane Bowden-Dan will be discussing the medical care of Caribbean slaves sent "home" from the West Indies by London merchants and treated at Guy's Hospital. Was it humanitarian concern or enlightened self-interest which led to the slave Samson being treated by premier surgeon Samuel Sharpe?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, London SE11
t: 020 7926 8682
e: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Veronica (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), October 06, 2003.

Righteous brovaz

Times
October 05, 2003
Righteous brovaz
By David James Smith
Shootings, murders and drug busts were once the soundtrack to their lives. Then Big Brovaz turned the tables and gave rap a good name.
On the forecourt outside the group's rented London house – Ł90 a week each – J-Rock's Lexus is parked next to Randy's silver BMW. The house is inside the new gated development opposite the old Tulse Hill estate, just up the hill from downtown Brixton.
Big Brovaz's success has given the group members some reasonable, if not yet through-the-roof earnings, which some of them have been out spending: J-Rock bought his Lexus only a few weeks ago, the same time Randy drove home with a new BMW from a dealership in Essex, which is the furthest he's travelled in it so far. The Lexus is green – money-green, J-Rock calls it. Later, his bandmate Dion (who is saving, not spending) asks me what I think of J-Rock's Lexus, then tells me what she thinks of it, which is not much. A Lexus! And not even a big Lexus. And that green! Ugly. Personally, I think it is a very nice car and I can see that J-Rock thinks the world of it.
Still, J-Rock complains mildly that the bass on his in-car sound system, which might sound deep and heavily vibrant to the casual listener, is not quite up to scratch. I say it sounds okay to me. No, man, says J-Rock, that might be all right for the residential areas but it's not good enough for the 'hood. He is going to take it to Randy's uncle, who will fix him up with some proper bass.
Jay Dee is hovering nearby. He is the manager, often hovering. He leans inside the car and points to the dashboard. He says, have you seen the flip-top satellite navigation system? J-Rock flips it up. He used it for the first time the other night, offering to run Nadia to her home in Reading, where she had left some items she needed for the next day. He had got lost several times en route, not being quite sure how to program the satellite system, having set it to go from Reading to Brixton instead of the other way round.
J-Rock had said he would find and play me the secret track on the Big Brovaz album, Nu-flow. He ejected the Jay-Z album from his car's CD player and inserted the Big Brovaz album; he scrolled through to the last track, then scrolled through the silent pause of several seconds at the end of the last track before the secret track began. The secret track had been secreted there at the end of the group's album, perhaps for reasons of credibility. Jay Dee, who was still hovering, said, you see, I told you, she sounds just like Julie Andrews. It was Cherise from Big Brovaz singing 'raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens' on an original version of The Sound of Music song My Favourite Things. And she did sound just a little like Julie Andrews.
The band had recorded their own version of My Favourite Things – 'buy me diamonds and rubies, I'm crazy 'bout Bentleys, Gucci dresses and drop-top Kompressors [a Mercedes convertible]' – for their album and it went to No 3 in the charts when released as a single earlier in the year. The estate of Rodgers & Hammerstein (the authors of the song) had originally refused permission for the band to recycle it, then granted permission, cannily, after asking Big Brovaz to agree to include an original version of the song on their CD too. Thus the estate was earning royalties on two tracks instead of one. The band's revenge had been to hide the track.
J-Rock had been outlining his history as an underground rapper. He was still in his early twenties but it was already a long history dating back to his early teens. Big Brovaz's sound was a mainstream fusion of rap and R&B, pretty much the acceptable face of rap: an alternative to the implied threat and aura of violence that had settled around So Solid Crew. Some people in Brixton would dismiss Big Brovaz as a sellout – 'jus' pop group'. The cultural gap between Julie Andrews and underground rap was beyond measure.
I asked J-Rock if he was embarrassed, having a Julie Andrews song on his CD. No, man, he had seen The Sound of Music many times, he said, hundreds of times. He liked it a lot. Then he switched CDs and played me some of the new music he had recorded during the group's recent holiday, which he and Randy and Flawless and Dion had mostly spent in the studio. 'Listen up, motherf***ers,' began the vocal on one of his new tracks, 'this is J-Rock here...' That was J-Rock, going back to his roots. He wondered how Sony would cope with being asked to release this material under the auspices of Big Brovaz.
Sony called Big Brovaz 'urban'. It was the new sound of pop, and 'urban' was already a pop cliché: it was urban music and its time was now. Jay Dee did not think he could have sold Big Brovaz to Sony a couple of years ago. Six black kids from Brixton? Forget it. They just wouldn't have been interested. Sony's vice-president of UK repertoire, Nick Raphael, begged to differ. He thought he might have signed them, simply because they were so talented. But even he agreed this was the moment for urban music.
What was urban music? Er, that was a difficult one. It was music of the streets such as hip hop, garage and R&B. Craig David and Ms Dynamite and So Solid (who, Big Brovaz readily agreed, had paved the way for their own success). Well, actually, 'urban' was the music of young black people and here were six of them, on a gated development in Brixton with three executive people-carriers parked outside, waiting to transport them and their entourage to their next assignment. Inside, the house was teeming with people: the manager, the photographer and the photographer's assistant, the press officer, the hairstylist, the dressers, the make-up artists, and me.
Big Brovaz had broken through and, with luck and ambition and the proper application of their talent, could still have a long way to go.
Jay Dee said it would be the first single of their second album that determined their future. They would begin work on the second album this autumn. The first album, Nu-flow, had been selling 25,000 a week at the time of the Favourite Things single. The album had now gone platinum, with sales in excess of 300,000. He hoped the new single, Baby Boy, which would be the fourth single taken from Nu-flow, would find an even wider audience because it was a ballad and even more socially acceptable. Meanwhile he was paying daily attention to the band's progress in the US.
"The single's on the playlist of the top 10 stations in America!" Jay Dee told me one morning. But then I asked him to show me some US sales figures and playlist feedbacks and he never did: "I'm getting them biked over now... They're on their way... I'll bring them with me for Friday..."
J-Rock (real name John-Paul Horsley), Randy (Michael Brown), Flawless (Temi Tayo Aisida), Dion Howell, Nadia Shepherd, Cherise Roberts. That was the group. Plus their producers: Skillz (Abdul Bello) and Fingaz (Michael Mugisha). Cherise was the youngest, at 20. Skillz was the oldest, at 26.
When Jay Dee, who was only 28, first met them about a year ago, Big Brovaz had been a collective of 13 or more people. Nobody seemed sure of the exact number. The collective had been started by Skillz and a friend whose name was Marlon, whom they all used to call Brando. Skillz, who was Nigerian-born, had wanted to harness the otherwise unnoticed talent of young black people. He wanted to be the big brother who would nurture and encourage their music. Skillz had been in a rap band of his own called Secret Weapon with a fellow rapper who called himself Bobbie Chess, because he thought of himself as complicated, like the board game. Bobbie had recently enjoyed some financial success and had changed his name to Bobbie Cheques.
Marlon was Randy's cousin (they were a family of Jamaican origin) and had a flat in Kennington with a big living room, big enough to be turned into a recording studio. Thus Marlon's flat (renamed Beat-Oven Studios – a wordplay on 'Beethoven') had become a focal point for all those joining the Big Brovaz collective. While still in their teens, Randy and his brother Chaz-d (his name is Derek) had met J-Rock at an 'open mike' night for young rappers at Oval House, also in Kennington. The three of them had formed Out 4 Just-iz, a rap band seeking justice for UK rappers who, it seemed to them, were always losing out to American rappers. Even the local radio stations neglected home-grown talent and played American rappers instead.
They had initially formed their own label, RAF (Rugged as F***) Records, and had taken promotional photos of themselves near Randy and Chaz-d's mum's home on the Myatts Field estate.
They had sprayed Out 4 Just-iz graffiti there too, but it had since been washed off. They had once signed a singles deal with a small label and gained a distribution deal with a bigger label. The night before their first single, Let's Do It, was due for release they had gone out across London fly-posting stickers promoting the single. Sadly, the deal had gone wrong at the last minute and the single had not been distributed after all.
Some months before they signed to Sony, Randy's brother had gone to prison. He still had nearly a year left to serve and Randy was unwilling to discuss with me the offence his brother had committed. It was his brother's business, he said.
Not long after this, early in 2002, Randy's other, older brother, Raphael, was diagnosed with stomach cancer at 26. Raphael had died that May, just as Big Brovaz were becoming known. Randy had stepped down from the band for a while, and been replaced briefly by Skillz, the producer. Skillz said his brother's death had turned Randy upside down. He had gone a little crazy, believing his brother's life had been sacrificed for his own success. Even now, Randy said, he didn't know whether to celebrate (his own success) or grieve (the loss of his brother Raphael).
Their rap band Out 4 Just-iz had fallen in with the original Big Brovaz collective, going daily to Marlon's flat to write and record music. Both Randy and J-Rock had briefly taken jobs – Randy told me he had been a photocopy engineer, but the job had involved next to no engineering and a lot of photocopying – and both had been sacked in similar circumstances, after taking unauthorised time off to go to a record-company meeting.
As a young man living in Brixton, J-Rock had got into a little trouble and known others who had been unable to avoid far greater trouble. His dedication notes on the Nu-flow album listed a string of names, including Raphael, of friends who had died or been killed. 'I'll see you at them Gates,' he had written, 'make sure they let me in.'
There was Donovan, who J-Rock said had been shot in Brixton while trying to rob someone; Ratings, who was shot while sitting in his car with his girlfriend, who had also been shot but survived – a drugs-related incident, J-Rock thought that was; Happy, an African friend who had died in a bike accident on his way home, and Dash, who had been shot outside a south London club.
He knew many victims of shootings and stabbings, he said, and the various incidents had all been since the turn of the millennium. People had cars and money and jewellery, and other people heard about it on the streets. There was a lot of jealousy on the streets, said J-Rock.
His own run-ins with the police had been nothing serious, he said, only little misdemeanours, and he had never been incarcerated or nothing like it. And even though he had been affiliated with the streets and stuff like that, he had never got deep into selling drugs, having guns or anything like that. He had grown up and out of it, had responsibilities to take on (a daughter). "I done totally changed my life around, I found something positive to focus on, with music I found something legitimate, somewhere I fitted in and everyone was proud of me for that."
J-Rock had been born in Washington, DC, where his father had been based as a diplomat for the Caribbean island of Barbados. His mother, who was Brazilian, was deeply religious and had named him John-Paul – after the pope.
J-Rock had moved to London when his father had been transferred to the Bajan mission here. He had not seen his mother for some years now. Randy's parents lived apart too: his mother in London and his father in the US.
Flawless had also not seen his mother for many years – she was back in Nigeria – and described a difficult upbringing with his father, who had been a church deacon, very strict and critical with his son, so much so that his son had felt nothing short of perfection would do, hence his stage name, Flawless – an ironic commentary on his father's parenting.
While he had been trying to succeed with music, Flawless's father had often told him he should get a proper job. Now he was a success, his father had taken to the rather embarrassing habit of getting friends and acquaintances to phone Flawless and ask him to sing down the phone to them to prove who he was. Out of respect and tradition, Flawless could never refuse, even though he found these calls excruciating.
Randy and J-Rock sometimes went to the local church around the corner from their home on Sunday mornings. But Flawless never went to church now. He preferred to pray on his own, he said. Flawless had also gravitated to Marlon's flat and fallen in with the inspiring enthusiasm of the creativity there. He became close, in friendship, to Dion, who was recommended to the collective by a friend and was welcomed by Skillz and Marlon.
Dion's Jamaican parents had also been churchy and strict, and she had grown up closely involved in a Pentecostal church in Charlton, southeast London, where her father was the pastor and her mother was also the mother of the church. Dion's parents believed you were only meant to sing about God or to God in his praise. Dion had secretly listened to Michael Jackson on the radio in her bedroom at home, but had sung hymns and gospels from childhood in the church.
Though she was sure her parents had not wanted to inhibit her happiness Dion knew they had struggled to come to terms with her achievements in Big Brovaz. The CDs – the album and singles – sat unwrapped on the side at their home and she readily admitted she could not have sat in the same room as them listening to Nu-flow, because it had the word 'sh**' in the lyrics. Nor could she be in the room when the videos were on TV and her young cousins unhelpfully teased her parents, oooh, look at Dion's tiny skirt, and so on. Dion had grown up wearing long, all-covering skirts and dresses for church and, as an athlete, had become used to tracksuit bottoms and trousers. She had decided to let the Big Brovaz designers dress her how they wanted.
Dion, you could tell, was organised and focused. She was the only one of the group who had not moved into the Big Brovaz house in Brixton when it had been rented on their behalf by their management. Dion already had her own rented flat in Woolwich. She had a car too. Not a green Lexus, you may be sure. She had worked for a while in the offices of an investment company. She knew what she wanted.
When the band arrived back at Sony one afternoon, after performing at a children's charity in Battersea Park, Dion flopped down in a chair in a boardroom and asked, airily, can someone get us some food? She wanted 20 nuggets and a large fries from McDonald's. Twenty nuggets? Yes, that was the order, and she ate nearly all of them.
We sat together in the vacant office of the VP of UK repertoire, Nick Raphael, who had signed the band. He had gone off to Harrods, he explained to us without irony, to add some more expensive items to his wedding list because his guests were complaining that there weren't enough expensive items on the list. Dion said she hoped for an invite to the wedding. Of course, said Nick. Dion and the others had recently been invited to a country party as guests of the owner of their management company, Jonathan Shalit. At least, Dion thought they had been invited as guests. It turned out they were scheduled to perform.
In Dion's absence from the Big Brovaz house, the remaining women, Nadia and Cherise, shared a room. Cherise often went home to her mother's in Shepherd's Bush, where she had been brought up, the mixed-race daughter of an Irish mother and Jamaican father. Nadia came from Reading, and actually had a husband in Reading, Johnny Stephenson, whom she had married earlier in the year. They had been together for about 18 months.
To tell the honest truth, said Nadia, the group comes first. She loved her husband dearly, but Big Brovaz was her career and this was what she had waited all her life to achieve. Nadia had been working in a Prudential office before Big Brovaz claimed her. It had been a simple job, a four-year-old could have done it, she said.
A friend of a friend had introduced her to the collective. She had grown up listening to Mariah Carey but had never imagined she might one day meet her on at least semi-equal terms, as a member of the group. Mariah had been really sweet and Nadia had felt good meeting her. Amazing things like that had been happening already, less than a year into the band being taken up by Sony. They had been signed up for the new Scooby Doo film, had spent a week in Vancouver filming brief appearances and recording two songs. They had been to Australia and New Zealand, on a brief and demanding tour.
It was after that the band insisted on a holiday. Nadia had taken her honeymoon in Jamaica (her family came mostly from Barbados; her father was from the small nearby island of Aruba). Nadia had no qualms about spending money on a honeymoon. A honeymoon and shopping, she said, were her aims and desires. She wanted to shop for sexy clothes. And maybe, down the line, she fancied one of those Mercedes Kompressors the band had sung about in My Favourite Things.
Her room-mate, Cherise, though the youngest band member, had also had the most extensive experience as a signed artist. Sadly, her contract with East West Records had gone wrong with the release of an album, Look Inside, early in 2002. Cherise had been signed after winning a Mobo (Music of Black Origin) Unsigned award in 2000 and was dropped after the release of the album. She had not wanted to continue singing at first, had barely wanted to step out the door, but had eventually rejoined the Big Brovaz collective.
Cherise had also been linked to a similar collective, Tribel, based in Shepherd's Bush. Tribel's founder, DJ Kieran Bobb, produced some records for her, but their collaboration ended when Bobb died in a shooting incident at Nando's restaurant in Shepherd's Bush. Cherise herself did not associate with people involved in gun crime, she said. She was strictly music.
The Big Brovaz collective, the 13 or 15 or 16 or however many it was, had been unwieldy, chaotic but exciting. They had performed all over the country. They had produced a compilation CD, Big Brovaz – Watchin' U, and had been excited when it sold 2,000 copies quickly on the streets of south London. They had sent copies to every industry contact they could think of, and Jay Dee had heard it and came calling. He had seen them on stage at Subterania in Ladbroke Grove and recalled it as one of the most disorganised and terrible gigs he had ever attended. Still, he had seen through it and heard their talent.
But, Jay Dee had told Skillz, he could not work with so many people. He told Skillz to pick the best six and Skillz knew exactly who they were, straight away. Fingaz had thought up their signature tune, Nu-flow, almost immediately after Jay Dee's interest. Later, when Jay Dee had asked for something that might really get noticed in the charts, Skillz came up with the idea of reworking My Favourite Things. Sony, as they might say, had come aboard within two weeks of Big Brovaz being signed up by Jay Dee. After all those years of plugging away, they were an overnight success.
The band did not want to concede that they had climbed on the backs of their fellow collective members to get ahead. If you asked them, they would say the other members had been less dedicated or had drifted away or become pregnant and started families. That was partly true, but others really had been left behind and there had been ill feeling, directed not at the band but mostly at Skillz, who had not picked them. Even now, some people were no longer speaking to Skillz, who had lost his friendship with Marlon and one or two others.
The band – especially the men – thought that it was better for some of them to break through and carry the rest with them, than for all of them to be sat back hoping for something to happen, with nothing happening.
It seemed important to Randy and J-Rock, particularly, not to lose sight of their origins, to leave the door open for the return of Randy's brother, when he was released, and the revival of Out 4 Just-iz. Though of course, that cause, the cause of UK rappers, would be less heartfelt now, now that they were big-time rappers themselves with their Lexuses and their BMWs and all.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 05, 2003.

Greening Vauxhall Project MORI Park User Survey presentation

Greening Vauxhall Project MORI Park User Survey presentation
Greening Vauxhall would like you to join them
Thursday the 9th of October 2003 at Novotel Hotel Waterloo, at 18:00
MORI (Market Opinion Research International) will present the results of the Park User Survey that took place in all the project parks this August
Novotel Waterloo (Paris room), 113 Lambeth Rd, SE1
Greening Vauxhall Project
MORI Park User Survey presentation
Thursday October 9th 2003
Paris room, Novotel Hotel Waterloo, 113
Lambeth Rd, SE1
* 18.00: Tea and coffee
* 18.30: MORI Presentation
* 19.00: Networking/Wine and canapé reception
Kassandra Polyzoides, Greening Vauxhall Officer.
For further information please contact Kassandra directly on tel: 020 7926 6221 or e-mail: kpolyzoides@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Kassandra (KPolyzoides@lambeth.gov.uk), October 02, 2003.

Important workshop for North Lambeth

Important workshop for North Lambeth this Saturday 4 October 2003
Dear colleague
This is a reminder about Saturday's North Lambeth Plan workshop for those living, working or studying in Waterloo, Kennington, Oval, Vauxhall andVassall!
If you care about your area, it is most important that you contribute your views, because the results of this workshop will feed into planning for how North Lambeth should be over the next 15 years!
The workshop will be held this Saturday 4 October 2003 from 2pm to 4pm at the China Walk TRA Hall, 15 Lambeth Walk (click the link below for a map showing the location of the hall).
Location of China Walk TRA Hall:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=531172&Y=179120&A=Y&Z=1
If you cannot attend please send you views to Ian Jackson at ijackson@lambeth.gov.uk by 16 October 2003.
Further events will be advertised to discuss proposals from the Police, the Primary Care Trust, the Council and other partners on how they can address the identified needs and aspirations of North Lambeth. For your information I have attached the draft of the introduction to the North Lambeth section of the Lambeth Plan below my signature.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
on behalf of the North Lambeth Town Centre Office Team:
Frances Forrest - Town Centre Manager
Glennette Bowles-Dove - Community Development Manager
Gerald Gohler - Area Information Officer
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal - Area Services
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
********************************************************************
NORTH LAMBETH
a. Facts and Figures
North Lambeth consists of Bishop's, Princes, Oval and Vassall wards. Its borders are the Thames to the North and West and Southwark to the East. It increasingly forms part of the inner area of central London, south of the river and, under the Mayor's Plan is an area of opportunity-London South Central. It comprises three main "zones" or neighbourhoods-Vassall, Waterloo and Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall (KOV).
Approximately 45,985 people live in the North Lambeth area. Bishops and Oval wards are less ethnically mixed than the Lambeth average. Princes Ward is slightly more ethnically diverse than the average and Vassall Ward has the second most ethnically diverse community in the Borough. Over 50% of the households in each of the four wards have an income of less than Ł20,000. Variations are great though. For example, 7.8% of households in Vassall ward have incomes of over Ł60,000, this rises to10.7% in Oval. On the Index of Multiple Deprivation (2000) the four wards in North Lambeth were ranked (out of 8414): Bishops 1077, Princes 1211, Oval 1175 and Vassall 422. Employment rates closely match general deprivation but it should, of course, be noted that North Lambeth is also host to some major multinational employers and, as such, generates employment and wealth which has little impact on the local neighbourhood.
Two of the most educationally deprived wards in London lie in the North Lambeth area-Vassall (14th) and Bishops (17th). In Bishops Ward, 34.9% of people have poor literacy, in Princes 28%, in Oval 25.6% and in Vassall 32.6%.
North Lambeth suffers from some high levels of crime, particularly burglary and street crime in Oval and Vassall, and drug and motor vehicle crime in Bishops and Vassall.
A series of partnerships and organisations, with associated plans and strategies, are active in the area. Most significant amongst these are Circle Waterloo, Cross River Partnership, Oval Partnership, South Bank Partnership, Vassall Area Regeneration Group, Lambeth Riverside, Coin Street Community Builders, Waterloo Project Board and Waterloo Community Regeneration Trust. Forums also cover the three neighbourhoods. Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum covers the Bishops Ward south of Lambeth Road, Princes and Oval Wards, Waterloo Forum covers Bishops Ward north of Lambeth Road, and the Vassall Area Regeneration Group covers the Vassall Ward.
b. Ideas and Themes
Some of the ideas that have emerged from these organisations are:
* Furthering the regeneration of Kennington Cross-environmental improvements and ideas around a focus on arts and culture
* Tackling graffiti-particularly on Ethelred Estate
* Protecting and enhancing open space, for example Spring Gardens, Kennington Park, Vauxhall Park, Archbishops Park
* Tackling a number of dangerous pedestrian crossings
* Ensuring full community benefit from Vauxhall Cross development
* Local businesses having a stronger voice
* Developing out of office attractions for businesses, for example shops, cafes, restaurants
* Developing more leisure and community facilities, including libraries
* Better protection, for example CCTV and lighting for pedestrians
* Regeneration of the Lower Marsh Market
* Encouraging community based environmental activity
* Providing greater awareness of local services such as a directory of who, what and where
Some of the interventions put in place to meet identified needs, and achievements emerging from the above plans are:
* Installation of convex cameras in high risk areas within the Oval Neighbourhood
* Installation of door and window security locks for tenants
* Lighting improvements to the Coney Way Sheltered Housing Project
* Improvements to the ball games area at Sturminster House
* Installation of anti-bogus caller devices for the elderly
* Free public internet kiosk installed at neighbourhood housing office
c. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
Strengths
* Good parks and open spaces with strong local support for their upkeep and use
* Strong voluntary and community sector involvement with some flagship organisations e.g. Coin Street, VARG
Weaknesses
* Some areas of really poor housing, with few leisure and retail facilities e.g. Ethelred and China Walk
* Real concern about community safety
o street drinking
o rough sleepers
o poor lighting
o a recent survey of children and young people in Vassall revealed their concern about graffiti, crime and drugs
* Transport
o issues of congestion charging
o volume of traffic leads to poor environment and difficult conditions for pedestrians
* Lack of facilities for children and young people
Opportunities
* Build on creative industries e.g. opportunities for Cinema Museum
* London South Central - an area of opportunity with great potential benefits for business and residential communities
* Bringing unused assets back into use for community benefit e.g. Beaufoy, Archbishop Davidson's Institute
* Create new leisure facilities such as a cinema or pool
* New developments make possible use of Section 106 money to fund community benefit
* Use railway arches to create work space and leisure opportunities
Threats
* Pace of development will swamp local communities
* Expansion of central London southwards will marginalize and disenfranchise poorer sections of the community
* Lack of cohesion of the three disparate neighbourhoods in the area

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), October 02, 2003.

War on street crime hits South London

South London Press
News
War on street crime hits South London
Sep 30 2003
By Greg Truscott
THE largest ever police operation fighting South London street crime has begun.
Hundreds of cops have been drafted in to support the blitz on mugging hotspots throughout the boroughs.
Scotland Yard has made available the full resources of the Met for the round-the-clock offensive.
It will involve uniformed officers, mounted police, dog handlers, transport police and helicopters from the Met's Air Support Unit.
Robbery hotspots - including Tube and rail stations - will be targeted by the street crime task force which will be complemented with covert operations by plain-clothes detectives.
Custodial facilities have also been bolstered in anticipation of the high number of arrests.
The aim of the operation - named Safer Streets 3 - is to drastically reduce the number of street robberies in South London in October, a time when the number of muggings normally rises.
Similar operations have been mounted within the boroughs before, significantly reducing the number of street robberies, but this will be the first time the whole of South London has been targeted in one swoop.
A large number of resources will be focused on Lambeth and Southwark, with police in both boroughs working as one unit during the street crime blitz.
Detective Chief Inspector Glyn Jones from Kennington CID told the South London Press: "October is normally a busy month for street robbery and the purpose of this operation is to make a significant reduction to the number of offences.
"We will be targeting geographical hotspots where we know street robberies are committed, such as Tube and rail stations."
Commander John Yates, who is leading Safer Streets 3 throughout the capital, added: "This operation highlights our continued dedication to targeting and arresting all street robbers and wiping out the misery and fear they cause.
"This is a development of all our earlier operations focusing on street crime and street criminals.
"It's going to run for two weeks, but I see this running almost on a regular basis month by month for the rest of the year to focus on getting street crime down. You'll see some pretty extraordinary activity from all aspects of the Met; everyone is playing in this, from mounted branch to dogs, traffic to the specialist departments.
"Once this two weeks is over street robbers should not relax.
"This operation will be replicated in different parts of London over the coming weeks and months, on top of our day-to-day enforcement activity."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 01, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 29 September 2003
The Kennington Association is proposing that there should be an extension of the congestion charging zone to come over Chelsea Bridge, South to Clapham Common, then go East through Brixton and via the Walworth Road to the Elephant. They argue that this could reduce traffic volumes and result in a better, quieter quality of life, increase house values, save the present nuisance and costs of taking children to school and visiting the doctor inside the zone, and reduce traffic congestion on roads we use--ie the existing boundary.
Others argue that suppliers, builders etc who mostly come from outside the zone do not like to work/deliver inside the zone. They feel their friends would be less keen to lunch with them if they have to pay a fiver to come here! These residents would rather pay the present Ł5 occasionally (and probably not as much as twice a month) rather than pay Ł126 for the annual congestion surcharge in addition to normal parking permits (and apparently once you reside inside the zone you can't pay Ł5 to go driving daily, you must pay a minimum of a week).
There is to be a public meeting to discuss all this on 14 October - venue not yet known.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 30, 2003.

Letter to Times from Countryside Alliance

Times
September 29, 2003
Rural development
From Mr Simon Hart
Sir, Mrs Jean Locker (letter, September 20; see also letter, September 26) seems oblivious to the fact that the agriculture sector is in its worse depression since the 1930s, and farmers and farm workers are leaving the land in their thousands. It is little wonder that agricultural buildings, which are anyway often designed to fit outdated systems, are becoming redundant. Only 15 per cent of businesses are now involved in agriculture, compared with 25 per cent in 1980. It is vital that the Government promotes a sustainable rural economy and rural people are retained in their local communities. Farm diversification and the development of sustainable new businesses in redundant agricultural buildings are an important element in achieving this goal.
Those who object to any development “in their backyards” may find that the unpopulated landscape of derelict agricultural buildings and unmanaged farmland that results is not quite the rural idyll they envisaged.
Yours, etc,
SIMON HART
(Chief Executive Designate),
Countryside Alliance,
367 Kennington Road, SE11 4PT.
September 27.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 29, 2003.

POSTCARDS OF CLEAVER SQUARE

POSTCARDS OF CLEAVER SQUARE
From a watercolour by Valerie Otte, BA (Hons) Fine Arts
Price List
10 cards Ł 2.40 (with envelopes Ł 2.75)
25 cards Ł 6.00 (with envelopes Ł 6.85)
50 cards Ł 12.00 (with envelopes Ł 13.50)
100 cards Ł 24.00 (with envelopes Ł 27.00)
For orders of 25 or more cards, please add 50p to cover delivery/p&p.
Please enclose cheque made payable to M Hadfield
15 Austral Street, London SE11 4SJ
Tel: 7582 5585 M: 07944 498138

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 28, 2003.

NORTH LAMBETH PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING

NORTH LAMBETH PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING
***NOBODY KNOWS YOUR AREA LIKE YOU DO, SO HAVE YOUR SAY***
**HELP DEVELOP A PLAN FOR NORTH LAMBETH**
Saturday 4 October 2003
2pm-4pm
China Walk Estate TRA Hall
15 Lambeth Walk, SE11
ALL WELCOME!!!
For further information please contact the North Lambeth Town Centre Office on 020 7926 8295 or ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), September 28, 2003.

FoKP: Public Meeting

Events in the park
Do you enjoy having events like the fair and circus in Kennington Park?
The Friends of Kennington Park will be discussing this, and the issue of dogs in the Park, at our next Public Meeting at
Saturday 25th October 2003, 10am
at St Agnes Church Hall, Kennington Park Gardens, SE11
Everyone is welcome but we are especially keen to hear the views of kids, their carers as well as dog owners so please come along and tell us what you think.
Friends of Kennington Park
155 Kennington Park Rd, SE11 4JJ
t: 7582 2849
e: FoKenningtonPark@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), September 28, 2003.

JUMBLE SALE

JUMBLE SALE
Saturday, 4th October
11am until 3pm
St Agnes Church Hall
Kennington Park Gardens SE11
If you have items you would be willing to donate - they can all be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (3rd October) between 6-8pm - or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.
Friends of Kennington Park
155 Kennington Park Rd, SE11 4JJ
t: 7582 2849
e: FoKenningtonPark@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), September 28, 2003.

QUEEN VICTORIA AND HER ROYAL DESCENDANTS

QUEEN VICTORIA
AND HER ROYAL DESCENDANTS

Monday, 20th October
7pm for 7.30pm
The Friends of Durning Library invite you to a talk by author Bobby Golden.
Victoria headed an unofficial European Union. Nine children and 40 grandchildren and their descendants sat on most of the thrones of Europe. Mr Golden will explain this succession with the help of photographs and a large family tree.
Ł2 including first drink and snacks.
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane SE11 4HF
T: 020 7926 8682/3
e: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), September 28, 2003.

Transport and Traffic in Kennington - PUBLIC MEETING

Transport and Traffic in Kennington
PUBLIC MEETING
7pm on Tuesday, 14th October
St Anselm's Church Hall Kennington Cross SE11
· Including Kennington within the Congestion Zone
· Re-Zoning Kennington Tube Station
· Pedestrian Crossings and Traffic Lights
Guest panellists include:
Kate Hoey, MP
Bernard Jenkin, MP
Christian Wolmar
Come along and have your say!
This meeting will be preceded at 6.30pm by an AGM for Kennington Association members only. Please telephone Cathy on 7793 0268 for more details.

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), September 28, 2003.

The London to Brighton Run

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 26 September 2003.
Sun 2 November 2003:
The London to Brighton Run
Veteran cars - built in or before 1904 - will drive up Kennington Road, past Kennington Park, and up the Brixton Road. The first and oldest reach Kennington Cross at about 0745 and the last pass through at about 0845.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 28, 2003.

Sad news

I just heard the very sad news that Vicky, from the Dog House, died unexpectedly yesterday, Friday, during an operation at King's College Hospital. The funeral will take place in Newcastle and it is thought that a coach will be organised to take people up there. Meanwhile the pub is closed.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2003.

Flower Festival at St Peter's, Vauxhall

Fragrant
Theatre goes floral in a unique festival of flowers and flower arrangers
Conceived by Artist Jyll Bradley in collaboration with The National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies (London and Overseas Area)
Box Office 020 8253 1030
St Peter's Flower Festival
A stunning hybrid Flower Festival.
50 flower arrangers take over a Vauxhall church to create a stunning floral installation based on local people's dreams.
St Peter's Church is transformed with flowers. Enter via a willow bower, tall columns with tropical orchids greet you. To your right, a globe woven with roses, above clouds of delicate gypsophila. Discover books made of leaves and fountains of lilies. Enjoy a cup of tea. Take time to wonder - alone or with friends.
Venue: St Peter's Church, 310 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, London SE11
Price: Ł4/Ł2.50 (concs) Family ticket (two adults + two children) Ł10
Opening times: Friday 3 October 11.30am-5.30pm; Saturday 4 October 10am-5.30pm; Sunday 5 October 12.30-5.30pm
Preview Night of St Peter's Flower Festival
Thursday 2 October 6.30pm (Doors open)To be opened by 'The High Priestess of Flower Arranging' Miss Julia Clements OBE, VMH. (She is 97 years young and has sold over a milltion books on flower arranging. Her message to the world: 'Friendship through flowers'.) 50 flower arrangers have, after months of planning, created a sublime floral installation in St Peter's. Tonight's dazzling celebration includes the World Premiere of Contemporary Floral Dance 'Flowers in Da House'.
Price Ł12
Dreams Come True
Friday 3 October 7.30pm
Floral Demonstrations by Gilly Platt, Chairman of NAFAS and Jennifer Weetch from the Barbardos Flower Arranging Society who flies in with gorgeous flowers from her garden. Tropical Caribbean splendour shares the stage with blowsy English blooms. Cricket-crazy Jenny dreams of West Indies World Cup Glory. Gilly reflects on a dream fulfilled - as her term ends as head of the UK flower arranging world. Two different continents, two extraordinary women.
Signed Performance Price Ł10/Ł8 (concs)
Saturday 4 October 7pm
Floral Demonstration by Athena Tulba. Rivers run wide through Athena's dreams. Born in Sudan of Greek parents, she met her husband on the Nile and recently took a trip of a lifetime down the Amazon. Tonight this world-renowned arranger takes us on a moving journey down rivers past, present and future.
Price Ł10/Ł8 (concs)
9.30pm
Floral Demonstration by Nikki Leadsom. Home so full of junk you could keep Oxfam going for a month? Romantic trip gone pear-shaped? If you've ever struggled to fulfil your dreams of a perfect home or romance, then Nikki's warm and funny show is for you!Price: Ł10/Ł8 (concs)
Harvest Festival
Sunday 5th October 11am
Led by Rev. Wilma Roest. Floral celebrations, hymns and prayers. All welcome.
The National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS) is the national network for flower arranging societies. It s dedicated to pursuing the art of flower arranging through education and events. It aims to encourage the love of flowers, their creative value and conservation. With 85,000 members and 1,400 affiliated clubs, it is one of the large 'interest' societies in the UK. www.nafas.org.uk
Workshops
All at St Peter's Church. Price Ł15/Ł10 (concs) including flowers and entry to festival
Friday 3 October at 11.30am: Fun with Flowers
Learn the basics of choosing, caring for and arranging flowers. Create a lovely arrangement to take hoe.
Friday 3 October at 2pm: Ikebana Style
Introduction to Japanese-style flower arranging. Make and take home a stylish arrangement.
Saturday 4 October at 11am: Let's Celebrate! Learn to make a gorgeous yet simple table design for a dinner party, wedding or bar mmitzvah.
Saturday 4 October at 2pm: Fun with Flowers
Learn the basics of choosing, caring for and arranging flowers. Create a lovely arrangement to take home.
Box Office: 020 8253 1030
Mon-Sat: 10am-8pm and Sun: 12-8pm
For all tickets

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2003.

Police assault charge

South London Press
News
Police assault charge
Sep 26 2003
A TEENAGER has denied assaulting a cop at Kennington Police Station.
Stefan Smith, 19, was bailed to reappear at Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court on November 7 for trial.
Smith, of Fountain Place, Camberwell, was cleared of failing to attend an earlier hearing after he produced a sick note.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2003.

Damilola cop quits

South London Press
News
Damilola cop quits
Sep 23 2003
A POLICE sergeant heavily criticised over the collapse of the Damilola Taylor trial has quit the force.
Caroline Crooks, 36, was at the centre of the high-profile investigation into the murder of the 10-year-old in Peckham nearly three years ago.
She had always insisted she had done her best despite damning condemnation following the breakdown of the trial.
She was instrumental in quizzing the controversial key witness, dubbed "Bromley" - a testimony which later contributed to the trial's collapse.
Now Sgt Crooks, who was based at Kennington police station, has handed in her resignation and headed back to her native Ireland.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan police confirmed Sgt Crooks had left the force but added: "We can't comment on what her reasons might have been."
Four teenagers were eventually cleared of stabbing 10-year-old Damilola in a north Peckham stairwell in November 2000.
Sgt Crooks had led 10 hours of interviews with the 14-year-old female witness Bromley.
Last year the Old Bailey heard Sgt Crooks had told Bromley she would be "more guaranteed" to collect a Ł50,000 reward if she claimed she had seen the actual stabbing.
The court also heard Sgt Crooks had had no proper police training in interview techniques with juveniles.
Afterwards Sgt Crooks refuted suggestions her investigative methods had been unsound, and said: "I did the best job I could."
An independent review chaired by the Bishop of Birmingham later blasted the entire police investigation into the murder.
The review pointed to a series of failings throughout.
It stated: "In hindsight, Bromley should have been interviewed in better ways.
"The absence of any process to test the veracity of Bromley's testimony before trial left the prosecution of the case vulnerable to problems."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 24, 2003.

Dami shambles Sarge quits Met

The Sun
Dami shambles Sarge quits Met
By IAN HEPBURN
Crime Reporter
THE cop slated over her role in the Damilola Taylor trial fiasco has quit the police a broken woman, The Sun can reveal.
Sergeant Caroline Crooks, 36, has returned alone to her native Ulster after her marriage collapsed.
Yesterday, Detective Superintendent Trevor Shepherd, who led the hunt for Damilola’s killers, confirmed: “She has had problems in her private life and gone back to Northern Ireland.
“I am sure her treatment during the trial was a contributory factor. It took its toll on her. I always thought she was a good officer.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman added: “Fellow officers offered to support her application if she wished to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
“But she wanted to make a complete break.”
Sgt Crooks led ten hours of interviews with 14-year-old girl ‘Bromley’ — the disastrous key witness.
But the cop’s tactics were blasted when four boys were cleared of ten-year-old Damilola’s murder at the Old Bailey last April.
The court heard Crooks had told Bromley she was “more guaranteed” to collect a Ł50,000 reward if she said she saw the stabbing in Peckham, South East London.
One defence barrister branded her “a disgrace to her profession.”
Another said she “cynically” took advantage of the teenager.
The court heard Crooks had no training in quizzing juveniles and did not follow guidelines.
But Crooks, who was based at Kennington, insisted: “I did the best job I could.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 22, 2003.

White Bear Theatre

The Clear & Present Rangers at the White Bear
We will be performing our revue of character-driven comedy sketches and all-original songs at the White Bear on four Sunday evenings in November, all at 19.00: 2, 9, 16, and 30 November. Your help in getting the word out locally will be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
John Mendels(s)ohn
Writer/director/composer
The Clear & Present Rangers
Performing at:
The Cricketers (Richmond Green) 11 October and 1 November
The Old Red Lion Theatre (Angel) 13 October
The White Bear Theatre (Kennington) 2, 9, 16 and 30 November
Please see www.londoning.com/cpr for details!
020 8977 9262
07986 024421
wwwilson@londoning.com

-- John (wwwilson@londoning.com), September 20, 2003.

Lambeth Archives Open Day

LambethDate:19 September 2003
Ref: 1664
Press contact: Jo Rogers
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: jrogers3@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Hitchcock and Chaplin to star in Archives Open Day
Do you know which Alfred Hitchcock film was shot in Brixton - or why Charlie Chaplin's Kennington childhood influenced his films? Perhaps you'd like to find out about early film studios in Streatham or why so many entertainers lived in Lambeth?
Lambeth Archives based at the Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, SE5 is holding its annual Open Day from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Saturday September 27th.
The theme this year is entertainment, looking at the importance of Lambeth in nineteenth century theatre, music hall and early cinema. There will be a programme of exhibitions and talks, a showing of Lambeth newsreel clips and local Lambeth societies will have stalls and displays.
Highlights will include Charlie Chaplin's early years in Lambeth, films that were set in the borough - including a model of the Passport to Pimlico set - and an accompanied talk on Lambeth and music hall. Punch and Judy shows will be put on throughout the day, and there will be competitions, with prizes, for both children and adults.
A brand new set of postcards, all with an entertainment theme, will be launched.
A monthly history group called The Time Flyers is also in the offing. Meetings are to be held once a month for about an hour in the Minet Library, starting in November, and people will be asked to bring along their own items to show the group.
Different themes will be used to introduce Lambeth people to the archives and museum collections, and to encourage interest in Lambeth's long and varied history.
Some of the themes and topics being considered are:
family memorabilia
how old is your house?
favourite childhood toys and games
Festival of Britain
the Crystal Palace
doing your family history
old prints and photographs
Doulton Pottery
'We hope both the Open Day and the local history group will bring new people into Lambeth Archives. This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in local history,' says Councillor Anthony Bottrall, executive member for education.
For further information please contact the Lambeth Archives Department at the Minet Library on 020 7926 6076.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 20, 2003.

Stab man in court

South London Press
News
Stab man in court
Sep 19 2003
A 36-year-old man appeared in court accused of attempting to murder a young mum in front of her five-month-old child a bus in Kennington.
Robert Alphonso Reid is alleged to stabbed 22-year-old Milisa Duker-Brown after she boarded a bus in Brixton Road, Kennington, on Monday. Mr Reid, of Plover House, Brixton Road, Kennington, appeared before Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with attempted murder and robbery. He was remanded in custody.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 19, 2003.

My Carole Caplin makeover

My Carole Caplin makeover
Kate Figes can understand how Cherie Blair fell under Carole Caplin's spell. After all, when she signed up for one of her fitness courses she found herself swaddled in towels on the charismatic lifestyle guru's bed...
Kate Figes
Thursday September 18, 2003
The Guardian
Photos of Carole Caplin are splashed across the front pages and each one sends shivers of recognition down my spine. Twelve years ago I signed up for one of her six-week health and fitness courses. I was overweight, working too hard and exhausted after the birth of my first child who, at the age of two, still wasn't sleeping through the night. My nanny had bought Caplin's fitness video and we spent several evenings following her exercise routine on the playroom floor. "You should sign up for one of her courses," said my nanny. So I did. I had never done anything like that before, nor have I since. She was charismatic and persuasive even then.
After coughing up in advance a sum I now can't remember but what felt like a huge amount of money, I was ordered to go to her home in Kennington, south London, for a full debrief. I was so late and disorganised that I left home without breakfast or that first essential cup of coffee. I arrived hungry, desperate for caffeine after yet another broken night and shabbily dressed. She opened the door, elegant, thin, made-up, well groomed - everything a harrassed new mother aspires to - and I fell into her pristine white living room.
After an hour and a half of intense grilling on my personality, likes and dislikes, inhibitions, health, eating and exercise habits, she took me into her tiny, immaculate white kitchen and slowly prepared a plate of the foods that I should be eating; mushroom pate on oatcakes, hummous on rye bread, raw fruit and vegetables. I should be cutting out coffee, tea, wheat and dairy products, I wasn't to mix carbohydrates with protein at meals and "definitely no sweeties" she said firmly. I was so ravenous that I agreed to everything and gobbled up every crumb on the plate, every raisin. "You certainly like your food," I remember her saying. I was so relieved to be eating anything that I didn't notice the put-down until later.
"Now its time for your pamper," she said cheerfully.
"My what?" I had eaten and was hoping to escape back to work.
She took me up to her tiny white bathroom, pulled my tousled, unwashed hair off my face and showed me how to cleanse and moisturise my skin. She slapped a "rejuvenating" face mask on - Bharti Vyas products, which I had to buy. She had boxes of them under the sink. "You've got to look after yourself," she said authoritatively as she ran a deep, foaming bath and tossed in a handful of Dead Sea salts. (She advised me to buy those, too.) "I want you to relax in this bath for at least 20 minutes. I'll come and get you when your time's up," she said cheerfully as she left and locked the door.
She had the air of a headmistress about her, one who made me feel utterly child-like, unattractive and inadequate as she drifted confidently around her modern, white purpose-built two-up, two-down. I didn't dare disobey. But as I lay there, locked naked inside a total stranger's bathroom it suddenly dawned on me that this was a little surreal. It was only 10.30 in the morning and what exactly was I doing there? I had work to do, a child I adored and missed like countless other working mothers and it was beginning to get claustrophobically hot and steamy. I was sweating profusely and felt faint from the drop in blood sugar after missing breakfast.
When Caplin finally let me out, she wrapped me in fresh white towels and told me to lie down on her bed to recover. Her bedroom had mirrored wardrobes along one wall, a few scattered white cushions and not much else. It was eerily quiet and at this point I began to wonder whether this wasn't in fact the set for a soft porn movie. Were there cameras ready to roll behind those mirrors? But there was no personal rub down afterwards. I got dressed wearily and went downstairs for my final briefing. I was to attend her exercise classes in King's Cross at least three times a week. I was to follow a strict detox diet and she would ring me once a week to check how I was. I left her house just before lunchtime feeling considerably more tired than I had when I had arrived.
I spent the afternoon shopping for Caplin's recommended foods and dutifully went to her exercise classes three times a week. I cleansed my skin nightly, applied face masks weekly and reassured her when she rang that I was indeed feeling better because I didn't dare tell her otherwise. But you know what? It worked. I did have more energy and lost weight, because after six weeks of detox and workouts you do. It was the sheer charismatic nature of her control over her "clients" which still gives me a creepy feeling 12 years on.
I can remember the slick sound of her voice as she told us how to exercise and encouraged us to push ourselves further. That we could do it. I remember how she once confessed that even she indulged now and then, and had eaten two bars of chocolate earlier that day so it was perfectly all right for us mere mortals to be a little naughty too. I remember how she praised me once in class for having lost weight and I beamed like the teacher's pet, and then how moments later she massaged and comforted another woman who burst into tears because she hadn't been praised. But most of all I remember how she looked. She had the body of a racehorse. She was athletic and fit and every woman in that class longed to be a little more like her. That is her power. She understands women's weaknesses, their desire to feel better about themselves image-wise and their acute need at times for a little pampering when the going gets tough.
She is also extraordinarily bossy - bossier than I am, which is saying something. I can understand how this charismatic and self-assured woman managed to seduce Cherie Booth with her charms. As a busy working mother never out of the public eye, with a complete lack of interest in clothes, she was easy prey, as I was. What I find harder to understand is how such an intelligent woman could have let someone who earns a living feeding off the inadequacies of others anywhere near her home.

-- Cathy (cathyvprece@aol.com), September 18, 2003.

Arrest in bus stabbing

This is Local London
Arrest in bus stabbing
By Local London Reporter
A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of a young woman on a bus in Kennington.
He is currently being held at a central London police station.
The woman was stabbed in front of her baby on a bus in south London.
The woman is in stable condition in a south London hospital after the incident on a Number 3 bus at Brixton Road about 10.45am yesterday.
She boarded the bus, heading for Brixton from the Oval, with a friend and her baby, when a man grabbed her handbag and jumped off the bus.
The man was then chased by the woman and her friend, who managed to get the bag back.
They then got back on the bus, but were followed by the man.
He then stabbed the woman about six or seven times, police said.
He was last seen running off down Brixton Road toward Vassell Road.
The woman was taken to hospital and remains in stable condition.
“Her five-month-old baby didn't sustain any injuries and is currently being cared for by other members of their family,” police said.
The suspect is described as a black male, aged in his mid twenties and wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt.
Anyone with information should contact CID Kennington on 020 8649 2484 where all calls will be treated in the strictest confidence. However, if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
11:38am Tuesday 16th September 2003
mailto:newsdesk@london.newsquest.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2003.

STABBING ATTACK ON BUS

Sky News
STABBING ATTACK ON BUS
A 36-year-old man has been arrested after a young mother was stabbed up to seven times by a mugger who attacked her in broad daylight on a crowded commuter bus.
The 22-year-old woman was knifed by a man after she chased him through the streets in a bid to recover the handbag he had snatched from her moments earlier.
After she and a friend had grappled with the man, retrieving the bag, the young woman was followed on to the bus in Kennington, south London, by her attacker.
Then, in front of her five-month-old baby and other passengers, the man stabbed the woman repeatedly before running off.
Police detained the suspect at about 10.10pm Monday. He is currently being held at a central London police station.
The woman, who was taken to an unnamed hospital, is said to be in a stable condition. Her baby, who was uninjured, is being cared for by other members of their family.
Scotland Yard said: "The victim was getting on the number 3 bus with a friend and her five-month-old baby, who was in a pram, when a black man approached her.
"The man stole the victim's bag from her shoulder and got off the bus. The man was pursued by the victim and her friend, who managed to get the victim's bag back.
"Once in possession of her bag, the victim got back on to the bus. The suspect followed her on to the bus and proceeded to stab her about six or seven times."
The incident happened at about 10.45am Monday.
Last Updated: 06:16 UK, Tuesday September 16, 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2003.

Man charged over bus stabbing

BBC News
Man charged over bus stabbing
A man has been charged after a young mother with her baby was repeatedly stabbed on a crowded bus in south London.
Robert Alphonso Reid, 36, unemployed, of Brixton Road, has been charged with attempted murder and robbery.
He is due to appear at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Milisa Duker-Brown is currently recovering in hospital while her five-month-old daughter Sammy-Jane is in the care of the her grandmother Esther Ansah.
The 22-year-old was on the number three bus in Kennington, south London, at 1045 BST on Monday when she was attacked.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3112642.stm Published: 2003/09/16 23:02:45 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2003.

STAB GIRL ON MEND

Mirror
STAB GIRL ON MEND
A YOUNG mum repeatedly stabbed by a mugger in front of her five-month-old baby was recovering in hospital last night.
Milisa Duker-Brown, 22, was chased onto a bus with daughter SammyJane after grabbing back her bag.
But the thug leapt on after her in Kennington, South London, and stabbed her with a kitchen knife in the neck, chest, arms and hands as she tried to grab the knife.
Her mum Esther Ansah, 52, said: "Whoever did this is cruel and wicked to do it in front of a baby."
She said Milisa blamed herself for fighting back.
DI Tim Forber said: "It was an absolutely horrific, unprovoked attack."
Shop assistant Milisa was last night in a "stable" condition in hospital.
A 36-year-old man was being quizzed by police.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2003.

CRIME PAYS SAY TEENS

Mirror
CRIME PAYS SAY TEENS
By Tom Parry and Graham Brough
TEENAGERS believe crime pays, it was revealed yesterday.
Forty per cent of youngsters across the country believe it is the way to easy money.
And in deprived inner cities 60 per cent agree.
The astonishing figures came on the day a teenage boy lay critically ill after being stabbed for his mobile phone.
A young mum was stabbed seven times on a crowded bus by a mugger after she chased him and grabbed back her handbag.
And a teenage girl told police how she was slashed with a knife and nearly drowned by a gang.
The survey by insurance giant Norwich Union showed teenagers reckon prison is the best deterrent to crime.
Only five per cent thought community service worked - and fines were backed by just one per cent.
The poll of 600 13 to 19-year-olds showed 40 per cent knew someone who had committed a crime, with this doubling to eight out of 10 in poorer areas.
And 94 per cent in poor areas had been victims, usually of assault or mugging.
Norwich Union is working with Crime Concern on an anti-crime apprenticeship, where youngsters help set up crime reduction and drug education programmes in poor areas.
The firm's Jill Willis said: "It is not sufficient to rely only on preventive measures. We need hands-on approaches."
The 15-year-old boy was stabbed as he walked to school in Walthamstow market, East London. Police said his attacker was aged about 16.
The 22-year-old mum was robbed on a bus in Kennington, South London, with her five-month-old baby in a pram.
She and a friend chased the man through streets and retrieved her bag.
But the man, in his 20s, followed her back on to the bus and stabbed her. She was stable in hospital.
A teenage girl who cannot swim almost drowned when she was pushed into a river by a gang after refusing to hand over her mobile phone.
The 18-year-old girl was walking home on a towpath in Reading after a night out when six youths on pushbikes demanded her mobile at knifepoint.
She refused - and was pushed into the river. She struggled in the water for a few minutes before two men heard her cries and rescued her.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2003.

Family Tell of Mum’s Stab Ordeal

PA News
Tue 16 Sep 2003
6:21pm (UK)
Family Tell of Mum’s Stab Ordeal
By Nick Allen, Crime Correspondent, PA News
The family of a mother stabbed on a bus told today how she bravely fought off her attacker.
Milisa (correct) Duker-Brown, 22, who was with her five-month-old baby Sammy-Jane, was stabbed twice in the back of the neck, once in the chest and several times in her arms and hands.
She had surgery to her wounds following the stabbing in Kennington, south London yesterday.
Miss Duker-Brown was wheeling Sammy-Jane down the street when she had her handbag stolen.
She and a friend chased the mugger and got the bag back but he ran after them.
When they jumped on to a crowded bus he followed them on and attacked with a knife.
Miss Duker Brown’s mother Esther Ansah, 52, said: “The man is cruel and wicked to do this to her in front of a baby.
“At the moment I don’t know what to do I am so disturbed.
“When we got to Accident and Emergency the baby was there crying.
“Her mother was crying and I was also crying with my sister.
“The family is very traumatised and upset and obviously we are looking after Mili’s baby.
“We want to appeal for anyone with information or anyone who was on the bus to come forward and speak to the police so that this man can be apprehended and cannot commit a similar offence in the future.”
Miss Duker-Brown, from south London, had just collected her child benefit from the Post Office when the mugger grabbed her bag from behind at about 10.45am on Monday.
She remains in hospital in a stable condition.
A 36-year-old man has been arrested and is in custody at a central London police station.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2003.

Trio Face Retrial on Armed Raid Charges

PA News
Tue 16 Sep 2003
2:45pm (UK)
Trio Face Retrial on Armed Raid Charges
By PA News Reporter
A jury was discharged today in the Old Bailey trial of three men accused of an armed hold-up at a travel agency.
Brave four-year-old Monie Omole was said to have offered the robbers Ł10 pocket money to stop her pregnant mother being threatened in the raid in Kennington, south London.
Dane Grant, 26, David Noel, 18, and Leon Dixon, 24, all from south London, face a retrial for robbery and two firearms offences.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
News
Don't extend charge zone
Sep 12 2003
AS A member of the Kennington Association and a resident there, I would urge its general meeting on October 14 to reject the committee's proposals for a southward extension of the congestion charging zone(CCZ) into parts of Southwark, Lambeth and Wandsworth as far south as Coldharbour Lane and Acre Lane.
It may be the case that some residents and businesses in the heart of Kennington (around Kennington Cross) feel that their community has been split by the CCZ.
The answer to this is not to inflict further pain on even more people in Walworth, Camberwell, Brixton, Clapham and Battersea, but to lobby for the Thames to be made the southern boundary of the CCZ.
This would take the whole of South London out of the charging zone. As a Southwark councillor, it is clear to me that the Kennington Association's proposals would be contrary to the interests of residents and businesses in the area I am responsible for (along with 62 other councillors) and I would urge my colleagues not to support them.
Cllr Toby Eckersley,
Southwark

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2003.

Man Arrested over Stabbing of Mother on Bus

PA News
Mon 15 Sep 2003
10:54pm (UK)
Man Arrested over Stabbing of Mother on Bus
By Paul Sims, PA News
A 36-year-old man was arrested by police tonight after a young mother was stabbed up to seven times by a mugger who attacked her in broad daylight on a crowded commuter bus.
The 22-year-old woman was knifed by a man after she chased him through the streets in a bid to recover the handbag he had snatched from her moments earlier today.
After she and a friend had grappled with the man, retrieving the bag, the young woman was followed on to the bus in Kennington, south London by her attacker.
Then, in front of her five-month-old baby, the man stabbed the woman repeatedly before running off.
Police detained the suspect at about 10.10pm. He is currently being held at a central London police station.
The woman, who was taken to an unnamed hospital, is said to be in a stable condition. Her baby, who was uninjured, is being cared for by other members of their family.
Scotland Yard said: “The victim was getting on the number 3 bus with a friend and her five-month-old baby, who was in a pram, when a black man approached her.
“The man stole the victim’s bag from her shoulder and got off the bus. The man was pursued by the victim and her friend, who managed to get the victim’s bag back.
“Once in possession of her bag, the victim got back on to the bus. The suspect followed her on to the bus and proceeded to stab her about six or seven times.”
The incident happened at about 10.45am today.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2003.

Mugger Stabs Pregnant Woman on Bus

PA News
Mon 15 Sep 2003
8:19pm (UK)
Mugger Stabs Pregnant Woman on Bus
By Paul Sims, PA News
A pregnant mother was stabbed up to seven times by a mugger who attacked her in broad daylight on a crowded commuter bus today, police said.
The 22-year-old woman was knifed by the man after she chased him through the streets in a bid to recover the handbag he had snatched from her moments earlier.
After she and a friend had grappled with the man, retrieving the bag, the young woman was followed on to the bus in Kennington, south London by her attacker.
Then, in front of her five-month-old baby, the man stabbed the woman repeatedly before running off.
The woman, who was taken to an unnamed hospital, is said to be in a stable condition. Her baby, who was uninjured, is currently being cared for by other members of their family.
A spokesperson for Scotland Yard said: “The victim was getting on the number 3 bus with a friend and her five-month-old baby, who was in a pram, when a black man approached her.
“The man stole the victim’s bag from her shoulder and got off the bus. The man was pursued by the victim and her friend, who managed to get the victim’s bag back.
“Once in possession of her bag, the victim got back on to the bus. The suspect followed her on to the bus and proceeded to stab her about six or seven times.”
The incident, which happened at about 10.45am today, is being investigated by CID at Kennington.
The suspect is described as black, in his mid-20s and wearing blue jeans and blue shirt.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2003.

Delighted to be a D-Day Dodger

South London Press
News
Delighted to be a D-Day Dodger
Sep 12 2003
By Richard Evans
A WAR veteran from South London was one of those to attend a special event at the Imperial War Museum on Monday.
Ted Sylvester was one of about 30 veterans of the Italian campaign to gather at the Kennington museum's to mark the 60th anniversary of the Salerno landings.
Salerno, 30 miles south-east of Naples, was the scene of an Allied amphibious assault on September 9, 1943.
After 20 months of bitter fighting in difficult mountainous terrain, the German forces were defeated.
The British forces who took part in the gruelling campaign dubbed themselves the D-Day Dodgers.
The eminent military historian Sir Michael Howard, who fought at Salerno, was guest of honour at the reunion.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2003.

Ladies Who Lunch

Ladies Who Lunch
Dear Neighbours
For the past few months, a group of us (ladies and gentlemen) have been meeting for lunch once a month and we would like to invite others to join us.
We search out cheap deals for lunch and check them out.
We've been a couple of times to the Kennington Lane Restaurant and Bar to take advantage of their special deal: 2 courses for Ł7.50, and to Thai Pavilion East for lunch for a fiver. Both excellent.
We meet on the second Wednesday of the month, so our next lunch will be on Wednesday, 8th October and we shall go to The Courtyard Cafe, 43 Renfrew Road, SE11 4NA.
Do be in touch if you'd like to join us so that we can include you in the booking. Telephone Cathy on 7793 0268.
With best wishes
Cathy

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 11, 2003.

Lest we forget

Invitation
Lest we forget
Few people know that during the last war, on Tuesday 15th October 1940, during a bombing raid, a shallow trench-style air raid shelter in Kennington Park took a direct hit and 54 men, women and children were killed.
Due to the chaos of war and the need to keep up morale, no official toll of the dead and missing was made, the site was levelled a few days later and it is possible that some bodies were never recovered. The casualties included residents from the nearby estates of Vauxhall Gardens and Kennington Park and from many of the local streets between South Island Place and Newington Butts. Over sixty years have passed and it seems probable that these local people have never had a proper memorial service.
The Rev Robert de Berry, vicar of St Mark's Church at the Oval, has very kindly agreed to hold a service of remembrance for the victims of the Kennington Park air raid, as well as the other 1650 civilians who were killed or were fatally injured as a result of air raids on the Lambeth area during the Second World War. The service will also remember the casualties of more recent wars.
This service will be held at St Mark's Church, Kennington Park Road, opposite the Oval Tube Station, on Sunday 12th October at 6.30pm. Everyone will be most welcome.
Attached is a copy of the casualty list. I would particularly like to extend the invitation to the service to anyone who lost a relation, who remembers the tragedy or who now lives on one of the estates or in one of the houses or streets, so I would be most grateful if you could let your neighbours or association members know about this.
If there is anyone who remembers the actual event, please do ask them to get in touch with me.
Best wishes
Marietta Crichton Stuart
Oval Ward Councillor
Marietta Crichton Stuart
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Oval Ward
Chief Whip - Liberal Democrat Group
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Home Tel/Fax: 020 7498 4610
LibDem office: 020 7926 2028 tel, 020 7926 2263 fax
Council email address: mcrichtonstuart@lambeth.gov.uk
crichton@stuart.org

-- Marietta (crichton@stuart.org), September 11, 2003.

Property

Evening Standard
10/09/03 - Property news section
Boomtown in waiting
By Anthea Masey
The BBC's decision to set its new sitcom, The Crouches, in Walworth, means this relatively unknown corner of south London, between Elephant and Castle and Camberwell, is about to land on the media map.
One of London's most vibrant working-class neighbourhoods, SE17 has a mix of cultures, with large English, African, Colombian and Caribbean communities. The heart of the area is East Street market, where you can pick up everything from Chinese herbs to fake Louis Vuitton bags and where there is always a scrum for the best bargains; the day I was there it was Lambretta T-shirts going cheap for Ł1.
Cafes and bars are not what Walworth is about, but the area has a certain charm and, with more nail bars per square yard than anywhere else in the capital, the Walworth Road is the place to go for a cut-price manicure or pedicure.
With the exception of Safeway, Marks & Spencer, Boots and Morgan, the Walworth Road has stayed free from high street names. Here family firms have prospered for years. Baldwins, one of the country's leading herbalists, is a Walworth Road institution. You can pop in for a pint of sarsparilla - a precursor of Coca Cola, just 30p - and an array of herbal remedies and cosmetics.
London's Columbian community is served by the food market at the Elephant and Castle shopping centre; on the Walworth Road, the Turkish bakery, Arif 's patisserie, has some of the best bread in south London, while fans of stylish Italian shoes make a beeline for Panache.
Walworth will get a boost from the ÂŁ1 billion regeneration of the Elephant and Castle. Earlier this month the council, Southwark, announced new plans for improving the area. The 10-year scheme will include a new shopping centre, the demolition of the 1960s Heygate estate, new social housing and two new parks. The council says a start on the homes could be made next year.
Edward Heldreich is one developer who is backing Walworth. He is just completing the development of The Marbles, on the site of an old marble factory off the Walworth Road. The development of 12 flats and 16 live/work units, with sliding wooden shutters, courtyard and balconies, is a striking addition to the area.
"Walworth has great potential, especially for live/work. Prices are still very affordable and the transport links are excellent. Walworth Road, with its eight bus routes, is a short ride from the Elephant and Castle, which is on the Northern and Jubilee lines. And, with the council committed to improving the Elephant and Castle, the only way for Walworth is up," he says.
Walworth has some fine early Victorian houses. There are concentrations on the Camberwell Road, in Sutherland, Addington and Surrey squares, and in Trafalgar Avenue, although these enclaves can feel hemmed-in by large council estates.
HOWEVER, for firsttime buyers this is a happy hunting g round. Damian Gibbs, from the Kennington branch of Barnard Marcus, says the area around Liverpool Grove is worth a look. "The Church Commissioners still own a lot of property around here, which gives the streets an air of stability. You can buy a one-bedroom flat for around Ł150,000."
The area also has its fair share of green space. Burgess Park is a huge new park and acts as the area's green lung. The Chumleigh multi-cultural gardens have been created by the local community and include English, oriental, mediterranean, Islamic, African and Caribbean gardens.
The Crouches starts on BBC 1 on Tuesday at 10.35pm.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/6621220?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 11, 2003.

Girl, 4, 'offered pocket money to armed robbers'

Ananova
Girl, 4, 'offered pocket money to armed robbers'
A four-year-old girl offered armed robbers her pocket money to stop them threatening her mother, the Old Bailey has heard.
Monie Omole tried to help when the robbers mistook her mother Keni for a member of staff at a travel agent they were holding up.
As they demanded safe keys at gunpoint, Monie took out a Ł10 note from her pocket and offered it to the five-man gang.
Oliver Glasgow, prosecuting, said of Monie's mother: "The gang demanded she hand over the keys and threatened her if she didn't. Her four-year-old daughter bravely offered the men her money.
"She put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a Ł10 note which was snatched from her grasp."
Mr Glasgow said the robbers went on to take money totalling more than Ł7,400 from customers and the safe.
They also stole jewellery and mobile phones from unsuspecting customers they ushered into the shop in Camberwell New Road, Kennington, south London, in December last year.
Dane Grant, 26, David Noel, 18, and Leon Dixon, 24, all from south London, deny four robbery and two firearms charges. The trial was adjourned until tomorrow.
Story filed: 17:16 Tuesday 9th September 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2003.

Jazz Nights at the Museum of Garden History

Capital Gardens Jazz Nights
at The Museum of Garden History
Fridays: 12th Sept/19th Sept Doors Open: 7pm
The Museum of Garden History and Capital Gardens Limited are proud to present a series of JAZZ NIGHTS in the Museum's garden.
You'll have the chance to enjoy these fabulous sounds in the open air, in some beautiful surroundings, and relax with a drink as the sun goes down.
A wonderful range of music from Latin and Big Band to more mainstream jazz sounds has been selected. All of the musicians performing are also taking part in the annual Jazz on the Streets Festival in London. Details of the bands are below.
The Museum is just 10 minutes walk from Waterloo station and is within easy access of Westminster.
COME AND ENJOY SOME DISTINCTIVE SOUNDS IN A VERY DISTINCTIVE SETTING.
In the event of bad weather, the performances will take place inside the Museum.
Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB Tel: 020 7401 8865 www.museumgardenhistory.org
September 12th - Big Smoke
Winner of the 1999 BBC National Big Band competition, this 20-piece jazz orchestra will transport the audience back in time. The swinging rhythms sizzle with an infectious energy.
September 19th - double bill
Calarca
Immerse in authentic Salsa/Afro Cuban sound with more than a passing nod to Buena Vista Social Club. Calarca's contagious and spontaneous rhythms will free the Latin spirit within.
Jazz on the Streets Trio
On this final night of the series, enjoy the double bill and wind down with the soothing sounds of this modern jazz Trio. The perfect finale to these perfect summer evenings.
Doors open at 7.00pm
Performances commence at 7.30pm
Ticket prices: Ł7 advance booking, Ł8 at the door, Ł5 concessions, Ł25 season
Wine, beer and light snacks (from the Courtyard Cafe) will be available for sale
For tickets call the Museum of Garden History on 020 7401 8865
Special thanks to our main sponsor: Capital Gardens. Many thanks to all involved in making this series possible. Special thanks also to Sam and Shaun at The Think Tank and also to Sterling Financial Print Limited.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2003.

Cricket

Telegraph: Sport
Sussex's 2003 vintage ready to celebrate
By Tim Rice (Filed: 09/09/2003)
It looks as if Sussex might do it at last. There will be few outside the confines of Kennington Oval who will not relish the idea of Sussex as county champions for the first time, and even a few within a Flintoff smite of Surrey's HQ who will not begrudge the chaps from Hove (and Horsham, Arundel etc) the championship after more than a century of trying.
Johnny Barclay's 1981 side came pretty close, but since that memorable season there has not been much to write home about on the south coast. Unless you consider the four wooden spoons since 1981 worth a stamp.
As recently as 2000, Sussex were at rock bottom - ninth in Division Two. Now, after a creditable sixth place last year, they need 10 points from their last two matches to take the title they have never had, although claims surfaced in 1958 that the county were joint champs (with Nottinghamshire) in 1875. This campaign was possibly around 83 years late for it to have a fighting chance of success and in any event the official list of champions is now accepted as having begun in 1890, a list that contains all but five of the 18 first-class counties. Maybe in 2003 Sussex will make it all but four, leaving Gloucestershire, Northamptonshire, Somerset and newish boys Durham out in the cold.
Only history now speaks against Sussex making it in 2003. Exactly 50 and 100 summers ago they were runners-up and hearts from Arundel to Hastings, from Horsham to Hove, are hoping that this run of half-century near-misses does not continue. In 1903, their captain was Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, later HH Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, their president Lord Leconfield. This blue-blooded combo guided Sussex to their second consecutive season as runners-up to Middlesex, who played 16 matches to Sussex's 23.
The principal reason for their success was the batting of C B Fry, who even overshadowed the great Ranji in 1903. Fry scored 2,413 runs in the championship at an average of more than 80. He was far and away the country's leading batsman, scoring 2,683 in all games. Ranji was a distant second in the averages and only Tom Hayward, of Surrey, also topped 2,000. The principal reason for their failure to overtake Middlesex was a lack of bowling firepower. Fred Tate had had a marvellous summer in 1902, taking 180 wickets with his right-arm slow-to-medium pace; in 1903 he took less than half that and the support from Albert Relf's off-breaks and George Cox snr's slow-left-arm wiles was never quite strong enough to compensate.
That Sussex won nothing with two giants of the Golden Age in their side for so many years is bewildering. In 1953, the first season that your correspondent can recall first hand, Sussex gave the mighty Surrey, generally rated the best county side of all time, a good run for their money. Sussex beat Surrey at Guildford and could only draw the return match at Hove toward the summer's end, which effectively cost the title.
Under the enthusiastic eye of their president, the Duke of Norfolk, and the enterprising captaincy of David Sheppard, Sussex rocketed from 13th to second. Sheppard, in his only complete season as Sussex captain, scored seven centuries and more than 2,000 runs, with Ken Suttle, Jim Parks jnr, George Cox jnr, and the veteran John Langridge each chipping in with more than 1,000.
Swing bowlers Ian Thomson (destined to play in every Test of the 1964-65 series against South Africa and in no other) and Ted James led the attack with Alan Oakman's off-breaks and the ebullient Robin Marlar's off-spin doing a good deal of slower damage. But even this talented collection had to stand aside for May, two Bedsers, Laker, Lock and Loader.
Sheppard gave up the captaincy in favour of God and Hubert Doggart after his one highly regarded year at the helm but, fortunately for Sussex and England, was still able to find time for a good deal of cricket as his life in Holy Orders proceeded. By the time he became president of Sussex in 2002, he was the Rt Rev Lord Sheppard, former Bishop of Liverpool, having been en route the only ordained minister to have played Test cricket.
He handed over the presidency of the county this year to one of the stalwarts of his 1953 side, Parks. So it should be in Parks's presidential year that Sussex shake off this 50-year jinx. There could be few worthier servants of the game, county and country than this gifted batsman and brilliant cover point whom Sussex converted into their regular wicketkeeper halfway through his career in 1958. England cottoned on to Parks's double talent 18 months later. He played 46 Tests but it is a fair bet that none of his triumphs in an England cap will mean more to him than will the news that Sussex are county champions at last.
So, Chris Adams and the lads - no pressure as you ease into the final games. Just think about Fry and Ranji, Sheppard and Parks, not to mention Barclay and Imran, and you will surely be inspired to take that final step into history. After all the stick the championship has taken recently, a new name on the roll of honour will not do the grand old competition any harm at all.
The 2003 county champions will be remembered for a while longer than whoever won the Twenty20 and the Cheltenham and Gloucester.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2003.

Teens charged in pensioner's death

South London Press
News
Teens charged in pensioner's death
Sep 9 2003
Two teenagers have appeared in court charged with the manslaughter of an 83-year-old pensioner.
The youths, aged 15 and 16, appeared before Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Saturday charged with the manslaughter and robbery of James Henry Brown, of Minerva Close, Kennington.
The juveniles, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are alleged to have robbed the pensioner on Monday last week. Mr Brown died in hospital four days later.
The youths were remanded in custody.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2003.

Cricket

SPORT: Joyous England defy the odds
By Rob Steen at The Oval
Financial Times
Sep 09, 2003
An unusual number of lusty roars have emanated from Kennington these past few days. Not even the greeting for Alec Stewart as he embarked on his final innings for his country, though, could match yesterday's full-throated acclaim for England. It is not every day that a side wins a game they had no earthly right to.
Forty minutes after lunch on the final day of one of the most remarkable matches ever seen on this ancient ground, England, quoted at 40-1 after South Africa had cantered to 362-4 on the opening day, became only the seventh side to win a Test after conceding 450-plus in the first innings.
Set up by the craft of Martin Bicknell and the pace of Steve Harmison, sealed by some meaty blows from Marcus Trescothick, the nine-wicket victory meant that England had levelled the series at 2-2. It was the first time they had come from behind in the last chapter of a five-Test series since spinner turned celeb Phil Tufnell teased out the West Indies on the same ground 12 summers ago.
The venerable scorebox on the gasholder side, charmingly old-fashioned in its non-digital sparseness but long the quickest and most reliable in the land, is due to be demolished as part of The Oval's winter's facelift. It could have wished for no finer adieu.
South Africa resumed on a sunny morning leading by 65 with four wickets standing, Mark Boucher and Shaun Pollock at the crease and the Met Office estimating a 60 per cent chance of showers. None of those three obstacles proved particularly troublesome, least of all the weather.
Both these batsmen have Test hundreds to their name - five between them, to be precise - but neither, it transpired, had the staying power required on a pitch displaying fewer signs of depreciation than a day-old Mercedes.
Bicknell's second over brought the first breakthrough; Boucher groping at a leg-cutter and edging to Stewart. The wicketkeeper's 277th and last Test dismissal was utterly in character - smooth, efficient, matter of fact. If England see his like again, the country will be extremely fortunate.
Enter Andrew Hall, a number nine who might bat two berths higher for almost any other side and England's tormentor at Headingley, where his swashbuckling 99 not out was decisive. Now, however, he seemed uncertain, and his first delivery, arrowed by Bicknell into his pads, found him flicking the ball in a gentle parabola to short midwicket. Bicknell bounded towards the catcher, Ed Smith, like a lamb that had just found its long-lost mother.
With two wickets falling in consecutive balls, Pollock decided attack was the sole option. Of the 22 added subsequently by him and Paul Adams, the impish spinner contributed none. But a false shot was inevitable and Pollock duly guided Harmison straight to Graham Thorpe at backward point.
Four overs later, Makhaya Ntini fended a short one from Harmison towards short leg, where Smith, demonstrating unsuspected agility, clasped the catch full-stretch to his left to end the innings.
Bicknell and Harmison both emerged with four victims and their most fruitful returns at this level but Trescothick ensured the man of the match award as England, needing 110, romped home at a rate of five an over.
The Somerset opener added an unbeaten 69 to his first-innings 219, edging the winning four with arguably his worst shot in more than 10 hours at the crease. Mark Butcher, his partner, embraced him with gratitude as much as joy.
Before his side took a deserved lap of honour, Michael Vaughan deployed the word "fantastic" with much the same enthusiasm as Mike Gatting, one of his predecessors as England captain, wielded the word "tremendous". The team's effort, Harmison and Andrew Flintoff, who was named man of the series, were all described as "fantastic". He may never utter it again with such conviction.
Find this article at: http://search.ft.com/s03/search/article.html?id=030909000638

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2003.

'Southwark Climber' jailed for attacks

BBC News
'Southwark Climber' jailed for attacks
A man who climbed up walls and drainpipes to sexually assault women in bedrooms has been jailed for eight years.
Barry Shaw became known as the Southwark Climber because of his method of breaking into homes in Southwark, Kennington and Brixton, south London.
Shaw, 36, of Helsinki Square, Rotherhithe, south-east London, admitted six indecent assaults and five burglaries between January and September 2002.
Police say he was caught as a direct result of calls generated by the BBC programme Crimewatch.
Detective Inspector Nick Mervin said: "Shaw was stalking the streets late at night and then scaling buildings and drainpipes to enter bedrooms.
"He would then subject the female occupants to a terrifying sex attack and afterwards, he climbed back the way he had come to escape. "All the incidents showed the suspect climbing walls to gain entry to bedrooms then committing sexual assaults and sometimes stealing something.
Sentencing Shaw at Inner London Crown Court on Monday, Judge Jonathan van der Werff told him: "You subjected your victims to horrendous ordeals from which they may not recover, they have said you have given them life sentences.
"You are well educated and intelligent and that makes it more unbelievable you did not realise how ghastly these ordeals were."
In court Shaw addressed the judge and said: "I basically want to apologise to the victims because I have hurt them deeply."
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3091562.stm
Published: 2003/09/08 17:25:42 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
News
We are being penalised because of where we live
Sep 5 2003
RE: YOUR article regarding extending the congestion charge area (South London Press, August 29), I feel we are being penalised because we live in inner London.
Surely it's those very many people who drive into London every day who are responsible for the congestion. I have two sons and several friends who live outside the London area and they won't be able to visit us very often if they have to pay.
How long do you think it will be before Mr Livingstone decides that the congestion charge will cover everyone who lives within the M25? Whilst I have every sympathy for those residents in Kennington and others who have to pay this charge, I don't think it very helpful for them to suggest extending the area.
It would be better, perhaps, if they were to ask for it to be scrapped altogether, particularly for all those people who have lived there for many years.
We car owners already pay Ł160 road tax plus an extra Ł60 to park outside our own houses.
Mr RD Vanstan
Grantham Road
Stockwell

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
News
Debate over C-charging
Sep 5 2003
I LIVE in the congestion charging zone, and I think it should be done away with altogether.
It is just another way to make money and it takes away our freedom. The streets are deserted and no friends or family can come and visit.
Who wants to pay a fiver and also have to pay a fortune on meters because they can't park anywhere! I think the people in London are treated the worst in the country. There is no freedom.
I don't know why our fathers and friends died fighting for this country - and they are still dying for it.
For what!
D Haycock
Carlisle Lane
Lambeth North
TO ANYONE thinking that the Kennington Road Residents' Association might be on to something with their alternative boundary scheme for the charge.
Ken Livingstone has given no guarantee that residents living inside the congestion charge zone will receive a 90 per cent discount when and if the scheme is expanded. The only sensible way to improve the lot of those living inside or around the Kennington Road area is to scrap the scheme as soon as possible.
Angie Bray
London Assembly Conservatives' congestion charge spokesman
City Hall
I THINK that this proposal is disgraceful, as people such as myself who don't live in these areas, but have to travel into them to take children to and from school or drop children off at childminders, would have to pay an awful lot of money each week.
This would also cause more problems for people getting buses as they would become a lot busier, as more people would travel into the congestion zone on a bus to avoid the charge.
Tracy Burton via email

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2003.

Water hole-y mess

South London Press
News
Water hole-y mess
Sep 5 2003
By Chris Pragnell
A MASSIVE water leak under one of the city's main roads caused traffic mayhem and prompted fears more could follow.
Kennington Lane - a major stretch of the A3 into central London - was shut off completely for more than 24 hours as engineers battled to stem the flow.
Thames Water said the leak had sprung from an 80-metre rupture running the length of a 12 inch diameter mains pipe.
"It's an exceptional leak," said a spokesman.
"It could be caused by a number of things.
"The weather is often a factor because changing temperatures cause the ground to move."
Police were notified just before 4.30 on Wednesday morning that water was seeping up into the road outside Kennington Tube station.
The spot is just a few hundred yards from the notoriously busy Elephant and Castle roundabouts.
By 9am, engineers had managed to shut off the water system and could begin to properly excavate the pipe.
A 200m stretch of Kennington Lane was completely blocked off to traffic.
One engineer said at the scene: "It could have something to do with the temperatures cooling down again.
"If it's down to the recent weather, we could well have problems else-where."
But both Thames Water and Transport for London(TfL), which is responsible for the road, were keen to play down risks of further leaks. "It's impossible to predict what may happen," said the Thames spokesman.
"The pipe was cast iron, and not necessarily that old. They can burst I'm afraid. But there's no need to worry about things that have not happened."
He added that homes in the Kennington area had not been affected by the leak.
"I would apologise to all the drivers who were affected by the road closure," he said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 06, 2003.

Theatre

Times
September 05, 2003
Theatre
Trials of a young Turk
By Patrick Marmion
UP AND DOWN the country, theatres are thrown up and rebuilt at the cost of millions of pounds. In Dalston, North London, the trailblazing Arcola Theatre was set up by a fearless young Turk called Mehmet Ergen for only a few thousand. And that was barely seven years after he had opened the celebrated Southwark Playhouse for a similar sum. In each case he used nothing more than his own vision, his bare hands and a set of personal credit cards. Almost from nowhere, the result has been two of London’s most acclaimed theatres.
Born in Istanbul, 37-year-old Ergen arrived in this country in 1988 at the age of 22. Having completed a nine-month, part-time acting course in Istanbul, he touted himself as a famous Turkish director. Naturally, everyone believed him, but still he was abandoned to the penumbral recesses of London’s fringe. That was until he found himself rehearsing A Little Weill for the White Bear in Kennington. “We had a budget of Ł2,000 for the show, and I thought ‘I could open a theatre for that money’,” says Ergen. “We were rehearsing in a room next to what is now the Southwark Playhouse and which used to be a Filipino church. We got the first few months free, and I calculated we could pay the rent with 20 to 30 people a night. I had an old car and I drove round all the West End theatres asking for lights and cable. I found scaffolding pipes for the rigging and I bought church pews in a shop in Stoke Newington. I opened it by directing Machiavelli’s Mandragola.” He makes it sound like a walk in the park, but the course of fringe theatre never did run smooth. Having established a reputation to challenge Notting Hill’s much-vaunted Gate Theatre, in 1998 Ergen fell out with the board at Southwark.
He wound up with a desk job at Hoxton Hall and used his lunchbreaks to find somewhere to open another theatre. Eventually he found a disused clothes factory on Arcola Street. The rent was Ł10,000 a quarter. He got a bank loan for Ł5,000 and subsidised the rest with personal credit cards.
“It was much the same story again as Southwark. We got chairs from an Indian restaurant. The warehouse used to be a clothes factory, so we sawed the legs off the cutting tables to make the seating. There was the goodwill of volunteers, and we lived in the theatre for the first year so we had no other rent to pay.”
Financially, Ergen does not pretend that it’s been anything other than a nightmare. Like a character from a Russian novel, he knows all about suffering for his art. “I really live terribly. I wear the same trousers and shirts for 20 days! I don’t eat much and I don’t buy clothes. But I’m questioning it now. My theatre friends in Istanbul live incredibly well. Nobody works for nothing. Here it’s always give, give, give.”
Poverty may have been his best buddy these last few years, but the Arcola has paid off in other ways. Outstanding productions since the theatre opened in 2001 include David Farr’s production of Crime and Punishment in Dalston — a contemporary adaptation of Dostoevsky’s novel. Then there was Sacha Wares’s production of Bintou and Ergen’s own production of Macbeth, starring Jack Shepherd. Most recently, he hoped for audiences of 80 people a night for Brecht and Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins of the Petty Bourgeoisie, but had to rebuild the auditorium to take 150.
Now, for the first time, Ergen has countenanced renting out the theatre — but only to established troupes such as the Oxford Stage Company and Clean Break. Far from selling out his principles, Ergen sees these companies’ tenure as recognition of the status the Arcola has achieved. And he himself is working in Turkey in what he calls an act of “reverse immigration”. There, he can command serious money, directing Kind of Stranger by Y. Kadir at the Turkish National Theatre and his own translation of Martin McDonagh’s Lieutenant of Inishmore for the Kenter Theatre.
The latest big production at the Arcola is Come Out Eli, based on the tragic Graham Road siege in Hackney last Christmas. “It’s a docu-drama of anecdotes from real people talking about the siege. It was workshopped by the company Recorded Delivery at the Actors Centre and we are hoping to reach a local audience on the anniversary.”
What Ergen wants next for the Arcola is Arts Council funding so they can start planning properly. “I have seasons in my mind from all corners of the world. I want to do one called Revolution, covering the Russian, French, Industrial and Cuban revolutions.” Most of all he’s looking for plays to match his own ambition. “I get sent plays about child abuse and dysfunctional families. They say ‘this can be performed with four people playing eight characters. It only requires a table and chair.’ Why? Enough of that!” Never one to follow the line of least resistance, Ergen chuckles at the idea that he might be a bit of an idealist. But he also recognises that not being paid gives him the freedom to behave like one. In the meantime, his advice to anyone wishing to start a theatre is that they should find a place where there isn’t one already. “Everyone wants to be international, but at the end of the day theatre is always in a local area. You need to capture a local audience.” Think locally and act globally is his message, and if anyone is proof of the efficacy of that maxim, Mehmet Ergen is.
Come Out Eli runs until September 27 at the Arcola Theatre, Arcola Street, E8 (020-7503 1646)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2003.

Cricket

Financial Times
South Africans open in commanding style
By Rob Steen at The Oval
Published: September 4 2003 19:45 | Last Updated: September 4 2003 19:45
Requiring victory to square a compelling series, England began poorly and deteriorated rapidly here on Thursday as Graeme Smith's combative side dug the foundations for a total that ought to insure against defeat.
England regard this ancient venue as a talisman - the Ashes were regained here in 1926, 1953 and 1985 - but history was treated with derision.
On the sort of pitch where batsmen can book themselves in for bed and breakfast and linger for lunch and tea, the home attack laboured long and hard without much threat and even fewer rewards as Herschelle Gibbs and Gary Kirsten, a contrasting duo of dash and phlegm, added 227 for the second wicket - a record for any wicket by South Africa at Kennington.
England skipper Michael Vaughan ran out his counterpart with an agile dive in the 15th over but otherwise fielded with the forlorn air of a captain who suspects his team's fate was sealed as soon as the toss was lost. He must have been sorely tempted to put in an SOS call to the nearby offices of MI5. So commanding was Gibbs, however, even the secret service might have had difficult spooking him out.
Not until the 69th over, when Ashley Giles pinned Kirsten lbw with the left-hander 10 short of his third century of the series, did a bowler have cause for anything but self-reproach and rage. The left-arm spinner, whose summons for the 13th over highlighted James Anderson's fatigue-induced shortcomings, also disposed of Gibbs for 183, bowled via an inelegant swipe.
But England's seamers would have sent down 60 joyless overs had Anderson not removed Neil McKenzie with the last ball of the day. By this time the boundary count ran to 58 fours and two sixes.
Steve Harmison, recalled in place of the injured James Kirtley, occasionally discomfited Gibbs with steep bounce. But he often bowled, mysteriously, with just one slip, thus blunting his threat. Anderson pitched too short; Andy Flintoff lacked his usual direction and control; Martin Bicknell was a restraining influence and no more.
Not that Gibbs could be contained. Since making 179 in the first innings of the series he had failed to reach 50. But few sights in the modern game raise the hairs on the nape of the neck quite so effectively as the so-called "Mayor of Cape Town" in full flow, and amends were made with surefooted inevitability.
When he completed the 10th century of his Test career, a vibrant affair characterised by crisp cover drives and deft glances, no fewer than 86 of those runs had come in boundaries. All told, he struck 35 fours and a six off 258 balls, with not a dull moment in between.
England's haplessness was confirmed 15 minutes before tea. Gibbs, who had scaled three figures in the previous over, collected three fours and a two off Anderson while being missed twice, albeit off half-chances. The first fumble was Bicknell's, sprinting determinedly but vainly away from mid-on, the second by Mark Butcher, reacting late to a rasping cut at point: his eighth such mishap of the rubber.
The fielding continued to sag, irrefutable evidence of a tired and troubled unit. In one over Vaughan twice let the ball through his hands; another shot went clean through Harmison's legs, and when Jacques Kallis, on 15, nicked Giles, the offering completely eluded Graham Thorpe at first slip. The South African all-rounder promptly rubbed it in, lofting an immense six into the pavilion.
As for England's wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, at 40 winning his 133rd and final Test cap of his career on the ground he has called home for two decades, his contributions came at either end of the day. He removed the bails to complete Smith's dismissal and caught McKenzie. The final curtain for him and England, however, may drop far sooner here than they both would wish.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2003.

FOULPLAY

Mirror
FOULPLAY
By Emma Britton
A SHOCKED teacher was branded a criminal by Coldplay's lawyers after she mistakenly got into a taxi the band had ordered.
Jacqueline Hall, 31, was accused of deliberately pinching the cab from her next-door neighbour, Coldplay drummer Will Champion.
And she was warned her written apologies to him amounted to a "nuisance" which could result in a legal action for damages.
But yesterday Jacqueline insisted the incident was a "genuine mistake" and said she had been left badly distressed by the severe response from the band's solicitors.
The mix-up happened when a minicab pulled up outside her home in Kennington, South London.
The Aussie-born teacher jumped in assuming it was hers, unaware that Will and his girlfriend had booked a cab for exactly the same time as she had.
Jacqueline said: "There was certainly no one from next door rushing to get into it. The driver didn't ask my name but asked where I was going. When I told him the address he said it had changed, but I was talking on my phone and didn't think anything of it."
But minutes later the driver got a call from his boss saying he had picked up the wrong person.
Jacqueline said: "Then he started yelling at me. He said 'I bet you use the Coldplay name all the time to get free rides.'
"I gave him Ł10, which was double my fare, so that he could go back and pick them up. But I was so upset I was in tears and it ruined my night."
Worse was to come the next day with the solicitors' letter.
It said: "Yesterday evening a cab was booked on our client's account.
"This taxi was wrongfully taken by yourself claiming to be authorised by Coldplay, which deception was subsequently discovered." It went on: "Your actions last night in combination with written correspondence that you have hand delivered through the letterbox on at least two occasions is tantamount to nuisance which affords our client the right to a civil action against you for damages.
"Furthermore your deception last night is a criminal act and should it occur again our clients will have absolutely no hesitation in informing the police."
Coldplay and Russells Solicitors dropped the issue in early July after Jacqueline produced a record of her taxi booking. She said yesterday: "To be called a criminal is terrible."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2003.

UNFARE COLDPLAY

Daily Record
News
UNFARE COLDPLAY
Sep 3 2003
Teacher's tears after band taxi mix-up
By Emma Britton
A SHOCKED teacher was branded a criminal by hit band Coldplay's lawyers after she mistakenly took a taxi they had ordered.
The solicitors even labelled Jacqueline Hall, 31, a ``nuisance'' because she put an apology through the letterbox of her next-door neighbour, banddrummer Will Champion.
Yesterday, Jacqueline said she was ``badly distressed'' after getting a legal letter from the band's lawyers.
The mix-up came when a minicab pulled up outside her home in Kennington, south London.
The Aussie-born teacher assumed it was hers, unaware that Will and his girlfriend had booked a cab for exactly the same time.
But minutes later, the driver got a call from his boss saying he had picked up the wrong person.
Jacqueline said: ``He started yelling at me. He said, `I bet you use the Coldplay name all the time to get free rides.' I was so upset I was in tears and it ruined my night.''
Worse was to come the next day with the solicitors' letter.
It said: ``This taxi was wrongfully taken by yourself claiming to be authorised by Coldplay, which deception was subsequently discovered.Your actions last night in combination with written correspondence that you have hand delivered is tantamount to nuisance which affords our client the right to a civil action against you.
``Furthermore, your deception last night is a criminal act.''
Coldplay dropped the issue when Jacqueline produced a record of her taxi booking.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2003.

Coldplay star threatens Aussie

The Age
Coldplay star threatens Aussie
London
September 4, 2003
An Australian schoolteacher has been threatened with legal action by a member of rock band Coldplay after mistakenly taking the taxi he had booked.
Jacqueline Hall, from Brisbane, was accused of deliberately taking drummer Will Champion's cab when it pulled up outside her home in Kennington, south London.
Champion's solicitors sent Hall, 31, a letter accusing her of a criminal act after she dropped a written apology through the musician's letterbox.
''To be called a criminal is terrible,'' Hall told the Daily Mirror.
The mix-up occurred after Hall and Champion, who are neighbours, unknowingly booked minicabs for the same time.
''The driver didn't ask my name but asked where I was going,'' Hall said.
''When I told him the address he said it had changed, but I was talking on my phone and didn't think anything of it.''
Minutes later the driver received a call from his office telling him he had picked up the wrong fare.
He then told Hall off.
''I gave him STG10 ($A25), which was double my fare, so that he could go back and pick them up,'' she said.
''But I was so upset I was in tears and it ruined my night.''
She pushed a note of apology through her neighbour's letterbox.
But the next day she received a letter from Coldplay's solicitors Russells.
''This taxi was wrongfully taken by yourself claiming to be authorised by Coldplay, which deception was subsequently discovered,'' it said.
''Your actions, in combination with written correspondence that you have hand-delivered through the letterbox on at least two occasions, is tantamount to nuisance which affords our client the right to a civil action against you for damages.
''Furthermore your deception last night is a criminal act and should it occur again our clients will have absolutely no hesitation in informing police.''
The threat was dropped after Hall produced a record of her taxi booking, the paper said.
- AAP
This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/03/1062548898984.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2003.

Coldplay star threatens to sue neighbour

South London Press
News
Coldplay star threatens to sue neighbour
Sep 3 2003
By Anna Ridley, icReporter
Coldplay band member, Will Champion threatened to sue a neighbour and labelled her a criminal after she mistakenly jumped in a taxi he ordered.
Jacqueline Hall got in the cab when it pulled up outside her house in Kennington, South London - thinking it was the one she had ordered. But halfway through the journey the driver told her that the taxi was actually for the Coldplay drummer.
After reaching her destination, the schoolteacher paid the fare and sent the taxi back to pick up Will.
She then wrote Will and his girlfriend a letter apologising for the mix-up.
But the 31-year-old was horrified to discover a letter from Champion's solicitor two days later accusing her of "deception" and "a criminal act". The lawyers assumed Hall knew that Champion held an account with the taxi firm and was taking advantage of a free ride.
The letter, from showbiz lawyers Russells, said if she did not want any further action taken by the firm she should provide evidence that she had ordered a cab.
The letter warned Hall: "Should it occur again our clients will have absolutely no hesitation in informing the police."
The letter also accused her of being a "nuisance" for posting her apology through 25-year-old Champion's door.
Australian Jacqueline told The Sun: "The reaction was unbelievable. It made my blood boil.
"After I received the letter I was so sick with worry I didn't sleep for three days.
"They threatened to sue me and called me a criminal just because I had accidentally got into a wrong cab. As a teacher my reputation is very important. I could not believe I was being sued for a genuine mistake."
Furious Jacqueline sent an angry letter to Russells saying: "The language you used towards me, (deception, theft, criminal) is an attack on my moral character and perhaps grounds for slander.
"I ordered a black cab and it was late. The taxi driver involved in this incident stopped outside my house. It was his actions that caused this mix-up."
Russells then replied to Hall saying they were willing to accept her version of events.
A spokesman for Coldplay said the band refused to comment.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2003.

Coldplay ... cold heart

The Sun
Coldplay ... cold heart
Wed, Sep 3, 2003
By THOMAS WHITAKER
Showbiz Reporter
STROPPY Coldplay star Will Champion threatened to sue a neighbour and branded her a criminal — after she mistakenly took his taxi.
School teacher Jacqueline Hall jumped into the cab when it pulled up outside her home — thinking it was one she had ordered to take her to a dinner date.
But halfway through the journey the cabbie told her the taxi was really for her neighbour, Coldplay drummer Will.
Once she reached her destination 31-year-old Jacqueline paid the fare and sent the cab back to pick up Will, 25.
She then wrote a letter to the star and his girlfriend Mariana apologising for her mistake.
Jacqueline was stunned when two days later she got a letter from his solicitors accusing her of “deception and “a criminal act”.
The letter, from showbiz lawyers Russells, said if she wanted the firm to take no further action she must PROVE that she had ordered a cab as she claimed.
And it warned: “Should it occur again our clients will have absolutely no hesitation in informing the police.”
The letter accused her of being “a nuisance” for posting her apology through Will’s door in Kennington, South London.
Aussie Jacqueline said last night: “The reaction was unbelievable. It made my blood boil.
“After I received the letter I was so sick with worry I didn’t sleep for three days.
“They threatened to sue me and called me a criminal just because I had accidentally got into a wrong cab.
As a teacher my reputation is very important. I could not believe I was being sued for a genuine mistake.”
Jacqueline fired off an angry letter to Russells saying: “The language you used towards me, (deception, theft, criminal) is an attack on my moral character and perhaps grounds for slander.
“I ordered a black cab and it was late. The taxi driver involved in this incident stopped outside my house. It was his actions that caused this mix-up.”
The lawyers then wrote back saying they were willing to accept her version of events.
A spokesman for Coldplay, famed for hit albums like Rush Of Blood To The Head, said the band did not wish to comment. Coldplay singer Chris Martin is dating actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 03, 2003.

How sci-fi site became reality

NATIONAL NEWS: How sci-fi site became reality
By Chris Nuttall
Financial Times
Sep 01, 2003
Dotcom survivor Mark Rogers set up Mallarkey.com - a sci-fi trading community site - in January and the site has been live only for the past couple of months.
Mr Rogers says the process was very different to that of the bubble years.
"I worked for Amazon.com at the height of the bubble, then at Citikey [the wireless city guide], which managed to spend about $11.5m in nine months, and then the bailiffs came in. That was kind of an interesting and inspiring experience -I thought I can't do it any worse than that."
From there he moved to a Silicon Valley company but left when it was taken over.
When he subsequently set up Mallarkey.com, with people he knew from Amazon and the BBC, he knew he did not want to go down the venture capital route. Instead, the business accepted Ł100,000 from angel investors.
"It's a much saner market place now, more boring," he says. The business is at the top of a big house in Kennington, south London, and Mr Rogers has no plans to move on for several years.
"We are going to have to be a lot bigger before I take on any extensive lease in a glamorous loft," he says.
"For a long time, one of the key people I was working with did actually sleep in our spare room, but in general people come in and work and then leave at night. A company like mine has to start the way all companies start - you work hard, you do a lot of planning - that was cut out during the bubble."
Mr Rogers describes the business as a "tiny" concern with just five staff.
"Jeff Bezos [the Amazon founder] always says it's still only day one on the internet - I think it's day two, or just about to be. Clever marketing ideas will characterise day two. These were singularly lacking in the bubble years. Labour is cheaper and people have learnt a lot. Now is the time to set up a new company."
Find this article at: http://search.ft.com/s03/search/article.html?id=030901000750

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 01, 2003.

UDP

Breaking News from VAuxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website, http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 29 August 2003
Important consultation meetings - to discuss Lambeth's Unitary Development Plan - are to be held in Brixton (Mon 8 Sept, Lambeth Town Hall, 1900-2030) and Waterloo (Weds 10 Sept, St John's Church, outside the IMAX cinema, 1900-2030).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Telegraph - Motoring - Honest John's Agony column
(Filed: 30/08/2003)
The twilight zone
I thought you might like to know that I have received a central London congestion charge penalty notice for my 1903 Baker Electric Stanhope two-seater, which was locked in my garage in Cheshire at the time. The car is tiller steered and has a maximum speed of 12mph. It is registered J66 and neither I nor the car have ever been to Kennington Lane.
P.H., Cheshire
Such mistakes are all too common. Incidentally, the congestion charge has cut central London traffic by 30 per cent, twice as much as intended, and is therefore losing huge amounts of money. In order to recoup some of this loss, public transport fares are now set to rise by 30 per cent. And some people call this success.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

Crash cop's court date

South London Press
News
Crash cop's court date
Aug 29 2003
A cop is set to appear in court after a horror smash left a three-day-old baby in intensive care.
PC Peter Nicholson, from Lambeth, was suspended from driving duties after his police car collided with an ambulance in Kennington on February 10. He is due to appear at Bow Street Magistrates' Court on September 4.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

Aquarium burglars remain at large

South London Press
News
Aquarium burglars remain at large
Aug 29 2003
POLICE continue to hunt two men who burgled the London Aquarium.
The men used a network of underground tunnels to reach the safe after setting off a smoke alarm to distract staff.
The suspects then stole "a substantial amount of money" from the safe before making off on foot from the South Bank tourist attraction and turning left onto Westminster Bridge Road towards St Thomas' Hospital.
It is not known how they gained entry to the aquarium which is situated inside County Hall, close to the London Eye.
The burglary took place at around 9.30am on Bank Holiday Monday before the aquarium had opened for business.
The suspects are described as two men wearing dark clothing with dark hoods and white masks.
One of the men is believed to be about 5ft 10in and the other 6ft.
One of the suspects was carrying a large bag.
Officers from the Priority Crime Unit at Kennington are investigating the incident. Anyone with information should contact 020-8649 2448 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
News
'Make zone bigger'
Aug 29 2003
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
THE congestion charge could be extended into the heart of South London if campaigners who bitterly fought the controversial scheme get their way.
As our map shows, the Ł5-a-day zone would include parts of Brixton, Stockwell, Camberwell, Clapham and Battersea.
The proposal has been made by the Kennington Association, the group behind a failed High Court challenge to Mayor Ken's scheme.
It now plans to lobby local MPs, councillors, London Assembly members and Ken himself into extending the zone they fought to prevent. If successful, Kennington would fall within the boundary.
While the scheme has slashed traffic levels in central London, Kennington residents insist it has decimated their close-knit community.
They say businesses have been hit hard with many abandoning the area, and that traffic levels are up along narrow Kennington Lane, which forms part of the boundary.
The association is also angry that wheels are in motion for an extension west into wealthy Kensington and Chelsea, despite Kennington being more central.
Association secretary John Clemens said: "Unlike Kennington Lane, the proposed [southern] route runs along much more commercial roads which are much wider and able to carry more traffic."
The "alternative" boundary road would still cross Tower Bridge but instead run south along the Walworth Road from Elephant and Castle before leading into Camberwell Road, Denmark Hill, Coldharbour Lane, Acre Lane and Clapham Park Road.
It would then run along Long Road, Clapham Common North Side, Cedars Road and Queenstown Road before crossing Chelsea Bridge.
But not everyone is enamoured with the plan.
Walworth Road traders also say they have lost revenue since the charge was introduced in February.
Jim Abbotson, of the non-political pressure group Rescue London, and himself a Walworth Road trader, said: "Nobody is addressing the loss of business and this [southern] scheme would only worsen things for us.
"This is just something thought up by residents to increase the price of their property."
While the Kennington Association admits the alternative route could anger other South Londoners, it insists it has been careful to avoid deliberately splitting communities.
A public meeting is due to take place on October 14 and talks have been lined up with Lambeth and Southwark Assembly member Val Shawcross next month.
A Transport for London spokesman told the South London Press the only extension being considered was the one west.
But she added: "It is possible that other alterations may be made in the long term."
What do you think about the proposals to extend the congestion charge south? * Email: letters@slp.co.uk * Write: 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2AT
(Please include your full name, address and phone number)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

First Vauxhall Bridge

First Vauxhall Bridge
Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kenninton & the Oval, London website http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Updated 27 August 2003
I have added new information about the the first Vauxhall Bridge - and indeed London's first known bridge.
Go to:
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/firstbridge.shtml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

Tube and bus travel costs hiked

South London Press
News
Tube and bus travel costs hiked
Aug 27 2003
By Oscar Mortali
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone has hiked Tube and bus fares to help make up a Ł65million shortfall in congestion-charging revenue.
A single from Zone 2 into central London - a ticket bought regularly by swathes of commuters travelling from Clapham, Stockwell, Kennington and New Cross - will go up from Ł2 to Ł2.20.
The price of a weekly Travelcard will increase to Ł20.20 from Ł19.60. Tube users travelling from Zone 3 into town, from Streatham, Tooting and Balham, will see the price of a single go up from Ł2.30 to Ł2.50. Weekly Travelcards will go up to Ł23.80 from Ł23.10.
Tube users who travel from Zone 1 from stations such as Vauxhall, Waterloo, Southwark, Lambeth North, London Bridge and Borough - face even bigger hikes.
The price of a single Zone 1 ticket rises from Ł1.60 to Ł2 - an increase of 25 per cent. A Zone 1 weekly Travelcard goes up Ł2, from Ł16.50 to Ł18.50.
And things are not much better on the buses. Fares in large parts of South London will rise from 70p to a Ł 1.
The changes will come into place on Sunday, January 4, 2004.
Also from next year, children under 11 will travel free on all London buses.
Tube passengers will continue paying 2003 fares, but only if they use the new "Oyster Smartcard" on the daily commute.
The total predicted net revenue increase from the revised fare structure for 2004 is Ł42million on the Tube and Ł39million on the buses.
The success, or otherwise, of the congestion-charging scheme is due to come under the spotlight at City Hall in early September when the mayor will reveal figures on exactly how much the scheme has raised in its first six months of operation.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 30, 2003.

Property exhange?

For various reasons, we are looking to move out of Kennington; mainly as my work involves more projects in the north and west of England.
Our current 3 bedroomed house on Courtenay Street is currently for sale through Kinleighs. Ideally, we would like to keep a smaller property in Kennington. If you know anyone who is looking to move to a larger property, we would be prepared to look at a part exchange type deal on their existing property. There will be no other properties involved in the chain, and we can therefore move forward very quickly.
Best regards,
Simon and Marisa Cordery

-- Simon and Marisa Cordery (chalklne@globalnet.co.uk), August 30, 2003.

Ladies Who Lunch Club

Dear Neighbours
Ladies Who Lunch Club
As some of you know, a small group of us (men and women) have met up a couple of times to enjoy lunch together and we are hoping to do this again on Wednesday, 10th September at 1pm and this time we thought we'd try out the Thai Pavilion East Restaurant, 82 Kennington Road, SE11 - opposite the Imperial War Musum and we'd love it if you could join us.
The Thai Pavilion produced a wonderful spread at a recent Heart of Kennington Residents Association street party and the food was great. They do special lunch deals where you can eat for as little as a fiver - for example, Thai tapas, which includes fish cakes, chicken in pandan leaves, prawn tempura, stuffed chicken wings, vegetable dumplings, spring rolls and kari puff, costs only Ł4.95.
Can you let me know if you could join us so I know how many to book for?
Best wishes
Cathy
7793 0268

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 26, 2003.

The Adonis complex

Independent
Health
The Adonis complex
Huge biceps and six-pack stomachs epitomise the male ideal, as portrayed in glossy magazines. But the effect on men can be a crisis of self-confidence and a range of health risks, says Ian Mccurrach
25 August 2003
We have all become inured to seeing seductive images of eerily flawless women in the media, yet it is hard to ignore the growing number of advertisements and fashion spreads that show half-naked men with bulging biceps, impeccable pecs and rippling six-packs. Toned and taut, bold and beautiful, they represent what is nowadays considered to be the masculine ideal.
In the same way that women have, for decades, been made to feel inadequate and inferior when comparing themselves to images of "perfection", a recent survey has shown that men, too, are now suffering from poor body image and are hooked on attaining the "body beautiful". The self-image problems that can and do lead to illness in women (such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia) are well-researched and documented, but the health risks associated with male muscle-envy are only just coming to light.
This survey, presented at the American Psychological Association in Toronto, showed that even top male athletes are now vulnerable to having what has been dubbed an Adonis complex - believing they are insufficiently muscular and feeling compelled to exercise more. As many as one in five of the men questioned believed they did not have enough muscle bulk.
Part of the problem stems from the images portrayed in men's fitness magazines. Many professional male models use chemical enhancements, such as steroids and creatine, to gain their bulk, which is simply unachievable by putting in hours at the gym between work assignments. Most men who take steroids are unaware of the health risks, and many take them without first getting medical advice or supervision. In the short term, their use can lead to acne, mood swings, paranoia and depression. The longer you use such drugs, the greater the risk of liver failure or heart attacks. Creatine is considered unsafe by many health professionals as it can cause massive dehydration. Even protein supplements should be approached with caution, as they can lead to over-development in parts of the body where it is not wanted.
"There is much more pressure now for men to build up their bodies and to keep in shape," says Hugh Craig, a professional personal trainer. "This can lead to low self-esteem, and even muscle dysmorphia, an obsession whereby physically healthy men have a distorted view of their own body and believe their muscles are too small and underdeveloped."
Male gym membership is rapidly on the increase. Jon Giles, club manager of Jubilee Hall gym at Covent Garden in London, says: "We have always attracted more males than females, but in the last three years we've seen an increased proportion of male members, averaging 70 per cent at the moment."
In an age when former body builders are muscling in on mainstream American politics, how far are men prepared to go to achieve a fashionable body shape, and at what cost to their wellbeing?
DUNCAN STEPHENSON
Age 25, a public affairs and communications consultant who lives with his partner in Kennington. Duncan is 5'11" and doesn't know how much he weighs
"My main aim is to look better and be more attractive, so my gym routine is really important to me. This often means missing out on a work lunch or being late for an evening function. I started weight training at university, but only got serious about 18 months ago, mainly because I wanted to flatten my stomach and tone up my shape. I'm quite well-built, and usually work out seven or eight times a week. At lunchtimes I work out for 45 minutes and for up to 90 minutes in the evenings and at weekends.
I like my chest, shoulders and legs as they're big and muscular. My stomach and arms are not that defined, so I'm not keen on them. I don't necessarily want a six-pack, but I do want flatter abs. I used to combine cardio with weights, but since following the Atkins diet, the emphasis has shifted to weights. At first it was hard not having carbohydrates, but you get used to it. I mainly stick to high-protein foods such as chicken and fish.
When I'm older I might consider cosmetic surgery, but not at the moment. I have taken thermogenic supplements, such as xenadrine, which speeds up your heartbeat, but that made me feel terrible. I've also tried creatine, which can boost muscle strength and size, but I felt dehydrated and I heard it can damage your liver. I may try steroids at a later date if I'm not happy with my size.
I used to avoid situations where I had to expose my body, but since working out I feel much better about taking my top off in gay nightclubs where there is a huge pressure to have a good body. I still feel self-conscious about my stomach, though.
I don't think I have a body image problem, although sometimes when I look in the mirror I see a fat blob and worry that I don't look good, but that is usually after I've seen someone with a body that I aspire to, like the rugby player, Jonny Wilkinson. Sometimes I like what I see, especially if someone has just complimented me on how big I am. That makes me feel terrific."
BRETT CASSIDY
Age 31, single, a corporate lawyer who lives in Kensington. Brett is 6' and weighs twelve and a half stone.
"I grew up in New Jersey and started working out when I was 17 years old. It seemed natural for me to lift weights, as it has always been part of American culture.
I wouldn't describe myself as really toned, as I have a little layer of fat, which I'm working to shift. I go to the gym five times a week, and work out for about an hour and a half. I work different muscle groups on different days. I should do more cardiovascular exercise and work on my legs, but I don't enjoy that so much. I'd also love a six-pack, and should concentrate on my abdominals.
In my early twenties I worked on getting bigger and bigger muscles, but now going to the gym is about relaxation and switching off. I work really long hours, so fitting in 10 hours of training a week means missing out on social occasions. In the past, when I've had girlfriends, I've even sneaked out and gone to the gym. At first I thought that maybe I was obsessed, but weightlifting releases endorphins in the brain, which are a natural relaxant and make me feel healthier and stronger.
I don't read any fitness magazines and don't have a body type that I aspire to. I would never consider having surgery or using supplements as they could cause long-term damage. I'm careful about what I eat, but don't really diet. I eat mainly poultry and avoid high-calorie foods. I don't restrict my intake of carbohydrates, but I try not to eat desserts. I'd like to be trimmer and more toned. I fear that if I stopped working out I'd blow up like a balloon."
PAUL SALMON
Age 39, a self-employed electrician who lives with his girlfriend in Southend. Paul is 5'7" and weighs eleven and a half stone.
"My grandfather was a fitness instructor and got me into weight training when I was 18 because I didn't like football. I used to train five times a week, and really built up my muscles. It has definitely paid off, because now I only have to keep what I've got maintained. I train twice a week at the gym for 90 minutes, doing mainly weights. I also run about seven miles, twice a week.
I'm a medium build and I like most of my body, except my legs, which could be bigger. I'd never take drugs to build myself up and I'd never consider surgery. My metabolism burns up calories quickly so I never have to watch what I eat or follow diets. Maybe in the future, when I slow down, I'll have to be more careful. I'm not obsessive about training, so if I miss a session because of a social event it doesn't bother me.
I subscribe to Men's Health magazine, which has quite a few training tips, and I watch programmes about fitness and strength on television. Primarily I work out for me, but my girlfriend likes me having muscles, and it's fantastic when I'm on the beach because I often have the best body there, which makes me feel great."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 26, 2003.

Burglars net cash in aquarium raid

South London Press
News
Burglars net cash in aquarium raid
Aug 26 2003
Two burglars made off with a "substantial" amount of money in a raid on the London Aquarium.
Scotland Yard said the men broke into the building at County Hall, Southbank, before it had opened for business.
They then made their way through basement tunnels to the safe where they stole a "substantial" sum of money.
The raiders set off smoke alarms to divert the attention of staff while they made their getaway on foot from the venue, escaping via Westminster Bridge Road towards St Thomas's Hospital.
It was not known how they got into the building which exhibits marine life from the Atlantic and the Pacific, including sharks, piranhas and exotic plant life.
The raiders are described as wearing dark clothing, dark hoods and white masks.
Scotland Yard is appealing for witnesses to contact the Priority Crime Unit at Kennington on 020 8649 2448, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 26, 2003.

Ken hikes fares to make up for C-charge shortfall

South London Press
News
Ken hikes fares to make up for C-charge shortfall
Aug 22 2003
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone hiked Tube and bus fares this week to help make up a Ł65million shortfall in congestion-charging revenue.
A single from Zone 2 into central London - a ticket bought regularly by large swathes of commuters travelling from Clapham, Stockwell, Kennington and New Cross - will go up from Ł2.00 to Ł2.20.
The price of a weekly Travelcard will increase to Ł20.20 from Ł19.60. Tube users travelling from Zone 3 into town, from Tooting and Balham, will see the price of a single go up from Ł2.30 to Ł2.50. Weekly Travelcards will go up to Ł23.80 from Ł23.10.
Tube users who travel from Zone 1 from stations like Vauxhall, Waterloo, Southwark, Lambeth North, London Bridge and Borough - face even bigger hikes.
The price of a single Zone 1 ticket rises from Ł1.60 to Ł2 - an increase of 25 per cent. A Zone 1 weekly Travelcard goes up Ł2, from Ł16.50 to Ł18.50.
And things are not much better on the buses. Bus fares in large parts of South London will rise from 70p to a Ł1.
The changes will come into place on Sunday, January 4.
Also from next year, children under 11 will travel free on all London buses. Tube passengers will continue paying 2003 fares, but only if they use the new 'Oyster Smartcard' on the daily commute.
The total predicted net revenue increase from the revised fare structure for 2004 is Ł42million on the Tube and Ł39million on the buses. The success, or otherwise, of the congestion-charging scheme is due to come under the spotlight at City Hall in early September when the Mayor will reveal figures on exactly how much the scheme has raised in its first six months of operation.
What do you think about the fare increases?
* Email: letters@slp.co.uk
* Write: 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2AT
(Please include your full name, address and phone number)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 23, 2003.

COMMUNITY ACCESS FUND

COMMUNITY ACCESS FUND
Deadline for applications 12 September 2003, decision 3 November 2003
Grants of between Ł500 and Ł5000 are available for projects and activities that support community groups to participate in regeneration projects or facilitate their own growth and development.
Who can apply?
* The Fund covers the SE1 and SE11 areas of the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark and the south Westminster wards of Vincent Square,Tachbrook, Warwick, Churchill and the riverside part of St James's (see map on reverse).
* Only newly formed groups or those with an income of less than Ł30,000 per year can apply.
* The Fund is open to projects which benefit one or more of the following groups:
youth; the elderly; pre-school children; refugees; health/mental health; black and minority ethnic communities.
What kind of projects does the Community Access Fund support?
* Possible project ideas could include (these are examples only and other ideas will be considered):
* Volunteering schemes;
* Capacity building/mentoring e.g. a project that enables one organisation to work and share skills with another organisation;
* Education projects e.g. linking local schools with an employer;
* Employment and training projects;
* Sports and leisure projects;
* Helping organisations develop ideas for future projects.
* Projects may involve an element of environmental works although the primary aim of the project should be to encourage the group's development.
For further information and an application form please contact:
Katrina McGrath/Chris Rostron
Groundwork Southwark
The Old Library
39 Wells Way
London SE5 0PX
Tel: 020 7252 7666
E: katrina.mcgrath@groundwork.org.uk
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ

-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), August 22, 2003.

Life and Times of a Town Crier

Dear Friends
The next Friends' evening event at Durning Library will be
Life and Times of a Town Crier
Monday, 15th September
7pm for 7.30pm
The Friends of Durning Library invite you to a talk by Alfie Howard. Mr Howard has been Lambeth's official Town Crier since 1945. Still working in his nineties, he is one of only two town criers in the London boroughs. He has 'town cried' in 35 countries and has many a tale to tell.
Ł2 including first drink and snacks.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes
Cathy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, London SE11
t: 020 7926 8682
e: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), August 22, 2003.

Heart defect baby survives ambulance crash

Daily Mail
Heart defect baby survives ambulance crash
femail.co.uk - 21st August 2003
His beaming smile is full of the sheer joy of living.
And no wonder. For at the age of six months, Cameron Carville has already proved himself a born survivor.
His parents, Fiona and Steve, can scarcely believe their luck that he is still with them.
Cameron was born with a rare heart defect.
And just three days later, while the couple were still struggling to come to terms with his plight, fate struck them an even more devastating blow.
An ambulance rushing the baby to a specialist hospital for life-saving surgery collided with a police car on a 999 call.
The ambulance overturned, hurling Cameron out on to the road, and the tubes keeping him alive were ripped from his body as he hurtled down the carriageway.
By the time he came to rest, dozens of feet from the site of the impact, his heart had stopped.
His parents, following the ambulance by car, heard the collision as they rounded a bend, and came upon the horrifying scene.
Only now, with Cameron fully restored to health and an investigation into the accident complete, has Mrs Carville, 29, brought herself to talk publicly about it.
'I went numb,' she said. 'I didn't think there was any chance Cameron could be alive.
'All I could do was look over at Steve and shake my head.'
In the confusion, it took several minutes to find the baby on the road.
'When we found him he had a huge hole in his head and was covered in blood,' said the former therapist and part-time singer who is now a full-time mother.
'It was unbearable. We thought the worst had happened when he had his heart defect. We couldn't believe this was happening to him. I remember sitting on the front of a police car and being talked to by a policewoman. I was just in total shock.'
Cameron's nurse and doctor, who received minor injuries in the crash, managed to restart his heart. He was taken on to hospital and treated for a fractured skull and bruising to the brain.
But his injuries meant he was unable to undergo heart surgery for another two weeks, during which time his condition prevented oxygen being transported around his body properly.
His parents could only pray that he would survive.
Luckily the operation, at Guy's Hospital, was an immediate success. And now Cameron has been given the all-clear and is settled in at home in Eastbourne, East Sussex, with his parents and two-year-old sister, Sorcha.
The only signs of his dramatic start to life are a scar on his chest from the surgery and a slight dent in his head from the crash.
'It was an awful period of our lives that we feel so lucky to have come through relatively unscathed,' said Mrs Carville.
The Police Complaints Authority has recently finished investigating how the emergency vehicles, both using sirens and flashing lights, came to collide in Kennington, South London, at around 3am.
The police car, going to back up officers in a car chase, was said by witnesses to have gone through a green light at the same time as the ambulance went through a red.
The Metropolitan Police will be deciding if any further action should be taken.
Mrs Carville and her 38-year-old husband, a secondary school teacher, have collected newspaper cuttings about the accident to be kept with Cameron's baby photos.
'When he is old enough to understand, he can read for himself what happened,' Mrs Carville said.
'He may have a mark on his head and it's important for him to know what he went through.'
But she and her husband prefer to look to the future.
'Those events will always be a bad memory,' she said, 'but we have come through it. We feel incredibly blessed and could never express our full gratitude to the people who saved Cameron's life.'
t.hall@dailymail.co.uk
Find this story at: http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=193107&in_page_id=169
©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 21, 2003.

6th Annual Jumble Sale next Bank Holiday Monday, August 25th at 2pm

Jumble Sale next Monday
This is just to let you know that we will be holding our 6th Annual Jumble Sale next Bank Holiday Monday, August 25th at 2pm at The Old Courthouse, 43 Renfrew Road SE11.
We're happy to accept any good quality jumble up until 11am on the day (excepting electrical items). Tea and cake will be on offer as well as a raffle, clothes, books, records & cds, children's items and general bric a brac.
For more information please contact Jamyang on Phone: (020) 7582 1002 Fax: (020) 7820 8605 e-mail: admin@jamyamg.co.uk
Alison

-- Alison (alison@jamyang.co.uk), August 20, 2003.

Youth Worker Vacancy at Vassall Youth Partnership

Youth Worker Vacancy at Vassall Youth Partnership
Dear all
I am circulating this on behalf of the Vassall Youth Partnership.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
The Vassall Youth Partnership:
Vassall Ward Youth & Community Project
St. John the Divine Youth Project
Christ Church, North Brixton
A partnership of local youth groups based in Vassall, Lambeth's most deprived ward, is looking to recruit a team of committed youth workers for our new youth work project:
3 x Full time Youth Workers
1 x Full time Youth Worker (Christian Based)
Ł23,316 pa (inc ilw)
This new Partnership will provide a range of detached, outreach and centre-based activities.
We are looking for experienced candidates who are committed to working with young people growing up in a deprived, inner city area.
The closing date for applications is 4th September 2003.
Due to the fact that we are advertising over the Summer break, short-listed candidates will be offered flexibility around interview dates.
An application pack is available from Sylvia on 0207 582 4762, if ansaphone please leave your name, address & telephone number.

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), August 20, 2003.

Lambeth bus lanes to be monitored by CCTV

Lambeth
Date: 14 August 2003
Ref: 1645
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Lambeth bus lanes to be monitored by CCTV
Lambeth Parking Services today launched a new CCTV bus lane enforcement operation on several local authority roads within Lambeth. There are 11 new 'pan-tilt-zoom' cameras that are supervised during the bus lanes' operational hours by Lambeth Council staff.
Fixed site cameras have also been installed by Transport for London on the roadsides of some of the principal bus lanes, and a further 23 important bus routes will be monitored by cameras installed on buses.
The operation will provide a means to enforce legislation that prohibits vehicles from driving in bus lanes. Controllers will observe traffic from the control centre at Blue Star House, Stockwell Road, and will issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to offending vehicles. PCNs will be issued by post to the vehicle?s Registered Keeper, and will be accompanied by a photograph showing the vehicle in the bus lane. The standard charge for a PCN is Ł100, though this is reduced to Ł50 if payment is made within 14 days. Facilities have been made available for any motorists wishing to query a PCN issued for their vehicle to view, by appointment, the actual recordings made at the time.
The cameras will operate initially from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday - and from 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
'This initiative will benefit everyone who lives in, works in and travels through Lambeth,' commented Councillor Andrew Sawdon, executive member for community safety, regeneration and transport. 'Our aim is to increase the speed and reliability of buses within Lambeth, and to help those without a car to move about in the borough.'
Note for Editor
CCTV enforcement of bus lanes is a Transport for London (TFL) funded initiative, which forms part of the London Bus Initiative (LBI).
Listed below are the bus routes that will be covered by CCTV:
Bus Mounted Routes
Location Bus Routes Using Lanes
Westminster Bridge Road 12, 148, 155, 453, 468, 53, X53
Wandsworth Road 77, 77A
Kennington Road 159, 3, 59
Kennington Road 159, 3, 59
Waterloo Road 1, 168, 171, 172, 176, 188, 68, X68
Acre Lane 35, 37, P5
Waterloo Road 1, 168, 171, 171A, 176, 188, 59, 68, 76, X68
Clapham Park Road 137, 35, 37, 417, 689, 690
Wandsworth Road 77, 77A
Wandsworth Road 77, 77A
Wandsworth Road 77, 77A
Wandsworth Road 322, 77, 77A
Lambeth Road 3, 344, C10, 12, 148, 159, 453, 53
Cedars Road 137, 345
Cedars Road 137, 345
Wandsworth Road 77, 77A
Denmark Hill 148, 42, 468, 68, P15, X68
Herne Hill 68
Westminster Bridge Road 453
Norwood Road 68
Coldharbour Lane 35
Westminster Bridge Road 12, 148, 453, 53
Effra Road 196, 2, 3, 37, 432, 689, 690
Effra Road 196, 2, 3, 37, 432, 689, 690
Tulse Hill 2, 201, 432, 689
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2839
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 19, 2003.

Sport: Cricket

Independent
Stewart's doughty innings gives his faction the high ground
Valuable innings takes wicketkeeper-batsman close to 40-run average in Tests but provides symbol of difference between teams
By James Lawton at Trent Bridge
16 August 2003
Heroism, like beauty, can often depend on the eye of the beholder, which meant there were two utterly distinct views of Alec Stewart's score of 72 here yesterday.
One was of another doughty contribution to England's cause by the 40-year-old "Gaffer''. The other saw it as service primarily for the benefit of himself.
This is the degree of polarisation which is accompanying the last competitive days of a cricketer whose desire to leave the Test arena to tunes of glory on his home soil of Kennington has apparently been rubber-stamped by the establishment.
Yesterday the Stewart faction occupied the high ground as they asked if either of Stewart's leading challengers, the local hero Chris Read or James Foster, could have been relied upon to produce a significant tally of runs at the pivotal stage of a vital Test match.
England, they argued, do not have the luxury of choice; they have to go with what they have while they have it and let the future look after itself. This viewpoint was not exactly besieged by the brightest hope of England's fast bowling, James Anderson.
The Lancastrian has been given his head, but to what purpose? Promptly to lose it, it seemed, as the South African captain, Graeme Smith, butchered his confidence as early as his third over, taking three fours from four deliveries.
Geoff Boycott, no less, has raged about the lack of care in the development of a prospect like Anderson and, here again, we saw a young lion dwindling before our eyes while the old one, Stewart, gnawed yet again at the last remnants of the bone.
Stewart's 72 left him on a tantalising Test average of 39.99 and there were some cricket men in the ground who nursed the dark thought that Stewart was as much concerned with getting back to a 40 average - the benchmark of a successful Test career - as prosecuting the fight against tiring South African bowlers.
Has Stewart earned his right to a series of last hurrahs in a final season at the top of the game? The Australians, the world's most relentlessly successful cricketers, would say an emphatic "no''. They, as a matter of deeply entrenched policy, denied their great wicketkeeper and defiant bat, Ian Healy, his 100th cap in his own Brisbane backyard. They did this after taking him to one side and explaining, quite unsentimentally, that it was time again to re-seed and regenerate the team. Healy could jump - or be pushed. It is the Australian way, of dealing with the greatest of heroes and maintaining an edge on which they know consistent winning depends.
Stewart, whose wicketkeeping was, in late afternoon, showing some of the flaws which disfigured his performance at Lord's - and reopened the debate about the imminence of his departure - has received not so much a hint of such an ultimatum. He has earned, according to the English way, his right to go in his own sweet time.
Yesterday's batting effort now makes any other possibility quite remote and we can be sure that The Gaffer will fidget on, gleaning the runs that will restore his Test batting level to an exemplary mark, through to the end of the summer.
Many would say that it is the right of such a servant to an English game that has not exactly been teeming with heroes during his time. Mostly it has been an epoch of desperate challenge, and a failure to challenge the ascendancy of, above all, the Australians.
Now, though, the counter-argument is that England must move on and seek fresh talent.
Yesterday Stewart batted solidly and certainly helped the cause. But it was a performance without fire or brio. It was an old pro getting on with his job and maintaining his position.
It was perhaps the most glaring symbol of the difference between these teams. South Africa, after long hours in the field, came out to bat under the leadership of their 22-year-old captain, Smith. Of course, they did it vigorously and until Smith, whose first single made him the highest scorer in a series between the nations, stepped on his own wicket as he played a forcing shot, Stewart's 72 runs seemed likely to be engulfed.
But then Smith was gone and The Gaffer threw his hands in the air. It was another moment of triumph in his long battle to survive.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 17, 2003.

How the 'crash baby' survived

How the 'crash baby' survived
by Emma Griffiths
BBC News Online, London
While other mothers are collecting photos, Fiona Wallace Carville is adding press cuttings and news tapes to her baby's keepsakes.
At six months old, Cameron is a happy, healthy boy who likes to crawl across the living room at the family home in Eastbourne, Sussex. But on 10 February he was caught up in a bizarre accident in Kennington, south London, which nearly killed him.
Seriously ill with a heart defect, he was being transferred to Guy's Hospital when his ambulance collided with a police car on a 999 call.
It is thought to be the only case investigated by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) involving two emergency vehicles on separate calls.
Cameron's heart stopped as the ambulance was thrown onto its side and some of the drips and tubes stabilising him were ripped out.
He was thrown clear of the ambulance and it was several minutes before someone found him.
"He had a huge dent in his head and was covered in blood," said Mrs Wallace Carville.
"He looked a mess and I looked over at Steve [Cameron's father] and shook my head. "I said I didn't think there was any chance he could be alive."
But Cameron's nurse and doctor, who were also injured in the crash, were able to start his heart beating again and he was taken to King's College Hospital trauma unit.
A CAT scan showed he had a fractured skull and bruising to the brain, but would not need surgery for his injuries.
But it meant the team at Guy's could not operate for another two weeks on his heart.
'Taking our baby home'
"It was already the worst thing that could happen to us when he had the heart defect, then it got worse. It was surreal," said Mr Carville.
Cameron had been diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries, which stopped oxygen circulating around his body properly.
The couple and their daughter, Sorcha, aged two, moved into Ronald McDonald House at Guy's, a charitable institution for parents in their position, while they waited to see if the surgery was successful.
"I think it was over a couple of days or so [after the operation] before we thought we had a chance of taking our baby home and being all right," said Fiona.
Now six months on, Cameron appears to have survived relatively unscathed and his parents say people enjoy hearing the "crash baby" is well.
He has a scar on his chest from the heart surgery, a small red mark and a slight dent on his forehead and some problems breathing through his nose. The PCA has now completed its investigation into the crash and passed its findings to the Metropolitan Police who will decide whether further action is necessary.
But Cameron's parents are determined to look forward.
"It's just an awful period of our lives that we feel so lucky to have come through so relatively unscathed," said Mrs Wallace Carville.
"He's such a lovely and healthy baby, we feel blessed, especially because the operation he's had was a one-off. Some [heart defects] require three or four operations."
She has been collecting some of the press cuttings and tapes from the night of the accident so when he's old enough to understand, he can read for himself what happened.
"He may still have a mark on his head and it's important for him to know what he went through when it is appropriate, when he starts to ask we can say: 'Have a look'.
"It's not often you are a major news story."
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3147243.stm Published: 2003/08/13 13:02:46 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 14, 2003.

Closure of the Kennington Park Day Centre for the Elderly

South London Press
News
We're in a state of shock over closure of day centre
Aug 8 2003
WE ARE writing in a state of shock about Lambeth council riding roughshod over local people and local democracy in its decision to go ahead with the closure of the Kennington Park Day Centre for the Elderly.
On Monday last week, we led a delegation of centre users, carers and local activists to challenge the council's leaders at the executive committee meeting over its decision to shut the centre without proper consultation with its users.
Labour and Liberal Democrat backbench councillors on the adult social services scrutiny committee, which regulates the council's actions, had backed us and recommended only the week before that the council should delay the decision so that users could be properly consulted. We were therefore appalled when the Liberal Democrat and Tory leadership ignored not only residents but also the scrutiny committee, thereby confirming that the day centre will be closed in August.
This has wider repercussions than just for Kennington Day Centre. We believe it means firstly that the council is prepared to close important social services facilities without any consultation with users at all (the director of social services having admitted at the meeting that the decision to close the centre had been made before April, before any consultation at all had been carried out).
Secondly, we believe it means Lambeth's leaders see no need to be accountable to backbench councillors - even those of their own party - or to the scrutiny committees.
Ted Collins, User
Dot Gibson, Chairwoman of Lambeth Pensioners' Action Group
Sam Townend

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 12, 2003.

Tube station refurbishment

South London Press
News
Progress 'at snail's pace'
Aug 8 2003
I WAS interested to see your article on Tube station refurbishment (South London Press, August 1).
I am sure long-suffering Tube users like me will be amazed to see that the earliest we can expect to see any station improvements is 2005/2006. Most stations in Lambeth and Southwark won't be seeing any improvements until 2010!
As if this wasn't bad enough, passengers using Kennington and the Northern Line at Elephant & Castle have seen the finishing date for improvements to the ticket hall areas pushed further and further back with still no definite date set for opening.
And all this is before we see any investment in new trains or signalling improvements!
Is this really what the Labour Government had in mind when it forced its Public-Private Partnership (PPP) "rescue" plan for the Tube on to Londoners? Londoners, including Liberal Democrats, were right at the time to be cynical about what the PPP meant for London. Now we are beginning to see - cosmetic station improvements at a snail's pace.
Councillor Caroline Pidgeon
Liberal Democrat
Greater London Assembly spokesperson
Southwark & Lambeth

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 12, 2003.

The Lambeth Walk

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 6 August 2003
I have added a new page providing information about The Lambeth Walk.
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/lambethwalk.shtml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2003.

PUPPIES FEELING RUFF

Sky News
PUPPIES FEELING RUFF
Two puppies are recovering from sunstroke after being abandoned under a stairwell in the scorching weather.
Three-month-old Rosie and Rita were found with heat exhaustion under the stairs at a block of flats in Kennington, south London, and were taken to the Blue Cross animal hospital for treatment.
"They have no one to look after their pet while they're away and think that they are doing them a favour by letting them into the wild. But this is a sure way of killing the animal."
Blue Cross has erected kiddies' paddling pools for dogs to splash around in and kittens have litter trays filled with water to cool off.
The charity also advised owners to protect their animals, particularly those with little pigmentation, from sunburn and cancer by using waterproof children's sunblock or sun cream designed for pets.
Tips include:
Short-nosed dogs such as Staffordshire bull terriers, boxers and pekinese should not be exercised during the hottest part of the day between 10am and 3pm.
Elderly animals, pets which are overweight and those with respiratory problems are also at high risk from the heat.
Don't leave animals in small, confined spaces, such as cars, that are likely to get hot and cause heat stroke. Small animals such as hamsters or guinea pigs can die within just 30 minutes in a car in hot weather.
Pets should be kept in well-ventilated areas, have access to shade and plenty of water at all times and be kept out of the midday sun.
Last Updated: 12:56 UK, Thursday August 07, 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2003.

Theatre

Independent
Katie Mitchell: What Katie did next
All it took was a glancing reference to Chekhov in Mrs Gaskell's biography of Charlotte Brontë for the director Katie Mitchell's imagination to be sparked. And that's why, she tells Aleks Sierz, her new production of Three Sisters owes as much to Haworth as to Moscow
07 August 2003
With its characters full of yearning for Moscow, Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters is such a quintessentially Russian play that it's odd to think that it might have had its origins in the obscure goings-on at a parsonage deep in the Yorkshire moors. But Katie Mitchell, who directs a new version at the National Theatre, believes that Chekhov was influenced by the Brontës of Haworth.
The parallels are suggestive. In the play, you have three sisters and their no-good, gambling brother; in Haworth, you had three sisters and their no-good, gambling brother. One sister, Masha, whistles compulsively - like Emily Brontë; another, Irina, is sickly - like Anne Brontë. "During my research," says Mitchell, "I found a glancing reference to Chekhov while reading Mrs Gaskell's biography of Charlotte Brontë. I think that Branwell Brontë gave him Andrey, the brother of the sisters, and that gave him the play."
Her hunch is that Chekhov read about the Brontës, and thought, "Oh, that's interesting, I'll nick a couple of ideas from Britain, that faraway island", never expecting that one day, the Brontës would be world-famous. "In the play, Andrey's age is not stated, so we use the Brontë family structure: Charlotte the eldest, then Branwell, Emily and Anne; we have Olga, Andrey, Masha and Irina."
For Mitchell, the British connection is "strange but rather glorious: it means that British fuel has already come into the play. We already have a relationship with it". That relationship is aided by a "slightly de-Russified" new translation by Nicholas Wright - whose Chekhovian Vincent in Brixton is currently on in the West End. Mitchell and Wright "decided not to use patronymics and to change some references: Lermontov to Byron, for example".
"Three Sisters is an impossible play," she says, her blue eyes widening in emphasis as she draws an analogy with painting. "Before Impressionism, you put the important people at the centre of the canvas and the less important at the periphery. After Impressionism, every bit of the painted canvas had equal value. Despite its title, Three Sisters is about 16 or 17 people, and has four or five stories going on at the same the time - how do you create a focused narrative from such an egalitarian canvas?"
By focusing on four women. "Chekhov said that he'd written a play about four heroines," says Mitchell: the sisters and Natasha, Andrey's wife, their new sister-in-law. She argues that Natasha shouldn't be "demonised as a vulgar upstart". As a lower-class newcomer to the household, she is humiliated and snubbed. "We looked at the film Festen to see how cruel and snobbish this social class can be. The way Natasha is mocked by the sisters is unbelievable." What's the hardest thing about the play? "The radical thing is that it happens over five years. And that passage of time is the hardest thing to deliver from the acting point of view."
This comment reminds me that Mitchell is an actor's director rather than a high-concept director. Her work depends on detailed and truthful acting - she hates "big acting", with its crowd-pleasing flamboyance. She's a roundhead, not a cavalier.
Her cast certainly love her approach: Lorraine Ashbourne (Olga) says: "Katie is a seeker after truth. She investigates the text with the precision of a surgeon and then draws on our own personal experience through improvisation. Katie's process is exposing, one feels naked, raw even, and yet liberated, unselfconscious and free to explore." And Anna Maxwell Martin (Irina) adds: "It was a dream realised to work with her; she's been inspirational. To top it all, she's a great gal!"
As we discuss the great themes of the play - time, family, thwarted desire - Mitchell suddenly panics: she's forgotten the fourth one. Then she remembers: "It's death, illness and death!" she exclaims. How could she forget? "I obviously don't want to face how much that is in the play. The death of the sisters' parents, the wife that tries to kill herself, the consumption, the duel, hands smelling like death. Chekhov was dying of tuberculosis, so his work is riddled with death."
One of the play's key phrases is, "It doesn't matter". Mitchell elaborates: "A lot of characters get to the point when they feel, what does it matter, we die anyway. We'll be forgotten anyway." As if to underline the point, the tape in my recorder comes to an end with a loud snap. Mitchell carries on, her talk typically ranging from the Belgian Symbolist Maeterlinck and the contemporary artist Antoni Malinowski (on how the characters' dress is colour-coded) to existentialism. She's steeped in European culture.
Four years ago, Mitchell and her long-term collaborator, the designer Vicki Mortimer, went on a trip to Russia. Their research was for another project but has come in useful for Three Sisters. They also have some hilariously grim anecdotes about Russian theatre. "In one music theatre in Siberia, they put on a striptease in the foyer to raise money for their shows. In another, they had the Russian equivalent of MFI selling furniture - the place was full of leather suites with price tags!"
Given her enormous vitality and sharp intellect, why is Mitchell so cagey about doing interviews? "Because, often, the media has read my work as me: journalists tend to see me as a character out of a Jane Austen novel, rather earnest and just a bit embarrassing." Reluctantly, she fills me in on her family background. "My great-gran was a Tiller Girl, and my great-grandparents worked with Fred Karno and Charlie Chaplin in the music hall. My gran was brought up in Kennington, where Chaplin's house still stands. The man who beats the gong at the start of the Rank films rented a room in their house."
Born in 1964, Mitchell was brought up in a village near Newbury, Berkshire, and started directing at school. "When I was 16, I did Pinter's Family Voices, and later went to the Edinburgh Fringe with a group called Theatre of the Unexpected." After reading English at Magdalen College, Oxford, where she acted and directed, she worked at several theatres before setting up her own company, Classics on a Shoestring.
Not long after, Mitchell became a regular at the RSC, National and Royal Court. What you remember is the atmosphere of her stagings, especially in what she calls "the anthropological phase" of her work with Mortimer: the shafts of Scandinavian light in Ghosts, the shtetl Jews in The Dybbuk, the industrial gloom of Rutherford and Son. More recently, the Balkan feel of her Oresteia and the claustrophobia of her Ivanov at the National won plaudits.
But although she's the master of in-depth naturalism, I'm less keen on her handling of symbolist, expressionist or minimalist plays - Jean Genet or Jon Fosse. She shrugs off such comments - her interest lies in the process of theatre-making, and in experiment in rehearsal. She adds, "I don't have a list of my greatest hits: I could probably make a collage of things I felt happy with that would run for only 10 minutes." A true perfectionist.
What did Three Sisters teach her? "To be very calm and steady. It's real ensemble writing and it requires real ensemble directing. But I think I'm a closet iconoclast: part of me wants to realise Three Sisters as precisely as Chekhov wrote it. Another part of me wants to communicate it today, which means smashing it to smithereens - just like that clock in the play, which gets 'smashed to buggery'."
'Three Sisters' is previewing now and opens on 12 August (to 4 October) at the Lyttelton Theatre, London SE1 (020-7452 3000)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2003.

Estate is no-go for pizza delivery firm

South London Press
News
Estate is no-go for pizza delivery firm
Aug 8 2003
By Chris Pragnell
PIZZA deliverer was stabbed and robbed by a gang after venturing into a "no-go" area.
The 23-year-old had made a delivery to Battersea's Winstanley Estate when he was attacked in a lift by six young men.
Sickened managers at his firm, Pizza Go-Go, say the estate is one of several areas in South London that are practically off-limits.
The attack happened at around 8.40pm on Sunday as the driver was leaving the lift at Sporle Court, off Winstanley Road.
A gang attacked him, beating him while one thug tried to wrench off his helmet.
Police say he managed to break free but was followed to his motorbike, stabbed in the thigh and robbed of Ł20.
The attack left the victim hospitalised and he has since left his job at Pizza Go-Go, Wandsworth.
Soli Khorsarvanifar, manager at a sister-outlet in Wandsworth Road, said: "The estate is a no-go area. We ask customers to pick up from a main road, but they refuse. They're paying after all.
"There's places drivers are scared to go - parts of Battersea, Kennington and so on."
But Sergeant Richard Dean, of Wandsworth police, denied the estate was a no-go area.
"We don't tell people where they can and can't go," he said.
"Our advice to delivery staff of any kind is always be aware of your surroundings.
"Unfortunately they can be seen as vulnerable, and unfortunately they will be targeted by some sections of society.
"Until we introduce some sort of cashless system they will always be a potential target."
The attackers were all described as black and in their late teens or early 20s.
One suspect was around 18, 5ft 6ins tall, wearing a red and white T-shirt.
Another was around 20, 5ft 10ins tall, wearing a white T-shirt with stripes on the arms. Information to Battersea crimedesk on 020-8247 8441.
Is your estate a no-go area? What do you think should be done?
Text: 07766 725 997
(cost is your standard network rate)
Email: letters@slp.co.uk Write: 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PD (Please include your full name, address and phone number)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2003.

People by Andrew Pierce

Times
August 08, 2003
People by Andrew Pierce
AT LAST Jeffrey John, forced to stand down as Bishop of Reading, has something to celebrate with the appointment of Canon Gene Robinson as the Anglican Church’s first gay bishop.
John’s many supporters in Church House, Oxford — the city’s Bishop, Richard Harries, offered him the Reading job — organised a collection. They have raised Ł100 for John and his partner to go out to dinner. They have booked a table at Kennington Lane Restaurant & Bar, where the house speciality is Paradise Punch. Perhaps they should rename it Paradise Regained.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 08, 2003.

Sunstroke dogs rescued by animal charity

Ananova:
Sunstroke dogs rescued by animal charity
Two puppies are recovering from sunstroke after being abandoned under a stairwell in the scorching weather.
Three-month-old Rosie and Rita were found with heat exhaustion under the stairs at a block of flats in Kennington, south London, and were taken to the Blue Cross animal hospital for treatment.
The black and white miniature Schnauzer crosses were heavily panting, refusing food and completely drained of energy when they arrived at the hospital in Victoria, central London.
After staff cooled them off with wet towels and electric fans and gave them plenty of drinking water, they were soon back to their usual selves and are now looking for a new home.
The animal charity sees a 50% increase in abandoned pets during the summer months after holidaymakers jet off for a sunshine break abroad and leave their pets behind.
Lynn Rogers, a Blue Cross Centre manager, said: "The weather is getting warmer and warmer and people are starting to go on holiday.
"They have no one to look after their pet while they're away and think that they are doing them a favour by letting them into the wild. But this is a sure way of killing the animal.
"These pets are domesticated and cannot look after themselves in the wild. They will die of starvation if they are not killed by predators first."
Story filed: 13:25 Thursday 7th August 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 08, 2003.

Electrician

Electrician
I would like to highly recommend to you an electrician I have known since 1993, without ever any problems, only excellent service and very reasonable rates. He has been abroad for two years but now, thankfully, back in London.
Geoff Powell
GP Electronics
12 Alpha Street
SE15 4NX
020 7732 7763
07906 265785

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 07, 2003.

Ł 1.5bn makeover for tube stations

South London Press
News
Ł 1.5bn makeover for tube stations
Aug 6 2003
By Domenic Donatantonio
NEW disability access, CCTV, lighting, signalling and station fronts will form the extensive revamp for 16 of South London's Tube stations, it was announced last week.
Tube Lines, which took over the running of the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines at the beginning of the year, has announced a modernisation and refurbishment programme, to be completed by 2011.
Stations to be modernised will have improved passenger access and the fabric of the buildings, such as walls, ceilings and floors, will be completely renewed.
Regular commuters through Kennington and Borough may have already noticed the start of the modernisation programme.
Stockwell is the first station set for refurbishment, which will involve a "lot more than a lick of paint", according to Tube Lines spokeswoman Sarah Hagen.
The company also revealed a 12-fold increase in its litter collection. Stephen Peat, director of operations, said putting magazine racks on trains to counter the problem of the thousands of newspapers left by passengers had been considered.
"We had to reject the idea because of security concerns," he said.
"But around 400,000 copies of Metro are taken on to our trains, and around half of those are left behind.
"Our drivers are now instructing passengers to take their rubbish with them as the ambience of the train is as important as safety and reliability."
Tube Lines has also announced a graffiti blitz. Mr Peat said: "We have had a major issue with graffiti.
"So like you'll find on an aeroplane, our trains are litter-picked at the end of the line. This is a 12-fold increase on the previous day-to-day cleaning."
The total upgrade for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines across London is set to cost Ł1.5billion.
Mr Peat said: "We are putting more pounds in the ground than has ever been seen before."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 07, 2003.

Scheme receives royal award

South London Press
News
Scheme receives royal award
Aug 6 2003
By Vicky Wilks
A SUMMER holiday project for teenagers that began in Norwood 15 years ago, has been given a royal stamp of approval.
Lambeth Summer Projects Trust was one of just 20 organisations across London to receive the prestigious Queen's Golden Jubilee Award last week.
The trust was the brainchild of Lambeth police who joined forces with the residents of Norwood back in 1988 in a bid to curb troublesome local youngsters.
Teenagers had been congregating in Norwood Park and causing problems for local people who finally decided something had to be done.
With cops, they set up a holiday project at Norwood School to offer constructive activities for youngsters during the long summer breaks.
The project was so successful it was replicated in Clapham, Brixton and Kennington and the trust became a registered charity.
The trust sees police and volunteers run four-week long holiday schemes that include a huge range of activities, at affordable prices.
This summer, three schemes have been run involving about 600 children in total. The Norwood/Streatham project is running at Bishop Thomas Grant secondary school, Belltrees Grove. About 300 children are taking part at a cost of just Ł20 each.
Activities include football, basketball, badminton, archery, rock climbing, ice skating and go-karting, workshops in dance, photography and computers, and trips to London Zoo and London Aquarium.
Organiser PC Jane Rolph told The Post: "The aim is to give the kids some fun but also a bit of education - we want them to learn about citizenship and also to develop better relationships with police."
Last Thursday, the Streatham children attended a short ceremony at the school where the Jubilee Award was handed over.
The award is designed to recognise the unsung heroes of the voluntary and community world.
PC Rolph said: "Everyone involved is very pleased with the award, particularly as only 200 were given throughout the country."
* All the trust's holiday schemes are now full.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 07, 2003.

Housing growth in the countryside

Times
August 05, 2003
Housing growth in the countryside
From the Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance
Sir, The news that 200,000 new houses are to be built in the South East (reports, July 31) gives rise to a complex situation. Problems of affordable housing and an ever-burgeoning population will not be solved by treating the countryside as nothing more than a pretty vista, there to be enjoyed by middle-class commuters who will not tolerate any change that would affect the value of their homes.
Development is necessary, but we cannot see the rise of the dormitory town used only as a break from the city. The countryside is its communities: any development must foster real communities with real jobs in rural areas, not be the author of its downfall.
Yours, etc,
RICHARD BURGE,
Chief Executive, Countryside Alliance,
367 Kennington Road, SE11 4PT.
July 31.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 05, 2003.

Vauxhall Foreshore Fun Day

Breaking News from http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London
Updated 3 August 2003
Vauxhall Foreshore Fun Day
takes place from 1300-1600 on Tuesday 5 August on the beach behind the MI6 building, at the corner of Vauxhall Bridge and the Albert Embankment. It offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the River Thames, and in particular about the huge variety of fish that now swim through Vauxhall.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 03, 2003.

Cricket

Vaughan must take charge after last Test
By Scyld Berry (Filed: 27/07/2003)
Telegraph
The pavilion balcony at the Oval is the traditional English setting for triumphs and farewells. The recovery of the Ashes in 1926, 1953 and 1985 was celebrated there. Since Sir Donald Bradman walked off the field into retirement in 1948, many famous cricketers from various countries have chosen that balcony from which to acknowledge the cheers then wave goodbye forever.
But it has also been the setting for the loudest booing which English cricket has provoked from its own supporters. In 1999 England managed to lose a series at home to New Zealand for the first time, and when Nasser Hussain was called upon to be interviewed as the losing captain, the boos - born of long frustration at the way England's cricket had been mismanaged - contrasted with the roars which had greeted Percy Chapman and Jack Hobbs, Len Hutton and Alec Bedser, David Gower and Ian Botham, and which still echo down the years at Kennington.
Four years on, the fifth Test against South Africa will be the time for Hussain to stand down as England's captain if Michael Vaughan desires to combine the Test and one-day captaincies this winter, whatever the result of the current series. If Vaughan is to get his feet under the table by the Ashes home series of 2005, which should be the priority, he needs 18 months of experience; and if England fare slightly less well in Sri Lanka and the West Indies this winter than they would have under Hussain - England's series in Bangladesh should be a formality - it is a price worth paying for a captain sufficiently equipped to have a realistic chance of beating Australia.
It is nearly autumn, and Hussain is wise enough to know it. If England win this series - as I still expect them to do, not in spite but because of the urgent alarm call of the opening day - Hussain will deserve to go out at the top. If South Africa are beaten, his achievement will have been to elevate England to the same plane as all the other major Test countries apart from Australia, after being dubbed "the worst team in the world" in the wake of the defeat by New Zealand. And if England lose this series, it will be time for Hussain to go anyway.
The transitional period this summer, the time of two kings, seems to have served its purpose. Vaughan has already admitted that the demands of being England's one-day captain have been far more taxing off the field than on it, which is good: it means that all the people demanding a piece of the new man, wanting interviews for television, magazines and newspapers, clamouring for autographs and photographs, have been largely satisfied. The novelty is wearing off; the lifestyle mags won't be wanting Vaughan to pose again, at least until Australia have been beaten.
In Bangladesh, after his wedding, Vaughan will be able to concentrate on his cricket; so, too, in Sri Lanka before Christmas, where again the media won't be so intrusive. Then he will have a two-month break - a respite never granted to Hussain - before England's tour of the West Indies from March to May. And if it all gets too much for Vaughan in the course of the winter, if the job completely ruins his own performance, there should always be Hussain to fall back on in the Test side.
One of the very few areas of the game in which England have been pioneers is in re-assimilating captains in the ranks. Graham Gooch set the example in never rocking the boat; Alec Stewart and Mike Atherton followed. There is no reason to think that Hussain would stir up the England dressing-room after handing over to Vaughan: at Essex, although club captain in name, he has batted under Ronnie Irani, and scored heavily this season, too.
Provided Hussain retains his desire, he should retain his Test place for at least the coming winter as England's most consistent batsman over the last two years. Since breaking a finger against Australia in 2001, he has scored 46, 55, 52 and 2 at home to Australia; 85, 12, 1, 50 and 43 in India; 106, 11, 66, 13*, 2 and 82 in New Zealand; 57, 68, 22 and 16 at home to Sri Lanka; 155, 12, 3, 25, 110 and 10 at home to India; 51, 11, 47, 10, 8, 61, 24, 23, 75 and 72 in Australia; and 19 and 18 against Zimbabwe, before this game.
For four years, too, he has yapped and barked at his bowlers, roasted errant fielders with word or glare, and kept England up to the mark. Which is why the opening day at Edgbaston was so surprising. For the first time, against a Test side other than Australia, Hussain had no control in the field: all day his bowlers bowled on both sides of the wicket, while he maintained full control of himself instead of letting the passion hang out.
The moment may come for Vaughan's mild manner, but not yet. Not until this series has been won. Not until Hussain has walked on to the pavilion balcony at the Oval, acknowledged the applause of spectators standing on the outfield, and shaken hands with the ghosts of his predecessors.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 03, 2003.

Upgrade for tube stations

South London Press
News
Upgrade for tube stations
Aug 1 2003
By Domenic Donatantonio
NEW disability access, CCTV, lighting, signalling and station fronts will form the extensive revamp for 16 of South London's Tube stations, it was announced this week.
Tube Lines, who took over the running of the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines at the beginning of the year, have announced a modernisation and refurbishment programme for the stations by 2011.
Modernised stations will have improved passenger access and the fabric of the buildings, such as walls, ceilings and floors, will be completely renewed.
Regular commuters through Kennington and Borough may have already noticed the start of the modernisation programme.
Stockwell is set to be the first refurbished station under the programme which will involve a "lot more than a lick of paint", according to Tube Lines spokeswoman Sarah Hagen.
The company also revealed a 12-fold increase in its litter collection. Stephen Peat, Tube Lines' director of operations, revealed that they had even considered putting magazine racks on trains to counter the problem of the thousands of newspapers left by passengers.
"We had to reject the idea because of security concerns," he said.
"But around 400,000 copies of Metro are taken on to our trains, and around half of those are left behind.
"Our drivers are now instructing passengers to take their rubbish with them as the ambience of the train is as important as safety and reliability."
Tube Lines has also announced a graffiti blitz.
Mr Peat said: "We have had a major issue with graffiti.
"So like you'll find on an aeroplane, our trains are litter-picked at the end of the line. This is a 12-fold increase on the previous day-to-day cleaning."
The total upgrade for the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines across London is set to cost Ł1.5billion.
Mr Peat said: "We are putting more pounds in the ground than has ever been seen before."
To be refurbished
OVAL - completed by spring 2010
STOCKWELL - early 2006
CLAPHAM NORTH - spring 2010
CLAPHAM COMMON - spring 2010
CLAPHAM SOUTH - spring 2010
BALHAM - spring 2010
TOOTING BEC - spring 2010
TOOTING BROADWAY - spring 2010
COLLIERS WOOD - early 2010
SOUTH WIMBLEDON - late 2010
BERMONDSEY - spring 2010
To be modernised
BOROUGH - early 2005
KENNINGTON - early 2005
MORDEN - early 2006
WATERLOO - spring 2009

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2003.

Vacancy

Lambeth

Vacancy

Nursery Nurse
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/020978.pdf
For further information, please refer to the advertisement.
Released: July 29, 2003 8:49 AM
Filesize: 14kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 30, 2003.

Ex-boyfriend cleared of knife attack

Ex-boyfriend cleared of knife attack
Jul 25 2003
South London Press
By Court Reporter
A JILTED boyfriend accused of a savage knife attack on his love rival walked free from a court.
Mauritian-born Stephan Gerofle, 21, had denied stabbing pal Paul Moonsamy so hard that the blade lodged in his skull.
Mr Gerofle, from Bromfelde Road, Stockwell, was cleared of attempted murder and wounding with intent by an Old Bailey jury after claiming he had been at a friend's in Kennington on the night of the attack.
The court heard Mr Moonsamy lived with lover Mari Lou Ferrer and their two-year-old son in Castle-combe Drive, Wandsworth.
Ms Ferrer had a brief relationship with Mr Gerofle, but had moved back with Mr Moonsamy.
On October 24 last year, the couple were returning home in the early hours when a hooded figure stepped from the shadows. Mr Moonsamy was repeatedly smashed in the head and body but managed to break free and run to his flat.
The attacker followed and pulled a knife from his pocket, stabbing Mr Moonsamy several times in the face, head and upper body.
He was taken to hospital, where surgeons removed the knife blade from his skull, the court heard.
Despite Mr Moonsamy identifying Mr Gerofle, the defendant had maintained: "I wasn't there. It had nothing to do with me."
The jury accepted his defence that the victim could not have properly identified the hooded attacker.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 26, 2003.

Night stabbing in park was 'homophobic'

Night stabbing in park was 'homophobic'
Jul 25 2003
South London Press
COPS are hunting two male attackers who stabbed a man in a violent homophobic attack.
The assault occurred after the two suspects entered the rose garden area of Kennington Park and subjected a man to what police call "aggressive homophobic abuse". When their victim left, one of the suspects stopped a second man who was standing nearby.
The attacker shouted more homophobic abuse at the man and threatened to stab him unless he handed over cash.
A violent struggle then took place in which the victim received a small stab wound. He was taken to King's College Hospital and kept in overnight.
PC Andy Hewlett said: "During the summer we often see a rise in the number of incidents where men are robbed and attacked while using London's parks and commons."
The attacks took place at about 2am on Friday, July 4.
Lambeth Police want witnesses to come forward and are particularly keen to speak to the first man who was abused. He has not yet reported the incident.
Police said all information would be dealt with tactfully and confidentially. Information to the Lambeth Community Safety Unit on 020-8649 2632.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 26, 2003.

Gay man stabbed in park

Evening Standard
24/07/03 - News and city section
Gay man stabbed in park
A gay man was stabbed after another was verbally abused during a homophobic attack in a London park.
The first victim was abused by two black men in the Rose Garden at Kennington Park.
The suspects then threatened to stab the second man if he did not hand over cash. In a struggle that followed, he was knifed.
Lambeth police are keen to speak to the victim of the verbal abuse. The incident took place at about 2am on Friday 4 July.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/5905129?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 25, 2003.

Property

22/07/03 - Property news section
His 'n' hers homes for Tim
By Compton Miller
Evening Standard
Oscar-winning composer Sir Tim Rice has an unusual way of conducting his romance with artist Nell Sully, 25 years his junior. While he lives in his palatial Thames mansion in Barnes, she occupies a house he has bought her in Richmond. "It's very convenient for Tim as he and Nell are only a few miles apart," explains a friend. Rice, 57, a free spirit worth ÂŁ133 million, enjoys privacy. He also owns a quiet pad in Cornwall and the 36,000-acre Dundonnell estate in Scotland.
Moira Lister plans to celebrate her 80th birthday next month in her new home in South Africa. She has sold her two-bedroom Eaton Square flat for an estimated ÂŁ2 million and will now live in Constantia, one of Cape Town's smartest seaside resorts, where a substantial home costs ÂŁ400,000 to ÂŁ500,000. "She has just written to me," says a friend. "She said 'everyone is smiling but there's not much intellectual exchange!'"
Hollywood biographer Charles Castle is selling his Georgian-style mansion near Battle, East Sussex, for ÂŁ1.3 million through FPDSavills. The five-bedroom property includes 10 acres of parkland laid out by award-winning gardener Christopher Lloyd and an aviary designed by Lord Snowdon. Castle bought Soggs Place in 1961 with his late partner, celebrity wigmaker Stanley Hall, and used it to entertain every major star from Greta Garbo and Vivien Leigh to Sir John Gielgud and Dame Margot Fonteyn. "I'm now buying a house near Toulouse with three gites attached," says Castle, who rebuilt Soggs after it burnt down in 1999.
Alan Woods, Thames Waterman to the Queen, is selling his weekend retreat on the Isle of Wight for ÂŁ1.2 million through agent Christopher Wood. The converted Victorian boathouse near Cowes has seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms and a pontoon for mooring a yacht. Woods recently launched a new Thames boat service between Tate Modern and Tate Britain. Passengers have included President Putin, Cherie Blair, Sven-Goran Eriksson and So Solid Crew.
Rising fashion designer Katarzyna Szczotarska has rented a secondfloor flat in Kennington's Old Fire Station development for Ł 290 a week through Hugues Nerin. She lives in the two-bedroom flat with her daughter Lola. The Polish-born couturier, who dresses supermodels such as Liberty Ross, Eva Herzigova and former James Bond girl Isabella Scorupco, will show her latest collection during London Fashion Week in September.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/5863946?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 23, 2003.

A cultural cul-de-sac

Independent
A cultural cul-de-sac
The Prince of Wales's vision of a 'proper' English village is about to mark its 10th anniversary. Stephen Bayley revisits the artificially created idyll that is Poundbury - and encounters disturbing political echoes among the traditional values of rural Dorset
21 July 2003
I can see a phalanx of houses across the fields, like an illustration of traditional English domestic architecture in a children's book. There is distant Gothic tracery, Georgian rectitude, Arts and Crafts smockery. There is no mirror glass or Cor-Ten steel.
Nor are there yellow lines: the Prince of Wales does not like them. The gravel scrunches and the birds sing. The cars may also rev, but you cannot see them. Like the bins, vehicles are shooed out of sight so that nothing rude and modern may compromise the ingratiating saccharine idyll that is Poundbury, population 700.
Poundbury is approaching its 10th birthday, but its historical roots go much deeper. Near to where I live in central London there are two parks, and each one contains a significant clue to Poundbury's intellectual origins. Like all inner-city parks, Vauxhall and Kennington are a mixture of threadbare optimism, ravaged boskage and well-meaning amenity. In Vauxhall, you will find a thoroughly nasty little model village, a miniature of the frustrated and thwarted longings for rural cuteness that torment the uneducated English mind. In Kennington, there is something more noble - the ideal workmen's cottages which Prince Albert designed for the 1851 Great Exhibition.
This mixture of misbegotten sentiment and improving social purpose defines Poundbury, but there is another ingredient as well. At some point in his journey between homoeopathy and organic husbandry, Prince Charles took very badly against modern architecture, or at least modern architecture as defined by a certain sort of foreign architect and their English disciples, who like to make clear, simple, straightforward contemporary buildings.
There has been an anti-modern element in English thought for ever, or at least long before a Modern building ever appeared here. Geoffrey Scott, one of the Villa Medici crowd, a friend of Iris Origo and Bernard Berenson, published The Architecture of Humanism in 1914. This defined architecture as an expression of cultivated, if culturally restricted, thought. In 1934, Sir Reginald Blomfield published Modernismus, an architectural critique of the Jewish Bolsheviks who - with their right angles and concrete - he thought were undermining national life.
More cosily, John Betjeman's mockery of dual carriageways and council houses betrayed a snobbish complacency in the English spirit. In all its expressions, an unattractive xenophobia and crude nationalism influenced this English rejection of contemporary possibilities. Betjeman secretly and unpleasantly called Nikolaus Pevsner, a champion of Modernism in this country, "Plebsveneer". A pure anti-Semitism played its part too: Blomfield was not alone in his characterisation.
Carelessly, Prince Charles has found a foreign architect of his own to help him express his peculiar vision of Britain. This is Leon Krier, who was appointed to come up with Poundbury's master plan in 1988. Krier is a traditionalist, and asks: "Why should architecture be aggressive and deadly?" By which he means: why should it be modern? Instead, there must, he says, be variety and texture: lots of different building plots, housing association dwellings mixed up with private properties. No arguments there. But the vision does not go very much farther.
Prince Charles's architectural education was on a parallel course, if perhaps at a different flight level, to my own. This led, as I know from happy recollection, to a very revealing collision of cultures. In the same year Krier was appointed to Poundbury, I went to St James's Palace to present Prince Charles with a model of the Design Museum and ask him if he would be prepared to open it. With pride and naivety I presented a model of this coruscatingly white Thames-side Bauhaus box to the heir to the throne. I did my speech. Prince Charles looked at me rather as if I had been sick on the Aubusson and simply said, with an expression of exquisite pain: "Mr Bayley, why has it got a flat roof?" He did not add, but clearly suggested, that it should have had columns, entablatures, metopes, triglyphs, lintels, wattle, daub, Beefeaters, turrets, towers, barge boards, finials, coach lamps, pantiles, gnomes, ragstone, quoins and window-boxes. And that was the end of that. The Design Museum opened in 1989, the year Prince Charles formalised his vision of Britain in an influential, if rather potty, book and television series.
The picturesque has a special appeal to the English, who have been so affected by the industrialism that turned a memory of brutish peasant life into a dreamy remembrance of a lost and innocent pastoralism. Thomas Hardy, so much the presiding spirit in Poundbury's Dorset, hated machinery. This, the world's first urbanised country, retains a pathetic love of the countryside that finds expression today in Barbours, four-wheel-drives and ponies. The force of this feeling was powerfully expressed by Oliver Goldsmith in "The Deserted Village" (1770), his elegy about disappearing country life: "To me more dear, congenial to my heart,/ One native charm, than all the gloss of art."
Poundbury itself is a safe two-and-a-half hours away from the broiling, modern cosmopolis of London. But if you had the impression that it is a stand-alone community, an architectural sketch on a canvas of empty countryside, you were wrong. It is located between Dorchester's council houses and where all that green Wessex stuff begins. Dorchester - which was the template for Hardy's Casterbridge - is a tragic sort of place, the sort of English country town that sells specialist chutneys and has youths shooting up in bus shelters, while undemanding tourists are bussed into the quaint Eldridge Pope brewery, close to a giant B&Q and a big Nissan dealer.
And just down the road is Poundbury, the "Vision of Britain" realised, the word in stone (and lots of breeze block and four-by-two). In one sense, Prince Charles's idealism puts him beyond the reach of rational criticism but, on the other hand, the alert and curious visitor cannot help making lasting judgements about the place. Like Goldsmith, Prince Charles spurns the rage of gain and finds himself alive in "these degenerate times of shame". He advocates instead "careful craftsmanship", "a sense of pride", "nothing standardised", "human proportions", "enclosure". His Poundbury is a monument to these expressions of decency. But it does not work. Real communities evolve by demand and desire, not by diktat. Real architecture is an unforced expression of immediate need, expressed through design genius rather than through years of inarticulate, accumulated despair about the modern world.
Poundbury is an annoying, lifeless and sinister 400-acre site. Designed with total disdain for modern effects, the coarse architecture depends entirely on modern materials and systems, as well as modern builders' vans. Prince Charles may long to relocate to an imprecise vision of the 18th century in this soft-focus folly of a somnolent townscape, but would not - one imagines - wish to make do with 18th-century plumbing, still less 18th-century healthcare.
To make that point is not to demand a simple-minded historical consistency, rather to suggest the philosophical poverty of the whole project. For instance, behind the robust and architecturally incorrect peristyle of Poundbury Village Stores sits not a selection of wholesome organic sausages, fresh bread and real virtues, but a Budgen, with all its gallon packs of Sunny Delight. It's a fake.
Like those New England towns where all the shutters have to be painted the same colour by decree, there are stern directives for Poundbury (the Poundbury Design Guidance). No bad thing in themselves, these laws demand, for instance, that television antennae may not punctuate the skyline (there is cable). No functional details of modern life interrupt the idyll. There is one knicker-pink Carpenters' Gothick house designed by Robert Adam, where a central-heating gas flue has been disguised by a gargoyle. This is embarrassing nonsense.
At Poundbury, the various architects have attempted a variety of English styles and tried to use a textbook variety of materials (stone, tiles, brick, colourwash), but this sort of texture cannot compensate for an abysmal lack of texture in the purpose and reality of the place. You note how carefully the principles of picturesque composition have been followed, only to be dismayed by how rapidly they collapse to produce chilling vistas of Sloap (Space Left Over After Planning). A great influence on the picturesque tastes that have affected, however indirectly, our prince was Camillo Sitte's 1889 book Der Städtebau nach seinen künstlerischen Grundsätzen (City Planning According to Artistic Principles), advocating curves in the plan and surprises in the eye-line. But Poundbury is not a response to the landscape, more a witless and heavy-handed imposition on it; it is desolate and artistically dead.
During the Sixties, when the counter-revolution against Modernism began, Ronald Brunskill at Manchester University's School of Architecture began his systematic studies of vernacular architecture. But Poundbury's slovenly and ham-fisted evocations of the past do not even achieve the arid heights of scholarliness. The architecture and planning are just plain bad. Jane Jacobs was attacking Modernist planning when, in 1961 in The Death and Life of Great American Cities, she argued for the benefits of vital slummy chaos over frigid grand plans. Today, she would be attacking Poundbury.
There is something deadly about all communities executed by fiat. Lord Lever's Port Sunlight near Birkenhead ("Happy workers are good workers") is a ghost town. Letchworth, the leafy pinnacle of Ebenezer Howard's Garden City movement, has a moribund air. In Italy, Mussolini's ludicrous Latina and Sabaudia are bereft of Latin spirit and deserted. Clough Williams-Ellis's Portmeirion, an Adriatic Baroque village, built out of scale near Portmadoc, is so terrifying that it was used as the setting for the classic Sixties psycho-drama The Prisoner. The only planned community that has been any sort of success is Wolfsburg, home of Volkswagen. And here is a chilly reminder of another of Poundbury's sources.
In 1933, "Volkisch" ideas became the state policy of Germany. The word has no exact English translation, but "folksy" nearly does it. The theory was that there should be a mystical and supposedly innate sense of communion with the landscape. Volkisch spokesmen yearned for a romantic, pre-Modern past, one ignorant of industrialisation or dangerous bourgeois intellectualism. The architectural expression of this was to be the "Heimatstil" (or homely style). Towers were important, expressive timbering, too. Gables were in: check out the youth hostel at Urfeld to get the idea. But most important to this concept of town planning was the central Volkhall, or People's Hall. And - almost unbelievably - Poundbury actually has one of its own, the Brownsword Hall ("available for Banquets, Concerts, Conferences, Exhibitions, Functions, Meetings, Parties, Presentations"). With its tile-hung gables and grotesquely flatulent columns, the Brownsword Hall, named not for the Brown Shirts, but for Andrew Brownsword, the greetings-card tycoon who paid for it, looks like an illustration from a Nazi architect's pattern book. When I visited, it was closed.
English life is contaminated by the unhealthy residues of the past, but while life in the fast lane may get a bit tiresome, life in a perpetual cul-de-sac is enervating in a more damaging way. Poundbury is a retirement community of the mind, a shabbily executed artistic dead end. It is desperate, sad and wrong. If this is a vision of Britain, I want none of it.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 23, 2003.

Kennington Day Centre

Kennington Day Centre
Kennington Day Centre report
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/020898.pdf
Released: 21 July, 2003 11:13
Filesize: 29kb
Kennington Day Centre Deputation/petition
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/020897.pdf
Released: 21 July, 2003 11:09
Filesize: 29kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 22, 2003.

Copy deadline - Lambeth Life 2/03

Copy deadline - Lambeth Life 2/03
Dear all
Just a quick reminder to let you know the copy deadline for the borough-wide newsletter Lambeth Life is approaching. Issue 2 will be published at the beginning of October, and will cover news for October, November, December and January.
So if you there is a story you would like to see covered or if you are organising an event you want to promote in Lambeth Life, please forward me the details by Monday 28 July.
Thank you.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street<>br>London SE11 5PJ

-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), July 19, 2003.

Friends of Kennington Park public meeting

Friends of Kennington Park public meeting
Monday 28th July at 7pm
The Community Hall,
Kennington Park Estate,
Harleyford Road,
London SE11
(entrance is just by the 36 bus stop opposite the Oval Tube).

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), July 19, 2003.

There's a real buzz about the place

Times
July 19, 2003
There's a real buzz about the place
Carolyn Fry meets the new generation of beekeepers
CHARLIE MILLAR, an abstract artist, is about to take charge of his first community of honeybees. Having put on a white protective face net, Millar opens a wooden box and carefully lifts out a rectangular frame, to which cling hundreds of brown velvety worker bees. The high-pitched whine of the crawling mass rises as dozens of insects launch themselves into the overcast sky. Only when Millar has transferred six or so identical frames safely into the waiting hive does the angry, buzzing cloud subside. When a queen bee is introduced in a few days, the hive will soon become a fully functioning natural honey factory.
We’re in a quiet corner of Roots and Shoots community wildlife garden in Kennington, the new home of the London Beekeepers’ Association (LBKA). Hidden away among derelict, ivy-clad tower blocks, the one-acre site is a honey-bee’s paradise; blossoming clumps of pink geraniums, crimson rock roses, and 10ft-high spikes of purple-blossomed flowing echium are a rich source for the voracious pollen collectors.
Here, along with 17 other students, 38-year-old Millar mastered the tricks of the beekeeper’s trade on the association’s first beekeeping course since its relaunch in January. “I signed up for the course as a joke really because of the novelty value of taking a bee-keeping course in Kennington,” he explains. “I didn’t think I would make every evening, but by the end I couldn’t miss one. It was fascinating.”
The course tutors were surprised to find that the majority of people on the course were in their 30s or 40s, and that many of them were working professionals. Beekeeping has traditionally attracted retired folk, whose children have grown up and who have sufficient land, money and space to support a hive or two in their garden. Few people realise that keeping bees is not particularly time-consuming or expensive and offers “back-to-nature” experience that can help counteract the stresses of the city workplace.
“Beekeeping can take up as much or as little time as you like,” explains Cathy Cooper, 48, a financial manager who also took the Roots and Shoots course. “I’ve had my bees for five or six weeks now and I spend a minimum of half an hour a week with them. I was a scientist years ago and I’ve found it refreshing to go back into something quite academic, to talk to experts and attend lectures again.”
Outside the capital there are also signs that beekeeping is attracting a younger crowd. Thirty-five year-old Andy Sutherland, an electronics engineer at the University of Manchester, got his first hive when he was 17 and now has four hives on two sites. “The younger beekeepers I know range vary in age between 13 and their 40s,” he says. “I’ve just sold one of my honey extractors to the headmaster of a public school in Rochdale. The school has beekeeping on the curriculum so hopefully the age of beekeepers will be coming down.”
Most cities have their own apiary societies. Keeping bees is surprisingly well suited to urban life as the temperature is warmer and the season longer for foraging. The wide variety of plants and trees in parks and gardens provide a rich source of nectar and pollen — which in turn yields richer flavoured honey. In the country bees often have to rely on a huge field of a single crop that might flower only for a short time.
“We had lovely honey from here a few years ago,” says David Perkins, Roots and Shoots’s wildlife outreach worker and a lecturer on the beekeeping course. “One person thought it was lime but I thought it might be elder. It’s hard to know because in London the bees take nectar from such a wide variety of plants.” There are approximately 200 hives in London — distributed throughout private gardens, parks and urban farms. With around 40,000 bees in each hive there is inevitably going to be some contact between bees and humans.
When a community in a hive becomes too large to support itself, a new queen grows and the old queen leaves with half the bees to set up a new community. Not all neighbours are particularly happy to find a swarm of bees in their garden, but usually this is when the bees are carrying all their honey supplies and are at their most placid.
“I had some builders round who were being all macho about the bees until they swarmed and two or three of them got stung,” says Federico Botana, a London-based illustrator whose partner keeps bees in their garden. “After that the builders were terrified. When bees start flying around your head it can be psychological torture. But I’ve been stung only rarely and usually it’s been my fault, for example when I’ve been walking around the garden barefoot.”
If taking a few stings is the downside to beekeeping, gathering the honey is the bonus. Beekeepers generally extract honey from their hives twice a year and expect to gather between 20lb and 60lb in a good season. The new London beekeepers will have to wait until August to sample their first batch. For Charlie Millar, the honey is a big reward. “I just love the idea that honey was the original sweet thing that humans used,” he enthuses.
Cathy Cooper, though, is happy enough that she has given a home to a new community of bees. “I’m not in it for the honey,” she says. “I just like the idea of having a beehive at the bottom of my garden.”
For more information on beekeeping and courses in your area contact the British Beekeepers Association (02476 696679; www.bbka.org.uk).
For more information, visit www.honeyshow.co.uk.
The Hive Honey Shop, 93 Northcote Road, London SW11 (020-7924 6233) sells a wide range of English honey.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 19, 2003.

More Than Bond to Brosnan

Sat 19 Jul 2003
2:46am (UK)
More Than Bond to Brosnan
By Nick Foley
PA News
James Bond star Pierce Brosnan was receiving an honorary OBE today for his outstanding contribution to drama and the British film industry.
The 50-year-old Irishman, who has starred as the suave British spy in the last four 007 films, was being presented with the accolade by the British Ambassador in Dublin, Stewart Eldon.
Brosnan said earlier this week that he was “deeply honoured” to be awarded an OBE, which recognises his achievements during a 27-year career in the industry.
The multi-millionaire actor, now widely regarded as the best Bond since Sean Connery, has come a long way since his troubled upbringing in Ireland.
Pierce Brendan Brosnan was born in Navan, County Meath, in 1953 – the same year the first Bond book, Casino Royale, was published.
Before his first birthday his father, a carpenter, left his mother – who then moved to England to find work to support her son.
He was cared for by his mother’s parents until he was six, when they both died. Brosnan then went to stay with his aunt and was later to attend a strict Catholic school which left a lasting impression on the youngster.
Brosnan said of the school: “Religion was rammed down my throat. It was pretty brutal.”
In 1964 he was finally reunited with his mother, May, when she brought him to live with her in Putney, south-west London. He was treated to a trip to the cinema for the first time shortly after arriving in the capital, where he saw, as if by fate, Goldfinger.
He left school at 16 and trained to be a commercial artist in a photographic studio. Once a week he performed with an experimental arts troupe, in Kennington’s Oval House Theatre Club.
Inspired by the group, Brosnan quit his job and decided to pursue a career in acting. He took on various odd jobs, like taxi driving, cleaning houses and even became a fire-eater, to support himself while he chased his dream.
Recalling life as an impoverished actor he said: “ I starved. I washed dishes – anything.”
In 1973 he attended the Drama Centre in London and graduated three years later, when he made his professional stage debut in Wait Until Dark.
He was then spotted by legendary playwright Tennessee Williams who cast him in Red Devil Battery Sign, and the young thespian’s career began to take-off.
After a number of high-profile performances on the stage, and minor appearances in two movies, Brosnan landed a starring role in US TV series The Manions Of America in 1980.
In the same year he married Cassandra Harris, who starred as a Bond girl alongside Roger Moore in For Your Eyes Only. Her two children from her previous marriage – Charlotte and Christopher – moved in with Brosnan and the couple had a son, Sean in 1983.
His big break came in 1982, when he landed the part of an English private eye in American TV series Remington Steele, which made him a household name in the US.
James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli had targeted Brosnan in 1986 to replace Moore as 007, but the actor was unable to take up the offer after he signed a contract to film another series of Remington Steele.
He went on to appear in a series of films – none of which were box office hits – and continued to work in TV after Remington Steele ended in 1987.
In 1991 his wife lost her fight against ovarian cancer, and died in her devoted husband’s arms.
After starring in blockbuster hits like The Lawnmower Man (1992) and Mrs Doubtfire (1993), Brosnan was once again lined up to play Bond and in 1994 he was finally unveiled as the new 007.
His first Bond film, GoldenEye (1995) was a huge box-office hit and resurrected the British spy’s popularity.
He played Bond in three more films: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997); The World Is Not Enough (1999): and Die Another Day (2001) – all of which proved to be enormously successful – and he has already signed up to appear as the super agent for a fifth time.
Brosnan, not content with just being James Bond, also starred in a series of movies including spoof horror film Mars Attacks (1996), action thriller Dante’s Peak (1997), and a steamy romantic remake of The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).
Two years ago the handsome actor married former long-term partner Keely Shaye Smith, who he has had two children – Dylan and Paris – with.
He said in an interview shortly after the ceremony in Ireland: “I want the world to know I love this woman. I don’t know any better way than saying ‘Be my wife’ and standing up there in the eyes of God. It’s old fashioned but pretty wonderful.”
Although best known as the smooth talking, bed-hopping secret agent 007, Brosnan has also worked behind the scenes to support a number of charities.
He serves as Ambassador for Women’s Health Issues for Permanent Charities of the Entertainment Industry and in December 2001 was made a Special Patron of UNICEF Ireland.
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 19, 2003.

FRIENDS OF KENNINGTON GREEN

From: Celia Stothard
Chair, Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall (KOV) Forum
FRIENDS OF KENNINGTON GREEN
(The triangular open space, facing 350 Kennington Road, the Lycee and Kennington Park Estate)
This small but significant green space, with its beautiful deep-red blossomed trees, improves outlook and amenity for residents, businesses and visitors alike on an otherwise very hard landscaped bend of Kennington Road approaching Kennington Cross. Over the years, some trees have failed, seats have been removed and the area appears run down - in need of friends.
There is now an opportunity to gain funds to improve the environment at Kennington Green through Lambeth's Greening Vauxhall initiative and other funding schemes. Greening Vauxhall Officer, Kassandra Polyzoides has suggested forming a 'Friends' group to explore possibilities for improvement, apply for funding and keep an ongoing eye on the space.
Interest and some suggestions have already been expressed through responses to the recent Kennington Cross Ideas competition follow up.
If you would like to join or help set up the FRIENDS OF KENNINGTON GREEN and make this special little space more attractive for all who use and appreciate it, please send your contact details to the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall, area information officer, Gerald Gohler - see below.
All comments and ideas about Kennington Green are very welcome.
We look forward to hearing from you and knowing your views.
With best wishes,
Celia Stothard
Please send your contact details to:
Friends of Kennington Green,
C/o Gerald Gohler, Area Information Officer, North Lambeth.
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
20 Newburn Street, Kennington, London SE11 5PJ
phone: 020 7926 8295 fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), July 17, 2003.

A Can of Madness

As part of the Vauxhall Festival, "Speaking in Tongues", an evening with local authors, meet Jason Pegler who reads from his groundbreaking autobiography, A Can of Madness, an extraordinarily honest and vivid account of living with manic depression.
Wednesday, 16th July
7-9pm
Oval Bookshop, 28b Clapham Road, SW9
0800 389 0463

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 13, 2003.

Historical Walk in Kennington Park - 2pm July 20th 2003

Historical Walk in Kennington Park
As part of the Vauxhall Festival, Dr. Stefan Szczelkun would like to announce that he is again giving a walking talk around Kennington Park. The hidden histories of Kennington Park that reveal its importance to London and our notions of democracy.
2pm July 20th 2003
Meet outside Oval Underground Station

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 13, 2003.

Unionists must unite to defeat nationalism

Belfast Telegraph

Letters
Publication Date: 12 July 2003
Unionists must unite to defeat nationalism
I read with interest the article by Christopher Montgomery, the director of the Friends of the Union (Belfast Telegraph, June 30).
I believe that he is right to promote links between all shades of unionist opinion to effectively counter the existing massed ranks of nationalist opinion both inside and outside Ulster.
Unionists such as Jeffrey Donaldson, the Rev. Martin Smith and David Burnside have, of course, already been articulating the case for a coalition of unionist interest for some time.
They rightly recognise that more can be achieved for the political development of Northern Ireland and the welfare of its people with the biggest, clearest unionist force possible working to ensure that Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom.
A weak unionist voice at the negotiating table and divided unionism has contributed to concession after concession being given to the by now expectant nationalists who either want to undermine the Union by stealth or by force.
Those of us who are appalled by the Prime Minister's continuous acts of constitutional vandalism across the whole of the UK, culminating recently in the Joint Declaration of the British and Irish Governments, hope that it will not be too long before the wisdom of Messrs Donaldson, Smyth and Burnside is appreciated for what it is.
It is difficult to see how they and their party colleagues can be perceived as destructive when they are being true to their long-standing Unionist principles and I am far more concerned about the so-called principles of Tony Blair and his role in undermining the rule of law following the implementation of the flawed Belfast Agreement.
To take further steps down this rocky road without first securing the disarming of terrorists and the disbanding of paramilitary organisations makes no sense at all and it is a sorry state of affairs to see those who articulate this case being alienated from a Unionist party.
JOHN MIDGLEY, Kennington, London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 13, 2003.

Witness appeal

Streatham Guardian
Witness appeal
By Guardian Reporter
Detectives at Kennington are appealing for information after a man, thought to be in his late 20s, was found lying unconscious on the pavement in a Clapham street with serious head injuries.
The injured man, found by a passer-by in Gauden Road, SW4, at 2.15am on Saturday morning, was still unconscious in the Royal Free Hospital when police made their appeal on Saturday night, and was described as white, about 5ft 7in, slim, with short brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a light blue t-shirt and blue jeans. He has since recovered consciousness.
Contact police on 020 8649 2478 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
4:10pm Friday 11th July 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2003.

Clare Higgins: Spiritual leanings

Independent
Clare Higgins: Spiritual leanings
Clare Higgins gives the performance of her career as the depressive lover of Van Gogh in Vincent in Brixton. The actress and Druid tells Paul Taylor how her art draws on her life
10 July 2003
Clare Higgins looks as though she would be a handful - in every good sense of the term. Voluptuous and cuddly in appearance, the acclaimed actress has a tantalising glint of mischief in her eye and a huge, conspiratorial smile. We meet during re-rehearsals for Vincent in Brixton, Nicholas Wright's Olivier award-winning drama about the young Van Gogh's experiences in London. The play conjectures that the future artist had a formative love affair with his middle-aged landlady, a role for which Higgins has won everything in sight, scooping up the Evening Standard, Olivier and Critics' Circle awards. Richard Eyre's beautifully intimate production, which began life in Cottesloe, opens tonight for a second run in the West End, after a successful stint on Broadway.
There is no lunch break on the day of this interview, so Higgins has to be let out by special dispensation, and I am warned by the company manager not to keep her for long. The injunction lends a slightly naughty air of snatched truancy to our encounter, in an empty pub opposite the Kennington church hall where they are rehearsing. Perhaps because of the faint atmosphere of bunking-off, I find myself asking about her schooldays. I say I've noticed that she went to a convent school. "I went to several, actually - short stays at most of them," she reveals, with her infectious laugh. Did she tend to get expelled? "I certainly did." For what? "Oh, things like singing 'Hey, Big Spender' in the headmistress's office when I'd been to the pub at lunchtime." Having given up smoking only the day before, she goes to cadge a light from the woman behind the bar, who tells her that she has no will power. "None whatsoever - and proud of it," she replies gaily.
Clare Higgins's warmth and humane intelligence come over all the more powerfully for the parodic hints of actressy high camp she allows to flicker round her conversation. She has scored some of her greatest successes playing larger-than-life divas. Where she excels is in suggesting the susceptible woman under the hard, gaudy icon. As one critic wrote of her Cleopatra for the RSC: "Clare Higgins has all the faces of Cleopatra and spins them like a colour wheel, before she rips off her wig and confronts death with a close-cropped head." As the couple, she and Richard Johnson's Antony displayed the richly disarming ability to stand back, all of a sudden, from the myth they were manufacturing and burst out laughing at their own magniloquent gestures.
Higgins went on to deliver a sublime performance as Alexandra del Lago, the faded film goddess fleeing failure in a haze of drink in Tennessee Williams's Sweet Bird of Youth. As well as the curled-at-the-edges glamour, ball-breaking wit and drag-turn defiance ("I'm being used. Why not? Even a dead horse is used to make glue"), Higgins brought to the role a vulnerability that gave depth and pathos to the character's intuitive sympathy with the gigolo toy boy whose youth is also slipping away.
The actress had come to be identified with the kind of female whom it would be hard to picture in a kitchen - Cleopatra, Alexandra, Arkadina. So when Vincent in Brixton opened last May, it was initially something of a shock to discover her in a dour black dress, in a petit-bourgeois kitchen, slaving away at the Sunday roast. But surprise was quickly replaced by the conviction that, in this least showy of parts, Higgins was giving the performance of a lifetime. Ursula, the landlady, is widowed, progressive in outlook and clinically depressed. Capable of moments of visionary perception, but handicapped by the blackness of her temperament, she yearns to point the way and help to launch remarkable talent in others. In her, Van Gogh (played with a wonderful gauche impulsiveness by Jochum ten Haaf) finds a mirror and a lover. But will Vincent, yet to find his vocation, consent to be the protégé she desires?
Higgins finds the role inexhaustibly rich to perform. "It's quite a spare play. In written form, it's really very short. So a lot happens in the silences, and that gives you an awful lot of freedom. What happens in those silences every night tends to be very different. I've learnt more about silence on stage in the past year than I have from anything before. In the long second scene, there's this 20-year-old man and this 45-year-old woman, and really nothing happens - except that somehow they go from the beginning, where they are barely acknowledging each other as people, to the end, where they are locked in this passionate fervour. And what I love to explore is how delicate, how subtle that process can be, and to play it as a sort of chess game. Small movements mean everything. Silences mean everything. A blink. A word. And if you hold a pause for just that bit longer, it means something else." Her performance, a masterpiece of stillness and heartbreaking understatement, has all the virtues of cinematic close-up in theatrical long shot. "You can tell she's being seduced," commented one reviewer, "because she lifts an eyebrow."
It's a portrayal that feels deeply empathetic. "Yes, I've had my own bouts with depression, and I am puzzled as to why there's still this terrible stigma attached to it. It seems easier, almost, to say that you've had an experience of paedophilia than to admit that you've had an experience of clinical depression." The play is acute about the onset of the problem ("It starts with something small and then it becomes about everything") and about the self-doubt that depression entails, leaving even the most desperate sufferers with the added burden of feeling like guilty malingerers.
"Absolutely. There's no blood test for it," Higgins proclaims. "You haven't eaten for a week, you can't sleep, you're paranoid as hell, and your anxiety level is such that you can barely get out of bed. But one still tends to say, 'Am I a fraud?'
"I also think that severe depression has a spiritual component. I feel that strongly," she adds. In the play, Ursula tries to describe the moments of vision that happen when, as Van Gogh puts it, she falls into the darkness of her own soul. An extreme sense of exclusion can be a piercing perspective from which to bear powerless witness to the beauty and religious significance of the world. I have heard that Higgins has become a "part-time Druid".
"I resent the label 'part-time'," she laughs. "It's a bit like describing someone as a weekend Catholic." Sitting on Glastonbury Tor one day, she had "an extraordinary experience where everything just sort of went away, and I felt terribly happy when I came back. And I said, 'Well, this place obviously means something to me,' and I decided to take a chance on it." She has lived in Glastonbury for the past seven years. "Of course, when you're an actress, people just go, 'Well, she's mad, you know - she's gone off to live with the Druids now.'"
In fact, it was not such a startling move. "At school, I wanted to be three things. I wanted to be an actress. I wanted to be a Druid - oh yes, I was a bit of a nature-worshipper even then. And I also wanted to be a psychiatrist." Though she jokes that being an actress is "quite a camp way of practising psychiatry", she does acknowledge with relish that all her teenage ambitions have now come together in her life. At which point, the company manager decides that they cannot manage a moment longer without her. "Vincent in Brixton," she muses happily on the way out: "It's the play that wouldn't die."
'Vincent in Brixton' is at the Playhouse, London WC2 (020-7369 1785) to 30 August, then touring

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2003.

Armed crack-cocaine dealers jailed for 18 years

South London Press
News
Armed crack-cocaine dealers jailed for 18 years
Jul 11 2003
A POLICE raid on a ground-floor flat in Thornton Heath revealed a well-organised crack-cocaine factory and a loaded handgun, a court heard.
At Croydon Crown Court last week, Paul Richards, 36, and Charles Cornwall, 34, were jailed for 18 years each.
Members of the Territorial Support Group swooped on the flat in Mersham Road on October 24 and found cooking equipment for turning cocaine into the more deadly crack version, said prosecutor Christopher Faulks.
Some Ł200,000 worth of drugs were found, including heroin in sufficient quantities for supply purposes.
In a Tesco carrier bag was a handgun with a round of ammunition in the barrel and four rounds in the magazine. There was more ammunition in the bag.
Mr Faulks said: "When the gun was analysed, it was found to be a blank firing pistol, which had been modified to fire real bullets." In the main bedroom was Ł6,000 in cash.
Cornwall, of Towling Street, Camberwell, denied he had been staying at Mersham Road and claimed he had only been invited to the flat.
Richards, of Kennington Lane, Kennington, said he went to the flat to sell a car to someone, but had been there on a few occasions previously to buy small amounts of crack and heroin for his own use.
The judge ordered Jamaican-born Cornwall to be deported.
The pair were found guilty of producing crack, possession of class A drugs with intent to supply, and unlawfully having a handgun and ammunition. They had denied all charges.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2003.

11 years for gang attack

South London Press
News
11 years for gang attack
Jul 11 2003
By Court Reporter
A MEMBER of a ruthless Chinese "Snakehead" gang has been jailed for 11 years for hacking a rival with a razor sharp Samurai sword.
Victim Cai Xiang Xie, 25, was left with his arm hanging off his body and was lucky to survive after seven hours of surgery.
Swordsman Gui Chen, 42, wept last week as Judge Anthony Morris, QC, described his actions as a "savage" and "vicious" attack.
The judge said: "It is hard to imagine a worse case of wounding with intent."
The Old Bailey heard how Chen and a gang of Snakeheads attacked Mr Xie with machetes and meat cleavers after chasing him down a Kennington street.
The victim had earlier ticked off Chen for shouting while he was trying to watch a football match on a huge screen in a West End casino.
Chen was incensed because he believed Mr Xie had "disrespected" him, and organised a gang to carry out a revenge attack.
The victim was chased by the gang and knocked to the ground where he was repeatedly struck with the weapons.
Chen and the others only fled the scene after being scared by a barking dog, the court heard.
Mr Xie's horrific injuries included a severed knee cap which needed 200 staples, as well as a virtually severed elbow joint.
Chen originally denied taking part in the attack, but just minutes before Mr Xie was due to give evidence at the Old Bailey trial, he admitted his involvement.
Chen, of D'Eynsford Road, Camberwell, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent.
A charge of conspiracy to murder, which he denied, was left on file.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2003.

A Tribute to Noel Coward

Kennington Association presents
A Tribute to
Noël Coward
7pm for 7.30pm, Sunday, 20th July 2003
at a private residence in Kennington Lane, SE11
Tickets Ł10 each to include a glass of wine and canapés
To book, please telephone 020 7793 0268
A Tribute to Noël Coward
An evening of songs performed by Stephen Carlile
The evening will include songs from:
London Calling
On With the Dance
This Year of Grace
Bitter Sweet
Cochran's 1931 Revue
Cavalcade
Words & Music
Operette
Sigh No More
Ace of Clubs
Sail Away
and
Miscellaneous
Stephen Carlile trained at the Guildford School of Acting. His theatre credits include Over My Shoulder in The Mill at Sonning, Snoopy in Snoopy, at The Jermyn Street Theatre, Friend in An Evening with Julian Slade and Friends, Landlord in In The Red, (Cardiff Festival), Noel Coward in Coward in Concert (Covent Garden Festival), Muttley in Space Family Robinson (Pleasance Theatre, London), Harry Lytton in Over My Shoulder (Jermyn Street Theatre), Michael in The Play, Bluebeard in Saint Joan, as a soloist in Zippertydoodah, Mr Wiggs in Vanity Fair and Tancred in Follow That Girl, both for the Covent Garden Festival, a soloist in Magic of Lehar and Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Polesden Lacey Open Air Festival) and An Evening with Dick Voxburgh and Denis King. Film credits include Henry in Bright Young Things directed by Stephen Fry. He most recently performed for Julian Slade at Westminster Abbey and with Prunella Scales and Timothy West in An Arcadian Miscellany.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2003.

Electrician Wanted

Electrician?
Can anyone recommend a reliable electrician? preferably local? I'd be very pleased to hear. Thank you.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2003.

Property

Independent
House Hunter: 'I want to be near work and the Tube'
International PR executive Stephen Morgan, 35, wants to sell his three- bedroomed house in Brixton and buy a property near his work in Spitalfields. His budget is around Ł550,000
Michael Chetwood finds the right property for you
09 July 2003
"I've been trying to sell my three- bedroomed house in Brixton for three months. I've had several offers, but they have all been from people who are unable to sell their properties. I like Brixton, but I want to be nearer to work and I don't have a car so need good transport links.
"The areas I've been thinking about have been Shoreditch, or Spitalfields itself. The southern side of Islington also appeals, perhaps near King's Cross, or Kennington - but I'm worried that this area does not really have much of a heart.
"I was originally thinking about a loft conversion, but don't really want anything that is dark or has no outside space or has high service charges. My current home is a Victorian terrace, and perhaps another house would suit me; maybe a larger, Georgian terrace? I'd like room to have somewhere I could exercise, and some office space.
"I restored my current house, which was a difficult process, so I'd rather not do that again. I need help in what to do about my sale and some guidance on area and type of property. I don't want to have to move again in a few years and am wondering if, for investment purposes, it would be even better to buy two flats?"
MICHAEL'S ADVICE
"As far as Stephen's sale goes, I don't think he should panic and change his agent or his asking price. The agent seem to be getting the right types of people round to view who are making offers, and it's not their fault if these keep coming to nothing as this is extremely common with the market at the moment. There are still many vendors out there who are not being realistic and there are also many people making offers that are considerably below the asking price. But there has been a lot of activity within recent weeks and things are improving.
"I would suggest that, whatever offer Stephen accepts, he should keep his house on the market and should continue to show it in case things fall through . He must also make it clear to any potential purchaser that this is what he's doing - it's vitally important.
"Stephen is quite right about Kennington not having a heart, but it is close to the river frontage and to Southwark, where there's a lot of regeneration, so I believe it has a lot of potential, and there are great transport links. King's Cross in my opinion still has a fair to way to go yet, but that's a matter of personal taste. Islington has seen great strides over the past 10 years - what we call "the Blair factor" - but prices have risen accordingly.
"I would strongly suggest that Stephen considers Clerkenwell, which is an area where you can get some interesting loft spaces that do not look straight out onto a brick wall, as so many do, and that give you more light and space for your money.
"Stephen must narrow down his area considerably and then make good contacts with agents. It is an impossible task for either a search agent or an individual to keep up with new properties coming on all the time in a range of areas.
"As for property style, I think it will be hard for Stephen to find many Georgian houses within his budget, as they tend to be very expensive. I also don't think he sounds as though he wants to give up light, space or any of his other requirements, so realistically buying two flats, however good an investment, is not really going to be an option."
Michael Chetwood is a home- search agent: 020-7622 5314
Property one: The Canal Building, Shepherdess Walk, Hoxton, N1
Price: Ł595,000
Agent: Thomson Currie, Islington, 020-7354 5224 Agent's details: A stunning 1,400sq ft, two-bedroom duplex penthouse with sweeping views of the Grand Union Canal in this sought-after block, located midway between Angel and Old Street stations. This stylishly designed apartment boasts double-height living areas, superb bathroom suites, a high-quality German kitchen with Maytag American fridge/freezer, galleried master bedroom, huge terrace and secure underground parking space.
Property two: Pearson Street, Hoxton, E2
Price: Ł375,000
Agent: Thomson Currie, Clerkenwell 020-7251 5666 Agent's details: This three-bedroomed character home has generous living space and well-proportioned rooms. The property still has some of the original features, typical of the early Victorian period. The solid oak floors are a feature, as is the sympathetic decor. Could benefit from a little modernisation. Trendy Hoxton and Shoreditch are nearby. This property is also close to the site of the proposed Hoxton Tube station.
Property three: Banner Street, Clerkenwell, EC1
Price: Ł549,950
Agent: Thomson Currie, Clerkenwell, 020-7251 5666 Agent's details: A 1711sq ft, two-bedroom loft apartment located in an attractive turn-of-the-century print works. This fantastic space offers masses of industrial style, windows to the south and north, a fully fitted kitchen, individual bathroom and masses of storage space. Bedroom two has been fitted out as a home office. Features include exposed brickwork, steel pillars and supports, wood floors and a small terrace. Banner Street is just a short walk to Barbican and Old Street Tube stations and is also close to the City and to nightlife.
STEPHEN'S VERDICT
"I think property one is too much of a compromise on space, but two sounds intriguing. I like the idea of a house with character that still has room for improvement, but I would want to know that the East London line is definite before considering this location, which is quite far from a Tube station.
"Number three sounds right in terms of location and space and is the most interesting. I'm feeling confident about my own sale and don't feel I have to act quickly to nab my 'dream house', but as soon as it's sold, I will definitely narrow my area. Another key point for me is to decide on the compromise between open space and a property's character."
If you would like House Hunter's help, write to House Hunter, The Independent, 191 Marsh Wall, London E14 9RS, or e-mail househunter@independent.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2003.

Cricket

Independent
Clarke's powerful cameo marks out future Test place
By Angus Fraser
10 July 2003
The return to form of Michael Vaughan and another ferocious assault on South Africa's leading bowlers by Andrew Flintoff somewhat overshadowed an exquisite little innings of 37 by Rikki Clarke during England's NatWest Series victory on Tuesday evening. Clarke's innings at Edgbaston may only have lasted 34 balls but during his time at the crease the Surrey all-rounder made quite an impression.
The match against South Africa was delicately poised when Flintoff was caught at fine leg hooking. England were on 130 for 4 and still required a further 69 runs to win. That the Lancashire all-rounder had whipped the 20,000-plus crowd into a frenzy with some thunderous stroke-play did not help.
Coming in to bat after such a performance is difficult for an established player, let alone a 21-year-old in only his sixth international match. Clarke, however, did not appear fazed by the pressure of the situation. Indeed, he lined up and struck the ball like a top-order batsman. This was an innings which suggested he could well be pushing for a Test place solely as a batsman before too long.
Clarke's bowling needs to improve if he wishes to develop into a true all-rounder but his pedigree with the bat has already been seen at The Oval on numerous occasions. His positive but controlled batting is a reflection of the excellent pitches he has been brought up on in Kennington. In 16 first-class matches for Surrey the right-hander has already scored three centuries and has a batting average over 45. This, however, failed to prevent him from being dropped by his county for the match after he had gained selection for England's one-day squad.
It is unlikely that Clarke will establish himself in the England side before he makes Surrey's all-star line-up, but there is a chance. Yet it would be impossible for Adam Hollioake to leave him out should he continue to play as he did on Tuesday, when his first three scoring shots highlighted his potential. The first, a back-foot drive through point, was Athertonesque in its style. At 6ft 4ins, Clarke is a tall man and he used his full height to get over the bounce of the ball. The crispness of the stroke was superb and the ball never left the ground as it raced away for four.
The authority of the shot seemed to upset the South African fast bowler Andre Nel, not that this appears particularly hard to do. Northamptonshire supporters have had the privilege of viewing the strapping 25-year-old's confrontational approach during the first half of the summer and the fast bowler is sure to keep umpires and match referees on their toes in the forthcoming Test series
Nel, who may not be Dennis Lillee but can still send the ball down at 90 mph, proceeded to bowl England's No 6 a bouncer. Clarke, who has already acquired the strut of his Surrey team-mates, fearlessly hooked hard at the ball and watched it sail over the fielder positioned at deep square-leg for six.
With steam seemingly coming out of every orifice, Nel sprinted in again and, unintelligently this time, let Clarke have another short one. Having had the chance to get used to the pace and bounce of the pitch, he slapped that delivery for four in front of square.
Coming to terms with the power of Clarke and Flintoff is something the South Africans need to do if they are to win Saturday's final at Lord's. Their preparations start today at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, which hosts international cricket for the first time. The Proteas are unlikely to play a full-strength side against Zimbabwe but they will be keen to add greater consistency to their game before they travel to London.
Hampshire have created a wonderful arena just off the M27 and have hopes that Test cricket will quickly follow the one-day game to the south coast. Everyone at the county will have an eye on the pitch, which has received criticism since first-class cricket was first played there in 2001. To gain Test status it needs to improve, but it always takes time at new grounds for the pitch to settle down. Heath Streak, the Zimbabwe captain, is sure to get a warm reception from the county he represented in 1995.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2003.

Property

Times
July 11, 2003
Stalling penthouse sales given a jet boost
By Anne Spackman, Property Editor
PERKS offered to homebuyers have reached new heights: 45,000ft above sea level to be precise. Developers of luxury London homes have become so desperate to attract buyers that one is offering the use of a free private jet with every Ł1 million flat. Anyone who signs up for a penthouse at Canary Riverside, the most expensive property development in the Docklands, will receive a Marquis private jet card entitling him to free flights and limousine travel for a year, worth upwards of Ł60,000 — the equivalent of four return trips to the South of France with six passengers.
There are seven remaining penthouses, priced between Ł1.75 million and Ł2.95 million. The prices have already been reduced by 25 per cent, as the Singaporean developers of the scheme struggle to sell their last units.
They are in a London market that is top heavy with penthouse flats. Figures from London Residential Research show there are 131 genuine penthouses, with large volumes and ceiling heights, for sale and a further 145 to which developers give penthouse status by virtue of their location.
The most expensive is the 10,000 sq ft (929 sq m) space to be built on top of a scheme by Hyde Park called The Knightsbridge. The developers suggested last year that it would be priced at nearly Ł30 million, but that figure has fallen to Ł18 million.
These large price reductions are in stark contrast to the picture of the property market presented by the Halifax and Nationwide building societies. Their latest figures show house prices in England and Wales still rising.
Annual house price inflation is running at 22 per cent, according to the Halifax, with the average house price still rising by about Ł1,000 a month. But these national statistics disguise sharp differences between the market in London, where prices are falling, and in parts of the North and Wales, where they are still rising strongly. Central London has been the area worst affected by the downturn and penthouse flats have been the properties hardest hit. They appeal most to single monied men and sold strongly during the dot-com boom.
Now, with buyers of luxury flats thin on the ground, developers are having to create ever more enticing incentives. Martin Tan, the chief executive of Canary Riverside, said: “We can offer our buyers more of the one thing they can’t buy — time. We hope this will encourage people to come and take a look.
“Whether they buy will depend on whether they think the penthouses are good value and whether or not they like them.”
Developers at The Knightsbridge, London’s most expensive scheme, marketed their multimillion-pound flats in Moscow and St Petersburg, hoping to catch some of the Russan billionaires who have dominated London’s property market since the downturn last year. Roman Abramovitch, the new owner of Chelsea Football Club, has a large flat in nearby Lowndes Square.
Canary Riverside has so far failed to attract the Russians, who prefer to be in the West End rather than the Docklands. Most of the penthouses already sold have gone to investment bankers based at Canary Wharf or in the City.
The Canary Riverside penthouses have interiors by a variety of designers, including the architect Eva Jiricna. They also have plenty of the luxury gadgets that Russian buyers often like, such as a rotating bed in one flat and a glass bath in another. Should a Russian buyer be prepared to look east, for the buyer of the Ł2.3 million penthouse the private jet card on offer would cover a couple of return trips to Moscow.
More modest properties are also offering incentives. Most will pay the buyer’s deposit, stamp duty or legal fees and offer up to Ł5,000 cashback. At Kennington, South London, the developers of Marlborough House offer a free Ł2,500 scooter to anyone signing on the dotted line.
At Riverside Quarter in nearby Wandsworth, London Town have gone one better, handing over a Mini on exchange of contracts.
Developers believe that eye-catching gimmicks increase viewings. One remarked recently: “I have no problem selling to anyone who comes through my door. It’s just no one is coming through my door at the moment.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2003.

Youth support group sets up new branch

South London Press
News
Youth support group sets up new branch
Jul 10 2003
A CHARITY that tries to steer troubled young people away from a life of unemployment and crime, has opened a new branch on a deprived Streatham estate.
Fairbridge works with young people aged from 13 to 25 who are not at school or in work, may have been neglected by their parents and could have fallen into using drugs and committing crime.
Fairbridge workers try to motivate the youngsters, build their confidence and help them find a sense of direction so they can turn their lives around.
The charity has its main base in Kennington but has decided to open a satellite centre on Streatham's Sackville Estate on Leigham Avenue, which has been identified as a deprived area.
The Streatham workers will look for young people who are struggling to keep on the straight and narrow and try to encourage them to sign up for the Fairbridge programme. The structured programme includes an activity course and one-to-one help for the youngsters. It aims to help them learn skills that will help them find work or go back into education as well as skills that will enable them to live alone such as household-budgeting and cooking.
A Fairbridge spokeswoman said: "The main problem is motivation - they have no idea what they want to do. Without any of kind of motivation or hope of a future they get into drugs or crime and end up in a Young Offenders Institute or prison.
"The common thread is that people have given up - at such a young age."
Some of the Fairbridge staff have been through the programme themselves so can relate well to the young peoples' difficulties.
The charity firmly believes that by providing youngsters with a place to go, funding constructive activities and an individual programme of support, they can turn their lives around. The Sackville centre was formally opened on Wednesday. Find out more from www.fairbridge.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 11, 2003.

NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE

NORTH LAMBETH AREA COMMITTEE
Wednesday 23 July 2003
(7pm)
Living Space, 1 Coral Street
SE1 7BE (off Waterloo Road)
Come along and have your say on the following items!
• Tackling Crime In North Lambeth (Community Safety Action Plan)
• Streetcare - Street Sweeping
• Improving Our Environment
• Transport
• Recycling
Agenda papers will be despatched on 15 July.
For a map showing the location of the Living Space please copy the following link into your browser:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=531314&Y=179705&A=Y&Z=1
If you cannot attend the meeting but would like your views heard please contact:
Tim Brackpool:
Tel: 02079262167 or
E-mail: tbrackpool@lambeth.gov.uk
Website: www.lambeth.gov.uk
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), July 08, 2003.

Northern Line chaos for commuters

Evening Standard
08/07/03 - Traffic & travel section
Northern Line chaos for commuters
Commuters using the Northern Line are facing severe disruption to their journey to work this morning following signalling problems.
The Bank branch of the Northern Line currently has no service between Kennington Station and Camden Town Station in both directions.
Commuters are being urged to use other lines, get a bus or walk to work.
London Underground said the problems would affect journeys until further notice.
The delays are due to signalling problems at Camden Town Station.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/articles/5633212?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2003.

Family vows to prosecute police

07/07/03 - News and city section
Family vows to prosecute police
By Laura Smith
Evening Standard
A woman whose brother died from head injuries after being hit with a police baton is to launch a private prosecution against officers.
Brian Douglas, 33, a music and boxing promoter, died in hospital a week after being stopped by police on his way home from a nightclub.
An inquest jury returned a verdict of misadventure, despite evidence by three independent pathologists that Mr Douglas had been struck with considerable force to the head.
Today his sister Brenda Weinberg said the family had been "badly let down" by the judicial system and that a private prosecution, for which they need to raise Ł 1 million, is their last chance to take on the Metropolitan Police.
She said: "My brother died eight years ago and we are still fighting for justice. We have waited too long and shed too many tears for Brian. The time to act is now."
Mr Douglas, from Streatham, was returning home with a friend in May 1995 when his car was stopped in Clapham by two police officers. They admit using batons to restrain him before bundling him into a van and taking him to Kennington police station. He was kept at the station for 15 hours before being taken to hospital.
Five days later he was dead, having suffered a fractured skull and damage to his brain stem. The officers claim they struck his upper arm but the baton "slid" up to his neck.
However, witnesses told the inquest they saw an officer strike him directly to the head. Evidence was given at the hearing that Mr Douglas had been hit with considerable force.
The misadventure verdict was later challenged unsuccessfully by the family in the High Court.
Mrs Weinberg, manager of a Bond Street boutique, today described the heartache of losing her sociable, confident brother who was engaged to his long-term girlfriend. "Brian went out one night and never came home," said Mrs Weinberg, who lives in Tooting with her husband and teenage daughter.
"Fighting for justice is not a question of choice. When you stop, it means you have accepted what happened to the person you loved is okay. I will never accept that.
"Of course, one has to move forward, one has a job, one has a family. But I have lost a member of my family in the worst circumstances imaginable and nobody has been tried for his death. My family has been badly let down by the judicial system - a system I was brought up to believe in."
The case of Brian Douglas is highlighted in Injustice, a documentary about the struggles of the London families of black men and women who have died in police custody.
The film, released in 2001, chronicles other deaths including those of Shiji Lapite and Ibrahim Sey, both of whom died in the mid-Nineties from injuries allegedly sustained while in police custody.
It also covers the case of Joy Gardner, who died after a police raid on her home. Lawyers acting for the Police Federation have repeatedly prevented it from being shown in public, branding it "libellous" for naming key officers involved, while British television channels have refused to show it.
According to Home Office figures, an average of 50 people have died in police custody every year since the Eighties. No police officer has ever been convicted of any of these deaths.
Later this month, the Attorney-General is due to publish his report on the decision-making process of the Crown Prosecution Service in deaths in police custody cases.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/5616467?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2003.

Competition

Times
July 07, 2003
Win a VIP lunch and tour for two at McLaren
Simply answer the following question:
Name the year in which McLaren cars won 15 out of 16 championship grands prix and the two drivers who shared the remarkable haul of wins
Post your entry, with a voluntary donation, to: Mac & Lauren Times Competition, Tommy’s, 1 Kennington Road, London SE1 7RR. Please make cheques payable to Tommy’s, the baby charity. Entries to arrive by noon on Friday, July 18, 2003.
PRIZE
The first name out of the hat will win a tour of the McLaren headquarters in Woking, Surrey, to see where the team’s grand-prix cars are made, visit the trophy room, see a display of McLaren’s World Championship racing cars and the attend studios and workshops where the cars are designed and manufactured. The winner and guest will also have lunch with Lisa Dennis in McLaren’s executive dining room.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 07, 2003.

Appeals over injured man

BBC News
Appeals over injured man
Police are trying to find out how a man in his 20s came to be found lying on a pavement in south west London with serious head injuries.
Scotland Yard says the man was found unconscious by a member of the public in the early hours of Saturday morning in Gauden Road, Kennington.
An ambulance was called and he was taken to St Thomas' Hospital but later transferred to the Royal Free where he has yet to regain consciousness.
Police do not yet know who he is or what happened to him.
He is described as white, in his 20s, about 5ft 7ins tall, with short brown hair and blue eyes.
He was wearing a light blue T shirt and blue jeans.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious to come forward.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3048826.stm
Published: 2003/07/06 09:37:03 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 07, 2003.

Breaking news from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Breaking News
Updated 4 July 2003

The Vauxhall Festival
runs for several weeks from Saturday 5 July. It is better than ever this year, and now includes a jazz evening, a teddy bear's picnic, free tickets to the Oval, historical tours and much, much more. Go to: http://www.vauxhallfestival.org/events.htm for detailed information.
The popular
Café van Gogh
at 88 Brixton Road - part of the Christchurch complex on the corner of Mowll Street - is extending its opening hours. Currently open 10-4 Monday to Friday it offers breakfasts, croissants, muffins and homemade cakes, light lunches, sandwiches and snacks. It has a lovely courtyard garden, and so is safe for children and a perfect place to relax with a glass of wine. From 2 August it will also open on Saturdays.

-- Cathy (cathypreece@aol.com), July 05, 2003.

Long Term Tube Delays

Evening Standard
03/07/03 - Traffic & travel section
Long Term Tube Delays
Planning a tube journey and want to make sure the route is fully functional? Then look no further. We've got all the long-term problems and service interruptions detailed here.
Stations With Restricted Access Or Exit
Elephant & Castle: The Northern Line ticket hall is closed until further notice, due to refurbishment work. Access and exit is via the Bakerloo Line station.
Lift & Escalator Details
Oval: no down escalator service until further notice. Access to the platforms is via a spiral staircase. During major cricket matches, customers will be able to exit the station in the morning but may not be permitted, due to overcrowding, to enter the station during the period around close of play. You are advised to use Kennington or Vauxhall stations instead.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/articles/2360059?version=9 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 05, 2003.

Chef cleared of drugs charge after police raid

Chef cleared of drugs charge after police raid
Jul 4 2003
Croydon Advertiser
A CHEF who was arrested when police raided a Thornton Heath pub has been cleared of supplying drugs.
Kevin Brooks was alleged to have been caught with a bag containing drugs when officers stormed the McKenzie pub in Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, on December 6 last year.
But the 51-year-old was acquitted of possession with intent to supply at Croydon Crown Court last Wednesday.
Prosecutor Anthony Fogg said police swooped on the premises in the middle of the evening.
Some went straight to the toilet area, where Brooks was seen standing with two other men.
Brooks was holding a mesh bag which he tried to put into a sink, he said.
When the bag was searched, small quantities of cannabis, crack cocaine and heroin were found in it.
Brooks, who was at the time living in Moffat Road, Thornton Heath, but now has a home in Kennington, denied any knowledge of the bag and claimed that the police officers were mistaken in saying that he had been holding it.
He told the jury: "I didn't handle the bag. I had nothing to do with it."
He added that Ł255 discovered on him was his wages which he had just been paid.
The pub, which belonged to the McKenzie boxing family, has since gone out of business.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 05, 2003.

Open Evening July 9th 6pm-8pm

Open Evening July 9th 6pm-8pm
Visit our Wildlfe Garden at Roots and Shoots. Entry Ł2.50 which include a glass of wine.

-- Roots and Shoots (admin@rootsandshoots.org.uk), July 05, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Traders' Ken-free zone
Jul 4 2003
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
South London Press
IT MAY be hailed a traffic-busting triumph, but these posters show Ken Livingstone's congestion charge is not proving popular with everyone.
Ken Free Zone posters are being plastered up on shopfronts by independent traders along the Walworth Road, claiming they are being crippled by the Ł5-a-day scheme.
While traffic levels in central London are down by nearly 20 per cent since the charge was introduced, Walworth Road traders are among those who insist the scheme is decimating small businesses.
Although just outside the boundary, traders along the bustling street say they have seen profits plummet as shoppers avoid the zone as well as surrounding areas.
Traders say out of town shopping centres such as Bluewater in Kent are reaping the benefits, while they are being hung out to dry.
Rescue London is a non-political pressure group formed by Walworth Road traders last year.
Then, they feared the charge would hit traders hard. They now say those fears have come true.
Spokesman Jim Abbotson said: "There are fewer customers, and traders have stopped crossing central London to buy goods. Traffic may be down in central London but this scheme has not been a success as far as businesses go."
Rescue London believes better and cheaper public transport is essential to their future.
The group also believes supermarkets have a huge advantage over independent traders because they are able to offer free parking for customers.
In May, the South London Press reported how traders in Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall had seen profits plummet by as much as 30 per cent and traders were moving out of the area.
The Federation of Small Businesses also told a transport committee at City Hall the charge did not "distinguish between essential and non-essential traffic", and claimed increased costs were being passed onto traders.
Traders are being backed by London Assembly Conservative spokeswoman Angie Bray who said: "If he ignores these protests, the Mayor is showing he cares more about saving face than the survival of Elephant and Castle's business community."
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman said: "TfL has a long term and ongoing monitoring programme which includes the effects on businesses.
"It is far too early to attribute any small business figures to congestion charging. There may be a lot of reasons why profits are falling, including an economic downturn."
He added: "What we do know at this stage is there is not a reduction in the number of people coming into London."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 05, 2003.

Times: Letters

Times
July 04, 2003
Tory candidate selection proposals
From Mrs Laura Midgley
Sir, On the day that you published the results of the Equal Opportunities Commission study revealing a widespread dislike of positive discrimination among women you also printed an article calling for all-women shortlists for Conservative selection processes.
I am sick to death of special favours and helping hands and, it seems, I am in tune with most women who agree that these are “artificial” and “unfair” — according to the Equal Opportunities Commission’s own report.
Only a handful of people want to see any form of positive discrimination for Conservative parliamentary seats and the electorate does not fall into this category.
Yours faithfully,
LAURA MIDGLEY,
12 Trevose House,
Orsett Street, Kennington,
SE11 5PN.
July 2.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2003.

Lambeth Country Show

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
Breaking News
Updated 1 July 2003
The Lambeth Country Show
will be held on Sat/Sun 19/20 July 2003 in Brockwell Park, near Herne Hill station:- see photos on left. It's hard to imagine a "country show" in Lambeth but this one works well. There is something for everyone, including farm animals, a fun fair, a steam engine parade, a battle re-enactment, a circus, and lots of craft, food and beer tents. Open 1100-2000.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 03, 2003.

Oval Cricket Ground

We oppose Oval's plan
Jun 27 2003
I AM writing to correct several, I feel, misleading impressions given by your article on the proposed redevelopment of the Oval Cricket Ground ("Battle for The Oval", South London Press, June 20).
Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) are quoted as stating that the "lightweight" screen would be an "important landmark". In view of the fact that, at 26.5metres, it will tower above its surroundings, it could hardly fail to be anything but a landmark.
The use of the term "lightweight" is misleading because the fact remains that the overall impression, to the top of this roof, will be one of enormous bulk, totally out of scale with its surroundings.
Your report also asserts that the proposed "living screen" will wrap itself around the outside of the building, providing a changing display of plants. We do not believe that this will work. Anyone who has seen the tatty state of a similar "living screen" around the Imax cinema will know that "living" is hardly the correct adjective.
The Oval screen would be much larger, at over 60ft high. We certainly do not consider that it would provide a "more attractive look for Harleyford Road residents" and believe that it has been proposed merely to cover up the fact that the back of the building (i.e. the face which we will all see for 365 days a year) is, in fact, an unfinished design, just as messy and untidy as the buildings which currently occupy the site. We fail to see how the SCCC can say that it "represents an improvement for our neighbours".
SCCC are also quoted as saying that the stand is "further away from our neighbours than the current stands". Again, this is misleading because the much-hyped "living screen" in fact follows the same line as the back of the existing buildings and, in several places, is actually closer to its neighbours. In any case, on the Vauxhall Street side of the ground, the actual building comes virtually to the perimeter wall.
This occurs precisely opposite Oval Mansions, currently being renovated and renewed. Given the narrowness of the street at this point, the new stand would create a very unpleasant canyon effect.
This, coupled with the fact that the new stand would effectively be turning its back on its surroundings, will do nothing to improve the desolate street-scape around the Oval. In fact, we believe that the sense of alienation from these surroundings which already exists will be worsened and that the problems already experienced with petty crime and vandalism will increase.
You report the SCCC as stating that they can demonstrate that the proposals will "not have the impact on local daylight and sunlight levels that some of our neighbours fear". This may well be correct within the letter of the law which governs the light reading tests which have been conducted for this application, but the fact remains that Veronica Accouche, whom you feature, would have to lie on the floor to be able even to see the sky. Something rather difficult for a wheelchair user who is virtually housebound to be able to do.
Colin Baldy
Chairman
Kennington Oval and Harleyford Road Residents' Action Group
* The application was approved at Tuesday's meeting of Lambeth's planning applications committee.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 01, 2003.

The Methodist Church does much to help the needy — but can it save itself?

Times
June 28, 2003
The Methodist Church does much to help the needy — but can it save itself?
By Ruth Gledhill
A MEETING of Alcoholics Anonymous in the basement of the church had just finished. On the steps outside was a young, long-haired, unwashed man, shouting at ghosts. He had been deemed too disturbed for admission to a mental hospital and this Methodist church just off Oxford Street was his last refuge. “So, whither Methodism?” I asked the Rev Geoff Cornell, Superintendent Minister at the West London Mission. He laughed. “Whither Methodism? You mean wither Methodism without the ‘h’.”
The annual Methodist Conference begins today in Llandudno, North Wales. The agenda includes a debate on Tuesday about a scheme for a unity “covenant” between the Methodists and the Church of England, assuming of course there is still just one Church of England after the ordination of the gay bishop Jeffrey John in October. The General Synod is also due to debate the covenant at its meeting in York in July.
The last unity talks in 1972 ended in humiliation. The Methodist Church effectively voted itself out of existence in agreeing to union with the established Church, only to be left standing at the altar by her affianced after the Anglo-Catholics refused to entertain her. The new covenant is not intended to effect full unity. The two churches will pledge “full agreement in the apostolic faith” and work towards shared ministry and services.
Both churches have almost insurmountable problems. The Church of England is like the Universe, beginning with the Big Bang of the Reformation and expanding its doctrine at such a rate that the word “broad” will soon become ecclesiologically synonymous with “fragmented”. That’s not even to mention the monstrous black hole that will be left in its budget if the evangelicals are true to their threats to withhold cash over the gay debate.
The Methodists, meanwhile, are literally dying out. Failure to attract enough new members means that between 1950 and 1997, congregations nearly halved from 744,000 to 380,000. Six years later and they are down to 320,000. Some have predicted that the Church will cease to exist in 30 years if this continues. “Thirty years? Is it that long?” said Mr Cornell.
The tragedy is, his church exemplifies what Methodism — indeed Christianity — does best. This year is the 300th anniversary of the birth of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. He lived and died a paid-up clergyman of the Church of England. With the current row over the ordinations of gay bishops, it is worth noting that it was equally a dispute over ordinations and episcopal authority that led to the split between Methodists and the Anglicans all those centuries ago.
As Paul Thompson, the analytic psychotherapist who has been appointed the new director of social work at the mission makes clear, the real work here is done at the bottom of society, the present Hades into which increasing numbers of the homeless and mentally ill are descending. While the established Church continues to make itself appear publicly ridiculous in its scraps over homosexuality, the work done by the mission is the kind of little-noticed and desperately needed work going on to rescue society’s outcasts. It is true biblical work, and yet barely noticed or acknowledged, and inadequately funded.
Currently the mission has eight projects. The Big House in Camberwell takes people off the streets and rehouses them in independent bedsits. An arrest and reachout scheme, HART, receives some statutory support and helps people in trouble at court and police stations throughout the Westminster local authority area. The Haven is a registered care home that operates a non-abstinence-based model for chronic drinkers. Highbury Counselling Centre offers counselling to local residents in North London. Katherine Price Hughes House is a Home Office-approved bail centre. Lambeth Walk-in is a day centre for people who have been sleeping on the streets, supporting them after they have been resettled. The West London Day Centre in nearby Seymour Place helps up to 200 homeless people a day.
As well as the people suffering from alcoholism and severe personality disorders, but who do not qualify as mentally ill, the users of this service include a staggering number of accountants, lawyers and other professionals whose lives have gone badly wrong through divorce or some other disaster. St Luke’s in Kennington is another registered care home, but this one uses the AA Twelve Step programme to help clients to abstain from alcohol and drugs.
All the work done at these places is non-evangelistic in any overt sense. Most of the “clients”, as they must be called, would be unaware that there is any Methodist or even Christian connection with the projects they use. The closest thing to God that is mentioned is AA’s Higher Power at St Luke’s, and even that is too much for some. But if the Methodist Church dies out in 30 years or before, all this will be at risk.
The Methodist Church is not the sole Christian body doing this kind of work. The Salvation Army is immense in this area, and the Anglican St Martin-in-the-Fields just down beyond Regent Street does similar outreach work to homeless and alcoholic people.
In A Brand from the Burning, published last year and reprinted this year to mark the anniversary, Roy Hattersley writes of Wesley’s reputation as a womaniser and his constant battle between duty and desire. But he also writes of Wesley’s belief that it was the episcopal hierarchy which had betrayed the faith of the Ancient Fathers, and that purity could be recaptured only by a religious revival. He intended to reinvigorate the Church of England but ended by founding a new Church.
Now, while the mother Church is under threat of rupture, the Methodists are once more making overtures to reunite. If this could only be successful, and be the dominant story by which this summer is remembered, then maybe the work of churches such as the West London Mission can grow and flourish, the Christian Church can once again become a body to respect, and, most important of all, the lives and souls of thousands of the most destitute in our society can yet be saved.

-- Cathy (cathvpreece@aol.com), June 28, 2003.

Friends of Archbishops Park AGM

Friends of Archbishops Park AGM
Dear all
Please find below an announcement of the Friend of Archbishops Park AGM and a copy of their newsletter. Please direct any queries or comments directly to Sarah O'Connell, Chair, Friends of Archbishops Park, 5 Pratt Walk, SE11 6AR, e-mail sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk, tel 020 7587 1472.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
Friends of Archbishops Park
AGM
7.00pm
Monday 30 June
China Walk Tenants Hall, Lambeth Walk (Third on left from Lambeth Road)
Lambeth Parks want to take out the playground - Health and Safety!
Developers want to build private flats by the park!
Please come, hear what they say, and help us protect your park. .
Friends of Archbishops Park, c/o 5 Pratt Walk, SE11 6AR
Friends of Archbishops Park Newsletter - June 03
Dates for the diary:
AGM -7pm, Monday 30 June, China Walk Tenants Hall, Lambeth Walk (Third building on left from Lambeth Road).
Archbishop Park Family Fun Day - 1pm to 6pm, Wednesday 30th July
Also:
Football - for children aged 6-16, every Saturday 10-12am
Tennis - all ages. Saturday and Sunday mornings and more. Phone Karel (0781 090192) for details.
This scheme is self financing so the more adults who seek out their old tennis racket and play, the more scope there is to provide local kids with a low cost introduction to the game.
Dancing in Maturity - for the over 50s in the China Walk Hall on Tuesdays at 1.30 pm. (Organised by the China Walk TRA.)
This year the AGM will be important. There is good news in that both parties, Lambeth and the Church Commissioners seem to be agreed on a new lease of 40 years. Lets get it signed quickly before anyone changes their mind.
The AGM will also be a chance for the Committee to brief on the draft management plan. We needed to resolve the lease issue before final consultation. FofAP are now seeking the money to do this, and to secure the capacity that will allow bids to be prepared for the implementation phase.
A large new development, Founders Place, is proposed for the land north of Archbishops Park, up as far as the Westminster Bridge roundabout. The developers will be at the AGM to explain their ideas. This is a pre-planning consultation and nothing is set in concrete (sorry), so is a good chance to express any concerns about the impact of this development on the park. A copy of their newsletter is enclosed. You should note that private flats are shown directly abutting the park. This land, though currently used as car park, is partly designated for 'park use' in the Lambeth's current unitary development plan. Much of the green space surrounding current buildings, will now be inside courtyards, reducing the amount of green that passers by will see - though, clearly, Carlisle Lane needs improvement. More importantly this and other developments along the Thames are adding to the pressure on the park, yet there is no investment in the park itself. This, obviously, is unsustainable. The more people who attend the AGM, the stronger our voice. Or respond directly to the developers, copy to your local Councillor.
Jonathon Mears, the North Lambeth Area Parks Officer, will introduce himself. As well as responding to questions on maintenance and management issues, Jonathon will be able to brief us on the new Team Lambeth contract. There are proposals to reduce the hours that ordinary park staff work to 8am-4pm weekdays, with the savings used to employ four park rangers based in Kennington Park. The current staff will lose over-time and thus income, which means that there will be de-skilling in the longer term. Most people use the park after school and at weekends, and staff presence deters vandalism and criminal activity, and makes people feel safer. We are promised that the park rangers will be able to take on an educational function, but with only four staff to cover parks and green spaces throughout Waterloo, Kennington, Vauxhall and Stockwell, it is hard to see the benefits.
Brian Dickins, the new Sports Action Zone manager has asked to say a few words. To reflect the wishes of the main funder in the area, Sports Action Zone is likely to take over community sports provision in the park. FofAP aim to actively support this process and encourage good and accessible provision. Sports Action Zone plan to launch with a Family Fun Day, at 1pm to 6pm on Wednesday 30th July. Details are still being evolved, but this should include 'taster' sessions in cricket (the nets are being repaired), football, netball, athletics, tennis and more. Plus a bouncy castle etc. Then, for the four weeks during August, there will be four 5 day sports courses 10am-3pm, covering netball, tennis, cricket and football. Brian is seeking volunteers to help steward the fun day, and would also welcome help with publicity. So if you have contact with children or young people in the area through a school or youth club and can help publicise the event, or can help on 30 July, could you contact Brian at South Bank Employers Group on 020 7202 6900.
The AGM may also want to confirm the Committee's view of the role of the Friends. Waterloo Community Regeneration Trust are keen that the Group should expand its capacity, build links with other groups in Waterloo and take a more active part in the Environment and other strategies being prepared for the Waterloo area. On a personal level many of the Committee have found the past three years hard work and we look forward to a new lease and the chance of reverting to a more traditional 'Friends' role. Most of us have small children, work, or both, and many have other commitments within the community. We have also been concerned from the outset that the future of the park should be based on the needs of all those who use the park or live within its catchment, and not just those in Waterloo. Support for the Committee and our 'park-centred approach' would be very welcome.
Having said the Committee are tired, we are looking for new Committee members, and/or volunteers. You do not need to be able to donate a lot of time, but simply use the park and be able to help make sure that the decisions we make reflect the needs of park users. That said we are looking for a new Secretary, and someone to take minutes at the AGM.
And finally a big thank you to everyone who has helped us in the past year - a lot of people, you know who you are..........
Sarah O'Connell, Chair, Friends of Archbishops Park, 5 Pratt Walk, SE11 6AR, e-mail sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk, tel 020 7587 1472

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), June 27, 2003.

Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Breaking News
Updated 25 June 2003
The Lambeth Walk Open Day
takes place from 1100-1500 this Saturday 28 June next to the Ethelred, between Kennington Road and Lambeth Walk. As well as bouncy castle, face painting, refreshments and henna tattoos, there will be an exhibition featuring ideas and options for improving the park.
Vauxhall Park Open Day
is from 2 to 5 pm on Sunday 29 June. This popular event will again feature a Space Ball, bouncy castle, face painting, a fire engine and demonstration and much, much more.
There is a planning application to turn the
Total petrol station
(between Palfrey Place and Clapham Rd) into a block of 49 flats.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 26, 2003.

Lambeth's ILEA art collection

ILEA Art Collection
See Peter Snow on Page 16:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/020391.pdf
Lambeth's ILEA art collection
Released: 25 June, 2003 01:45
Filesize: 182kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpeece@aol.com), June 26, 2003.

Forty years' service to Street Care - and still going strong

Lambeth
Date: 24 June 2003
Ref: 1617
Press contact: Jo Rogers
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: jrogers3@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Forty years' service to Street Care - and still going strong
A refuse collector and a street sweeper who have each notched up 40 years' service to street care in Lambeth will receive a long service gift at 10.30am on Wednesday 25 June in the Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2.
A photocall with the street sweeper and Councillor Clare Whelan, executive member for environment, will be held at 10.00am the same morning in Electric Avenue, Brixton - outside the Wing Wa Chinese supermarket (yellow frontage), by the junction with Electric Lane.
Please send a photographer for the photocall at 10.00am in Brixton market, and the presentation at 10.30am in Brixton Town Hall.
James Keating joined Lambeth Council on 6 June 1963. His first four years were spent as a street sweeper in the Brixton area, and he was then promoted to work as a driver in the street cleansing service. Twelve years ago he moved to the Brixton market cleaning team and is now keen to see out his service there.
James - who came to London from Tipperary in 1960 - says he still has four more years to serve and is hoping he'll make the finish line! When he joined, his salary was Ł8.75p per week. He says the biggest changes he has seen are the amount of traffic; and people's attitude towards throwing litter down on the street.
Michael Kelleher joined Lambeth on 20 May 1963. He has been a refuse collector since then, working for most of the time in Kennington and more recently in Clapham. The main changes that he has noticed have been the change from dustbins to plastic sacks, and now wheeled bins; the traffic; and the amount of waste being thrown away each week. Michael's first week's wage was Ł9.50p.
He came to London from Co. Clare in the mid-fifties and is looking forward to his retirement next year, when he and his wife are going back to Ireland.
"We are very grateful to James and Michael for their hard work over forty years, and for their outstanding loyalty to Lambeth," says Councillor Clare Whelan, executive member for environment.
"The people who work to keep our streets clean are not always shown the appreciation that they deserve: we would like to begin to change that."
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2839
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2003.

Redevelopment of Oval Cricket Ground

BBC News

Historic cricket ground's future secured
Plans to redevelop part of England' oldest cricket Test ground have been given the go-ahead.
Lambeth Council approved a new stand which will increase capacity at The Oval in Kennington, south London, to 23,000.
Local residents had objected to the scheme for the Vauxhall Road End, saying increasing its height would spoil the area.
Surrey County Cricket Club, who play their home games at there, argued the ground would lose international fixtures without the extra seating.
But the council rejected their complaint and work will now begin in the winter.
It is hoped that the work will now be completed in time for the 2005 Ashes Test against Australia.
The Oval hosted England's first Test match, against Australia, 123 years ago.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/london/3018896.stm
Published: 2003/06/25 07:43:21 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2003.

Nurse struck off

Thieving nurse struck off
Jun 24 2003
South London Press
A NURSE hooked on painkillers has been struck off after she was jailed for pinching medicine from a hospital drugs cabinet. Praveena Naidoo, 69, stole a total of 62 pethidine doses from St Thomas' Hospital on 15 occasions in October and November 2001.
She was jailed for three months at Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court on February 1 last year after admitting theft and false accounting.
She was struck off on Thursday. DC Paul Beesley told the Nurse and Midwifery Council he was called in to investigate when bosses became suspicious that hospital records had been forged.
Items were found at Naidoo's Kennington home at Stables Way. The hearing was told she immediately confessed, telling detectives: "I took pethidine for myself to help me sleep and relax. I know it was wrong. It will never happen again."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2003.

Revelopment of Oval cricket ground

MP accused in Oval row
Jun 24 2003
By Richard Evans
South London Press
AN MP has hit back at claims of a conflict of interest over the proposed redevelopment of the Oval cricket ground.
Lambeth council's planning committee is set to decide tonight whether Surrey's controversial Ł21million development goes ahead at what looks set to be a stormy meeting.
But former Sports Minister Kate Hoey - also Vauxhall MP and honourary vice-president of Surrey County Cricket Club - has come in for criticism for not backing residents who fear the proposed new Ł26.5million stand would cast a shadow over their homes.
Colin Baldy, spokesman for the newly-formed Kennington Oval and Harleyford Road Residents Association, claimed that the MP had "a severe conflict of interests".
But Ms Hoey told the South London Press: "This group has had opportunities over two years to make their views known. I only heard from them in the last week.
"Surrey has taken on board most of the community views on this scheme and I support it. However, as an honourary vice-president of Surrey, I will not be attending the planning committee."
At the moment, the world-famous cricket ground holds 18,094 people. If the plan is approved, this will rise to 23,000 in time for the Ashes Test in 2005.
Surrey Cricket Club claims the current stadium is old and inefficient, and that the future of Oval Test cricket and the club itself could depend on the outcome of tonight's meeting. There have been 96 objections to the new stand as well as 31 letters of support.
The cricket club insist residents' fears about the stand are unfounded and point out the stand will actually be moved further away from their homes to make up for its added height.
Tonight's meeting takes place in Room Eight, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, from 7pm. See Friday's South London Press for news on the big decision.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2003.

Breaking news from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Breaking News
Updated 22 June 2003

http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
There is to be a
Public Consultation Meeting
at 1900 on Weds 2 July to discuss (a) can anything more be done to control drug dealing on our streets, and (b) how we might spend Ł100k on environmental improvements in North Lambeth. All are welcome. The venue is St John the Divine Community Centre, 19 Frederick Crescent, SW9.
The Oval Hotel
at 92 Clapham Road - which is not quite in the same league as the Savoy - is to be turned into flats, if the Council agrees.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2003.

Vauxhall Festival

Lambeth
Date: 23 June 2003
Ref: 1613
Press contact: Jo Rogers
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: jrogers3@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Seventh Vauxhall Festival - 5 July to 2 August
The seventh Vauxhall Festival kicks off from 5 July to 2 August this year, with a series of events, displays and performances.
Community groups, organisations and individuals across the whole of North Lambeth take part in events of all kinds in the month leading up to the Grand Finale - the one-day Vauxhall Music Festival which is held in Spring Gardens near Vauxhall Cross on 2 August.
The Music Festival will include contributions from local schools, businesses, community groups, interested individuals, arts groups and more. A variety of stalls, displays, information points, children's activities such as face painting, music workshops, and cultural displays, as well as singing and dancing, will contribute to the day.
The whole festival will be a "celebration of cultural diversity" and every effort is being made to encourage as many different people as possible from the local community to take part. There will be an opening event on July 5, which will be followed by a range of individually organised activities scheduled to take place over the course of the month.
"A key aim is to make sure that all events, including the one-day Music Festival, are as culturally diverse and inclusive as possible - so that everyone in the area can take part and find something to enjoy," says Councillor Keith Fitchett, Chair of the North Lambeth Area Committee.
"We are therefore encouraging participation from local businesses, community groups, statutory agencies and the local schools. We are also looking at ideas that will encourage members of our newer communities - from Colombia, Portugal and Eastern Europe, for example - to participate."
The Festival was originally organised by the St Peter's Heritage Centre as a small-scale event featuring mainly classical music, but has grown considerably over the years in size and diversity. It is currently being organised by a Steering Group supported by the North Lambeth Town Centre Office. Long-term it is planned that a suitable community organisation or group will take over.
For further details of events please contact Glennette Bowles-Dove at GBowles-Dove@lambeth.gov.uk or leave a message for her on 020 7926 2780.
· Can you help? Any interested individuals, businesses or organisations are invited to consider supporting the event through donations, direct funding or contributions in kind.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2839
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2003.

North Lambeth Area Committee Agenda

North Lambeth Area Committee Agenda

Thursday, 26th June 7pm
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/agenda/020289.pdf Released: 23 June, 2003 04:10
Filesize: 27kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2003.

Closure of Kennington Day Centre

Closure of Day Centres
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/020292.pdf
Released: 23 June, 2003 04:15
Filesize: 21kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2003.

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT TO LAY WREATH AT SOUTHWARK MEMORIAL

Russian president to lay wreath at Southwark memorial
London SE1 website team
22 June 2003
Russian President Vladimir Putin is to pay a brief visit to Southwark this week when he lays a wreath at the Soviet World War II memorial in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park as part of his State Visit to the UK.
President Putin and his wife are due to arrive in the grounds of the Imperial War Museum shortly after 5pm on Tuesday 24 June, having travelled by car from Westminster Abbey.
The guests will be received by Mayor of Southwark Columba Blango, council leader Nick Stanton and representatives of the Soviet Memorial Trust Fund and Imperial War Museum, as well as the First Secretary of the Russian embassy, Vladimir Molchanov.
The Mayor will then invite the president to lay a wreath at the Memorial.
At 5.15 pm the President and Mrs Putina will leave for Buckingham Palace, where they will meet Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith and Lib-Dem leader Charles Kennedy before attending a state banquet.
The Soviet Memorial Trust Fund was established in May 1997 to erect a memorial in the United Kingdom to commemorate the deaths of 27 million citizens of the former Soviet Union. The fund was supported by the Russian Embassy and all the other Embassies of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The broad-based fund set about raising funds of an equal amount in both Britain and Russia.
The memorial was unveiled in May 1999 by the then defence secretary George Robertson and Russian Ambassador Yuri Fokine in the presence of the Duke of Kent, who is President of the Imperial War Museum and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The memorial was designed by Russian sculptor Sergei Shcherbakov. The granite memorial tablet was made by British stonemason Gary Breeze.
This week's visit by President Putin is the first state visit to the UK by a Russian head of state since Tsar Alexander II came to London in 1874 at the time of the marriage of his daughter to Queen Victoria's son Alfred.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 23, 2003.

NORTH LAMBETH PARISH FETE

NORTH LAMBETH PARISH FETE
Saturday 28 June
2pm-5pm at Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace Road; Ł2 (concs 50p)
Archbishop Rowan Williams, enjoying his first summer at Lambeth, hosts the annual North Lambeth parish fete in one of London's largest gardens.
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 23, 2003.

Traffic & travel

Evening Standard
19/06/03 - Traffic & travel section
Long Term Tube Delays
Planning a tube journey and want to make sure the route is fully functional? Then look no further. We've got all the long-term problems and service interruptions detailed here.
Weekend Travel Changes for Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 June
On the District Line all weekend, no service between Bromley-by-Bow and Barking, and on the
Hammersmith & City Line, all weekend, no service between Whitechapel and Barking. Two replacement bus services will operate as follows:
Service A, between Bromley-by-Bow and Barkling, calling intermediately at Stratford, Plaistow, Upton Park and East Ham.
Service B, between Bromley-by-Bow and Barking, calling intermediately at Canning Town. Journey times may be increased by up to 30 minutes.
On the Bakerloo Line, on Sunday, no service between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone.
Additionally on Silverlink Metro, on Sunday, no service between Willesden Junction and Harrow & Wealdstone. A rail replacement bus service will operate between Stonebridge Park and Harrow & Wealdstone, calling at all intermediate stations. Journey times may be increased by up to 30 minutes.
Stations With Restricted Access Or Exit
Baker Street: Northbound Bakerloo & Jubilee line trains are now stopping normally at all times, following escalator refurbishment. However work has started on another escalator and customers are advised to change at Finchley Road for an interchange between the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines, to avoid a long interchange at Baker Street.
Camden: On Saturdays, no down escalator between 1000 and 1700. Access to the platforms is via a spiral staircase. On Sundays, the station is exit only between 1300 and 1730, due to crowd control.
Covent Garden: Due to engineering work there are 2 out of 4 lifts in operation. Please avoid the station if at all possible. On Saturday afternoons, until further notice, this station is exit only between 1300 and 1700 to ease congestion.
Earl's Court: The gantry walkway, over eastbound platform 1, to the Warwick Road entrance is closed for repairs until further notice. There will be no access for wheelchair users between the Warwick Road entrance and the Piccadilly Line lifts.
Elephant & Castle: The Northern Line ticket hall is closed until further notice, due to refurbishment work. Access and exit is via the Bakerloo Line station.
Woodford: The entrance to the westbound platform is closed each day after 2100, until further notice.
Lift & Escalator Details
Balham: there is no down escalator service until about January 2004. Passengers are advised to walk down the fixed staircase or use Clapham South or Tooting Bec stations instead.
Bank/Monument no down escalator service from the District & Circle Lines to the Northern Line until further notice.
Bond Street: no down escalator to the Central Line until further notice.
Brixton: no fixed staircase until further notice, and restricted access in the ticket hall until further notice due to hoardings.
Earl's Court: No lift service from the Piccadilly line to/from street level due to refurbishment.
King's Cross: no down escalator service to the Victoria line, until further notice.
Moorgate: a reduced escalator service until further notice between WAGN and the main Northern Line ticket hall. Between 0700 and 0930 access is via a spiral staircase.
Oval: no down escalator service until further notice. Access to the platforms is via a spiral staircase. If you are travelling to the Cricket on the 20 and 28 June, you are advised to alight at either Kennington or Vauxhall(Victoria line).
South Wimbledon: no down escalator service until the end of October 2003. Access to the platforms is via a fixed staircase.
Tooting Broadway: a reduced escalator service until further notice.
Wanstead: no down escalator service until September 2003. Access to the platforms is via a fixed staircase.
Warren Street: no down escalator service from the middle area to the Northern Line platforms, until further notice.
Warwick Avenue: no down escalator service until September. Access to the platforms is via a fixed staircase.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/articles/2360059?version=9 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 21, 2003.

Traffic & travel

Evening Standard
19/06/03 - Traffic & travel section
Avoid Oval Tube after cricket
By Metro Reporter
Cricket fans going by Tube to today's England-Pakistan Test match should use Vauxhall or Kennington stations to go home because of continuing escalator repairs at Oval station.
It's the same next week for England's second sell-out NatWest one-day international against South Africa. Arriving fans are not expected to cause problems - but large numbers leaving together could pose a safety risk.
Another option is to take the bus:
133 London Bridge and Liverpool Street
159 Marble Arch, Brixton and Streatham
3 Marble Arch and Crystal Palace
36 Paddington, Victoria and Lewisham
155 Clapham and Tooting
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/articles/5399691?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 21, 2003.

PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING

Invitation to a PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING on 2 July 2003 7pm
PUBLIC CONSULTATION MEETING
Drug dealing on our streets and estates -
What's being done? Is it enough?
Environmental improvements needed in North Lambeth -
Have your say - Ł100k is available this year. Give us your ideas!
Wed, 2 July 2003, 7.00p.m.
St John the Divine Community Centre
19-21, Frederick Crescent, SW9
All welcome
Oval Tube & Buses 3, 59, 133, 159, 333 (Vassall Rd stop), Buses 36, 185, 436 (from Camberwell New Rd) and Bus P5
Chair: Cllr Keith Fitchett, Chair of North Lambeth Area Committee **
Meeting organised by North Lambeth Town Centre Office (Town Centre Manager - Frances Forrest) **
For further information please contact the North Lambeth Town Centre Office at email gohler@lambeth.gov.uk or telephone 020 7926 8295.
For a map showing the location of the venue please copy the following link into your web-browser:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=531695&Y=177091&A=Y&Z=1
Yours sincerely,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ

-- Gerald (Gohler@lambeth.gov.uk), June 21, 2003.

Cricket

NatWest Challenge
England face quickest of the quick
Shoaib and Sami can secure series at The Oval
Mike Selvey
Friday June 20, 2003
The Guardian
Hang on to your hats and keep the Kennington fire brigade on standby, because today at The Oval Pakistan unveil what may be the fastest pair of bowlers ever to take the field.
Shoaib Akhtar is credited with bowling the first officially timed 100mph delivery - in Cape Town three months ago. Little more than a month later Mohammad Sami, playing in Sharjah and measured by two speed guns, ripped one down in excess of 97mph. For good measure he came close to repeating the feat at Old Trafford three days ago.
Both are very fast indeed - only Australia's Tintin look a like Brett Lee separates them in the official list - and both will be attempting to send the ball through the sound barrier today. The kings, Wasim and Waqar, are dead. Long live the kings.
Shoaib did not play in Tuesday's scrambling two-wicket win over England because of a ball-tampering ban but he will return today, presumably in place of Umar Gul. Even if his historic 100mph delivery was rather disappointingly turned round the corner for a single by Nick Knight, he has sent down several more spectacular balls in his time. No one who saw the New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's leg stump uprooted during the 1999 World Cup match at Old Trafford can doubt Shoaib's capacity to be searing.
"I had a mission to cross the 100mph barrier," he has said. "God gave me that mission. God made me a fast bowler."
That quest may have been completed but if The Oval pitch regains some of its reputation for pace and bounce and he takes the new ball, the England openers Marcus Trescothick and Vikram Solanki may be in for a tough time.
Sami, meanwhile, impressed mightily as a junior partner at Old Trafford, a lissome young man of easy pace and with excellent control, the complete package not always associated with young fast bowlers. If he stays fit he is destined to be one of the greats. He is, the England captain Michael Vaughan admitted, extremely quick through the air and, because of his slight stature, a skiddy bowler.
The good sign, so far as England are concerned, is that bowlers of such speed can also fly for runs at the start of an innings, when the field is in and the ball hard. On that day in Cape Town Shoaib, puffing and blowing like a blacksmith's bellows, disappeared at seven an over and on Tuesday Sami, not having the best of luck admittedly, conceded 52 from his 10 overs.
Already England know that they are in for a tough fight against Pakistan. At Old Trafford all the advantage was the hosts' after they won the toss and batted first in a day-night match played on a pitch which deteriorated alarmingly, and England really should have won to go one up in the three-game series. That they came close was down to the efforts of their bowlers and fielders, and a certain amount of inappropriate strokeplay from Pakistan after Vaughan's superb run-out of Yousuf Youhana.
The Oval pitch promises to be much more conducive to playing strokes and, if Saqlain Mushtaq's experience for Surrey this season is anything to go by, less receptive to spin than it has been.
The toss will be less of an issue but England, should they bat first, are going to have to construct a total in excess of 280 and their junior members must show more fortitude, not least Solanki. The Worcestershire batsman has been given a second chance to establish a one-day career but did nothing on Tuesday to disprove a reputation for allowing his concentration to wander.
His 36 was the highest score of his nine-match career but the manner of his dismissal - hitting around a straight ball after being dropped by the bowler and hitting a six in the same over - was poor. "It was a missed opportunity," he confessed yesterday. "I got a good start but then got myself out without making it count." Chances do not come around for ever and the reputation remains a millstone.
There will be a temptation for the selectors to persist with the side that, they may think, came close to unseating Pakistan. There was always the feeling that, even on an Old Trafford surface the likes of which often see a niggling fifth bowler thrive, England were a front-line bowler short.
At The Oval, where there will be no respite in the field and batsmen ought to flourish, Vaughan needs a full armoury of specialist bowlers. To this end Rikki Clarke, who had a mixed debut, may have to stand down on his home ground to make way for another seamer.
There are three candidates: Steve Harmison, whose bounce and pace could be awkward, Kabir Ali, who bowled modestly in the middle of the Wales innings last week but better at the end, and James Kirtley. Kabir, who can also bat, looks the best bet.
Fastest bowlers
(in mph as measured by speed gun)
Shoaib Akhtar (Pak) 100.2
Brett Lee (Aus) 99.4
Mohammad Sami (Pak) 97.2
Nantie Hayward (SA) 95.9
Jason Gillespie (Aus) 95.6
Waqar Younis (Pak) 95.1
Allan Donald (SA) 95.0
Steve Harmison (Eng) 94.7
Makhaya Ntini (SA) 94.1
Shane Bond (NZ) 94.0
Darren Gough (Eng) 93.8
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 20, 2003.

Proposed filling station development 38-46 Albert Embankment

Proposed filling station development 38-46 Albert Embankment
Dear all
I have been asked by Assael Architects to circulate the flyer below for your information.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
Redevelopment of Existing Petrol Filling Station at 38-46 Albert Embankment London

REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
PUBLIC EXHIBITION
27 - 28 JUNE 2003
LOCATION: Madeira Patisserie
46A-B Albert Embankment SE1 7TN
(At the corner of Glasshouse Walk)
Dear Local Resident
As you may know, a new planning application was submitted for the redevelopment of the Texaco Garage in Albert Embankment earlier this year. This followed a previous application that was withdrawn last November. During the consultation period of the first application many useful comments were received. We have revised our proposals in light of these which are reflected in the current application that London Borough of Lambeth are inviting comments from the local community.
We are holding a PUBLIC EXHIBITION of the revised proposals. Our architects, Assael Architecture, will be on hand to explain the scheme, answer any queries and consider any further suggestions you may have.
Opening Times:
Friday 27 June 4:00pm - 8:00pm
Saturday 28 June 9:00am - 1:00pm
The Public Exhibition has been organised by the developer to ensure that as many residents as possible are aware of the proposals and have the opportunity to comment. The Public Exhibition does not replace London Borough of Lambeth's statutory obligation to consult residents on the proposals.
We look forward to seeing you there. If you have any queries please contact Russell Pedley at Assael Architecture on 020 7736 7744.

-- Gerald (ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk), June 19, 2003.

Oval cricket ground

Oval cricket ground
Breaking News from Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval website
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/
Updated 17 June 2003
Local residents are now campaigning very actively against plans to redevelop the Harleyford Road end of the Oval cricket ground. Surrey County Cricket Club want to build a 26.5 metre (86 foot) stand and residents say that this is totally out of scale with its surroundings, will create a canyon effect along a busy trunk road, and remove sunlight from a great number of local residents' homes.
It looks suspiciously as though the club is taking a "them and us" to their unfortunate neighbours. The local community welcomes the redevelopment of the ground but believes that it should be opened up and turned out. Instead, they claim the proposed new stand would in effect present a blank wall to the local community, who feel that they have been ridden roughshod over. It will be interesting to see the reaction of the local planning committee when it meets on 24 June.
***********************
For details of the Planning Application Report, go to:
Planning Agenda - Page 236
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/agenda/020101.pdf
Released: 13 June, 2003 11:01
Filesize: 4629kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 18, 2003.

Corrections and clarifications

Corrections and clarifications
Wednesday June 18, 2003
The Guardian
In an article headed Begin here, about Hurley pre-school, page 2, Education, June 3, we stated that Sure Start Kennington had withdrawn its offer to fund the group's two-and-a-half-year- olds. Sure Start Kennington wishes to point out that, in fact, it is providing Ł67,815 for this purpose over the next three years. It has allocated over Ł60,000 for work to the nursery after the group applied for over Ł200,000 for capital improvements.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 18, 2003.

Feedback from / Stories for Lambeth Life

Feedback from / Stories for Lambeth Life
Dear colleague
I hope that you have received a copy of the new Lambeth newsletter "Lambeth Life" which is currently being distributed to all Lambeth residents.
The editorial team in the Town Hall are very keen to receive any feedback you may have on this first edition - Please send me any comments or suggestions by Wednesday 30 July and I will pass them on.
Issue 2 will be published at the beginning of October, and will cover news for October, November, December and January. If you have an idea for a story or are organising an event you want to promote in Lambeth Life, please forward me details by Wednesday 30 July. These story ideas will then be collated and discussed by the editorial team. The copy deadline for stories selected to go into the next issue is Friday 15 August.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), June 18, 2003.

The lights

Times
June 16, 2003
The lights
The pyjama game
By Ivo Tennant
WHATEVER THE PROCLAMATIONS OF Kerry Packer and his World Series Cricket (WSC) henchmen, cricket under lights did not originate in Australia. At the Oval in 1889, play on the second day of Surrey’s match against Yorkshire was extended until 7pm because neither captain wanted to return the next morning. It was late August and already pretty dark, but the lighting of the gas lamps in the surrounding streets of Kennington enabled the batsman to see the ball and the bowler to locate the stumps. This early use of artificial light was followed, albeit not until well into the next century, by floodlit tennis and baseball in America. In England, a Football League fixture was not played under lights until 1956. Day/night cricket began at the end of the 1970s to a backdrop, according to Richie Benaud, “of intense and more than slightly mocking laughter”. That mirth subsided when, apparently, 52,000 spectators tried to enter the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1978 to watch the first WSC match held in a traditional cricket oval. Packer threw open the turnstiles when it became clear the evening would be a sell-out and in Australia the concept never looked back.
According to Wisden, “English reactions ranged from distaste to prescience.” In The Times, John Woodcock observed that Australians, “being always early with their evening meal, were well suited by night-time sport”. Black sightscreens, the white ball, pyjamas on the field were there to stay. In England, where distaste for Packer was even greater, none of this caught on, although there was an occasional attempt at a competition on a football ground but the uncertain English weather and the twilight of midsummer, which assisted neither the batsman nor the spectacle, counted against experimentation.
An international sixes tournament was staged at the Oval in 1994 that attracted a paltry turnout on a chilly September evening and was abandoned amid recriminations the following morning. Then, in 1997, Warwickshire were bold enough to stage a Sunday League fixture under temporary lights. They were fortunate: July 23 was one of the warmest evenings of the year and 15,174 spectators attended, bringing in Ł120,000. No matter that the match itself was unexceptional or that the attempts of Surrey and Sussex to stage floodlit matches that same summer were blighted by the weather. Or that dissent continued from prominent voices such as that of Peter Edwards, the late Essex secretary/general manager, who said: “We’ll be having bouncy castles on the outfield next.”
There was no turning back now. Three years later, the first official day/night international was staged in England: decent weather in Bristol attracted a crowd of 7,000 to watch Zimbabwe play West Indies. In the interval, no doubt to the horror of the Edwardses of the world, a game of giant rollerball was staged, the spheres similar in concept to the exercise bubble used by pet hamsters.
As English cricketers came to play more regularly under lights, so their game and know-how improved. So, no doubt, did the quality of the lights themselves. It is rare to hear nowadays that a batsman cannot sight a ball, although his preference is still to bat in daylight. It is recognised that the ball will move more at the start of the second innings, when there could be dew on the ground and less balminess in the air. Hence the dispensation granted to drag a rope through the outfield.
Judging catches when the ball is coming out of the lights can be tricky, but then that is the case if the ball is coming out of the sun. Pylons remain eyesores, but they are tolerated. So, too, if not by older members or the St John’s Wood Society who keep a beady eye on Lord’s, are musical “stings” at the fall of a wicket. It is widely believed that batting first in a day/night match constitutes a considerable advantage, but the statistics do not bear that out. No particular pattern emerges in matches played around the world other than that the stronger countries generally win.
In Sydney in January this year, for example, England made 117 and Australia reached their target without loss after just 12.2 overs. A month later, in the World Cup, England again had first innings, scoring 246 for eight, and Pakistan were dismissed for 134. Of England’s past 35 floodlit fixtures, they have won 12, lost 22 and one has finished without a conclusive result.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 16, 2003.

Property

Times
June 15, 2003
London: Neighbours unite to lift prices
A group of homeowners raised Ł135,000 in grants to improve their street — and added serious value to their houses. Anna Bruning explains how to benefit from community action
If you fancy smartening up where you live but can’t afford to move, help is at hand. A new government scheme is allowing residents across England to improve their environment in a bid to reduce the gap between deprived and other areas. And as John Ashwell, of King’s Cross in London, found, big business can also be persuaded to upgrade its run-down land assets in such areas, giving the added bonus of improving house values, too. So successfully did Ashwell, 38, lobby the King’s Cross Partnership (KCP), one of the government’s new single-regeneration budget (SRB) schemes, plus Islington council and leading King’s Cross landowner P&O, for funding to improve his terrace — one of three on busy and neglected Wharfdale Road near King’s Cross station — that he was able to give up accountancy for a new career as a consultant with his own company, KX Design Solutions, helping others do the same.
“There are just four residential squares in the immediate surrounds of the station. Wharfdale Road was a polluted thoroughfare, but centrally located and in an up-and-coming area. Three years ago, a former student digs came up for sale at Ł235,000. It was dirty and neglected but was crying out for sympathetic renovation,” says Ashwell. The converted digs became his home.
He and Philip Gee, a structural engineer, spent Ł70,000 gutting the property, which had been subdivided into four bedrooms, and restoring it to its original two-bedroom state. “We also painted the front a historical deep blue-green colour.”
The house front was so attractive that strangers started ringing the doorbell to find out about the colour, and this set Ashwell thinking about further improvements. “I doorstepped neighbours to see if they might be keen on planting trees in our street. I also approached the KCP to see if they might help fund this and they were delighted, but wanted residents to contribute too. I got so many offers from residents that we were able to distribute 25 saplings between all our terraces without official funding.”
The KCP then sent a representative to Ashwell’s house to sound him out about other possible improvements. “Of the eight houses in this terrace, two were tenanted, the others owner-occupied, and P&O owned a derelict row of terraces at the start of the street.” The company owns four big blocks of land from King’s Cross up to Wharfdale Road. “One of the problems with the area was that P&O just sat on its land. Now, at last, it is undertaking redevelopment, and a P&O renovation of the derelict terrace is imminent, too,” he says.
It took a year but Ashwell raised Ł135,000 for improvements — Ł50,000 from the KCP; Ł50,000 from Islington’s Conservation Area Partnership (Caps) scheme; and Ł35,000 from P&O. He then agreed to project-manage the renovation — which led to his career change.
“But we were still short of what we needed, so I asked owners to buy into their own improvements with a 10% contribution — from Ł800-Ł3,000 per household, depending on what needed doing. Only one of the eight owners declined to take part.”
Colour schemes were then approved by residents and sponsors. The council insisted on period-style front doors and sash windows, while a 100% Caps grant covered the Ł7,500 cost of restoring the cornice plasterwork at each end of the terrace rows. Railings were specially cast to replace the existing corroded ones, their finials matching the originals, and with the addition of a bespoke bronze-cast finial with the dates of build and restoration, 1845-2002, at the corners and centre of each house.
The project has spurred residents of the next Wharfdale Road terrace to spruce up their railings. “There is a wonderful sense of pride,” says Ashwell. But owners will have to wait before they can cash in. “If we sell within three years, we will have to repay costs, of about Ł21,000 a house,” says Ashwell, whose home is valued at Ł450,000.
In Streatham, Nick MacRae and his wife Isabel Ryan own a house on Palace Road estate off the South Circular — a mix of 350 homes ranging from flats of one to four bedrooms in low-rise blocks, to terraced houses valued at between Ł200,000 and Ł300,000. MacRae decided to improve his environment when Lambeth council imposed a draconian parking scheme on residents without consultation five years ago.
“When every single visitor attending a funeral was clamped, I saw red,” he says. MacRae contacted Lambeth’s housing office. A housing manager assessed the problem and withdrew the scheme. “It shows community action can achieve tangible results,” he says.
From there, MacRae took up other causes. “Our park, which serves the estate and 5,000-6,000 other households in the area, was in a state: full of dog mess and playground equipment no longer fit to use. There was graffiti and drug dealing.” A parks department official told a public meeting that the then Railtrack “had been nagged for years and years” to improve the fence running along the adjoining railway line, whose proximity posed a significant danger to children.
“For the price of one phone call — to the right person — we got the rail authorities to spend Ł40,000-Ł50,000 on installing a new fence,” says MacRae of his subsequent triumph.
In Kennington, south London, residents of Georgian West and Walcot squares have successfully lobbied to close off a rat run, while English Heritage contributed to restore the railings of the Walcot terraces, where unmodernised three- bed houses are marketed at Ł485,000. Now residents’ associations are consulting about lobbying Lambeth to replace concrete lampposts with period ones in the conservation areas.
MacRae advises: “Don’t be put off by the excuse of ‘no budget’. There are many ways of funding things, from local initiatives to business sponsorships to charity or lottery monies. Work in partnership with your council — your taxes pay their wages, after all. Play the long game: it can be labyrinthine to get through to the right person to hear your case, but once you make contact they are generally sympathetic. It’s by no means impossible to get things sorted.”
KX Design Solutions, 0870 744 5063; www.urban.odpm.gov.uk/programmes

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 15, 2003.

Richard and Judy

Times
June 15, 2003
Dynamic duo: Richard and Judy
Eat your heart out, Anne Robinson: Richard and Judy are TV's strongest link.
Bryan Appleyard reports
Richard Madeley is an alien from the planet Znarg. His disguise is almost perfect. But the Znargians made two crucial mistakes. They failed to suppress the tendency of their species to blurt out the first thing that comes into their heads, however weird. And, more importantly, they omitted to reverse the time direction that prevails on their home planet. As a result, Richard grows progressively younger. In 10 years' time this will be something of an embarrassment, as his Earthling wife, Judy Finnigan, will then be 65 and he will be about 15. He currently claims to be 47, though he is obviously no more than 25. In 2013, therefore, the most famous marriage in Britain will be illegal.
Aware that he might have kept Judy in ignorance, I do not bring up Richard's Znargian origins. But, it turns out, she knows. 'He's extraterrestrial, he comes from another planet,' she says after some typically surreal Madeleyan self-analysis is interrupted by his mobile phone. It emits an ear-bleedingly loud polyphonic version of the Nokia ring tone.
'DA-DALA-DA, DADALA-DA, DADALA-DA, DA!'
'Factory setting,' he explains apologetically. 'It came like that.'
But never mind about alien origins, Richard and Judy are as British as fish and chips and asylum seekers. A whimsically daft but also extravagantly normal married couple, they present daytime-TV shows in a style that defies analysis. He improvises madly, apparently concerned that the world is not quite weird enough; she rolls her eyes and tries to subdue with common sense both her husband and the passing parade of celebs, experts, dingbats and bozos that roll through their studio. They talk over each other, bicker mildly and, lovingly, touch and gaze at each other.
Sweet, you might think, and happy, but the wholesomeness is repeatedly subverted by Richard's Znargian blurts. They were once asked what three things they would rescue if their house was on fire.
Judy: 'Jack and Chloe [their children]. I don't care about anything else.'
Richard: 'I would think, 'Let it burn. Let the fire cleanse me.'
See what I mean? Or, a dead giveaway this one: 'Is it true,' Richard asked Tom Courtenay, 'that you were born looking like a Martian?'
But the rest of the time, they are camp but suburban, naughty but nice. Their current show on Channel 4 starts at 5pm with an elderly audience inherited from Countdown and ends at 6pm with a predominantly teenage demographic. They are all things to all men. If the world was about to end, Richard and Judy would be there telling us to look on the bright side and, because it was them, we would.
They are back at the top of the TV game, but only just. Two big things happened in 2001 - 9/11 and the shock departure of Richard and Judy from ITV's This Morning show, which they had presented for 13 years. Discontented with Maureen Duffy, the show's new boss at ITV, they had allowed themselves to be poached by Channel 4 to save the otherwise rather dead 5-6pm slot. This time is known as 'shoulder peak', as it is the moment when ratings should start to climb from daytime to peak levels, and it is notoriously tricky for schedulers to negotiate. Richard and Judy were a very expensive gamble - their deal was the biggest commission ever given to an independent production company.
It was so big that Cactus, the independent producers, built Richard and Judy their own studio complex. It is in central but seedy Kennington, a little enclave of media grooviness hidden in the bleak streets. Students in a big demonstration that once passed its gates spotted the man from Znarg peering out to see what was going on. The demo ground to a halt and the chant rose: 'Who do we want? Judeee! When do we want her? Now!' Judy put on a sensible coat and stepped out to acknowledge the mob.
Not surprisingly, in view of the neighbourhood, squarish men in black suits patrol the reception area. The staff all wear name tags round their necks, their first names printed big enough to see from 20ft away. It's an attempt to put guests at their ease by relieving them of their need to remember names. There are lavish dressing rooms, offices, a big editorial floor and a phone room to take viewers' calls. They get so many calls that, if you ring the Channel 4 number, the machine offers two choices: Richard & Judy or all other programmes. It takes about 100 people to produce the show every day.
I am shown round by Amanda Ross, who runs Cactus with her husband, Simon. She engineered the move from ITV. 'I knew they were unhappy and I offered to look around - no obligation. If anybody found out, they could just say it was nothing to do with them, it was just Amanda Ross being stupid and entrepreneurial.'
With Simon sceptical - 'You'll look really stupid' - she pitched Richard & Judy at Channel 4 and, to everybody's amazement, they went for it. Key editorial decisions were made at once. Their names were to be the show's title. They toyed with the idea of Judy & Richard, but fell back on Richard & Judy since that was what the nation had informally christened This Morning. They're so utterly familiar that any show they did would automatically become Richard & Judy. Cactus also stripped out the This Morning lifestyle stuff - fashion and cooking - to give a harder tabloid/ news edge and in deference to the shift from daytime to semi-peak time.'Anyway,' says Amanda, 'there's too much of that lifestyle stuff already.'
It all made perfect sense and, at once, it all went horribly wrong. The early shows were stuffed with an excess of material - one ran to 17 items - and the viewers turned over. The audience of the first show started at 2.1m and slumped to 1.2m in the course of the hour. The vultures circled. The press said the move had been a disaster. Richard and Judy couldn't hack it in the evenings, they were strictly daytime. Attempts by both of them to break into prime time in the past had repeatedly failed. Daytime owns them and they own daytime.
But this time it worked. They turned the network's 'shoulder peak' into their very own daytime. The show was slowed down, R & J were given room to breathe. The audiences climbed. They're now around 2.5m and they've done serious damage to BBC2's quiz show The Weakest Link. Then, when they broke for the summer last year, the unthinkable happened.
Cactus took Richard aside and made him have a haircut. They had always planned to do this. 'He needed updating,' explains Amanda. Richard's floppy quiff had remained unchanged for years. But the Rosses didn't want to move at once, it would have looked too much like a Channel 4 attempt to groove him up. But in the summer he got his new boy-band, shorter, spikier style. This was appropriate, of course, because he was now at least two decades younger than when his floppy style first appeared. Viewers phoned in to complain - not about the style, but about the fact that in the credit sequence he was still floppy.
Judy, meanwhile, has now adopted a downright bizarre helmet effect, at the base of which wispy flick-ups project almost at right angles. It looks completely daft in a mumsy kind of way.
Now Cactus is buzzing in Kennington. The studios shimmer with success. Silver S-Class Mercedes appear with the guests, and grinning young people constantly check on your wellbeing. In every office I enter, they stop working to say: 'Hi!' At the centre of all this are, of course, R & J. They arrive at 11.30am. They decline chauffeurs, preferring to drive themselves in from Hampstead in a modest S-Type Jaguar. I later explain to Richard that this is an unusually horrible car to own. But he bought the Jaguar marketing line. He thinks it looks like the old Mark II that Inspector Morse drives. It does not.
There's a meeting, then lunch, then R & J take away the scripts to 'Richard-and-Judyise them', as Amanda puts it. 'They have a very peculiar way of writing things and I don't think they want anyone else to do it.'
Richard's blurts are entirely unscripted. 'I'm always wondering what he's going to say,' says Amanda. 'That's why we all love him, isn't it?'
The show aims for a higher calibre of guests. If stars have appeared elsewhere - except Parkinson and, sometimes, Jonathan Ross - they're turned down. This puts pressure on the R & J brand to lure the big names. With Americans, who have never heard of them, it's a case of explaining why they are 'British icons'. But they've preserved the naughtiness of This Morning. Richard has said he thinks there should be more sex on TV and he's done his bit. This Morning pioneered the first 'back, crack and sac' depilation job on a man, as well as the first on-screen test of Viagra. The C4 show has delved into OAP sex, with two old actors in tracksuits demonstrating positions. 'The amount of complaints was phenomenal,' says Amanda, 'but it was a serious item and a lot of people rang to say thank you.'
The show runs five nights a week and they do 187 a year. Time off is fixed to fit in with school holidays - R & J's children Chloe and Jack are 15 and 17. Judy also has grown-up twins, Dan and Tom, from her first marriage. Richard and Judy stay on for an hour for drinks and canapes - the second best I have ever tasted - with the guests in the green room, getting back to Hampstead and the children around 7.30pm.
But the show is about to start and I am taken to the production gallery. Richard is there, dictating his script for a last-minute item they have decided to include - Clare Short's resignation speech. They are to use a five-minute interview with Jon Snow in the C4 newsroom, but R & J wisely cut this to three minutes. There are some nerves in the gallery about this piece, as Richard and Judy have been invited to Chequers for the weekend. These days they move in these circles. I am warned we are on 'open talkback', so if I shout anything in the gallery, they'll hear it through their earpieces.
I find myself struggling with the temptation to yell Richard a question about life on Znarg.In the gallery, the show, like all live TV, seems to emerge as a kind of smooth miracle from the chaos of desperate, split-second decision-making. For the second half I move down to the studio floor. In a commercial break, Richard waves to me. 'Bryan, it's been a couple of years, hasn't it?' It goes without saying that I've never met the man.
The highlight of the show is an interview with the cast of David Mamet's play Sexual Perversity in Chicago - Matthew Perry from Friends, Hank Azaria from The Simpsons, Minnie Driver and Kelly Reilly. It starts badly, with Perry incommunicative, apparently puzzled. But Azaria, a brilliantly witty man, gets the format and starts to lift the conversation. Driver and Reilly, being British, understand anyway. Finally, Perry gets up to speed. But the point is, none of them can get away with the standard chat-show thing. It's the R & J thing or nothing.
But I'm beginning to worry that I'm not going to get a good blurt. Then Colin Firth comes into the conversation. Richard says how good-looking he is, then adds: 'It's important for a man to see sexiness in another man.' There is a combined gasp, giggle and 'Ah, there he goes again' noise from the crew. That came out of nowhere, I say to Richard later.
'No, it didn't,' he says and tries to explain his thought processes. But it's pointless because it's not the thought that's odd, it's the generalisation. Why is it important? That's the point about his blurts: they appear to have cosmic significance to him but just seem weird to everybody else.
Then there's wine - glass of red for Judy, bottle of white for me and Richard - and canapes, and I'm left with them both in Judy's dressing room. She hasn't changed out of her on-screen excessive-cleavage outfit, but he's now in jeans. They're all eager and ready, there's wine and more canapes. But where do I start?
Well, the background is almost too familiar to bother with, and anyway it's all covered in their joint autobiography. It's just about to come out in paperback, Richard points out, 'but I'm not plugging it'. But the basics are: she's a working-class girl who went to Bristol University to study English and drama; he's a lower-middle-class boy who left school to go straight to local newspapers. They both ended up in television and they met at the Granada Studios in Manchester. They were both married; he to Lynda, to whom he had already been unfaithful, and she to David, with whom she had the twins. She wanted more children, David didn't and his job meant he was away from home much of the time and Judy was lonely. They fell in love, as we all know and can see daily. In 1988, broke and professionally desperate, they started This Morning. The rest is history.
But it's a history marked by strangely appropriate comedy. Appropriate because just as they seem at one with their audience on screen, they also seem to blunder through life like ordinary folk off screen. Two examples. Richard was prosecuted for stealing wine from Tesco. He was acquitted because it was obviously an innocent mistake and, as a psychiatrist pointed out, he is in the habit of losing track of what he is doing because his impatience leads him to move prematurely onto the next thing. Wine, Tesco, shoplifting, absent-mindedness - it's all so banal. Richard is not Angus Deayton nor even Frank Bough. He doesn't shop at Tesco any more: 'Not because I bear a grudge, it just feels wrong.'
Then there was Judy's bra. At a TV awards ceremony both of them failed to notice that the front of her dress had dropped, exposing her bra to the world. John Leslie rushed in to save her.
Again it's so banal, the kind of blushing moment people talk about over PG Tips and digestives.
Anyway, there they are on the sofa, Richard looking as bright as only a Znargian can and Judy distinctly frazzled. What follows are samples from a very long conversation. They may lack narrative sense - usually because Richard is not big on narrative sense - but they are chosen to illustrate the significant themes of this odd relationship.
At times I felt I was talking to one person with two contrasting personalities; at other times they seemed to be two people so different that their method of communication was a mystery. All the time it was clear that R & J off screen seem to be pretty much the same as R & J on screen.
'I need to wind down a bit. The adrenaline carries you forward for a while,' says Judy.
'I try very hard not to say weird things,' says Richard when I bring up the blurts.
'I try too,' chips in Judy.
'Maybe it's a licence that I shouldn't grant myself, but I honestly think that as a presenter and broadcaster I do better job. I'm more myself if I let myself off the leash. If I were to sit on it all the time and worry, I'd be constantly self-editing. But I'm not sure it's that extreme,' says Richard.
Judy tells me of her working-class upbringing. 'We ended up living in a three-bedroom semi in Fallowfield, but we didn't start off like that. My parents didn't own a house until I was 11.'
'Did you have a privy outside?' asks Richard.
'The whole lot. Outside toilet.'
The same background question to Richard elicits a predictably cosmic response. 'I try and analyse what I am and I can't, really. It's weird.'
But one thing isn't weird. His father died suddenly of a heart attack at 49 and, the day after the interview, Richard is 47. So he gave up smoking some years ago, bought a bike and lost what few ounces of excess weight he thought he was carrying. And in the event, he's okay. He's just had some alien - well, American - technology scan and his arteries were 'clean as a whistle'.
The doctor said he must have inherited his mother's good genes as opposed to his father's bad ones. 'It was a load off my shoulders. After years and years of worrying it was sweet relief. That monkey is off my back.'
After some business about how she got into television, Judy talks about the loneliness of her first marriage. 'There was one Easter. I had these two little baby boys. Everybody I knew was away.
I just got really fed up. I thought I was going mad. The one person I saw was the milkman.'
'So what was going on between you and the milkman?' He can't stop himself.
I mention the way they're frequently portrayed - he madly ambitious, she reluctantly being dragged along. 'I'm very stubborn,' she says, 'I'm not ambitious. I'm astonished I've ended up doing what I am, absolutely astonished. I've always wanted a family. One of the factors in the breakdown of my first marriage was my husband not wanting any more children. I've always wanted a family and I've put that first in my life. And I suppose meeting Richard...' She looks at him. 'I'm not sure I'd have done any of this if it hadn't been for you. A lot of the time I'd have thought it was too much hassle, especially with the press.'
Richard looks a little uneasy with this. 'Yeah, but I think what Bryan is getting at is this myth that basically I'm charging forward dragging this reluctant... You are incredibly stubborn.'
'I'm not nearly so confident as he is. I probably need an injection of confidence from him.'Later this theme re-emerges when I ask about how long they are going to carry on doing what they're doing. For both of them, their house in Cornwall - they have another in Key Largo, Florida - plays a large part in the answer.
'I have this dream,' says Judy. 'I'd like to live mostly in Cornwall. Whether it will happen or not, I don't know. And I'd like to write novels. I have no idea whether I'd be any good at it. We love working in telly, but there will come a time when I'll want to be free, free to travel. I don't want to go on like this for ever. As a woman I thought I'd be out of TV by the time I was 50. It didn't happen. But I can see myself not doing it.' She turns to Richard. 'I think you'd find it harder.'
'You couldn't be more wrong. I don't know why. Everything you've just said is what I'd say. Maybe in two years. With Chloe and Jack at the moment we have to be in London. But I want to write novels as well. I've got one in my head.'
Don't they have further ambitions in TV? Breaking into America, for example?
Richard writhes. 'Oh, f---ing hell, no. Honestly, we are so unlike that.'
'Puhhhleeese,' says Judy, 'it was bad enough breaking into Channel 4.'
Much of the hardship for Judy seems to come from the press. Hacks are constantly seeking chinks in their super-normal, super-happy armour. They find a few: Richard's first marriage, Judy's periodic depressions and illness. But these, again, are normal. And so wilder stories emerge. They are said to have been known as Bitchy and Broody, she's been accused of alcoholism and he of excessive vanity. 'If he was a chocolate, he'd eat himself,' said one disgruntled former employee. Wildest of all was the story that they had a sadomasochistic dungeon in their basement.
'It's the serpent-in-paradise syndrome,' says Judy. 'You can't see two people and believe that what you see is what you get. There's always a feeling that people are trying to project an image that isn't real, and in our case it's simply not true. We're pretty normal. We're not very goody-two-shoes, we just like being with each other, we are just simply a very happy and very fortunately married couple. We don't even have a basement.'
'I think that's dying away,' says Richard. 'We've worn them down simply by sticking around.'I tell them a line I'd written in my notes while reading their cuttings. 'Perhaps the awful truth is that there is no awful truth.' Judy likes this.
'That's right, there is no awful truth. I mean, Christ, we'd be psychotic by now if we'd been maintaining some dark secret.'
'Making the show is just nuts and bolts for us all the time. We only think like this when we talk to people like you. These large, floating questions about who we are are not in our minds. We do the job, we have our mates, we get in the car and we go home to the kids.''DADALA-DA, DADALA-DA, DADALA-DA, DA!' His phone again. He apologises.
'It was my niece.' 'She's not your niece, she's your cousin's daughter.'
They then get into a mild argument about a remark Richard made on air about the rhythm method of contraception not working for them because Judy was so irregular.'You do say things like that.'
Richard bristles theatrically. 'Oh, thank you for your support, hon. I defy anyone to produce the tape. But you've gone over to the other side. Fine.'
'I don't think it's cynical or deliberate. If it was cynical I would be cross. But I'm not cross, you just do these things.'
'You do it as well but it never gets picked up.'
'No I don't. Well, I do say some odd things, but it's never as personal as it is with you.'
God is a theme. They believe in Him. 'Yes,' they say simultaneously when I ask. They renewed their marriage vows in church and they had their children christened. It all happened in Cornwall.
'It's not a fierce belief, not a passionate belief,' says Richard, 'and there are those moments when you wake up and think, 'I'm an Englishman in the 21st century and it's all boll---s, this can't be true.' But on the whole, yes. I'd say we have a patchy faith, but on the whole it's more on than off.'
'It's not born again or anything,' says Judy, 'it's just an awareness of connections, spiritual connections. We feel that very strongly when we are in Cornwall. There's something about the landscape, a great sense of peace we both feel.'
Richard tells a long story about a series of coincidences surrounding the recent death of his stepfather. 'In a really cosmic, mystical way we were saying a proper goodbye to him.''We did go into church and say a prayer and that was very comforting,' says Judy.
Towards the end I try to get Richard to acknowledge his extraterrestrial origins. So how come you keep looking younger?
'That's absolutely a no-win f---ing question.
I read occasionally that I can't pass a reflective surface without looking at it. He's so vain, they say. I'm sorry, I just don't know.'
'It's because you were so worried about your heart. You were very careful about what you ate and you took exercise. He was terrified of dying at the age of 49, no - that's suddenly been lifted.'
'Not terrified, but my grandad had a heart attack at 60, my uncle had four, and my dad keeled over at 49. It did play on my mind a bit.'
'Life's too short,' says Judy, 'or maybe it's too long, I don't know.'
I was right. The awful truth is that there is no awful truth - at least none I could find. Richard and Judy have simply Richard-and-Judyised their bit of TV. They've outflanked the tabloids by being just as naughty but without the fake moralism - 'We don't judge people,' they say. And they've outflanked every other attempt at man-woman on-screen chemistry simply by having chemistry to spare. I can't really fathom their relationship beyond saying that Richard is an attention-seeker and Judy is an attention-giver; but I have no doubt that it is a relationship, that their fleeting rows are as genuine as their little signs of affection.What it all means sub-specie aeternitatis, God knows. Perhaps it is just that, for one hour a day, we need the freak show of mass entertainment to be mediated by a couple of super-normals like Richard and Judy, a pair of harmless Brits afloat on the globalised sea. Like the students, we want Judy now and we want Richard at her side.
But it's weird, this TV business, especially during the day, and, in their super-normal way they're weird too, hypnotically so. I guess it's all a Znarg thing with Richard. But Judy is human. It must be alien implants and those flick-ups - aerials, I'd say.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 15, 2003.

MP's plea over nursery

MP's plea over nursery
Jun 13 2003
By Education Reporter Vicky Wilks
South London Press
AN MP has urged education bosses to re-think plans to put a nursery into the hands of a private company or voluntary organisation.
After visiting the Norwood Children's Centre, Tessa Jowell - MP for Dulwich and West Norwood - has called on Lambeth council to reconsider plans for its future.
Her plea comes amid growing fears from parents and staff about what's going to happen to the nursery.
Ms Jowell said: "This is a popular and successful working nursery that parents trust - so why on earth change it?"
"Parents can't understand why such a successful centre needs to be moved from council ownership.
"They are rightly concerned about the future viability of the children's centre and its ability to maintain staff levels and provide affordable places for children in an area of high need."
Norwood Children's Centre is one of five day nurseries run by Lambeth council. The others are in Streatham, Brixton, Clapham and Kennington.
Lambeth council's executive member for education, Councillor Anthony Bottrall, said the council plans to carry on running two of the nurseries - in Streatham and Kennington - but hopes to find voluntary organisations or private companies to run the others in a bid to save Ł200,000.
Norwood could be the first to get new management, in September.
Cllr Bottrall said: "We are not closing any of these centres.
"We will draw up specifications for other organisations to bid for the management."
He added: "The nurseries will still be subject to inspection and supported through Lambeth's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership.
"The council budget is under huge pressure - our aim is to transfer the management without loss of quality of service.
"We have no statutory obligation to provide day nurseries."
But Cllr Bottrall accepted that all five nurseries are likely to become more expensive in the future.
He said staff will be given the opportunity to take voluntary redundancy or will be transferred to the new managers on the same pay and conditions. And Cllr Bottrall also pointed out that as well as the day nurseries, Lambeth council runs five nursery schools, and the Government is putting cash into nursery places.
This could see 700 more in primaries across Lambeth.
What do you think about Tessa Jowell's views over the nursery? Should nurseries be run privately, by voluntary organisations, or by local authorities?
Text your views to:
07766 725 997 quoting the page number of this story (You must include your name and postcode) (Cost is your standard network rate)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 14, 2003.

BNP target Kennington

Far right group in push for assembly
Jun 13 2003
By News Reporter
South London Press
ANGER has erupted after the British National Party began targeting Lambeth and Southwark in a bid to set up a new branch.
The far right party wants to put forward candidates for next June's mayoral and London Assembly elections.
The controversial group is already active in Lambeth where it has leafleted hundreds of homes in West Norwood this week. It says Bermondsey and Kennington are next.
But politicians of all political parties yesterday fiercely condemned the push into multicultural south London, where about 33 per cent of the population come from ethnic minorities and more than 100 languages are spoken.
Lambeth Labour Party leader Steve Reed said: "It is disgusting.
"The last thing we need is the BNP in an area like this and I hope they pack their bags and go back to the little hole they came from as soon as possible."
Lambeth council leader Peter Truesdale said: "This diverse and tolerant community will stick together despite this bad news."
Camberwell and Peckham MP Harriet Harman said she would be keeping a close eye on the BNP's election tactics.
She said: "They will be watched very closely to see if they overstep the mark from genuine election campaigning to illegal behaviour that could incite racial hatred.
"I trust that people in Southwark and Lambeth will come out and vote in the elections and show that they have no truck with the BNP. A lot of hard work has been done in south London to build good race relations and that diversity and multiculturalism is a strength."
The leaflets delivered in West Norwood this week bore the slogan "Immigration? Open your Eyes!" and stated that native British people would be a minority in this country by 2060.
A West Norwood resident told the South London Press she encountered a group of men on her road and confronted one on her driveway.
She said: "He told me the BNP had recently formed a branch in Lambeth and that he was drumming up some local support.
"How could they be so insensitive to distribute such horrible literature in a multicultural area like West Norwood?"
London Assembly member for Lambeth and Southwark Val Shawcross said: "A vote for the BNP will divide our communities and set neighbour against neighbour. We do not want that in Lambeth and Southwark."
Lambeth council's deputy leader John Whelan said: "I am absolutely appalled. We have no time for racists and fringe extreme political organisations and do not believe they have any role to play in our community."
Wesley Walters-Stephenson, a group officer for the Community-Police Consultative Group for Lambeth, said: "If it causes disharmony in the community it should be outlawed. People can talk about freedom of expression but when it impacts upon the continuity of other people's lives, how can it exist in this day and age?
"If the BNP think they can target Lambeth as an experimental project, they will soon see the cohesion of Lambeth and how long they last here."
A BNP spokesman told the South London Press: "We are trying to replicate our election successes up north in London."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 14, 2003.

Situations Vacant

Administrator - Sure Start Kennington
For further details and a Job description please refer to advert.
Released: 10 June, 2003 11:00
Filesize: 28kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/020018.pdf
Programe Manager - Sure Start
For further details and a Job Description please refer to advert.
Released: 10 June, 2003 10:57
Filesize: 27kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/020016.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 11, 2003.

Situations Vacant

Outreach worker - Sure Start
Further details a job description are found on the advert.
Released: 10 June, 2003 11:20
Filesize: 17kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/020019.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 11, 2003.

Sure Start

Education - Letters
Tuesday June 10, 2003
The Guardian
A good start
On behalf of Kennington Sure Start, can I correct a few mistakes in your article "Begin here" (June 3).
First, Sure Start has never withdrawn its offer to fund places for the Hurley pre-school's two-and-a-half-year-olds. Indeed, we have allocated Ł67,815 over the next three years for just this.
Second, although we did not have the resources to fund the nursery extension, we are hoping to offer over Ł60,000 to improve the building. In addition, we are funding parenting classes, trips, and extra dental inspections, as well as the free fruit and bottled water that was mentioned.
Sure Start is very new in Kennington but is already doing its bit to fill some of those gaps referred to.
Jon Davies
Programme Manager, Kennington Sure Start, London
Supporting parents
Focusing on a single day-nursery is not a fair reflection of the provision in the area, nor an accurate reflection of Kennington Sure Start's role and effectiveness. Ethelred nursery school is the largest provider of early years education in Kennington. We have worked closely with Kennington Sure Start to build existing and develop new services that are based upon the needs and interests of local families. The decision-making process about how funding has been allocated has been public, absolutely visible and owned by local people.
The real strength of Kennington Sure Start has been the level of involvement and support that local mums, dads and carers have demonstrated. Sure Start Kennington has helped to develop a wide range of services that truly support parents as parents. It's such a shame you missed an opportunity to congratulate Kennington Sure Start on the way in which it has been able to nuture the aspirations we all share for Kennington's children.
Lucy Whittaker
Headteacher, Ethelred Nursery School, London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 11, 2003.

Congestion Charging

C-charge: better than expected
Jun 10 2003
South London Press
CONGESTION charging is exceeding its targets for reducing traffic, according to Transport for London.
A survey into the success of the scheme, three months after it was introduced, shows a 40 per cent reduction in congestion within the zone and a 20 per cent reduction of cars entering the zone.
Since the scheme was introduced on February 17, around 250,000 penalty charge notices have been dished out and an average of 98,000 drivers pay the charge each day. However, despite its apparent success, concerns continue to be raised about the effect of the charge on businesses. Local traders in Kennington say they have been hit hard by a fall in profits and both the Federation of Small Business and the London Chamber of Commerce last month expressed serious concerns about the impact of the charges.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 11, 2003.

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website: Breaking news, 9 June 2003

Vauxhall, Kennington & the Oval, London website

Breaking News
Updated 9 June 2003
A researcher at Birmingham University is researching the impact of the congestion charge on residents living within the congestion charge zone. If you have any information, or if you would be willing to be interviewed, please email Katie Miller.
Vauxhall Park Open Day is from 2 to 5 pm on Sunday 29 June. This popular event will again feature a Space Ball, bouncy castle, face painting, a fire engine and demonstration and much, much more.
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 10, 2003.

Tiles for Kennington Underground Station

BBC News
Factory to produce Underground tiles
A Shropshire factory is working against the clock to produce 24,000 unique tiles for the London Underground.
Craven Dunhill, which first opened at Jackfield in 1872, closed in the 1950s but restarted its ancient presses four years ago.
The company have now been asked to manufacture one-off tiles for the Borough and Kennington stations in London.
Craven Dunhill's production director, Adrian Blundell, is hoping as a result, the company will win more orders to produce tiles for refurbishments at 12 other stations.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/shropshire/2661903.stm Published: 2003/06/10 05:49:29 GMT © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 10, 2003.

Street League

09/06/03 - Career news section
A big break in Brazil
By Andrew Eames
Evening Standard
An 18-man soccer squad from Britain is on a tour in Brazil where they will take on teams from the world's best footballing nation in 16 matches in as many days. But these players do not have Ferraris in the car park or glamorous wives waiting for them in million-pound homes; far from it, for the majority of these players have no place at all that they can call home, for they are the pick of Street League.
Street League started two years ago to use football to bring some fun into the lives of marginalised individuals in society: 70 per cent of its membership is registered homeless, and the rest are asylum seekers or people recovering from drug dependency. In two years, the register of players has passed 700, with 40-odd matches organised every week in London, Leicester and Glasgow, and it has broadened its aim towards teaching important life skills, such as commitment and leadership, through football.
The squad touring Brazil, which includes a couple of Eritrean refugees, was selected from local teams with wonderful names like Athletico Cricklewood. But before they are written off as a bunch of no-hopers with sweaters for goalposts, it is worth watching a Thursday training session on the astro-turf in Kennington Park. The players are revealed as highly skilled and motivated and could, according to their head coach Adrian Jones, take on most professional teams.
Street League was started by a young doctor, formerly of University College Hospital. In the course of his daily rounds, Dr Damian Hatton, 30, was aware of marginalised individuals turning up in the accident and emergency department as the result of accidents, fights or overdoses.
This "client group" of single males was often overlooked by state support services, who have a statutory requirement to look after families and those with mental-health problems only, and their lives were devoid of enjoyment. So Dr Hatton took contact details of those who showed an interest in football. It was when the number of teams in Street League reached 16 that he knew he was going to have to make a choice between football and his work. He gave up his career in medicine about two years ago, having secured funding from the Football Foundation and Sport England.
The Brazilian tour is a major landmark in his campaign to restore a sense of purpose and pride to the players involved. The sense of excitement during training sessions about the upcoming tour was just what Dr Hatton set out to achieve.
"You have to shift what these people believe about themselves. If you don't, there's a revolving door in the homeless sector where the same faces come round again and again," he says. A key ingredient in the process is commitment; there were individual players in Street League who were more gifted and skilled than those selected for the Brazilian tour, but they were not included because of poor attendance at training. By requiring such commitment the league is teaching a key lesson in life, that is, you cannot expect to succeed at anything unless you show persistence and commitment.
Typical of the player profile - although older than most - are defenders 34-year-old Paul McCarthy and Albert da Costa, 35. Da Costa's earlier years, which included trials as a professional footballer, were ruined by a volatile home life which put him on the streets, but Street League "has given me a new lease of life", he says. McCarthy is emerging from a period of severe drug abuse triggered by his wife having an affair. For him, the tour is "the realisation of a schoolboy dream", and the league has helped him to recover his sense of self-worth. He expects to return to work as a plumbing and heating engineer in another 12 months.
As for Dr Hatton, he is not sure when, if ever, he will return to medicine. "What I am doing now is more of a service to the community than I could achieve as a doctor." He points out that it is also serving as a preventative healthcare scheme, extracting individuals from the cycle which saw them repeatedly turning up in A&E departments, and thus saving the NHS money.
But money is the thing which threatens Street League's long-term prospects. There is enough sponsorship to cover the Brazil trip and sufficient funds for three months thereafter, but what happens after that is anyone's guess.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/jobs/careernews/articles/5235822?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 10, 2003.

Property

What will the average buy?
Halifax says the average house price is now Ł130,000, but what will that buy you? Jill Papworth takes a look
Jill Papworth
Saturday June 7, 2003
The Guardian
The average house price in Britain has now reached Ł129,568, according to new figures this week from Halifax. But can you really buy an "average house" for Ł130,000?
On a quest to find the mythical average house, we trawled through properties on the books of Halifax Estate Agents, which has 360 branches spread throughout England and Wales, plus independent agencies in Scotland to find examples of what Ł130,000 will buy in various locations - including the company's home town of Halifax.
The results may come as a surprise to many. While regional price variations obviously mean that you get much more for your money in some locations than others, the contrasts are not as stark as one might expect.
Yes, the money will nearly stretch to two beautiful five-bedroomed restored crofts in a spectacular beach-side location, currently on the market through Stornoway-based Anderson, Macarthur (01851 703356) for Ł140,000. But that's in the Outer Hebrides, so perhaps the price is not that surprising.
What about the south east? Surely Ł130,000 won't buy you anything - perhaps no more than a garage or even an off-street parking space in the capital? But the truth is that it will stretch to a one or two bedroom flat in outer London postcodes or a studio flat in a private development nearer the centre of the city, as our example shows.
Equally, the Londoner's dream of being able to sell up a modest home in the south and escape to a country mansion or even a habitable island with the proceeds does not stand up to the reality test. Price variations around the UK are no longer that extreme.
The selection of properties priced at around Ł130,000 that we found with the help of the Halifax indicates that the average price will buy you a wide choice of styles and size ranging from a stylish four-bedroom, modern, detached house in Worksop, Nottinghamshire to a smart, one-bedroom flat in one of Brighton's desirable Regency crescents.
Here is a selection of what we found:
· Offers in the region of Ł124,995 are invited on a three-bedroom, detached property in the increasingly popular residential location of Southowram, Halifax.
· A third floor studio flat with a small galley kitchen in a private development in Kennington, south-east London, close to a tube station and with views across to the City of London plus access to residents' private gardens. Asking price Ł129,000.
· A three-bedroom converted chapel in the village of South Somercotes, Lincolnshire with huge rooms including a galleried landing overlooking a 24-ft lounge. Asking price Ł125,000.
· Offers in excess of Ł130,000 are invited for Toad Hall, a three-bedroom cottage set on three floors in Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria. Its attractions include a lounge with a balcony overlooking the garden which backs on to a beck. The price includes furniture.
· Offers in the region of Ł135,000 are invited for the three-bedroom, semi-detached town house. It has two reception rooms, a luxury Shaker-style fitted kitchen and dining area and a fitted garage set in a cul de sac in Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland.
· A two-bedroom period stone cottage dating back to the 1800s with features including an open fireplace with wood burner and wooden beams to ceilings in Melksham, Wiltshire. Asking price Ł126,950.
· A modern, two-bedroom, detached bungalow on a large plot within a cul de sac in the village of St Mellons near Cardiff. It has pretty, secluded gardens to the rear and an enclosed front garden with driveway leading to a detached garage. Asking price Ł129,950.
· A one-bedroom, second floor flat in Brighton with entry phone system in a sought- after crescent close to shops, restaurants and mainline rail links to London and Gatwick. Asking price Ł125,950.
· An attractive, four-bedroom, detached house in a popular residential area of Worksop, Nottinghamshire with garage and standing space for several cars. Asking price Ł128,000.
· A spacious, two-bedroom upper floor flat with communal gardens in a sought-after residential area in the popular seaside town of Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Asking price Ł127,500.
· A two bedroom, Grade II listed cottage with period features, including exposed wall and ceiling beams and flagstone floors, and a side courtyard garden in Evesham, Worcestershire. Asking price Ł129,950.
· Number 1 Mission Hall is an unusual three-bedroom, semi-detached property on two floors in the village of Aylesham near Canterbury in Kent. Asking price Ł125,000.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 07, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Evening Standard
06/06/03 - Opinion section
Well done Ken, now we need some fine tuning
By David Mellor, Former Conservative Cabinet Minister
Bring me lucky generals, said Napoleon, so he'd have loved Ken Livingstone. All of us who thought the introduction of the congestion charge in February was going to be a disaster had not reckoned on a war to divert people's attention elsewhere. Lucky Ken. Lucky too that his obvious manipulation of the traffic flow didn't cost him dear. Rephasing the traffic lights then putting them back again once the charge had started, plus removing all those roadworks that were doing people's heads in was, let's face it, a pretty brazen device. But it worked. Instead of getting angry, Londoners just laughed knowingly and said to themselves, that Ken really is a cheeky chappie, isn't he, or words to that effect not readily reproducible in a family newspaper.
I don't want this to sound like sour grapes, even if it is. I thought the whole system might collapse in the first few days beneath the weight of public opprobrium and chaos at the call centre. It didn't, and the traffic flow into central London is undeniably lighter. Down by maybe 20 per cent Ken himself says, and he's probably not wrong.
Lucky old Ken. I mean for me, who was a minister during the Community Charge fiasco, the ultimate salt in the wound is that the congestion charge is nothing more than a poll tax. The duke and the dustman pay the same. So why have there been no riots this time around?
With luck like that, if Napoleon really had known Ken he would have never met his Waterloo. He would have died in his bed at Fontainebleau at a great old age still running most of Europe, and Ken would have been married off to one of his sisters and become King of England.
But sometimes your luck can run out, and could it happen to Ken? Harold Macmillan, it was, who told us we'd never had it so good. Everybody knows that. Few recall that he went on to say: "But sometimes I wonder, is it too good to last?" And it was. Macmillan went from triumph to ignominious exit in less than four years. Could the same happen to Ken? I reckon it could unless he begins to get real about the downsides of the congestion charge, and does something sensible about them.
Already the clouds no bigger than a man's hand are gathering and I'm not talking about the evidence lurking around waiting for some talented opposition politician to sound off about the number of cars evading the charge because they aren't registered to the person driving.
I'm talking about hard economic evidence that won't go away, all of it faithfully reported in the Standard, from reputable non-political organisations, that the charge is seriously damaging business in central London.
The London Chamber of Commerce recently surveyed 520 businesses in the zone and found three-quarters of them reporting falling takings in the same period when, nationally, consumer spending went up by more than four per cent. One in four of these businesses is thinking of moving out.
The Federation of Small Businesses said last month the charge is hitting small businesses especially hard, and anyone dependent on passing trade has been really badly hit.
Also last month, retail monitor Footfall published the results of a three-month CCTV survey of 13 major stores within the zone, which found the number of shoppers had fallen by up to eight per cent this spring, compared with the year before.
Meanwhile, outside the zone all the neighbouring boroughs from Wandsworth to Camden are reporting an increase in fly parking as commuters out to avoid the charge create their own personal park-andride scheme.
So be warned, Ken, it's not that long a journey from a lucky general to Stan Laurel; another fine mess you've got us into.
And in putting your thinking cap on, you are not much helped by your mates at Transport for London. Instead of getting to grips with what has become a tidal wave of evidence of damage to London's economy, they speak dismissively of " anecdotal assertions", and talk complacently of waiting for their own survey "in the autumn". This isn't so much Napoleon as Marie Antoinette. The businessmen complain, and Transport for London responds: "Let them eat cake."
Ken isn't helping himself either. He's come up with the crazy idea of trying to persuade Westminster Council to cut its parking charges, which were of course imposed to stop too many cars coming into central London! Daft and counter-productive are the two obvious words for that one.
To stop a backlash, Lucky Ken has got to become Clever Ken, and ask himself whether the charge imposes unnecessary misery by running from 8.30am to 6.30pm when the real cause for concern is and always has been the peak times. The period the charge operates from could be amended with no detriment to the grand design. It could come off at 10.30am, and be reimposed at 3.30 or even 4pm. Even better, maybe, would be to let the charge operate only up until, say, 1pm. That would still deter commuters but would not punish occasional shoppers, cinema and gallerygoers and so on.
At a stroke that would offer some alleviation to hardpressed small businesses in the centre, and remove for most of the day an imposition that has merely transferred congestion to areas on the periphery of the scheme. The Federation of Small Businesses study also shows places like Victoria, Nine Elms, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Bridge, Edgware Road and parts of Kennington are congested for "large parts of the day", when previously they weren't.
Ken must not get as complacent as his advisers. He's got away with it so far. But for most people the jury is still out, and the verdict could yet go the wrong way for him. A successful businessman once described as lucky replied, the funny thing is, the harder I work, the luckier I get.
Time to take a leaf out of his book, Ken. What you established in February is a pretty crude scheme. Start modifying it now while you still retain the initiative rather than have fundamental changes forced upon you when the going gets really tough next year.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/opinion/articles/5204677?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 07, 2003.

Forthcoming marriages

The Times
Court & Social
June 06, 2003
Forthcoming marriages
Mr A.R. Dewar and Miss C.J. Brueton
The engagement is announced between Ashley Robert, son of Mr and Mrs Robert Dewar, of Kennington, London, and Catherine Jane, younger daughter of Dr and Mrs Martin Brueton, of Purley, Surrey.

-- Cathy (catyvpreece@aol.com), June 06, 2003.

Property

03/06/03 - Property news section
Liz leaves London behind
By Compton Miller
Evening Standard
Actress Elizabeth Hurley, when not jet-setting with her boyfriend, Arun Nayar, is enjoying a new role as a country bumpkin. She is now seldom seen at her ÂŁ2 million Chelsea home, preferring the paparazzi-free lanes around her ÂŁ2.75 million farmhouse in Barnsley - not the Northern mill town, of course, but the upmarket Cotswolds village. Should Liz want to let out her five-bedroom Victorian terraced house off Fulham Road, she could expect ÂŁ2,500 a week in rent. Douglas & Gordon are quoting that for an identical house in the same street.
A dreary five-bedroom flat close to Marylebone flyover seems an odd choice as a location for the latest film by trendy Hollywood screenwriter Richard Curtis, of Four Weddings and a Funeral and Notting Hill fame. But the large second-floor home will star in his new romantic comedy, Love Actually, with Hugh Grant, Colin Firth and Liam Neeson. "I think it was because of its quirkiness," says Ash Residential, asking Ł 600,000 for the 78-year lease. "The sitting room looks as if it's set out for a Jehovah's Witness meeting."
Eight months after the death of Baroness Serota, former deputy speaker of the House of Lords, her husband, Stanley, is selling The Coach House, their three-bedroom Hampstead home. The detached Fifties property, with a west-facing garden and off-street parking for two cars, is available at Ł 1 million through FPDSavills. The Serotas were married for 60 years and their son, Sir Nicholas Serota, is director of Tate Modern and Tate Britain.
Sarah Waters, author of BBC2 series Tipping The Velvet starring Rachael Stirling, Keeley Hawes and Jodhi May, has bought her first flat. She has invested some of the proceeds of her Victorian lesbian-chic novels in a Kennington property. Awardwinning Sarah became a full-time writer seven years ago after writing her PhD thesis on gay and lesbian literature. Now she and her two cats are saying goodbye to the rented Brixton flat they have shared.
Best-selling novelist Isabel Wolff is to let her three-bedroom Georgian terraced house in Islington for ÂŁ600 a week through Holden Matthews. The reason? "I'm moving to Notting Hill to live with my partner Greg, who is a QC," says Isabel, who is expecting a baby later this year. "My new house is great for the summer as there's a patio and conservatory, plus a large kitchen/diner for entertaining." Isabel's fifth romantic comedy, Behaving Badly, will be published this August.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/5137213?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 04, 2003.

Help float our boat

Help float our boat
Jun 3 2003
South London Press
FEARLESS surfers planning a risky dash from Cuba to Florida have have run into rocky waters - they can't find sponsorship.
South Londoner Monty Young hopes to raise thousands for charity as he and three mates cross shark-infested depths on 16ft paddle boards.
Flights are booked, boards are waxed and TV crews from Transworld Sport are on standby.
But Team Cuba faces a dilemma just weeks before they set out because they can't find the funding.
Kind-hearted pals and partners have already pledged thousands of pounds to Cancer Research UK if the surfers make the 90-mile dash across the Florida Straits.
Monty, 34, from Kennington Lane, said: "It's so disappointing - no one's interested.
"We've contacted so many companies with a surf connection but they don't seem to want to know.
"We need about Ł10,000. I mean, it's in aid of a good cause after all!"
Monty, who works for a security company, says firms abroad have been a lot more forthcoming.
Specialist technicians in Australia have designed unique sonic anti-shark devices, created specifically for Team Cuba's crossing in July.
For months the hardened surfers - Monty, Jason DeGroot, 36, David Smart, 36, and Jimmy McKenzie, 35 - have been building up their strength by training on the Thames.
Monty said: "We're fit and ready to go. We've got most of the equipment sorted, we've got our airfares, but we need to fund a boat to travel with us, which costs between $5,000 and $8,000.
"Then we want to fund a film crew too.
"Obviously we're not going to dip into the charity cash we've raised, so we're going to have to stump up most of it ourselves."
Monty says Team Cuba has even offered to make similar trips in Britain to raise the profile and attract sponsorship.
"We'll paddle almost anywhere if people will back us. How about the length of the Thames?"
If you can help Team Cuba, call 020-7582 8446 or Emma Carlisle at Cancer Research UK on 020-7061 8556.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 04, 2003.

Childcare

Begin here
Fathers have their day - and their say
Tuesday June 3, 2003
The Guardian
Tucked away in the concrete setting of a former rent office on two lower floors of a soaring council block in Kennington, south London, is Hurley pre-school, a voluntary community group which caters predominantly for the toddlers who live in what is officially classed as a deprived neighbourhood.
Around a third of the youngsters currently attending the nursery are from refugee families, while its intake also reflects the fact that this area has the largest Colombian population anywhere in the world outside Colombia. The majority of parents are on benefits, and many of those who are in poorly-paid jobs are battling to get their entitlement through the troubled working families tax credit scheme.
The nursery - open virtually all year round to help working parents - also welcomes parent volunteers, providing a much-needed sanctuary for single parents and others whose personal lives are steeped in poverty and personal trauma. Clearly, it provides more than just childcare.
Just blocks away from the grim council housing are the leafy squares of smart Georgian houses popular with MPs because of their proximity to Westminster. Hurley has become a very popular, over-subscribed setting which is greatly in demand from middle-class families, too, because of a lack of similar facilities in the area. The nursery has a maximum capacity of 36 children per session and currently has a waiting list of 14 children over the age of two and a half and 14 over the age of three.
The pre-school is clearly successful, well-run and popular, yet is struggling to survive in the face of a tangle of complex national and local funding and bureaucracy.
Today, as the youngsters squeal excitedly at the antics of the Paper Dragon theatre company (one of a number of similar projects funded by the Regional London Lottery to the tune of Ł18,000 a year), pre-school leader, Rosemary Phillips, is trying to balance her books.
The group receives funding through nursery vouchers for three- and four-year-olds, a small education grant from Lambeth council and some help through the relatively new local Sure Start scheme. But last year the voucher cash came to Ł48,000, compared to the annual running costs of Ł160,000. The difference has to be made up from fundraising - which is done on an impressive scale, given the regularity of demands for more cash and the challenges of raising it from the poor area the nursery serves.
For example, Jennifer Hayes, the group's main fundraiser, has just raised Ł27,000 for a new playground - much-needed, given that many of the youngsters have no outdoor play space at home. Water coolers and free fruit are funded by Sure Start, while IBM computers, through its Kid Smart scheme, commit the group to an ongoing research programme into the link between the early use of computers and educational attainment.
Upstairs, the ball pond was provided and fitted free of charge by a local dad, and even the pet rabbit, Mr Fuzzy, was donated by the US navy after September 11. He has become a celebrity in his own right and apparently his photograph hangs in pride of place in the American embassy.
But financial considerations are a constant worry. Phillips admits that this month she might have to use some of the Ł27,000 set aside for the playground to meet staff costs (there are eight permanent members of staff and assorted helpers and volunteers). So many parents have been unable to afford their fees because of problems accessing their entitlement under the working families tax credit, that she has let them run into arrears.
She has also recently had her application for extra Sure Start funding (to maximise space by installing an extra floor) turned down, despite the ongoing pressure on her to provide more places. Sure Start recently withdrew its earlier offer to fund the group's two-and-a-half-year-olds. And on top of that, she is trying to negotiate an extension of the current lease - for which Lambeth Housing is demanding Ł30,000 - without which the nursery will be unable to stay in its current premises. "If we don't resolve that we'll either have to squat or fold," she says.
So this week, as the government launches a drive to highlight the achievements to date of its flagship Sure Start policy, Phillips will be lobbying local MPs to help her extend her lease. She is no stranger to SW1, having bashed Tony Blair's ear about funding at a Downing Street reception. But she remains deeply concerned about the red tape and financial constraints which stand in her way. Sure Start, for example, is concentrated on the wards which are, according to the official government index, ranked as the 20% most deprived. In fact, the ward which houses Hurley ranks 41.22 out of 100 on the national index of deprivation, which is nowhere near the 20% benchmark, but still has pockets of deep deprivation.
What Phillips would like more than anything else is core funding - from either local or national government - to pay her running costs, so that the group is no longer funtioning on a "hand to mouth" basis.
There are too many anomalies in the system, she points out, which affect users as well as providers: "Why have a universal voucher system for three- and four-year-olds, when there are clearly many better-off families who simply don't need that money?" she asks. "We have parents here who are on the bread line, and can't even get the voucher money because their child was born before the payment date. That is so unfair. The working families tax credit system may have been a good idea, but the parents here are going through hell trying to get what they are entitled to. It is unnecessary and degrading. The whole thing has been a fiasco and the parents have had the rug pulled from under their feet."
As well as being a flagship government scheme, Sure Start is clearly a priority for education secretary Charles Clarke. When newly appointed last October, he singled out Sure Start (which is alive and kicking in his Norwich constituency) as a scheme ripe for further expansion.
This month, the government's early years strategy will be under the spotlight with the launch of the first ever national Sure Start month. Designed to be a celebration of the scheme so far around the country, it kicked off yesterday with a teddy bears' picnic in London's Regents Park, attended by early years minister Baroness (Cathy) Ashton.
A series of further themed events will help to highlight various childcare choices and the challenges they face. On Thursday, Clarke will address the annual conference of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, the umbrella group representing nearly 16,000 pre-school groups, of which Hurley is a member.
And as part of National Sure Start month, Pre-school Playweek 2003 will take place next week with activities across the country, including the opening of the Pre-School Learning Alliance's first Neighbourhood Nursery in Lewisham, south-east London, which will be attended by Baroness Ashton.
This week is also designated national day nurseries week, highlighting the fact that nurseries are now the fastest growing small business sector in the UK, caring for an estimated 500,000 under-fives.
And in the run-up to Father's Day on June 15, the Daycare Trust will highlight the role of men in childcare (see panel below).
Margaret Lochrie, chief executive of the Pre-School Learning Alliance, believes the government deserves credit for its achievements to date, but also has clear ideas about the next steps forward: "I think Estelle Morris was very focused on school improvement and I welcome Charles's broader vision," she says.
What is not in dispute is that tremendous progress has been made by the government, she points out.
Labour was the first government to introduce a National Childcare Strategy in England - there was no strategy at all before 1997. Since then, it has created new childcare places benefiting 1.1 million children, guaranteed free nursery education for all four-year-olds, and an increasing number of three-year-olds, and set up more than 400 local Sure Start programmes to support families.
The theme of Lochrie's organisation's annual conference this week will be the next phase of the charity's two-year campaign "changing lives changing life", which has at its core a Charter for Parents and the Early Years. This aims to address the current shortage of childcare places in all parts of the country. Its next phase will include an inquiry into children who miss out on childcare because they live in pockets of deprivation.
Which brings us back to Kennington. "A third of under-fours are living in poverty. We would like to see some sort of entitlement to ensure that all children in that category get an automatic right to childcare," Lochrie says.
And her key message to the education secretary is the importance of getting parents involved in childcare. The Netherlands recently brought in legislation to give parents a role in the shaping of policy, she points out. Now there's a thought.
A series of famous fathers will give their views on men as childcarers and their own experience as "active dads" as the special focus of the Daycare Trust's national childcare week next week (June 9-15).
In the run-up to Father's Day on June 15, the trust will explore men's roles both working in childcare and as active fathers getting involved in making decisions about their own childcare. It will also publish the results of a MORI survey into public attitudes towards men as childcare workers.
"Famous" dads will include many well-known faces from our TV screens as well as others less in the public eye. Among them are chief inspector of schools and head of the Office for Standards in Education, David Bell; newscaster Jeremy Bowen; public relations consultant Max Clifford; union chief Bob Crow (general secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union); TV chefs Ainsley Harriot and Antony Worrall Thompson and Changing Rooms interior designer Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.
Stephen Burke, director of the Daycare Trust, said: "Childcare is the second most female-dominated occupation in this country. The gov ernment has set a target of increasing the percentage of men in the workforce from 2% to 6% by 2004. Despite a vigorous recruitment campaign, it seems unlikely that this target will be met. But why more men are needed in childcare goes far beyond targets to fundamental questions about gender in our society, tackling stereotypes and promoting positive male role models. During National Childcare Week we will be looking at why we need more men in childcare, what is stopping men from caring for children as a job and how men could be encouraged to work in childcare."
· Further information on regional activities to celebrate national Sure Start month, see: www.nationalsurestartmonth.com www.nationalsurestartmonth www.pre-school.org.uk www.daycaretrust.org.uk
EducationGuardian.co.uk © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 03, 2003.

New South London website

Greenwich University and a number of local councils have launched a wonderful new website with lots of old photos etc. of South London through the ages - including numerous images of the Kennington/Vauxhall area.
http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/
http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lambeth/index.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 03, 2003.

Review: The Rule of Freedom: Liberalism and the modern city by Patrick Joyce

Independent
Book Review
The Rule of Freedom: Liberalism and the modern city by Patrick Joyce
Order and anarchy in the republic of the streets
By Ken Worpole
29 May 2003
An old notice has been reinstated in our local park, detailing 47 council by-laws about unacceptable activities. These include spitting and swearing, the riding of horses or other beasts of burden, the sorting of rags and mending of chairs, the taking off or landing of balloons and aircraft, and countless other transgressions anticipated in exquisite detail.
It is easy to forget how the licensing of human behaviour was once a central part of public administration. This is one of the principal themes of Patrick Joyce's intriguing book. Despite the jargon, it is worth persevering with because the material itself is so rich, thoughtfully ordered and fascinating.
The 19th-century city was surveyed in extraordinary detail, from the commissioning of street maps and studies of population flows to the design of public toilets, from the regulation of slaughterhouses and the layout of parks to the architecture of free libraries.
With this increasing regulation of the public domain came associated pressures for individuation, whether in the form of a postal service which delivered letters to one's home, or in the triumph of the single WC. A significant part of this story is how rationality met scatology and won. All this was done in the name of good government, but beneath the urge to uplift was the urge to control.
The author is described as a chief exponent of postmodernist history, and a Foucauldian - which is to say that he does the police in different voices. He also has multiple ways of seeing: within 20 pages, we are treated to the medical gaze, the spatial gaze, the cartographic gaze, the masculine gaze and the feminised gaze. We are not, however, treated to the Chartist gaze, or the story of how these bureaucratising processes were at times contested.
Joyce is attentive to how the various strands of Benthamite utilitarianism got mixed up with the ideas of JS Mill on fair government, and how towards the end of the 19th century a quasi-religious "civic gospel" emerged as a new Third Way. (He may be wrong about how much the planning of Chicago owes to rationalism, since recent evidence suggests that Burnham modelled it on Swedenborg's "Heavenly City").
Towards the end the story lightens up as the 19th-century crowd reasserts some of its old wilfulness, whether in the proliferation of pub parlours for sing-songs, in the street market, or the banter of the bus and tram. Joyce's material on urban walking and omnibus rituals is fascinating. Ever-present is the argument that the rule of freedom developed in the formidable regulation of the city, and that this new kind of urban freedom and character-formation was itself a form of control.
The interplay of freedom with regulation still preoccupies urbanists, given that the city has always been a place where conflicting freedoms clash and have to be negotiated. We are told the story of a journalist who during his daily walk from Kennington to Fleet Street was able to read a newspaper in its entirety, so disciplined was the flow of the pedestrian crowd. But then, as one 19th-century savant said, "Your only true republic is a crowded street".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 31, 2003.

Campaign for Honest Food

South London Press
Letters
Local food is simply the best
May 30 2003
IF YOUR local pub serves local produce, then now is your chance to reward it!
The Countryside Alliance's Campaign for Honest Food has launched Local to Locals, a competition to celebrate local produce and encourage pub visitors to take more interest in the food they eat.
Visitors are asked to find out how much local produce is served and, if they are satisfied the pub is supporting local producers, can nominate the pub for an award. An over-all winner will be announced later in the summer and a winner will also be picked for each region of the UK.
The competition, which was first run in 2001, seeks to promote and support local producers and suppliers through raising awareness of the benefits of seasonal and local produce. It is only consumers, either directly or through the pubs they eat and drink at, who can keep the food producers of this country in business.
We need to show the Government that there is a great demand for locally produced food in this country and that British really is best. Nomination cards are now available from the Countryside Alliance at the address below, or at www.countryside-alliance.org/honestfood/
Helen Szamuely
Director
Countryside Alliance
Campaign for Honest Food
Kennington Road
Kennington
London SE11 4PT

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 31, 2003.

Human poo in park outrage

Human poo in park outrage
May 30 2003
South London Press
IT IS usually park users who complain about dog walkers causing a mess.
But in a bizarre role-reversal in Kennington Park, a dog walker is fed up with HUMANS pooing everywhere.
Trevor Quick, who walks his two West Highland terriers, thinks it is such a problem that he has complained to Lambeth council.
He said: "They are coming into the dog area, pulling their pants down and defaecating.
"When we confront them, they get violent towards us. They say, 'if your dog can defaecate, so can we'.
"I have been face to face with many people. Dog walking is supposed to be relaxing but all I end up doing is arguing with people.
"I cannot take photographs because photographing people defaecating is of an explicit nature. It is absolutely horrific but they are so confrontational when you tell them to go away."
He claims the problem has even led to him making a shocking discovery. "Dogs cannot distinguish," he said. "When I cannot see my dog, I find it in the bushes, eating human faeces.
"I want signs in the dog area saying there are toilets open and an arrow."
A Lambeth council spokeswoman said: "We are doing everything we can to address the issue.
"This includes reopening the public toilets over the next four weeks.
"If there has been a problem of people defaecating in the park, then the reopening should help address that."
What do you think about people using parks as loos?
Text: 07766 725 997
(cost is your standard network rate)
Email: newsdesk@slp.co.uk Write: 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2AT
(Please include your full name, address and phone number)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 30, 2003.

Property

Times
May 30, 2003
Market Analysis
For what it's worth
by Claire McDonald
First-time buyers may have to downsize their dreams and overlook the Artex - but don't be put off
SEVERAL YEARS AGO my friends and I discussed buying properties. I counselled against, saying we were young and a property was a millstone round your neck. I told them a mortgage would put paid to those urges to up sticks and leave the country in search of your inner self, man. Fortunately for them, they totally ignored my advice and have ended up with properties that have almost tripled in value. I, on the other hand, upped sticks, travelled the world, found my inner self, decided my outer self was much nicer, came home and got a job on a property supplement.
Smug friends and hindsight are irritating things, but they spurred me on and last year I bought my own place. Prices in Central London meant I had few choices as a first-time buyer, but after five years in rented accommodation my priority was just to find somewhere I could call home.
I knew I would have to downsize my aspirations and relegate my list of requirements (high ceilings, nice bathroom, a wistaria-clad balcony with river views) to the part of my brain marked “dreams”. Instead I was looking for “potential”, that elusive quality that comes cheap but costs dear in the elbow grease department.
I cashed in my premium bonds, chucked in the money I found down the back of the sofa and began to look at ex-local authority properties in South London. There I found many flats with potential: potential danger. As I rejoiced in the cool “urban brutalism” architecture of one estate, my refreshingly honest estate agent pointed out how this was augmented by a bullet hole through the glass in the communal area.
Another time my raptures at being so close to local amenities were punctured slightly when he pointed out that not only could I get milk and bread from the local Londis, but that the chap standing by the lifts would no doubt be happy to ensure I was supplied with the exotic narcotics so popular locally.
It was then I realised that areas with potential are tricky to spot and safety is more important. I narrowed my search to Kennington and Oval because they are central, relatively crime-free and have great transport links.
Here I found the home of my dreams: a ground-floor maisonette with two double bedrooms, a kitchen big enough to eat in, outside space, situated on a residential street between two main roads. It was on a tiny council estate surrounded by attractive Victorian townhouses and only six minutes’ walk from Oval Tube. And, best of all, it was Ł20,000 less than the Ł160,000 I had been prepared to pay.
OK, it was a bit dark and dingy, the pine-clad bathroom and the grease-stained navy blue carpet had to go, but the lounge had beautiful parquet flooring and the back of the house caught the sun all day. It had potential. The thing is, I was so busy looking at potential I missed the Artex.
How I didn’t notice those white peaks, which can draw blood and cover the downstairs and upstairs hall, 20ft stairwell drop and living-room ceiling, is beyond me.
This little oversight has resulted in me spending more than 50 hours scraping the damn stuff. It has taken over my life. I dream about scraping, have RSI from scraping, cancelled my social life to scrape and still I am only halfway through. I talk about little else, which meant that when I suggested having a wallpaper scraping party my friends politely declined.
There are other things that I missed in my eagerness to buy. My outdoor space is a ground-floor balcony, which is OK, but not ideal for private sunbathing because it is overlooked by all the neighbouring flats. A friend who has since bought the flat upstairs has a balcony on the second floor and enjoys almost permanent sunshine (weather permitting) and a view over school fields and terraced houses, of which I am very jealous.
Another thing: the lavatory isn’t in the upstairs bathroom, as might be expected, but in a tiny room next to the front door. This is a pain if you want to go during the night, and guests feel slightly uneasy using it because it is just feet away from the living area.
So, with the benefit of hindsight, was I right to overlook the Artex and buy a property with “potential”? The answer has to be “yes”. Gradually I am turning the flat into the home I have always wanted and am no longer lining a landlord’s pocket with my monthly rent.
Of course, if I had taken my friends’ advice and firmly fastened that property millstone round my neck five years ago, me and Artex may never have become acquainted, and the muscles in my right arm would be more normally proportioned.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 30, 2003.

Summer Heritage Walks

Lambeth Local History Forum
Spring & Summer
Heritage Walks
in
South London
May - October
2003
These walks are organised by member organisations of the Lambeth Local History Forum which promotes an interest in the Heritage of Lambeth.
The walks are mostly free, but voluntary donations are always welcome. They usually last about two hours. Details may be subject to change through circumstances beyond our control.
Here are just a few of the many walks across the borough.
JUNE
1st Sunday
Old Lambeth
2.30pm
Meet: Opposite Lambeth North station, on the corner of Kennington Road and Westminster Bridge Road. Led by Alan Pipier
Lambethans Society
12th Thursday
Statues and Monuments
6.45pm
Meet: Morley College, Westminster Bridge Road. Led by Brian Bloice
Morley College Fee Ł 6
JULY
3rd Thursday
In the Footsteps of Charlie Chaplin
6.45pm
Meet: Morley College. Led by Tony Merrick
Morley College Fee Ł 6
12th Saturday
North Lambeth & Charlie Chaplin
Meet: Lambeth Palace main gate, by Lambeth Bridge. Led by Tony Merrick
Vauxhall Society
AUGUST
9th Saturday
The Duchy of Cornwall Estate, Kennington
Meet: outside St Anselm's Church, Kennington Cross. Led by Nicholas Long
Vauxhall Society
For further details contact: Lambeth Archives Department, Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, SE5 9QY Tel: 020 7926 6076 or compiler Brian Bloice at weekends - tel: 020 8764 8314

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 26, 2003.

Gilberto fights for homeless

Times
May 26, 2003
The player
Gilberto fights for homeless
By Gary Jacob
AMONG THE END-OF-SEASON football tours taking place at present, few can be as empowering as the one that will leave London destined for Brazil on Wednesday. A representative team of 17 homeless players, most of whom have never been abroad, will embark on an 18-day tour of the South American nation’s shanty towns. They will spend a weekend with Gilberto Silva, the Arsenal player, play a match at the Maracana, and against teams from the favelas (shanty towns) of Rio de Janeiro and Săo Paulo. The venture is being organised by Street League, a scheme for the homeless, refugees and asylum-seekers. The project combines football with courses to help the homeless to receive education, training and employment. Five of the players will be representing England in the first World Cup for the homeless, in Graz, Austria, in July. Eighteen teams, including Brazil and Scotland, are expected to contest the four-a-side tournament.
Gilberto, the Brazil midfield player, experienced poverty as a child and learnt to play football on the streets of Lagoa da Prata in the state of Minas Gerais. At 16, he gave up football for three years to work in a sweet factory and a quarry to help to support his family. The World Cup winner devoted nearly three hours to a training session for homeless players on an artificial pitch in Kennington Park, South London, less than 48 hours before the FA Cup Final. He also sang a Samba song and played the mandolin for them.
“I feel I’ve an opportunity to help them, and that’s very important,” Gilberto said. “I understand what they are going through, though I was not exactly like them. I feel good when I can help them. Maybe they think to themselves: ‘In future I can be like him’.
Gilberto is sponsoring part of the tour. At his expense, the players will spend the weekend of June 7 in his home town, playing local sides, sightseeing and enjoying barbecues. “I think it will be the first time that any club from abroad has gone to my home town,” he said. “I am hoping 5,000 people will come and watch.”
Varig, the Brazilian airline, donated the air tickets last year and Bluefin, a marketing company, and Nike offered sponsorship.
Since its inception two years ago, Street League now boasts 30 teams in London and 16 teams in Leicester. A league of 12 teams began in Glasgow two months ago and there are plans to extend the scheme to Birmingham, Manchester and Newcastle. Some players have been invited for trials at professional clubs and others have earned refereeing certificates.
The five-a-side league was the idea of Damien Hatton, a former rugby player who specialised in tropical medicine at University College Hospital, London, and Colin Watson, a former serviceman who was sleeping rough behind the Ministry of Defence in the Strand until two years ago. It has attracted a Ł500,000 grant from the Football Foundation, a body that receives 5 per cent of the FA Premier League’s broadcasting revenue, and Ł170,000 from Sport England.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 26, 2003.

Housing

Lambeth
Date 14 May 2003
Ref: 1580
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Lambeth takes first step towards partial stock transfer
Lambeth council has taken the first step towards implementing three separate partial housing stock transfers. The borough has written to the government registering Lambeth's interest in transfers involving the Stockwell Park, Clapham Park and Kennington Park estates.
These changes would affect a total of 3397 tenants and 801 leaseholders. The proposals have attracted strong resident support and involvement on all three estates.
If the government accepts the council's request, all developments would be subject to even more intensive tenant consultation and participation.
"All moves towards partial transfers are governed by our twin priorities, " said Councillor Keith Fitchett, Lambeth council executive member for housing. "The first is to increase the quality of housing, whenever possible making more affordable homes available.
"We are also determined to strengthen the control of local communities over their homes and their environment. Our survey of our housing stock suggests that we have an investment gap of over Ł112 million between now and 2010 with the worst 10% of homes carrying 20% of the disrepair.
"The transfer programme could prove vital in underpinning our strategy for bringing all Lambeth homes up to the decency standard, " he declared.
If the government approves the proposals, the next step will be even wider resident consultation before residents' ballot. This process would include employing tenants' friend to provide independent advice.
A yes vote would be needed before the transfers could proceed. If the yes vote were achieved, Lambeth would then be required to work with the transfer landlord and residents to develop a transfer programme. All transfers must be completed by December 2004.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 22, 2003.

Snapshot of city life in 1753

21/05/03 - Art section
Snapshot of city life in 1753
By Luke Leitch, Arts Reporter
Evening Standard
The Thames is teeming with raw sewage, gangs of pickpockets bludgeon their victims in daylight and the average Londoner drinks two pints of gin a week.
That was the capital 250 years ago, when the British Museum first opened its doors.
As part of its anniversary celebrations the museum will from Friday hold a free exhibition providing a fascinating snapshot of London in 1753. It will introduce 21st century Londoners to a time when the streets were crowded with animals as well as people; when Mayfair was dotted with lavish houses surrounded by fields, south London hardly existed at all, and Camberwell, Kennington, Belsize Park and Camden were hamlets surrounded by market gardens.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/entertainment/art/articles/4932931?version=1
©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 22, 2003.

Fame & Fortune: Jonathan Aitken

Times
May 18, 2003
Fame & Fortune: Shamed MP made Ł5.60 a week in jail
Jonathan Aitken says he learnt more about money as a prison toilet cleaner than he did as a millionaire banker. By Natalie Graham
JONATHAN AITKEN, 60, is best known as the Tory MP who lied on oath in a libel action. He pleaded guilty to charges of perjury and served an l8-month prison sentence. He then spent two years studying theology at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. He now speaks and writes on the Christian faith.
In the 1960s, Aitken was a journalist and worked as a war correspondent in Vietnam, Biafra and the Middle East. He then went into business and became chairman of a merchant bank in the City of London.
In l974 he was elected Conservative MP for Thanet, spending l8 years on the back benches until his appointment as defence minister in l992. He joined the cabinet as chief secretary to the Treasury in l994.
He is the author of six books, including Nixon: a Life (l993), which won the International Churchill Society prize for political biography. Aitken is now working on the biography of Charles Colson, the American prison reformer and Christian leader.
Aitken is divorced from his first wife, Lolicia. Next month he will marry Elizabeth Harris, a travel consultant who was formerly married to Richard Harris, the late actor.
He has four children — twins Alexandra and Victoria, 23, Petrina, 22, and William, 20. He lives in Kennington, south London.
How much money do you have in your wallet?
I don’t actually have a wallet. In my pocket I have about Ł40. I have just spent some of it on two Cokes and a sandwich lunch for me and my mother. She is 92 and lives nearby. The rest of my petty cash will last me for three to four days, with the congestion charge taking up half of it.
Do you have any credit cards?
No — that’s a legacy of having been declared bankrupt in l999, though my bankruptcy was annulled in December 2001.
My bankruptcy was a very unusual and rather hysterical one. I only had two creditors: one was a newspaper, the other a television company. When the bankruptcy was annulled I was left with nothing. For a long time I had no bank account, but you are allowed to earn Ł300 to Ł400 a week as a bankrupt’s living allowance.
I was able to save some of the allowance, so by the time of the annulment I had about Ł2,000.
Are you a saver or spender?
I used to be a fairly flamboyant sort of person. In financial matters I was never reckless, but I did have an expensive lifestyle.
I had no outrageous extravagances except for entertaining friends at dinner parties and paying school fees. All that seems a long time ago.
During the years I was bankrupt it was difficult to live on just Ł300 to Ł400 a week, but it was not stressful.
The reason for this lack of financial stress was that I spent two years studying at Wycliffe Hall, a Church of England theology college. It is about the only environment where someone with an income of Ł15,000 or so a year is richer than most of his contemporaries.
I earned my living by freelance writing, lecturing and broadcasting.
How much did you earn last year?
For most of last year I was still a student at Oxford. My earnings were below Ł20,000. This year I hope to earn more, depending on my book contracts and after-dinner speaking engagements.
Have you ever been really hard up?
I was hard up during my two and a half years of bankruptcy. I had no home, just a college room in Oxford, and I used to stay with my sister when I was in London.
For seven months of that time I was in prison. I was the prison lavatory cleaner for wages of Ł5.60 a week, but almost every week I used to get a bonus of Ł1 for doing a good job. I spent that money extremely carefully. My great luxuries were miniature pots of Marmite and packet soups from the prison canteen.
The financial point about prison was that I learnt how to budget down to the last 2p, which made a change from my spending habits in the days when I was chairman of a City merchant bank.
What is the most lucrative work you have done? Did you use the fee for something special?
I suppose being a merchant banker in my thirties and early forties, though my income bore no relation to salaries today. Adding up all my earnings, maybe it was Ł100,000 a year, but in the early 1970s that was big money, before the City paid telephone-number salaries.
A lot went on school fees, but I also bought an eight-bedroom house in Westminster, with a small mortgage.
Do you own a property?
No. I live in a small basement flat in my sister’s house in Kennington. I will move to Fulham after I get married.
Do you invest in shares?
I used to be an active investor. I was chairman of Aitken Hume, a merchant bank in the City of London. It had banking and fund-management licences and at its peak managed six or seven billion pounds.
We employed 40 or 50 fund managers, so you heard a lot of inside analysts’ reports and market views.
I would talk to the best fund managers, then make my own investment decisions.
Do you have a pension, or other retirement plan?
Yes, I have a pension that I started in my early 30s. I also contributed to an MP’s pension for 23 years.
My parliamentary scheme has just started to pay out. After tax I get Ł1,600 a month.
I will receive my occupational pension at 65.
Do you believe pensions are a good thing?
Yes I do. I think everyone should try to provide for their old age. Until recently pensions seem to have been managed very prudently by pension fund managers, but obviously there are problems now.
What has been your worst investment?
The libel case i l999, which cost me, in round figures, roughly Ł4m.
With hindsight I should never have started it. I took myself too seriously and told a foolish lie.
And your best?
Before my bankruptcy my best investment was my home in Lord North Street, Westminster, which cost me Ł225,000 in l980. My bankruptcy trustee sold it for Ł2.5m.
Do you manage your own financial affairs?
Yes, but they consist of me just putting money into the bank and taking it out.
What aspect of our taxation system would you change?
I would do more to encourage the institution of marriage and the family. I also think the 40% top rate of tax starts much too low down, at about Ł30,000.
It should hit people earning Ł50,000 a year, not middle-income earners.
What is your financial priority?
Balancing my personal budget, by getting my income to equal my expenditure.
Do you have a money weakness?
I like dining out more than I can afford. I have quite simple tastes in food and would be happy eating breakfast three times a day. Sausages and mash or fishcakes are among my favourite dishes.
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever bought?
When I was 23 I bought a turquoise MGC sports car, which cost about Ł2,000. I was just back from reporting in Vietnam and had earned some bonus money, so I wanted to splash out on a new and very high-powered car.
Do you play the lottery? What if you won?
I do from time to time, though not in any systematic way. If I had Ł2m at my disposal I would give most of it away, some of it to charities and some to my children. The remainder I would use to give myself a better pension.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?
I don’t think possessions are important, and travelling light is not only the cheapest but the happiest way of living. I can honestly say that having had a luxury lifestyle followed by a frugal one, I have been more contented living the frugal life, though I still enjoy the odd flash of luxury. Even in my high-income days I was more interested in politics and writing books. Now I have a low income by businessmen’s standards but I am spiritually and personally very happy. So life has given me a good deal.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 18, 2003.

Drugs raid on temple

BBC News
Drugs raid on temple
Fifteen people have been arrested during a drugs raid on a Rastafarian temple in south London.
About 180 police officers raided the temple and Ethiopian World Federation in Kennington on Wednesday afternoon.
Scotland Yard said drug dealers had been operating out of the premises and intimidating regular worshippers.
It said the raids followed a long investigation into what it claimed was large scale drug dealing involving a significant number of dealers.
Published: 2003/05/15 06:39:35 GMT

-- Cathy (cathyvprece@aol.com), May 15, 2003.

Rasta drugs raid

Times
May 15, 2003
News in Brief
Rasta drugs raid
About 180 police officers raided a Rastafarian temple in Kennington, South London, which had been taken over by drug dealers. Police chiefs said that aggressive drug dealing at the temple and the Ethiopian World Federation building caused the raid in which 3kg of cannabis was seized and 37 people arrested.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 15, 2003.

Squatters

'Sq-what' a waste of time
May 9 2003
By Robert Dex
South London Press
SQUATTERS are still living in six huge Ł500,000 houses three months after a council vowed to get rid of them.
The three-storey, five-bedroom homes in Brook Drive, Kennington, were due to be refurbished by Southwark council to house large families.
But squatters took over the properties in February and have been making themselves at home ever since.
Adrian Taylor lives near the squats and says the council has not done enough to get rid of the uninvited visitors.
He said: "We got a newsletter through our door a while back telling us there was a housing shortage in Southwark - well we've got six houses in this street at least.
"There was a screaming match in the middle of the road last Sunday at 1am.
"And we've had people being brought home by the police some nights.
"People living in this street have kids at home and they don't need to be woken up by this noise. We even have bongo players going on at all hours."
The houses were originally boarded up last April when the council evicted a different group of squatters.
The homes then sat empty until a new group took them over.
A council spokeswoman said legal action was under way.
She added: "We wanted to start work on June 2.
"We actually went to court last Monday and we are just waiting for the final exclusion notice from our legal department."
What do YOU think about the time it's taking to evict the squatters?
Email us at: newsdesk@slp.co.uk or write to us at: 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PD
* Give your full name, address and telephone number

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 11, 2003.

Situation vacant

Reintegration Assistant
For further information please refer to the advert
Released: 7 May, 2003 01:44
Filesize: 15kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/019521.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 09, 2003.

Lambeth Police and the LGBT Community

Lambeth Police and the LGBT Community
Leaflet giving guidance for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community on reporting homophobic attacks including details of referral organisations.
Released: 8 May, 2003 12:08
Filesize: 159kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/newsletter/019535.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 09, 2003.

Adult Learners' Week

07/05/03 - Life & style section
6 new skills to try
By Libby Norman
Evening Standard
If Adult Learners' Week inspires you to have a go at something new, here's a week's worth of free events around the capital.
* JUGGLING AND MORE PARTNERS IN LEARNING
Free taster sessions in impressive party tricks, including juggling and portrait drawing, plus advice on careers and learning opportunities. Promenade Level, Canary Wharf, E14 (020-7332 3130). Sat 17 May, 10.30am-5.30pm.
* PRINTING AND WEBSITE DESIGN
A five-day festival of free demos and one-on-one tuition in website design and printing techniques. London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, W10, call 020-8969 3247 to reserve a place. Sat 10 & Tues 13-Fri 16 May, 10.30am & 2pm.
* THEATRE AND GREEK
Morley College has a big programme of free courses, and its 'Urban Theatre' introductory course is one of the highlights. If that doesn't suit you, how about learning to speak Greek? Most courses are around Kennington and Westminster. Call 020-7928 8501 for more information.
* STONE CARVING AND MOSAICS
Arts Express, a new arts centre in Kennington, is offering free workshops in stone carving and mosaicmaking - Arts Express, 17 Iliffe Yard, Crampton Street, SE1 (020-7635 6709). Sat 10 May, 1.30pm-5pm.
* JOIN THE ORCHESTRA
A chance to sing and play percussion (or any instruments you bring along). No experience is necessary, and you'll be performing alongside Philharmonia musicians, guided by animateur Tim Steiner. Chelsfield Room, Royal Festival Hall, SE1 (0800 652 6717). Wed 14 May, 10.30am-5pm.
* WRITERS' WORKSHOP
Apples And Snakes is hosting 'Finding A Voice' workshops for existing and would-be writers, including a skills session for performance poets. Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 (020-7924 3410). Fri 16 May, 6pm-9pm.
Visit www.niace.org.uk/a/w/2003/events.htm and www.bitesizelondon.com for more free courses and taster sessions.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifeandstyle/articles/4708475?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 08, 2003.

Cannabis Rally

Thousands attend cannabis rally
News Headlines: Britain
Published: 03-May-03; 18:36
ITN
Police have stood back and watched as cannabis was openly smoked at a London rally in support of the drug attended by an estimated 15-20,000 people.
Scores of dealers wandered around Brockwell Park in Brixton, south London, selling their wares openly as the pungent smell of the illegal weed hung thickly in the air.
The event was taking place as part of the International Cannabis Day of Action. Protesters in around 250 cities worldwide demonstrated against prohibitions on the possession, supply and use of the drug.
Earlier, organisers said: "Up to 10,000 people took part in an hour-long march from Kennington Park to Brockwell Park in the Lambeth borough where police have famously operated a liberal policy to the drug.
It was there that police commander Brian Paddick, who has since been removed from duties, oversaw an approach allowing police officers to ignore the street cannabis trade to free up resources to fight hard drugs.
But Scotland Yard said that police would not be turning a blind eye to drug dealing.
A spokesman said: "If a police officer comes across someone who is smoking cannabis they will be asked to stop.
"If they don't stop the police officer will take appropriate action that could include confiscating the drug.
"If someone is suspected of dealing and found with a quantity that the police officer believes to be a large enough amount, it's highly likely they will be arrested."
But one dealer at the event said he was not worried about the prospect of arrest.
The man, who gave his name as Mark and described himself as a "businessman" from the Brixton area, said: "They (police) are not worried about a little bit of gear today.
"They've seen us smoking and they hear people offering but they're cool."
Also speaking at the event Chief Inspector Graham Morris said two individuals had been arrested on suspicion of dealing and several others were being questioned for theft related offences.
"Our priority today is to protect people from robberies but we will act against dealers," he said.
By 4pm, police estimated 3,000 people were at the rally. But Shane Collins, Green Party drugs spokesman and festival licensee, said: "There's at least 15-20,000 people here. We reckon 10,000 people took part in the march."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 05, 2003.

Kennington Oval

OBSERVER: R. I. P. AMP
Financial Times
May 05, 2003
What to call the Oval now officially? The Foster's (beer) Oval became the AMP Oval in 2001 in a five-year sponsorship deal with the Australian financial services group.
Backing last year's county champions was about the only successful part of the Aussies' UK expansion and the name AMP was dumped over here last week in favour of Henderson. So will the name, and logo on the famous gasometer, change? "I'm really not sure. There are a lot of things to sort out," says a spokesman.
Henderson's Oval would sound more traditional. But not as traditional as the Kennington Oval, its name when the Duchy of Cornwall first rented it to Surrey in 1844, until corporate sponsorship dawned in 1988.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 05, 2003.

Cannabis Rally

Ah, the smell of freshly cut grass and the faint whiff of controversy
High witness: They came (those who remembered to), they marched (well, shuffled) and they smoked. Man did they smoke.
By Robin Stummer
04 May 2003
Independent
It began beside the grey block war memorial to the London Borough of Lambeth's finest, who had given their lives fighting the Kaiser, and it ended up two miles away in a big open space with thousands of new age visionaries, trance-state guitar soloists, pathologically earnest students, the occasional marauding hound off a leash, a fair slice of what used to be called Middle England, and lots – and lots – of cannabis.
If ever a short march could trace the possible trajectory of 21st-century Britain, the 2003 Cannabis March was it.
Like most organised offensives aimed at the heart of the state machine, it began as an assembly of small groups of five or six scattered throughout Kennington Park, small knots of denim and leather arranged in earnest, inward-facing circles. They could have been revolutionaries talking quietly of freedom. A longer look, however, exposed the particular variety of freedom on offer today: sick greyish blooms of smoke, and the rich, candy-floss smell of grass. Grey skies, strong wind, rain in the air – another traditional English party had begun.
But not everyone there matched the stereotyped image of the modern soft-drug user. "I used to live round here until 20 years ago. I heard about the march and came along," said Charles Kell, 82, a retired electrician from Surrey. "It's really nice that these people have turned out. It's a bit of life. Nowadays, most British people can't even be bothered to turn out and vote, which is why it's so good to see these people here. It used to be like this round here when I was young. People used to talk to each other. Now it's dead."
Though he wouldn't admit to having actually smoked the weed himself, Mr Kell is adamant that full legalisation should happen soon. "Legalise it? Yes – but then the Government will probably do that one day. But of course they'd probably tax it, and how many of these people here would like it so much then?"
The complexities of future taxation policy didn't seem to be on the minds of most of the marchers. Spearheaded by the formidable elite shock troops of the University of East London's English folk heritage fanatics – resplendent in woodland green and papier-mâché oak and vine leaves – the march for dope began to shamble its way in the general direction of Brixton, some two miles away.
The inevitable slackening in pace and tendency to slow to a smiling standstill was countered by the pulsating rhythm of the drums of a London samba troupe. Without them, the march would possibly have faltered at the first zebra crossing. Half a mile or so along the Brixton Road the placards started to droop lazily. "Legalise today", "Get high tonight" and "Which Bush killed – George or ganja?" bobbed in and out of sight.
The throng rapidly grew from a few hundred to a respectable 2,000 – speeding up, slowing down, stopping to roll just another one or open another Bacardi Breezer, but always to the beat of downtown Rio. Beaming from behind an impressive four-incher, Ben, 24, a builder from Hertfordshire, was extra happy. "It's my birthday. This march happens every year on my birthday. Brilliant! My first spliff was at school when I was 13. No harm, no problem. Being a builder, I spend a lot of my days at the bottom of holes. Cannabis makes any boring work more bearable."
By now, much of Brixton knew that the parade had hit town. Many of the locals came out to watch in the only way that seemed appropriate. Mark, a Jamaican Brixtonian, plonked himself on a garden wall to watch the walk pass. Fumbling with a small-scale replica of the local narcotic speciality – the Camberwell carrot – he greeted the liberators with all the glee of a Parisian in 1944. "I've been smoking this stuff since I was 10. I'm 54 now. No health problem!" His friend Robert was equally effusive. "Spliff a day keeps the doctor away, man. I've smoked it since I was 12, no problems, and I'm 41 now. My girl used to have asthma – no problems now. If there is trouble when someone smokes it, it's because there was a problem in that person, not with the weed."
By 2pm Brixton shopping centre was near, but the wild men of the University of East London were only just now reaching cruising velocity. Dave, 25, an anthropology student, explained how hemp was part of old English tradition. Sidling dreamily past pawnbroker and job centre, he set out his vision for a return to pastoral, folksy Britannia. "It's been here for centuries. Queen Victoria used it to relieve period pains. It has all sorts of uses. It's crazy to ban something that is so useful."
The firmness of Dave's belief was only slightly compromised by the fact that on his head was an oak glade. Hey, nonny, no. A fellow Green Man – the mythological figure of fecund pleasure – tried to shed more light, but, his face and mouth obscured behind a giant paper ivy leaf, only a grey beard could be seen to move. For the record, he said something like: "Hmmnnffffnnn, uh?"
Past the heart of Brixton central the march now had a fair proportion of the youth of Saturday afternoon. Local entrepreneurs were not slow to latch on to the passing marketplace in front of them. "Weed, sensi, skunk, weed, sensi?" For Juanita Human, 20, a visitor from Johannesburg, it was the best thing that she had seen in Britain yet. "It's a great medicine. I prefer it to alcohol, which really is dangerous. But one thing: it's much cheaper in South Africa."
And then the climax: Brockwell Park. If this is a vision of how Britons might spend their leisure time in a few years' time, Britain is going to be a strange place indeed. The prototype may be pastoral Glastonbury, but the reality is a pleasure ground set out with stalls to cater for the new tastes, and some old needs – the Seedsman Cultured Cannabis, the Advisory Service for Squatters, Port Royal Jamaican Food, Free Radical Sounds, Chicken and Chips.
"Our message is: 'Don't flunk it, Blunkett'," said organiser Jerry Ham. "There's been some progress in the law, but we now worry that we're maybe moving into a grey area, and we don't want that."
But yesterday afternoon, the only grey in sight was swirling up into the skies.
© 2003 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 04, 2003.

Cannabis Rally

Sat 3 May 2003
5:50pm (UK)
Thousands Smoke Cannabis at Pro-Drug Rally
By Duncan Begg
PA News
Police stood back and watched today as cannabis was openly smoked at a rally in support of the drug attended by an estimated 15-20,000 people.
As the sweet, pungent smell of the illegal weed hung thickly in the air, scores of dealers wandered around Brockwell Park in Brixton, south London, selling their wares openly.
The event was taking place as part of the International Cannabis Day of Action.
Protesters in around 250 cities world-wide were demonstrating against prohibitions on the possession, supply and use of the drug.
Earlier, organisers said: “Up to 10,000 people took part in an hour-long march from Kennington Park to Brockwell Park in the Lambeth borough where police have famously operated a liberal policy to the drug.
It was there that police commander Brian Paddick, who has since been removed from duties, oversaw an approach allowing police officers to ignore the street cannabis trade to free up resources to fight hard drugs.
But Scotland Yard said that police would not be turning a blind eye to drug dealing today.
A spokesman said: “If a police officer comes across someone who is smoking cannabis they will be asked to stop. If they don’t stop the police officer will take appropriate action that could include confiscating the drug.
“If someone is suspected of dealing and found with a quantity that the police officer believes to be a large enough amount, it’s highly likely they will be arrested.”
But one dealer at the event said he was not worried about the prospect of arrest.
The man, who gave his name as Mark and described himself as a “businessman” from the Brixton area, said: “They (police) are not worried about a little bit of gear today.
“They’ve seen us smoking and they hear people offering but they’re cool.”
Also speaking at the event Chief Inspector Graham Morris said two individuals had been arrested on suspicion of dealing and several others were being questioned for theft related offences.
“Our priority today is to protect people from robberies but we will act against dealers,” he said.
At 4pm today a police spokesman said there were an estimated 3,000 people at the rally and that earlier an estimated 1,500 had taken part in the march.
But Shane Collins, Green Party drugs spokesman and festival licensee, said: “There’s at least 15-20,000 people here. We reckon 10,000 people took part in the march.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 04, 2003.

Congestion charging

'Congestion charge is driving our traders away'
May 2 2003
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
South London Press
TRADERS are shutting up shop and some have seen profits plummet by up to 30 per cent since the congestion charge was introduced, it is claimed.
That is the verdict of the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum.
Celia Stothard, vice-chairman of the group, also told the London Assembly Transport Committee the Ł5-aday charge was creating rat-runs and turning a number of Kennington's roads into racetracks.
Ms Stothard was speaking at City Hall yesterday at the first of a series of meetings designed to scrutinise the controversial scheme.
Ms Stothard said traders were moving out of the area and several shops had become empty since the scheme was introduced, with traders choosing not to renew leases.
She called for Red Routes in Kennington and Vauxhall to be lifted at weekends to encourage shoppers to visit the areas. Ms Stothard also said the morning rush hour was starting earlier, at 5.30am, and new traffic lights along Kennington Road were causing jams every day.
She added: "We would like to be seen as a community, not just as a place to drive through."
Other speakers at City Hall yesterday included James Millar, representing the Federation of Small Businesses, of which there are an estimated 300,000 in London.
He told the transport committee the charge did not "distinguish between essential and non-essential traffic" and pointed out increased costs were being passed on to small businesses.
Nick Lester, director of transport and environment for the Association of London Government, said the benefits of the scheme "seemed to have materialised".
But he pointed out there were a number of 'unknowns', such as the effect on small businesses, which needed looking at in great detail.
Peter Hendy, director of Street Management, told the meeting there was no evidence at this stage to suggest there had been an increase in traffic along boundary roads.
TfL says it is too early to reach a judgment on the social and economic impacts of the scheme.
Congestion charging RANTLINE
What do you think?
0901 380 1810
25p per call

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2003.

Cannabis demo

02/05/03 - News and city section
Cannabis demo: 25,000 due
By Finian Davern
Evening Standard
Up to 25,000 cannabis smokers will take to the parks of London tomorrow in what organisers are billing as one of Britain's largest acts of mass civil disobedience.
The crowd will meet as part of the fifth annual International Cannabis March and Festival.
Drug-smoking Londoners will come out in force, along with crowds in 250 other cities worldwide, to protest against prohibitions on the possession, supply and use of the drug.
Cannabis is being reclassified as a Class C drug in Britain, which means casual users are unlikely to be arrested for possessing or using it. But it is still an offence to have or supply it, and the marchers will demand full legalisation of the drug.
The rally starts in Kennington Park from where there will be an hour-long march to Brockwell Park, Brixton, where music and speeches have been organised.
There will be stalls giving information on the drug, grow tents offering "horticultural and gardening tips" and a kids' play area for parents to leave children during the seven-hour sit in.
"We are doing this with the full co-operation of Lambeth police and the local council," said march organiser Jerry Ham. "But what we will see on Saturday, and what we have done in previous years, is actually the biggest single act of civil disobedience in this country."
"We respect that these people are making a point from their perspective," said a Scotland Yard spokesman. "But there will be a police presence at the march and, while we would not want to provoke a riot or a major altercation, we will intervene if we believe there is reason to do so or if there is a flagrant breach of the law."
The Met says it will stamp down on dealers who use the march to sell cannabis but in previous festivals there have been no arrests for possession or use of the drug.
Lambeth is a borough where police have spearheaded a liberal policy towards soft drugs, and was where controversial police commander Brian Paddick was in charge of a policing policy where officers turned a blind eye to the street cannabis trade to free up resources for tackling hard drugs.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/4641593?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2003.

Congestion Charging

01/05/03 - Congestion charge section
CC hits small firms hard
By David Williams, Motoring Editor
Evening Standard
Congestion charging is hitting small businesses severely and damaging London's economy, a study claims today.
The charge penalises traffic that has no choice but to enter the zone and imposes a "ceaseless" administrative burden on small firms.
The influential Federation of Small Businesses says the effects are "particularly severe" for firms involved with deliveries, domestic appliances and with the elderly or infirm. While the Ł5 charge was "inconsequential" for big corporations, it was a "significant percentage of the total value of delivery" for a plumber.
"Where business relies on passing trade, the scheme can have serious consequences," says the FSB. Charging has caused prices to rise and forced some small firms to close or move from central London, and there is strong anecdotal evidence that businesses inside the zone are losing trade to firms outside.
The study also says the charge had not necessarily reduced congestion as the areas where gridlock had been worst had suffered from roadworks or traffic lights being re-phased. "The clearing up of these problems immediately eased traffic flow."
Since charging began, areas outside the zone including Victoria, Nine Elms, Chelsea Bridge, Battersea Bridge, Edgware Road and parts of Kennington were congested for "large parts of the day".
The FSB study comes as the London Assembly Transport Committee launches a hearing into the effects of the charge. Angie Bray, Conservative Assembly spokesperson on the charge, said today: "The scheme was introduced with no consideration for people and businesses that have no alternative to using cars or commercial vehicles."
She added: "Given that the Government has cut London's transport grant for the next two years by an amount matching the predicted congestion charge revenue, it is now clear that charge revenue will not be available for additional investment in public transport."
A Transport for London spokesman said it was still "far too early" to draw conclusions.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/congestioncharge/articles/4633082?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2003.

Flat to let

Flat to let
Kennington : 1 bedroom furnished flat (bedroom up small flight of stairs) with private, south facing garden. Ł800 pcm. Non-smoker(s) preferred. Contact JaneAtkinson101@aol.com

-- Jane (JaneAtkinson101@aol.com), May 02, 2003.

32 storey tower on Albert Embankment

32 storey tower on Albert Embankment
As a local resident it was good to see the community planning criteria that came out of the recent Vision for Vauxhall meeting - particularly in relation to tall buildings. Perhaps not a moment too soon.
Ridgewood Properties have gone back to their proposals for the Texaco garage on Albert Embankment. This time rather than build over the existing garage, they are suggesting it's complete demolition. It would be replaced by a new garage and "part 6/ part 32" storey tower with 72 parking spaces underground.
Case officer is Ian Bailey 7926 1219. Plans should be at the Durning Library. Comments/objections need to be in by the 14th May.
Tim Boxall

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), May 01, 2003.

St Agnes Place - Paint and Plant Party

St Agnes Place
28 Years of Squatting History
Paint and Plant Party
Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May 2003
As part of the St Agnes Place residents' campaign to save their history and community, they are planning to re-paint the front railings (Gloss Black) and entrance recesses (White) to all the houses in the street. They aim to tidy the street up and to be proud of where they live.
Jane at 64 has raised some funds from the recent filming of "The Bill" and she would like to use some of the money to buy paint for this party to happen.
They also need help with the following to bring costs down:

Wire brushes to remove flaking paint from the railings
Scrapers to remove flaking paint
Old cleaning brushes or dish brushes to wash down the railings before painting
Some buckets for washing down
Old paint brushes
Four stepladders to reach high into the entrance spaces

Boxes will be placed on the doorsteps of 87 and 68 to collect these items (not the stepladders!!). Please just put the stuff in there. If you would like your items given back, write your name and address on them.
Chris and Claire at 64 are looking for helpers for the flowerboxes that are being made. Are there any volunteers?? They also need to get soil and compost, any un-used flower boxes, planks of wood and plants...
The Party will be made up of teams to get the job done and volunteers are needed.
If you can help or would like further information, please contact Claire on e-mail claire_a@mail.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 29, 2003.

Living with the Brontes

Dear Friends
The next Friends' evening event at Durning Library will be on
Monday, 19th May
7pm for 7.30pm
The Friends of Durning Library invite you to experience
Living with the Brontes
a talk by Robert Ducket, trustee of the Bronte Parsonage Museum and Editor of the journal Bronte Studies.
Ł2 including first drink and snacks.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Best wishes
Cathy
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, London SE11
t: 020 7926 8682
e: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), April 29, 2003.

Oval Mansions sale boosts Lambeth housing

Lambeth
Date: 25.04.2003
Ref: 1568
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Oval Mansions sale boosts Lambeth housing
Lambeth council has sold Oval Mansions, eight apartment blocks at Kennington, for Ł5.1 million. All the money acquired by the auction of these empty flats will be channelled into regenerating council homes.
"This is excellent news for the council. The proceeds from this sale bring to almost Ł13 millions the funds raised over the past from sales of empty properties which can now be re-invested in refurbishing and improving council homes", said Councillor Jeremy Clyne, Lambeth deputy executive member for housing.
"Changes introduced by the new administration mean that a hundred per cent of the proceeds from sales of empty properties in disrepair which the council cannot afford to bring back into use can now be retained and spent on desperately needed investment in the rest of our housing stock."
Oval Mansions is around 100 years old and comprises 47 residential units and five former commercial units. The buildings are in very poor condition, having been empty and bricked up ever since Lambeth council won an epic court battle and reclaimed the mansions from squatters who had been in illegal occupation for many years.
The blocks were sold with vacant possession and all receipts from the disposal will go into the housing department 's budget for housing improvement and regeneration. The buildings have never previously been used for social housing.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 29, 2003.

Letter to the SLP

Too much time on their hands
Apr 25 2003
South London Press
THE South London Eye (South London Press, April 18) reports that, in Lambeth Bishops ward, husband-and-wife Lib Dem councillors are having a baby.
Your diarist Andrea Perry comments: "Who says political life has to be boring?" I fail to understand the logic.
More realistically she might have asked: "How did they find the time to do this?" A Labour couple would certainly have been much too busy looking after their constituents.
Chris Cossey
Kennington Road
Lambeth

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 29, 2003.

PLANTS FOR SALE

PLANTS FOR SALE
at
Roots and Shoots
Walnut Tree Walk
London SE11 6DN
Tel: 020 7587 1131
(entrance in Fitzalan Street)
Opening Times
for May and June
10am - 4pm Monday - Friday
(closed Bank Holidays)
10am - 2pm Saturdays only
plus
Garden Weekend
Sat 7th and Sun 8th June
11am - 4pm
Roots and Shoots Reg. Charity No. 1064070/0
Training young people to reach their potential

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 27, 2003.

In search of tattered treasures

South London Press
In search of tattered treasures
Apr 25 2003
By Gabrielle Fagan
YOU can be forgiven for regarding rusty tins, old doors and even bottle corks as just a load of old junk.
You may even scoff at those who forage through flea markets, car boot sales and auctions, hoping to find value in other people's discarded goods. But a new book reveals not only would you be totally wrong, but you're are missing out on the year's most fashionable interior accessories - vintage treasures.
It seems no stylish home is complete without something faded, wrinkled, weathered and downright aged - and that doesn't mean a relative.
We are talking about stylish decorating with antique or rescued pieces going through to downright quirky items. But some skill is required to prevent your home resembling the set for an episode of Steptoe And Son - simply shabby rather than chic.
Author Lauren Powell ably and imaginatively demonstrates, in Tattered Treasures - Stylish Decorating With Flea Market Finds, how to display those finds to the maximum decorative effect.
Powell was first drawn to street markets when seeking antique plates and it led to her long-standing romance with tattered treasure.
She says: "Years ago I bought my first antique plate and proudly displayed it on a stand. Finding it opened my eyes to the beautiful things you can discover by simply looking beyond perfection and seeing the possibilities.
"Now I love the thrill of the hunt, especially when I'm searching for just the right item to add to a collection. One of my favourites is beautiful china, and I love using mismatched pieces to create unusual place settings."
China may sound a little pedestrian, but Powell doesn't confine herself to the obvious.
She points out: "Old, interesting looking doors can be so lovely that they are art in themselves. Just rest them at an angle in a corner of a room, or place them flat against a wall and they will add character to nooks and crannies. Weathered shutters or doors can be hinged together to make stunning screens or room dividers."
In that vein a window sash frame - complete with cracked, and peeling paint - makes a highly individual frame for photographs.
She also uses groupings of ornamental pieces - both wood and tin - that once graced cornices to make a striking wall display. Carved ornaments, often found in architectural salvage yards, are turned into sculptural works of art and grace her home.
She suggests: "Why buy a standard candlestick when you could make a highly individual one by converting a turned wooden balustrade or porch spindle? These simply have to be cut to size, and embellished with a tassel, cord or trim."
Powell is also skillful at giving relics a 'makeover' that heightens their appeal and doesn't detract from their character.
"Any wooden furniture or cabinetry piece can become a one-of-a-kind painted piece. Embellish it with writing such as poetry, lines from a favourite book or Bible verses."
She advises practising on a template the same size, to test spacing and writing, before marking the item. The surfaces need to be sanded, primed and prepared in the normal way before decorating and the final result varnished.
But perhaps it is using ordinary items in extraordinary ways which is the most inspiring aspect of the book. One of the most intriguing examples of this is a collection of miniature chairs - from children's size to dolls house size - grouped and glued in a cascade down a wall.
A similarly eye-catching effect is achieved with antique woven baskets hung from a metal millinery stand that once held hats in a department store.
She shuns a traditional display case in favour of an ornate antique picture frame, and adds shelves within it to show off a collection of tiny ornaments.
Wine corks, perhaps from memorable family occasions and inscribed with the relevant date, have been gathered and glued on an old plain frame to make a distinctive setting for a photograph.
Powell believes: "Photograph frames should be as interesting as their contents. I have gathered a vast array of painted, peeling or even gilded frames which I can decorate with a variety of buttons, beads and seashells. I love groups of frames and vary the heights of my collections to add depth and interest."
She even finds a use for empty glass household bottles and tin cans. She uses decorative wine bottles to hold washing up liquid, and bath oils, and presses cans into 'pop art' style vases. Refreshingly there is nothing precious about Powell.
She says simply: "Anyone can do this. Just learn to look at the things you love with an artist's eye. See things not for what they are but for what they could become - and don't take decorating too seriously."
And just in case you fear you may become a 'clutter queen' - overwhelmed by too much tat and not enough treasure - she has a final and sensible word of advice.
"Stay on track when bargain hunting by carrying photos of rooms and fabric swatches with you - looking at a photo of a room makes it easier to imagine an item in it, and fabric swatches help with co-ordinating colours."
So it could be time to join the treasure hunt and track down some treasures to transform your interior.
SOUTH London is brimming with markets and shops for those keen to get their hands on an antique bargain or two. Here are just some of the places to visit:
* Behind the Boxes - Art Deco, Kirkdale, Sydenham (020-8291 6116)
* Bermondsey Antiques Market, Abbey Street.
* Blackheath Antiques, High Street, Lewisham (020-8690 7171)
* Chris Baron Interiors. Streatham Hill (020-8671 8732)
* Creek Antiques, Greenwich South, Greenwich (020-8293 5721)
* Crystal Palace Antiques Warehouse, Imperial House, Jasper Road, Crystal Palace (020-8480 7042)
* French Antiques, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich (020-8299 6466)
* Gilded Furniture, Vauxhall Walk, Kennington (020-7735 1244)
* Garratt Lane Antiques, Tooting (020-8947 7005).
* Greenwich Market.
* Old Mill, Bromley Road, Catford (020-8697 8006)
* Spread Eagle Antiques, Nevada Street, Greenwich (020-8305 1666)
* The French House, Queenstown Road, Wandsworth (020-7978 2228)
* Vauxhall Antiques Warehouse, Sail Street, Kennington (020-7793 7739)
* Wallace Antiques Limited, Tranquil Vale, Blackheath (020-8852 2647)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 26, 2003.

Jim Mathieson

Jim Mathieson
Sculptor searching for the essence of people, animals and plants
Val Bott
Thursday April 24, 2003
The Guardian
Jim Mathieson, who has died of cancer aged 71, was a sculptor whose most public monument was his lively sculpture of William Hogarth with his pug in Chiswick High Road, west London. Commissioned by the local community, it was unveiled by Ian Hislop and David Hockney in October 2001. Jim devoted huge energy to this project, researching his subject very thoroughly, coping - with some charm and only a little exasperation - with the late decision of the steering committee to add Hogarth's dog to the statue, and becoming a cheerful and exuberant "exhibit" with his maquette at fundraising events for the work. Though he was already ill during the three-year life of the project, his determination and enthusiasm ensured its success.
Born in Calcutta, he went to the Lawrence Royal Military School in the Simla Hills. The family left India in 1947, at the time of independence, and lived in both Arbroath, Scotland, and London. Jim did his national service in the intelligence section of the Gordon Highlanders. He worked in the insurance business, managing a small team, but he longed to pursue his passion for art. When his father refused him financial help to go to art school and he could not get a grant, Jim decided to become a psychotherapist and studied successfully at evening classes for his O- and A-levels.
Around 1960, he became involved in the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, helping to set up the Bermondsey and Southwark branch and becoming its chairman. He joined the Committee of 100 (a direct action offshoot of CND, disowned by the wider movement), which led to his first arrest and imprisonment for three days before he was brought to trial. He also joined the Communist party. As his political activity grew, his studies ceased, and he did not go on to become a psychotherapist. He looked back on those days of struggle with pride, and his strong political convictions stayed with him throughout his life.
Jim married Edna Skinner in 1959. After the death of their baby daughter, Julia, in 1964, he decided to go to art school and, at 34, gained a place on a four-year course at City and Guilds Art School in Kennington, south London. Edna supported him and they had another daughter, Catherine, in 1966.
His love was sculpture, and while a student Jim gained a commission to cast the crown for the Prince of Wales's investiture at Caernarvon Castle in 1969. After he had completed the course, Jim and Edna split up, and were later divorced. In 1981, Jim married Judy Craig, also a sculptor, who went on to become the head of the portrait studio at Madame Tussaud's.
To supplement his income, Jim taught part-time, between 1969 and 1979, at the Sir John Cass and Ealing schools of art, where his enthusiasm, dedication and enormous energy inspired his students. His generosity in sharing his knowledge, from sculptural techniques and structure through to the intricacies of casting in all media, was much appreciated. From 1979, he worked full-time as a sculptor.
Jim wrote in January 2003 that his work was "an obsession done with a sense of love in creating something tangible. The satisfaction comes from making, as I do not actively try to sell it. Money is only of interest to me to pay for materials."
While he occasionally accepted portrait and figurative commissions and did some freelance work for Madame Tussaud's (including portraits of Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Prince Andrew and Darcey Bussell), Jim's focus and love was his abstract work. "I am basically a naturalist," he said, "who reduces human, animal and plant forms to arrive at an essence of an idea that transcends realism."
In these abstracts, he was attempting to capture the "essential qualities that express this miracle of life". Through the exploration of the sexuality of plant and animal forms, Jim tried to create a simplicity of structure that was none the less continuously evolving and changing. He was constantly excited by the endless possibilities of the variations in his work.
Jim is survived by his wife, his daughter, his stepson Scott and three grandchildren, Melissa, James and Anna.
· James William Mathieson, sculptor, born June 21 1931; died April 12 2003
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2003.

Oval Mansions

Auction windfall
Apr 22 2003
By Richard Evans
South London Press
THERE was a cash windfall for Lambeth council when a one-time haunt for squatters sold at auction - for more than Ł3million above its reserve price.
Run-down Oval Mansions, which overlooks the cricket ground, had been boarded up for at least two years.
It had a reserve price of Ł2million, but the final sale price was Ł5.2mil-lion, which will be ploughed into improving the cash-strapped author-ity's housing stock. However, two-and-a-half years ago, the council was predicting a Ł6million sale.
It has 47 homes and five commercial units, and the council had to fight a long-running battle to get squatters out of the building.
The Court of Appeal finally settled the dispute in 2000 when it ruled the squatters were not entitled to keep their homes as they had acknowledged Lambeth's ownership in a 1998 letter. Also at the auction earlier this month, the council sold the Cricketers pub in Kennington for Ł227,000.
Councillor Jeremy Clyne, deputy executive member for housing, said: "This is excellent news.
"The sale boosts the funds the new administration has raised from sales of empty properties, which can now be reinvested into refurbishing and improving council homes."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 23, 2003.

Pilgrim Pub under new management

Sunday roasts at the Pilgrim pub
Mark Sutton has recently taken over the Pilgrim Pub (corner Kennington Lane and Montford Place). It is now open 7 days a week, normal full pub hours, offering a full menu including Sunday Roasts. To order, please call 7735 6288 by Saturdays latest.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 22, 2003.

Restaurant guide

Restaurant guide
'The art of dining well is no slight art, the pleasure no slight pleasure,' said the essayist Montaigne. Jay Rayner picks post-exhibition lunch venues Sunday April 20, 2003
The Observer
All prices are for three courses at dinner including wine and service.
The Cinnamon Club
The Old Westminster Library, Great Smith Street, London SW1. Tel 020 7222 2555. Meal for two: Ł100.
You don't have to spend Ł160 a head, as the boss of the Fire Brigade Union famously did here earlier this year, but don't come looking for bargains. The Cinnamon Club is smart upmarket Indian food in smart upmarket surroundings, and that costs. But you do get what you pay for: fresh spice mixes, new takes on old familiars and some innovative ¤avour pairings. The walk over Westminster Bridge to this lump of converted Victoriana back from the Commons will help you work up an appetite.
Tas
33 The Cut, London SE1. Tel 020 7928 2111 (and 72 Borough High Street). Meal for two: around Ł40.
Of the two branches of this new-ish Turkish outlet, the original, on the Cut, is the closest but both are eminently walkable. The food, served in funky and colourful surroundings, is simple and straightforward: lots of great grilled meats, cooked in the open kitchen, fine fresh breads and various more dense, herby stews and posh dishes. Olives are particularly good, as they should be. The Borough branch also has a cheaper takeaway cafe attached, but neither of them will make holes in your wallet.
Petit Robert
3 Park Street, London SE1. Tel 020 7357 7003. Meal for two: Ł70.
Borough, with its weekend produce market, has become the sweaty focus of London's gastro-porn movement, endlessly patrolled by fat-walleted foodies willing to pay Ł30 for a slice of wild beef or a crumb of artisan parmigiano. Petit Robert, tucked away down a side street opposite Neal's Yard Dairy, has been one of the area's gems for many years. Sadly its run comes to an end on June 14 when Network Rail shoves a new train line bang through the kitchen, so get there quick. The food, while it lasts, is robustly provincial French, as is the atmosphere. The wine list, on which everything is marked up by a straight Ł5, offers some serious bargains and there is the best list of Armagnacs in London, starting at a glass of an 1830 at a weirdly reasonable Ł165. More recent vintages are around a tenner.
Meson Don Felipe
53 The Cut, London SE1. Tel 020 7928 3237. Meal for two: Ł40.
This corner of south London close to the river has a particularly fine concentration of good tapas bars and restaurants, but there is something about the clatter and bash of Meson Don Felipe which puts it ahead of the others. The curious design with the bar in the middle can make it a bit of a crush - and it does get crowded - but once you've found a spot you'll be hard pushed to leave. There's a good list of ballsy Spanish reds, and the tapas dishes are mostly very reliable, from the light tortilla to the Serrano ham and everything else in between.
The Lobster Pot
3 Kennington Lane, London SE11. Tel 020 7582 5556. Meal for two: Ł90.
Some people regard this place as the only reason to go near the planning disaster which is Elephant and Castle, and I would have to agree. This small but perfectly formed Bretagne fish restaurant has a lovely line in eccentricities, such as the tape of seagulls as you enter, the tiny, wood-lined dining room and its portholes with fish swimming behind them. The waiters even dress in blue and white stripy tops. Despite all the fun, the food is really very good: great straight-up fruits de mer, fish soup and bouillabaisse, as well as more complex dishes. There are also non-fish dishes but, like, why would you even want to? Occasionally they run live opera evenings. Well, of course they do.
And Five others Nearby
Four Regions
County Hall, Riverside Building, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1. Tel 020 7928 0988.
Solid Chinese and a great view, within County Hall itself.
Laughing Gravy
154 Blackfriars Road, London SE1. Tel 020 7721 7055.
Intriguing modern European-fusion food in a converted pub setting. They also offer a cheaper bar menu.
Baltic
74 Blackfriars Road, London SE1. Tel 020 7928 111.
Punchy Polish food in glamorous surroundings. Be sure to sample at least one of the varieties of vodka.
Pizzeria Castello
20 Walworth Road, London SE1. Tel 020 7703 2556.
Great, good value pizzas, overlooking the less than great Elephant and Castle.
Gordon's
47 Villiers Street, London WC2. Tel 020 7930 1408.
A short walk across Hungerford Bridge to one of London's oldest wine cellars, dating from the fourteenth century, with an OK salad bar attached.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 21, 2003.

Cricket

Frizzell County Championship
Law and Loye egg on Lancashire
Lancashire 391-2 v Surrey Paul Weaver at the Oval
Saturday April 19, 2003
The Guardian
It may have been Good Friday yesterday but at the Oval it was more like August bank holiday. The sight of Saqlain Mushtaq leaving the field holding his back, after sending down 22 overs on a straw-coloured pitch, was a picture filched from high summer.
Saqlain and Ian Salisbury had wheeled away in tandem in the warm sunshine as the Lancashire batsmen prospered on a traditional Kennington belter.
You could almost hear the groan from the Surrey dressing room when Adam Hollioake lost the toss and condemned his men to a day of toil.
On this evidence Lancashire have made two astute signings in Iain Sutcliffe and Malachy Loye. Sutcliffe, who signed from Leicestershire, made 70 on his debut and Loye trumped that with 104 not out.
Historically, Lancashire have made a good fist of raising their own batting talent. But after recent frailties the county has looked beyond its own boundaries and last season Stuart Law - who scored an unbeaten 129 yesterday - from Essex and Alec Swann from Northants had their first summers with the club. The top four has been totally restructured.
There are people here who still talk about 1990, the Year of the Bat, when the seam of the ball was flattened to give bowlers less assistance. That summer Lancashire and Surrey scored 1,650 runs in one match for the loss of 19 wickets. Lancashire responded to Surrey's score of 707 for nine by scoring a little matter of 863, with a triple century from Neil Fairbrother.
If the batsmen in this match hold their concentration they could get close to that. And two potential championship contenders are unlikely to be too philanthropic when it comes to declarations.
Mark Butcher will be disappointed to miss out on such a benign surface. But Surrey left him out to accommodate another bowler. On yesterday's showing there was also a case for leaving out Graham Thorpe, Ally Brown, Ian Ward and Mark Ramprakash, because Surrey's attack still looked thin.
Martin Bicknell did not play because of a sore side and Jimmy Ormond was also left out. That presented the new ball to Alex Tudor, who now comes in off a new and abbreviated run, and Tim Murtagh, who bowled impressively early on. But it was not an even contest as the batsmen pushed through the line of the ball and sent it scurrying to the short boundary on the gasholder side.
Swann and Sutcliffe put on 108 for the first wicket before a misunderstanding between the new pair led to the running out of Swann for 57. Sutcliffe fell leg-before to Saqlain, but Law and Loye then added an unbroken 222 for the third wicket.
The injury to Saqlain is not considered serious; he needed treatment after falling on the ball. But the champions and runaway title favourites this year could well join countless sticky-fingered children and end Easter with egg on their faces.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 20, 2003.

Celia Sings for FOKX 26/4

Celia Sings for FOKX 26/4
Encouraged by the recent sell out Kennington Association fundraising event:
Celia Sings - Again ! - for Friends of Kennington Cross this time...
in the church and without Anne's delicious nibbles and sophisticated soirée ambience...
but still with David's piano magic...
with Esprit... Passion... participation...
and a little more gentle blues than before:
FRIENDS OF KENNINGTON CROSS
FUND RAISING EVENT
SATURDAY, APRIL 26th 2003
at 7.30pm
In Saint Anselmąs Church at Kennington Cross SE11*
CABARET CHANTANT:
CÉLIA CHANTE... CELIA SINGS...
Jazz Ballads and Chansons with a dash of gentle Blues
In French and English - words provided for chorus participation
Pianist David Harrodąs magic will transport us to the romantic, nostalgic France and America of another era.
Celia will sing relentlessly romantic and dramatic popular songs of mainly '30s & '40s in French and English from the repertoires of Edith Piaf, Charles Trenet, Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Bessie Smith et al.
With possible participation if desired - words/paroles provided.
Dress exactly as you do - or perhaps, Sunday Best or with a dash of period panache.
'Amazing cabaret singer' Antoine de Caunes, Esquire.
'Un Triomphe... la salle s'est enflammee' L'Union, Reims.
'Entertainment par excellence' Evening Standard.
Concert with pew seat: Ł5.00
Concert, reserved table seat and a glass of wine: Ł10.00
Children welcome and free - if on a pew seat or a knee.
To book your pew(s) or reserve your table(s) and more than just a glass:
call: 020 7735 8525 fax: 020 7820 8098
e-mail: FoKenningtonX@aol.com
Cheques for bookings or donations, payable to Friends of Kennington Cross to:
Friends of Kennington Cross, 19 Cleaver Street, London SE11 4DP.
We look forward to seeing you - Salut !
* SAINT ANSELM'S CHURCH and HALL at KENNINGTON CROSS, SE11
(286 Kennington Road, at the junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane).
Northern line tube: nearest stations - Kennington or Oval.
Buses: - 3, 59, 159, 322, 360.
Kennington Cross is walking (or 1 to 2 bus stops) distance from:
Tube stations: North Lambeth, Vauxhall, Elephant & Castle.
Buses: 36, 346, 133, 185, 155, 333.

-- Celia (FOKenningtonX@aol.com), April 20, 2003.

Cannabis fest is on

Cannabis fest is on
Apr 18 2003
South London Press
THE annual cannabis festival in Brockwell Park is set for Saturday, May 3.
The event had been in doubt after Lambeth council increased the price for hiring the park.
But after a compromise, the festival will go ahead.
People should meet for a carnival-style march from Kennington Park at noon. The festival starts at 1pm and there will be bands, stalls and a 'cannabis college'.
For more information, visit www.ccguide.org.uk/cannabisfestival.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2003.

Woman loses appeal against teen's murder

Woman loses appeal against teen's murder
Apr 18 2003
By Court Reporter
South London Press
THE conviction of a woman who hired assassins to murder a teenage boy was upheld by Appeal Court judges this week.
Luisa Bolivar, 40, was jailed for life at the Old Bailey in January 2000 after being found guilty of murdering 16-year-old Jorge Castillo.
The court heard Bolivar, of High Street, Victoria, hired two hitmen to murder the youth because he had stolen jewellery from her boyfriend, Juan Carlos 'Scarface' Hernandez, in a south London bar. The assassins garrotted the victim in a moving car before dumping his body in a rubbish bin in St Agnes Place, Kennington.
Bolivar's lawyers this week argued unsuccessfully that her counsel at the trial - top barrister Colin Campbell - had represented her so inadequately that her conviction was unsafe and ought to be overturned.
The Appeal Court heard how, during Bolivar's trial, Mr Campbell was also defending another case at Stafford Crown Court in which a man faced a conspiracy to murder charge. Mr Campbell had commuted between the two courts.
The Appeal Court was told Mr Campbell was also facing serious professional and personal difficulties at the time, but Lord Justice Rose dismissed Bolivar's appeal saying "there was no reason to regard the conviction as unsafe".
Mr Malcolm Swift QC, who represented Bolivar in the Appeal Court, argued that in his final summing-up of the case to the Old Bailey, Mr Campbell had not properly addressed evidence relating to telephone calls made by Bolivar.
However, Lord Justice Rose said: "How much of that material ought sensibly to be used was a matter for Mr Campbell's judgement."
He said Mr Campbell's personal problems at the time of the trial had in no way resulted in any inadequacy in the way he presented Bolivar's defence.
Dismissing Bolivar's appeal, he concluded: "It's to be noted that neither of the experienced trial judges can have considered that any unfairness was arising to either of the defendants.
"There is no reason to regard Bolivar's conviction as unsafe and her appeal is dismissed."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2003.

South London Pacific

South London Press
Surf 'n' roll ladies
Apr 18 2003
EXPECT girls in grass skirts playing surf guitars when the Deptford Beach Babes play the ever popular South London Pacific tonight.
They promise "a mix of messed up covers and originals" with some guests on vocals and trumpets - including Ella Guru of Toe Rag Studios (where the White Stripes recorded their new album, Elephant).
*** Deptford Beach Babes at Rock-a-Hula, tonight, South London Pacific, Kennington Road, Kennington. 9pm-2am Ł3/5.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 19, 2003.

Goodbye to all that as Robin Cook moves out

Goodbye to all that as Robin Cook moves out
By David Millward
(Filed: 18/04/2003)
Telegraph
Robin Cook did not look back yesterday as he surrendered the trappings of Cabinet life and left his grace and favour home in the heart of London's clubland.
Casually dressed in an open-necked short-sleeved shirt and corduroy trousers, the former Foreign Secretary and Leader of the Commons also had few misgivings about the political decision that necessitated his departure from Carlton Gardens.
"It has always been an official residential space," he said. "It isn't a home in the sense that you can relax there and make it your own, filled with your own things. It has been a very good official residence, it was very helpful for work but it isn't a place which I am sorry to be leaving.
"The flat upstairs is more mundane so there are no regrets and I am looking forward. I have a very pleasant flat in Edinburgh and life is full of new opportunities."
The van, which appropriately had a Saltire and Rampant Lion hanging beneath the front spoiler, left at about 1.15pm.
Twenty minutes later Mr Cook made his final break from front bench political life after 20 years. Shorn of his official driver, the former Cabinet minister has treated himself to a new Vauxhall. With his wife Gaynor in the passenger seat, he threw some clothing into the back and like less celebrated families going through the same ritual drove off to his new home and a new life.
Mr Cook moved into the flat when he became Foreign Secretary following Labour's 1997 election victory. He kept the place when he was demoted to Leader of the Commons because Jack Straw, his successor, preferred to remain at his own home in Kennington.
Thus with Mr Straw's blessing he was able to make the three- bedroom flat his own for a little longer. A 15-minute stroll from the House of Commons, 1 Carlton Cardens - the home of Foreign Secretaries since 1945 - has five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a huge ballroom.
There are private gardens nearby and it is also a short distance from St James's and Green Parks, ideal for walking Tammy and Tashka, his two Scottish terriers.
It was still unclear last night who will be handed the keys to the house following Mr Cook's departure.
Yesterday was an ideal day to be moving. The sun shone and the offices nearby appeared deserted, enabling him to make his exit from one of London's most select addresses undisturbed.
The only spectators were a trio of French tourists who were rather more interested in having their picture taken by the statue of Charles de Gaulle, whose wartime headquarters was in the same street, than the small piece of political theatre going on around them.
Boxes followed boxes, then there were some bookshelves, a bike, a filing cabinet, a wicker basket and finally Mr Cook's shirts and a couple of chintz cushions.
Amid all the activity it was not Mr Cook's famed forensic debating skills that were required yesterday, but rather his ability to make a good cup of tea for his removal men. He passed with flying colours.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 18, 2003.

Monroe exhibition: diamonds snatched

Monroe exhibition: diamonds snatched
Apr 18 2003
South London Press
THIEVES stole jewellery once owned by Marilyn Monroe from an exhibition on the South Bank.
Two men walked into the Marilyn - Life Of A Legend exhibition at the County Hall Gallery in the Riverside Building, near the London Eye, at around 3.10pm on Monday.
They stole a diamond encrusted gold ring with an 'M' motif and a gold bangle encrusted with diamonds, which both once belonged to the screen siren.
The sex-symbol actress wore the two items of jewellery - now valued at around Ł40,000 - when she was married to US baseball star Joe Di Maggio.
Security staff at the exhibition were alerted to the theft by a member of the public. They followed the suspects out-side the building and alerted police on a routine patrol of the South Bank.
One man was arrested near the gallery on suspicion of theft. He has been released on bail pending inquiries.
The second man - described as black, slimly built, around 5ft 9ins tall and wearing a dark-coloured coat over a suit - remains at large.
Detectives have appealed for witnesses and information.
Detective Inspector Tim Forber, of Kennington CID, said: "I would like to appeal to anyone who was visiting the Marilyn Monroe exhibition between 3pm and 3.30pm to contact police immediately. It is vital that we hear from anyone who witnessed this incident or saw anyone acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the County Hall Gallery just before or just after 3pm.
"The South Bank is extremely busy at this time and many people are potential witnesses to this incident."
The detective also appealed to anyone who had been offered the distinctive stolen items, and those with other information, to contact police.
He warned the outstanding suspect: "It will be very difficult to sell these items and you would be advised to return them to the rightful owners at the earliest opportunity."
Anyone with information should contact detectives at Kennington CID on 020-8649 2477 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 18, 2003.

Marilyn Monroe's jewels snatched from exhibition

Marilyn Monroe's jewels snatched from exhibition
By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
(Filed: 16/04/2003)
Telegraph
Jewellery once owned by Marilyn Monroe has been stolen from an exhibition about the film star.
A gold ring with a diamond-encrusted "M" motif and a gold and diamond bangle, together worth up to Ł40,000, were snatched from a gallery on the South Bank in London.
Two men entered the building on Monday afternoon and, after looking at exhibits for a few minutes, snatched the jewellery and fled, Scotland Yard said yesterday.
A member of the public alerted security guards who chased the men, one of whom ran towards Westminster Bridge where he was caught by police officers. The other disappeared into crowds.
One man is being questioned in connection with the thefts and remains in custody.
Another man, described as black, slim, 5ft 9in tall and wearing a dark coat over a suit, is still being hunted. The property has not been recovered.
Det Insp Tim Forber of Kennington CID, who is leading the investigation, yesterday appealed for witnesses and for the return of the jewellery. "It will be very difficult to sell these items," he said.
The exhibition, Marilyn Monroe - Life of a Legend, is proclaimed as "the biggest ever exhibition devoted to the life of the ultimate screen icon". More than 250 of her former possessions and items inspired by her are on show within the permanent Salvador Dali collection in the old County Hall building.
Among the exhibits are previously unseen photographs, mementos from the Hollywood star's childhood and designer dresses. Highlights include the dress and jewellery worn on her first date with Jo DiMaggio, the baseball star. Works by Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Henri Cartier-Bresson are also on display.
The jewellery was on loan from an auction house and was due to go on sale in September.
Antonia Spanos, head of exhibitions at the gallery, said the stolen pieces of jewellery were "very rare items which had a lot of personal significance to Marilyn".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 16, 2003.

Sport

Paula Radcliffe will be matched in spirit by a former boxer
By Gareth A Davies (Filed: 12/04/2003)
Telegraph
Paula Radcliffe, bobbing head and metronomic stride, will hold centre stage at the head of the London Marathon tomorrow morning, but at the back of the field is an arguably bigger story as former boxer Michael Watson attempts to complete the longest Olympic distance, step by step, inch by inch, over the next week.
Watson, who suffered horrific brain injuries 12 years ago in a world title fight with Chris Eubank, has fought back from near-death to become an inspirational figure and talisman for public causes. Tomorrow, he is the captain of The Daily Telegraph marathon team, a group of runners from the public, all raising money for the British Brain and Spine Foundation.
Long after the medals are handed out, the foil cleared, the roads back in use, Watson will still be on the road, the spirit breathing deep within him. He will eventually reach the Embankment, and finally The Mall, a week from today. Twelve sessions of about 2.5 miles, two a day, along the marathon course. As awareness grows, public support is likely to be overwhelming. This week, as Watson continued to train in Hyde Park, well-wishers were everywhere.
David Bedford, London Marathon race director, is aware of the draw on the public created by Watson's involvement. Bedford admits there have been many heroic marathon efforts, but believes Watson's attempt "would have to rank as one of the most incredible of all time if he finishes. Marathon running brings out something in the human spirit, and everyone has their reason".
There is no 'if' about Watson finishing this race, assured the man himself yesterday, and there is little doubt that come April 19, Watson will have inspired hundreds, even thousands, and perhaps have planted in the mind of every one of the BBC's five million viewers that they, too, could quite easily turn off their television sets and play a part in helping the lives of others.
It was late last year when Watson announced that he wanted to raise money for the Brain and Spine Foundation, his life having been saved by the foundation's founder, neurosurgeon Peter Hamlyn. The medical man will be alongside his former patient every step of the way. Hamlyn says he finds Watson an inspiration, at times openly bemused by what he achieved after the six brain operations it required to save Watson's life in 1991.
Around him, something of a media maelstrom this week, following two weeks of what he considered ideal preparation at Hustyns, the 200-acre hotel retreat in Cornwall, with its forests and monastic silence. While there, Watson conquered another mountain, reached another level. When training for the marathon began six months ago, Watson needed to lean on his carer for balance. In Cornwall, he began to walk along alone.
Perhaps the toughest examination Watson has faced in the final fortnight before the race has been the growing list of media requests and appearances.
Although he finds it mentally tiring, you will never hear him complaining about his situation. Watson accepted his fate long ago, and will walk towards his destiny this week. His actions will be inspiration for a nation when it wakes up tomorrow.
If you wish to sponsor Michael Watson's Marathon Challenge, telephone credit card line: 0870 0600729 or visit the website at www.justgiving.com/michaelwatson. Alternatively, donations can be made in person at the Brain and Spine Foundation by calling to arrange a visit on 0207 793 5900. Brain and Spine Foundation, 7 Winchester House, Kennington Park, Cranmer Road, London, SW9 6EJ. Registered charity No 100607.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 12, 2003.

Private cash funds Ł20m school move

Private cash funds Ł20m school move
Apr 11 2003
By Education Reporter Vicky Wilks
South London Press
A SECONDARY school's move to a new building has been sealed after papers for the first Private Finance Initiative deal in Lambeth were signed.
Negotiations to make Lilian Baylis School the subject of a multi-million PFI scheme have rumbled on for three years.
But the Ł20.4million deal has now been completed, so the north Lambeth school in Lollard Street will move to a new building in Kennington Lane, which is due to open in January 2005.
PFI deals see private companies own and operate public buildings for a set period of time.
The Government has encouraged them as a way of bringing extra money into cash-strapped hospitals and, increasingly, schools.
In Lambeth, the private company - FocusEducation - will maintain the new school for 25 years.
Lambeth then has to make regular payments to FocusEducation throughout the contract.
In Lewisham, a Ł60million PFI contract for eight schools has just been readvertised by the council.
They are Ashmead, Childeric, Downderry, Gordonbrock and Monson primaries, Greenvale special needs school, and Crofton and Forest Hill secondaries.
In Lilian Baylis's case, the deal comes at a time when the school is on the tide of change.
Last year, it got the lowest GCSE results in south London - six per cent of students got five GCSEs between grades A* and C, compared with the Lambeth average of 40.1 per cent. But another marker on the league tables showed the school in the top five per cent countrywide in terms of the improvement made by pupils between Year 9 and Year 11.
Since 2001, the school has become oversubscribed; results have improved; attendance has improved to above the national average and it has started to offer a huge range of extras including palmtop computers for home use, Saturday school, and courses at Lambeth College and South Bank University. Next year, Lilian Baylis hopes to become a specialist technology school, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists.
Councillor Anthony Bottrall, executive member for education, said: "The fact that FocusEducation will manage the facilities will reduce the burden on teaching staff - freeing them to concentrate even more of their energy on continuing to raise educational standards."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 11, 2003.

Boxer beats it to crash scene

Boxer beats it to crash scene
Apr 11 2003
By Mike Pflanz
South London Press
BOXING legend Lloyd Honeyghan phoned paramedics after he was first on the scene at a late-night car smash.
The former world welterweight title holder saw the sporty silver Vauxhall Corsa hatchback roll on to the driver's side and slam into a road sign in Kennington Road.
He pulled over and ran to help the two people in the car, who both managed to squeeze free without injury after their smash, at 11.30pm on Tuesday.
Eight police cars were on the scene near the Kennington Road junction with Kennington Park Road within minutes, and the Corsa's driver was treated in the back of an ambulance for an injured leg.
Both men were in the early 20s, according to eye witnesses.
Lloyd told the South London Press: "When I got there, the crash had just happened. I turned round and went back because it looked really, really bad.
"These two young chaps had climbed out of the car. One of them looked in the same condition as when I knocked out Gene Hatcher in 1987.
"He looked real bad and his eyes were half-closed."
Millicent Edmondson, 36, heard the crash from the front room of her flat in Sherwin House, Clayton Street.
The mum-of-one said: "There was just this really big bang and I looked outside and just saw this little car over on its side."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 11, 2003.

Property

It Uzës potential
By Anthea Masey
Evening Standard
Homes & Property
9 April 2003
In less than three years, Sally Doyle from Kennington has transformed a semi-renovated house in a tiny hamlet close to UzËs in the south of France into a stylish holiday home. Sally came to the area when it was still cheap and not yet "on the map". The house cost her Ł33,000, including agent's commission, and she has spent about the same amount doing it up. "Friends recommended the area, and I fell in love with Uzës as soon as I saw it," says Sally. "It gets a lot of tourists in the summer, but for the rest of the year it is very French."
French-speaking Sally found a reliable builder, Thierry Evrard, who has been working on her home ever since. "I could see the house had potential, but I had to undo a lot of previous work," she says. "I moved the kitchen from the first floor to the ground floor and created a terrace with a small pool leading out from the kitchen. The sitting room is now the whole of the first floor and has lovely views over the surrounding countryside."
Sally, an artist and script reader, is able to work anywhere, and adds: "I'm fortunate to own this place. I hope to spend half my time here - it provides me with the perfect balance of town and country."
It has proved a good investment, too. House prices have risen sharply in the area since she bought. Cheap flights to Nimes and a TGV link from Paris have made it much more accessible.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 11, 2003.

North Lambeth Area Committee mins 5.3.03

North Lambeth Area Committee mins 5.3.03
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/jpgfile/019136.doc
Released: 9 April, 2003 05:19
Filesize: 158kb

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 10, 2003.

Older Person's Champion visits sheltered housing

Lambeth
Date: 08.04.2003
Ref: 1556
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Older Person's Champion visits sheltered housing
Councillor Daphne Hayes-Mojon, Lambeth Older Person's Champion, will complete her fact-finding tour of the council's sheltered housing on Thursday April 10. She will visit Bland and Burchall House sheltered housing unit on the Vauxhall Gardens Estate in Kennington.
She will then have been to all of the borough's 36 sheltered housing schemes as part of her mission to examine provision across the board for older persons. Councillor Hayes-Mojon is bringing a fresh eye to looking at improving services for this often-neglected section of the community.
Conversations with tenants and officers have thrown up a number of issues. These include security, homecare, repairs and decoration, the upkeep of communal grounds and individual gardens, contact with local beat police and health and safety.
The many active residents helping to organise events for fellow residents, such as shopping trips, socials, outings and bingo have impressed Councillor Hayes-Mojon. She also noted the number of units with computer training facilities and the good number of silver surfers at home on the net.
After each visit she has sent a detailed report of her findings to the manager of special housing needs and to the relevant neighbourhood housing office.
"I have found the project very worthwhile and have recommended improvements, some of which have already been implemented-for example, speeding up repairs and decorations and the re-introduction of a previously suspended library service, " she commented.
"Suggestions for improved locks for tenants' doors and windows and grounds maintenance are also being actively pursued. I particularly welcome the fact that four estates are being looked after on a voluntary basis by horticultural students from Lambeth College and other volunteers through my Adopt a Garden scheme."
She will now write a comprehensive report with recommendations, which will be used to help improve sheltered housing schemes in the future.
Note to Editors: Reporters and photographers are invited to attend the visit at Bland and Burchall House, Vauxhall Gardens, Kennington on Thursday April 10 at 11am.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 10, 2003.

Friends of Durning Library's AGM followed by a talk on the future library service by John Readman, Head of Lambeth Libraries Archives & Arts

FoDL AGM - and the future library service
The next Friends' evening event at Durning Library will be on
Monday, 14th April
7pm for 7.30pm
The Friends of Durning Library's AGM will be followed by a talk on the future library service by John Readman, Head of Lambeth Libraries Archives & Arts.
Free admission - wine and nibbles available.
We look forward to seeing you there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, London SE11
t: 020 7926 8682
e: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), April 09, 2003.

Launch of Lambeth's children fund at the Oval Cricket Ground

Lambeth
Fun event launches Children's Fund
Over 100 local children joined the fun for the launch of Lambeth's children fund at the Oval Cricket Ground.
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/019064.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 09, 2003.

Licensing Committee - 15.04.03

Lambeth

Licensing Committee - 15.04.03 - Reports
includes:
Bar 2 Bar Kenningtons 305 Kennington Road SE11 (Princes Ward)
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/019050.doc
Released: 7 April, 2003 12:01
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Licensing Committee - 15.04.03 - Agenda Front Page
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http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/agenda/019049.doc
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-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 09, 2003.

North Lambeth Area Committee

North Lambeth Area Committee

Thursday 10 April 2003
7PM

Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre SE11
Vauxhall Walk, Spring Gardens
Nearest tube Vauxhall (Victoria line)

Come along and have your say!

Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs): What are your views on the boundaries and operating hours? Should resident parking be dual use?
Street cleaning: Is it effective? Do complaints lead to swift action?
Local News: Hear about news and developments in your area
Should the streets around Waterloo be an alcohol-free zone?
Local Strategic Partnership (LSP): What is the community plan? What is in it?

If you cannot attend the meeting but would like your views heard, please contact
Noel Bell:
Tel: 020 7926 2225 or
E-mail: nbell@lambeth.gov.uk
Website: www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 07, 2003.

GARAGE NEEDED
Does anybody have a Garage to rent in the Kennington area?
I am a resident and need it outside the congestion zone.

-- Sean Gallagher (sgallagher@bea.com), April 04, 2003.

An artist's impression of south London: Vincent Van Gogh

Trail of the Unexpected
An artist's impression of south London: 'it is very beautiful here,' wrote Van Gogh
By Mick Webb
Independent
29 March 2003
Tomorrow sees the 150th anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's birth. The year is being marked in the Netherlands, where he was born, and in France, where his troubled creativity blossomed. But who will be putting out the flags in Britain? Over a period of four years, the young Vincent lived and worked in south London's Brixton, Ramsgate on the Kent coast, and then Isleworth on the western edge of the capital.
These were formative years; he was only 20 when he arrived, and though there's no evidence that he painted, he certainly sketched: houses, churches, the characteristic rows of trees. He also read, walked and underwent some life-changing experiences, far from the sunflowers, starry skies and bright colours of the Mediterranean.
The first stop on the UK stretch of the Van Gogh trail is Hackford Road on the Stockwell-Brixton border. This is a tranquil oasis between two traffic-clogged main roads fringed by car-accessory shops and tower blocks. On the wall of No 87, a flat-fronted Georgian house, a blue plaque confirms that Van Gogh stayed here from 1873-74. He had come to London to work as a trainee art dealer, and lodged here with the Loyers, a widowed teacher and her daughter.
If last year's acclaimed West End play, Vincent in Brixton, is to be taken at face value, this is where the seeds of some of the artist's great later works were sown, as he feverishly courted first the daughter of the house, then her mother. Although the plot depends on a little dramatic licence, Van Gogh's own letters reveal that he did fall in love, for the first time in his life, with his landlady's daughter, Eugenie. Her rejection of him (she was secretly engaged to another lodger) was a traumatic blow to his fragile self-esteem. He made a sketch of No 87 as a present for Eugenie. You can see it in Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, smudged and a bit torn, or, more easily, on the Van Gogh website. It also features three adjoining houses that were destroyed by a Second World War bomb.
Van Gogh walked to his office in the Strand every day, a good hour's hike. In his spare time, he visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, and was quite taken with south London's parks, commons and gardens. "It is very beautiful here," he writes to his beloved brother Theo in 1874. "Lilac hawthorns and laburnums flower in all the gardens; the chestnut trees are splendid."
In fact, he wasn't the first continental artist to fall for the charms of south London. A couple of years earlier, Monet and Pissarro had left France, which was in the grip of a war with Prussia. Monet's painting, The Thames below Westminster, dates from this period, and Pissarro, who lived near Crystal Palace, painted suburban scenes, including Penge Railway Station (now Lordship Lane Station) and The Avenue, Sydenham, which hangs in the National Gallery.
Van Gogh's own stay with the Loyer family in Brixton soon turned sour, a result, perhaps, of his unrequited love, but also connected with the arrival of his sister Anna. Together, they moved to 395 Kennington New Road, "a house quite covered in ivy"; it has since been replaced by an office block, and the road has lost its "New".
Van Gogh was then transferred to his firm's Paris office, where he spent a year, until his increasingly awkward and rebellious attitude led to an ignominious sacking. Van Gogh decided on a change of career. After answering a newspaper advert, he returned to England to take up the post of assistant teacher in a boy's boarding school in Ramsgate on the Kent coast. He sketched the view down to the sea from the school in Royal Road, and in his letters he described walks along the coast and a memorable storm at sea.
There's even a mention of a starry night – more of a one-star night, really: "That same night, I looked out of the window of my room at the roofs of the houses you can see from here, and at the tops of the elms dark against the night sky. Above the roofs, a single star, but a beautiful big friendly one."
When the school moved from Ramsgate to Isleworth, west of London, Van Gogh went, too, and at this time he turned seriously to religion, combining his school duties with those of a lay preacher in churches in Turnham Green and Richmond. He sketched Turnham Green and Petersham churches, which were later demolished, and Austin Friars church in the City, which was bombed in the Second World War but has since been rebuilt. He also moved to another school in Isleworth, based in an imposing 18th-century house called Holme Court, which is still there (at 158, Twickenham Road).
Apart from preaching and teaching, Van Gogh walked a great deal through the Thames-side fields and trees. He shunned the train and instead chose to walk the 80 miles from Ramsgate to London, and then another 20 to Welwyn, to which his sister had moved. He described it to Theo as "quite a stroll".
Van Gogh returned to the family home in the Netherlands at the end of 1876, obsessed with religion, lovelorn and depressed. Despite talking of returning to London, he never did. But in Young Vincent: the Story of Van Gogh's years in England, Martin Bailey demonstrates that the interest he had in Dickens was to trigger some of his later great works, such as Vincent's Chair, inspired by a scene in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Van Gogh's drawings can be viewed at www.vangogh-gallery.com. Martin Bailey's book is currently out of print
© 2001 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 04, 2003.

Bazaar - Saturday, 10th May 2003

Dear Neighbours
We can now let you know the date of our next Bazaar. Further details will follow in the next mailing.
Best wishes
Cathy
Kennington Association
335 Kennington Road SE11 4QE
Bazaar
St Mary Newington Church Hall
at
57 Kennington Park Road SE11 4JQ
on
Saturday, 10th May 2003
11am until 3pm
Boot Sale: 18 pitches available at Ł6 each - keep whatever you make. To book a pitch - please telephone 7793 0268.
New and nearly new items, books, tombola prizes, cakes, jumble, etc: If you have items you would be willing to donate - they can all be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (9th May) between 5.30-9pm - or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.

-- Cathy (kenningtonassn@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

What's On

For a listing of What's On within 5 miles of Kennington, check out this link:
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/1000whatson/All_Listings.cfm?whfilm=&whfilmid=&eventid=&channel=ALL&usercatid=10&category=10&where=Kennington&vicinitywhere=SE11%205&validated=Yes&searchtype=1&selwhen=-2&howfar=5

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

Magic Mondays

Magic Mondays
at
The White Bear Theatre Club
138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ
Tel: 020 7793 9193
**** Special Offer to Kennington Residents - only Ł5 ****
*** Children welcome ***
Beginning on Monday 7th April at 7.30pm, and again on Monday, 21st April, the White Bear Theatre Club is hosting a series of special evenings devoted to Magic with Magic Circle magicians - Paul Andrews, James Freedman, Andy Nyman and Mark Shortland who are all "excellent".
To book, ring 020 7793 9193

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

I'm moving out, says Cook as he goes walkies

I'm moving out, says Cook as he goes walkies
By Richard Alleyne
(Filed: 02/04/2003)
Telegraph
Robin Cook was making the most of his last few days in his grace and favour London flat yesterday, walking his Scottish terriers in the private gardens overlooking St James's Park.
Politically isolated over his opposition to the Iraq war and soon to be leaving, he cut a forlorn figure as he strolled around his Regency home in Carlton Gardens, off Pall Mall, with Tammy and Tashka trailing behind.
The former Foreign Secretary and Leader of the Commons has been stung by criticism that he should have vacated the premises as soon as he resigned last month. He felt this was particularly unfair because, at the time, his "heart was full" with the death of his mother.
Yesterday he said that he had agreed to move out of the flat this weekend. He did not say where he was going, but it is likely to be his flat in nearby Pimlico which he bought when he was last a backbencher.
Mr Cook, the MP for Livingston, has lived in the elegant four-storey home for six years, since he was made Foreign Secretary when Labour came to power.
Tucked away in the heart of what has become known as "Ceremonial London", it is a short walk from the House of Commons and Buckingham Palace. With its five bedrooms, three bathrooms and enormous ballroom, 1 Carlton Gardens, has been the grace and favour home of foreign secretaries since 1945.
Surrounded by the clubs of St James, banks and royalty, there are few smarter addresses in the country. The home is thought to be worth almost Ł10 million. Despite being demoted to Leader of the House in the last Cabinet reshuffle, he secured an agreement with Jack Straw, who took over at the Foreign Office, to keep the three-bedroom flat on the top floor.
The unusual arrangement, which saw Mr Straw entertaining in the house where Mr Cook was living, led to jokes over the marking of milk in the fridge and locking of food cupboards. But Mr Cook's latest resignation over his opposition to the war in Iraq has brought the house share to an end.
Tony Blair and Mr Straw, who preferred to live in his home in Kennington, south London, agreed that he could stay until he found other accommodation, but others felt he should have been evicted at once as a matter of principle.
Alan Duncan, a Tory foreign affairs spokesman, demanded that Mr Cook be ordered out of the flat immediately because he should not be allowed to conduct his anti-war campaign at the expense of the taxpayer.
As he left the house yesterday to walk to the Commons Mr Cook said: "At the time of my resignation I agreed with Jack Straw that I would leave by the Easter recess.
"Last week was a difficult time entirely taken up by the funeral arrangements for my mother. I intend to leave by the weekend."
Mr Cook's rise and fall on the property ladder has mirrored his career. When he became Foreign Secretary he had the run of four properties - the central London house, Chevening, the Kent country house that also came with the job, a pied-a-terre in London, and his family home in Edinburgh.
The break-up with his wife lost him his Ł300,000 home, and his demotion cost him Chevening. Now with the loss of his Cabinet post all he and Gaynor, his former secretary and new wife, have left is the flat in central London.
But there is one glimmer of hope on the horizon. His salary may have plummeted by Ł70,000 but there are rumours that he is writing his memoirs. Conservative estimates put the advance Ł1 million.
The former Cabinet minister in charge of reforming the Lords said yesterday that he might become the next Leader of the Commons if offered the job.
Jack Cunningham, MP for Copeland, who left the Cabinet four years ago and is currently chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, said that if he was approached he would give the role "very serious consideration".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

Cook faces eviction and big tax bill

Telegraph
Cook faces eviction and big tax bill
By Toby Helm and Benedict Brogan
(Filed: 01/04/2003)
Tony Blair was urged to evict Robin Cook from a "grace and favour" flat last night after it emerged that he is running his anti-war campaign while staying there at taxpayers' expense.
Mr Cook moved to 1 Carlton Gardens when he became Foreign Secretary six years ago and was allowed to remain after becoming Leader of the House. When he resigned from the Cabinet over the Iraq war two weeks ago he remained in the flat.
Alan Duncan, a Tory foreign affairs spokesman, demanded that Mr Cook be ordered out of the flat immediately. "It is an abuse," he said.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said that Mr Blair and Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, who preferred his own home in Kennington to Carlton Gardens, decided that Mr Cook could stay until he found other accommodation. It is understood a deadline of Easter was set.
Mr Cook could face a considerable tax liability now he is a backbench MP. Benefits in kind, such as free accommodation, are taxable.
Linda Beaney, a residential estate agent, valued the flat at between Ł5 million and Ł7 million.
"To rent it would cost about Ł4,000 a week," she said.
Mr Cook could be taxed Ł2,000 for every week he remains.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2003.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

NORTH LAMBETH FORUM LAUNCH

A new forum for North Lambeth
NORTH LAMBETH FORUM LAUNCH
Tuesday, 29th April 2003, 7pm
St Anselm's Church, Kennington Road
****All welcome****

Have your say - Your issues
North Lambeth People and Places Photo Exhibition
Funding information for your group/project
Get involved in a working group
To find out more or to obtain registration forms, call North Lambeth Town Centre Office on 7926 8295 or e-mail ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

Lilian Baylis transformation continues with PFI contract

Lambeth
Date: 31.03.2003
Ref: 1546
Press contact: Jo Rogers
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: jrogers3@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Lilian Baylis transformation continues with PFI contract
Lambeth's Local Education Authority (LEA) has signed its first PFI (Private Finance Initiative) contract. The contract is with FocusEducation (a Joint Venture consortium of Bovis Lend Lease and Bank of Scotland) - for a brand new building, on a new site, for Lilian Baylis School.
Government support worth Ł20.4 million will be available over 25 years to design, build, finance and operate the new school, and to maintain it as new over the period of the contract.
FocusEducation will start work on the Kennington Road Depot Site in Kennington Lane, SE11, now that the PFI agreement has been signed. The new school building will be ready to open by January 2005, catering for around 600 pupils; and Lilian Baylis will continue to be the only non-selective, mixed, community secondary school in North Lambeth.
The new building is the next step in the transformation of Lilian Baylis School. During the last two years the school has become oversubscribed; results have improved; attendance has improved to above the national average; and the school has started to offer a huge range of exciting extras - including Saturday school, palmtop computers for home use, and courses for the more able at South Bank University and Lambeth College. Next year it expects to become a specialist technology school.
Lilian Baylis School is currently in the top 5% of schools in England in terms of 'value added' at KS4 - that is, the progress made by pupils between being tested at Key Stage 3 (Year 9) and again at Key Stage 4 (Year 11). This was featured in the league tables published by the government in January this year.
"The new building will offer state-of-the-art facilities including open learning areas where students can use computers from 7am to 6pm to study independently," says Councillor Anthony Bottrall, executive member for education.
"The fact that Focus Education will manage the facilities will reduce the burden on the staff - freeing them to concentrate even more of their energy on continuing to raise educational standards."
The new school building is seen as an important contribution to the regeneration of the local area. A Community Learning Resource Centre will be also part of the new development, offering a resource for the whole of the North Lambeth community. It was this feature that led to the school winning the national competition for specialist school status sponsorship from the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists (WCIT) - one of the leading City of London livery companies.
ends
Note to Editors
If you would like to come into Lilian Baylis School for a photo to accompany this release, please contact Gary Phillips (Headteacher) on 0797 192 4763.
Lilian Baylis School works in partnership to raise achievement and aspirations with The Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, South Bank University and Lambeth College.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

The antidote to Shakespeare

The antidote to Shakespeare
Even the Jacobeans had a problem with The Taming of the Shrew. So one of them wrote a fiery sequel - in which the women bite back. Gregory Doran on John Fletcher
Gregory Doran
Wednesday April 2, 2003
The Guardian
What is it about The Taming of the Shrew that excites such contradictory reactions? It is widely regarded as a deeply problematic play, yet it is very popular. It is what they called in Shakespeare's day a "get penny": a sure-fire box office earner. Indeed, according to a recent Royal Shakespeare Company survey of the past 16 years in Stratford, The Taming of the Shrew is the second most popular play in the canon, even though it hasn't been produced on the main stage in eight years.
The trouble centres on Katherine's final speech, in which she outlines the role of the wife in relation to her husband. Germaine Greer famously argued in The Female Eunuch that Kate's speech is "the greatest defence of Christian monogamy ever written". On the other hand, as far back as 1897, George Bernard Shaw described the last scene as "altogether disgusting to modern sentiments", and requiring some apology.
I had assumed the play expressed sentiments that were commonly held in Shakespeare's day, and that it was only in recent times that people have begun to question its sexual politics. But then I came across a play by one of Shakespeare's contemporaries that changed my mind.
The first Shakespeare I was asked to direct for the RSC was All Is True (at the Swan in 1996), a play about Henry VIII, on which he collaborated with John Fletcher. Sitting in on rehearsals was a Fletcher expert, Gordon McMullan, and I challenged him to come up with any plays by Shakespeare's collaborator that were any good. He gave me two: The Island Princess and A Woman's Prize. The first I directed last year as part of the Jacobean season, which has just completed its West End run. The second took my breath away.
For its current production of A Woman's Prize, the RSC has gone with the play's much better subtitle: The Tamer Tamed. It is a sequel (some might call it an "antidote") to The Taming of the Shrew, in which Petruchio is married for a second time and is tamed by his second wife, Maria. Katherine has died (of what, we never learn) and her sister Bianca turns up at the wedding to warn Petruchio's gentle new bride that she must put her foot down now, or "never look for quiet hour more". What follows is a very funny play in which Maria twists the befuddled Petruchio around her little finger. It ends with an epilogue that sets out the play's purpose: "To teach both sexes due equality/And as they stand bound to love mutually." Which was pretty radical for the time.
Fletcher wrote The Tamer Tamed in 1611, less than 20 years after Shakespeare's original. Clearly Shrew was still in the repertoire of the King's Men, and was popular and familiar enough for audiences to enjoy the cross-references. But why did he write it? Shakespeare was perfectly capable of writing his own sequels. He wrote two for Falstaff. Perhaps Fletcher felt that Shrew needed updating, or answering, even then.
The role of women in society was certainly changing. You need only read the huge number of pamphlets and broadsheets railing at the way women were asserting themselves to grasp the intensity of the debate. It reached its climax in Joseph Swetnam's fiercely misogynistic 1615 diatribe, The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward and Inconstant Women. The very title reveals its essential male paranoia.
What did Shakespeare think of The Tamer Tamed? We don't know for sure, but I think he must have approved, for within a year or so he came out of his virtual retirement in Stratford-upon-Avon, returned to London and collaborated with Fletcher on three plays: The Two Noble Kinsmen, All Is True, and Cardenio which has since been lost.
This season I am directing Shrew and Tamer for the RSC at Stratford. As far as we know, it is the first time the two plays have been brought together in full productions since they were presented for Charles I and Henrietta Maria in 1633. So why, people ask me suspiciously, has the play been so neglected until now? Is it perhaps not worth reviving?
Only public and critical reaction will tell. But the reason for the neglect of Fletcher and his fellow playwrights is more complicated. There are roughly 600 scripts available, which were written during Shakespeare's lifetime; of those we are familiar with only a fraction. They are not all worth doing. But many are. The way Shakespeare dominates the repertoire is part of the reason for their neglect.
Take Fletcher. The very fact that he collaborated with Shakespeare has, I would argue, tarnished his reputation rather than enhanced it. Far from recommending him to our attention, it alerts us to his inferiority, when his talent is set beside the titanic genius of the man described as "not of an age but for all time".
The way Shakespeare has pushed all others aside is aptly demonstrated to me when I go in search of Fletcher's grave one morning after rehearsals. He is buried in Southwark Cathedral, a few steps from where the Globe once stood; Fletcher, like half the actors listed at the front of the First Folio, was a member of this parish.
Inside the church there is, of course, a monument to Shakespeare (his body rests in Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon). It is a rather silly Edwardian affair portraying the bard reclining uncomfortably in a Bankside meadow. Above it is a stained-glass window showing characters from his plays, which was unveiled in 1954. Apparently, all the windows in the south aisle used to depict Shakespeare and his contemporaries, but a bomb that fell in Borough Market blew them all out in 1940 and only Shakespeare made it back. It is a telling physical manifestation of how his genius has overshadowed the reputation and talent of the other playwrights of his day.
There is no mention of Fletcher's tomb in the cathedral's welcoming pamphlet, but the guide points me towards the chancel: "I think you'll find him in front of the choir stalls with that other dramatist fellow." I suppose she means Francis Beaumont, with whom Fletcher wrote some dozen plays and with whom he is most often associated. The foreword to their collected works, published in 1647, records: "Since they were never parted while they lived, I conceive it not equitable to separate their ashes." This indissoluble couple, we are told, shared not only a house in Bankside, the same cloak and clothes, but a bed - and not, I think, in the Eric and Ernie sense. So I am surprised to discover that "the other dramatist fellow" buried in Fletcher's tomb is not Beaumont but Philip Massinger, author of The Roman Actor.
When Fletcher died of the plague in 1625, Massinger succeeded him as chief dramatist of the King's Men. And when Massinger died, he had himself buried in his friend's tomb, even though he was not a member of the parish. A poem written at the time, and allegedly intended for an epitaph, reads: "So whom on earth, nothing did part, beneath/Here in their fames, they lie in spite of death." Perhaps "never parted" was the Jacobean equivalent of the old obituary cliche "never married".
But perhaps I am falsely appropriating Fletcher. Perhaps I see in his perspective on male- female relationships and bully-boy chauvinism in The Tamer Tamed, for example, an outsider's objectivity, which I assign to his sexuality because I am myself gay. Perhaps I want to counter what Katherine Duncan-Jones, writing about Shakespeare's sonnets, describes as a "determination to heterosexualise". I wonder: if I do claim Fletcher's place among the pantheon of writers who share my sexuality, will it alter the audience's perception of his work one jot?
I leave Fletcher's tomb with a sense of having come closer to the playwright. But when I arrive home, a parcel is waiting for me. It is a mid-Victorian edition of Massinger's plays, which I have ordered, over the internet, from somewhere in Ohio. (The other reason these plays aren't produced very often is their unavailability.) In the introduction I discover that in the 1830s the Southwark church had become so damp and derelict that there was a vote to demolish it, a vote that was ultimately reversed. Repairs were begun, during which the floor was levelled. Apparently, the dust of Fletcher and Massinger was removed when 3ft of surface earth was shifted from the church, and their remains now lie under the kitchen floor of a house in Doddington Grove, Kennington.
In the end, as Jonson said of Shakespeare, Fletcher's monument must be his work. He lives on in the performance of his plays - plays that are certainly worth reviving.
· The Tamer Tamed is in rep at the Swan Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, until November 3. The Taming of the Shrew is in rep at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-Upon-Avon, until November 8. Box office: 0870 609 1110.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2003.

Old Local Photographs

Old Local Photographs
If you are interested in history of the area you might like to look at the European Visual Archive at http://192.87.107.12/eva/uk/search.asp which has loads of interesting old photos.
Peter Reed

-- Peter (peter@bigpeter.fsnet.co.uk), March 31, 2003.

Successful initiative to help rough sleepers in Waterloo

Lambeth
Date: 25.03.2003
Ref: 1540
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Successful initiative to help rough sleepers in Waterloo
Lambeth Council, in partnership with homeless charity St Mungo's and local police has completed a successful a two-week operation to move on rough sleepers and street drinkers in the Waterloo area, with the number of rough sleepers being reduced by 50%.
The operation had two aims - the first was to disrupt the behaviour patterns of the entrenched 'street population' so as to encourage them to seek appropriate professional help, while the second was to 'deep clean' areas traditionally occupied and soiled by rough sleepers. Many of these areas around Waterloo Station and the BFI Imax cinema are often not thoroughly cleaned by the Council's contractor's staff due to violence or the threat of violence from the local street population.
The operation combined an enforcement approach from Kennington police to move people from areas requiring deep clean by Lambeth Street Care. St Mungo's, via their street outreach teams and through referrals from Kennington police and Lambeth Street Care, were able to engage rough sleepers and offer to help them in variety of ways.
Councillor Peter Truesdale, Leader of Lambeth Council, said: "This operation has been very successful and represents a good example of partnership working between Lambeth, Kennington police and St Mungo's. It has led to a huge improvement for people living and working around Waterloo and, importantly, successful outcomes for many rough sleepers in the area."
The initiative move was welcomed by housing charity St Mungo's South London contact and assessment team manager Richard Cunningham. "St Mungo's feels that Waterloo should be a safe and pleasant place for all the community members. We are supporting Lambeth council's efforts to regenerate the area by offering intensive outreach services to the deeply entrenched rough sleepers who use the walkways and underpasses around the IMAX cinema complex.
"Our efforts are proving successful and a significant number of this group are now engaging in our housing and health services, " he stated.
Ian Lucas, Facilities Manager at the British Film Institute, said: "The paved areas and tunnels all show significant improvement and this has been welcomed both by ourselves and our patrons, as well as our corporate clients. The reduction in the number of rough sleepers has had a positive impact on the high number of tourists that visit ourselves and other local entertainment venues."
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 29, 2003.

Concert for troops

On song for troops
Mar 28 2003
South London Press
THE stars are coming out in Kennington on Sunday night to boost the morale of troops fighting in Iraq. Forces' sweetheart Claire Sweeney will top the bill at a concert at the Thai Pavilion East, Kennington Road.
It will be shown to more than 50,000 servicemen and women in the Gulf. Stars including Shane Ritchie and pop idol Hayley Evetts will be performing in front of an audience made up of top celebs including members of the cast of EastEnders and Coronation Street.
And across town, one south Londoner will be paying her own heartfelt tribute to the troops when she appears at the London Palladium. Former Royal Marine Michelle Cameron, from East Dulwich, is dedicating her performance at the famous theatre to her husband - who is on active service in the Gulf.
Michelle has not heard from husband Alasdair for more than three weeks. She said: "At first we got letters and calls but that all stopped when the war started. I'm trying not to watch too much news because it's a bit too close to home." She will dedicate her performance of All That Jazz to Alasdair and the rest of the men and women serving in the Gulf.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 29, 2003.

Satellite concert for troops

BBC News
Satellite concert for troops
Stars from the entertainment world including singer Claire Sweeney are holding a variety concert to boost the morale of troops fighting in Iraq.
Forces sweetheart Sweeney, comedian Al Murray and Pop Idol contestants Hayley Evetts and Jessica Garlick will perform to a celebrity audience on Sunday.
The concert, being held in London, will be recorded and beamed around the world to British troops by satellite.
It will also be converted into a DVD so it can be sent to forces fighting in the Gulf.
The star-studded audience will also be entertained by broadcaster Nicholas Parsons, Hi-Di-Hi star Su Pollard and comic Paul Zenon at the Thai Pavilion restaurant in Kennington, south London.
Hosted by Gary Wilmot, invited guests include actors Tom Conti and Joely Richardson and stars from Coronation Street and EastEnders.
In between acts the audience will get the opportunity to record their own personal messages for the troops.
Support
A letter of support written by the Duke of York, Prince Andrew, will be read out on the evening by General Sir Roger Wheeler.
The concert is being organised by producer James Black on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Combined Services Broadcasting.
The event has been hastily been put together in less than a week as a production team works around the clock to get the variety show ready.
Mr Black said everyone had been keen to take part in the event, offering their services for free.
"Everyone wanted to help out. There is a strong feeling that we now must show our support regardless of political differences because they are our troops out there fighting," said Mr Black.
The show will be seen by up to 200,000 service personnel around the world, including the thousands of men and women fighting in the Iraq war.
Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/showbiz/2892611.stm Published: 2003/03/27 16:29:24 © BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 28, 2003.

Congestion Charging

28/03/03 - Congestion charge section
First the good news...
By David Williams, Motoring Editor
Evening Standard
If you are battling your way into work by car, but find that in central London all is plain sailing, here is why. RAC figures show that the number of vehicles using many roads in the centre has been slashed since congestion charging began.
On the road bordering the charging zone, levels have fallen by up to a quarter, according to the snapshot survey one month into the scheme.
Inside the charging zone rush-hour traffic fell by 15 per cent, while offpeak traffic fell by up to 25 per cent. Along the boundary road circling the scheme, the RAC recorded a 25 per cent drop in traffic at Elephant and Castle and 15 per cent less on Euston Road. There was a 15 per cent drop in Park Lane, Vauxhall Bridge Road and on Tower Bridge.
But traffic in areas bordering the zone, such as Kennington, were hit with up to two per cent more traffic as a result of congestion charging, the RAC said.
These latest findings back a separate survey by the Evening Standard and the RAC Foundation which found that journeys around the boundary road are actually quicker than before the charge began.
It had been feared that the "inner ring road" could become gridlocked as thousands of motorists diverted to avoid the Ł 5 fee. But key sections of the 14-mile road were quicker when I drove it with the foundation's Kevin Delaney. Our trip took four minutes longer - but only because a breakdown partially blocked Edgware Road and a motorist held us up at Lisson Grove.
In the week before the scheme was launched the trip took one hour and nine minutes. In our latest circuit the same journey took one hour and 13 minutes. The inner ring road includes major highways such as Marylebone Road, Commercial Street, New Kent Road, Kennington Lane and Hyde Park Corner. Even Transport for London forecast that sections would be busier.
In fact, our journey between the Planetarium and Angel, Islington, took 13 minutes compared with 16 minutes before congestion charging. From Tower Bridge to Elephant and Castle took eight minutes compared with 11; Elephant and Castle to Victoria took 10 minutes compared with 12.
Our journey was slower only between Marble Arch and Lisson Grove - after the two incidents - taking 15 minutes compared with six in the week before charging began.
Transport for London says that while it believed traffic levels on the road had risen, the new Ł 1.2 million London Traffic Control Centre at Victoria was managing flow along the road much more effectively.
However, the Foundation warns it is still far too soon to draw conclusions about the success of congestion charging. It said traffic levels fell by 16 per cent last year with motorists deterred by "atrocious" gridlock and that, combined with a downturn in the economy, London was experiencing a general reduction in traffic.
And while London was blighted by roadworks and traffic light changes, which made some journeys almost impossible last year, major works were suspended now and traffic lights returned to normal settings to let congestion charging bed in. TfL says potential bottlenecks along the boundary road are being smoothed out by its Real Time Traffic Management - a computer-controlled system that matches traffic lights to traffic volumes.
With police and TfL officials working more closely together in the new LTCC, more efficient co-operation is possible when incidents such as crashes or breakdowns threaten disruption.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/traffic/congestioncharge/articles/4068469?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 28, 2003.

Sure Start Event

Kennington Sure Start
Making a difference for under 4's and their families
This Saturday
March 29th
10.30-12.30
at
Walnut Tree Walk School

Fun Morning
Food, refreshments and entertainments for Under 4's and their families
Bouncy Castle
Face Painting
Entertainment
Crčche
And a chance to find out about Sure Start's plans for Kennington over the next ten years. Phone 0800 328 3513 for more details or just turn up.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 27, 2003.

3-yr-old hurt after gang attack taxi

3-yr-old hurt after gang attack taxi
Mar 25 2003
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
A THREE-YEAR-OLD child needed emergency surgery for head injuries when a gang of men surrounded a taxi he was in and hurled bricks through its windows.
One of the missiles smashed through the front passenger window and hit the terrified boy, causing serious injuries.
The taxi's petrified driver managed to escape and rushed the injured child, travelling with a 23-year-old man, to hospital where he underwent surgery.
The child is now in a stable condition at a south London hospital. He is expected to make a full recovery.
The apparently motiveless attack happened when the taxi driver picked up the man and child in Dorset Road, Clapham, at lunchtime on Tuesday last week.
The taxi had stopped close to a parade of shops in the road at around 12.30pm and its driver sounded his horn to make the man and child aware of his arrival.
The man put the youngster in the rear passenger seat and he climbed into the front passenger seat.
But as the vehicle pulled away the gang of men, aged between 20 and 30, surrounded the taxi and started to hurl bricks, stones and other missiles at it.
Detective Sergeant George Dunn of Kennington CID said: "This was an apparently motiveless attack that has resulted in very serious injuries to a defenceless three-year-old boy."
The suspects are described as black males, aged in their 20s, with one male aged in his 30s. No further descriptions were available.
Information to DS Dunn at Kennington CID on 020-8649 2411 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 26, 2003.

Coaches parked around Spring Gardens

South London Press
Letters to the Editor
It's poisoning our children
Mar 21 2003
LIVING in Oval Way at the Vauxhall end of Kennington Lane, I have noticed many coaches from all parts of the country and abroad having unloaded their passengers.
They then park for the rest of the day in Oval Way and the streets around Spring Gardens especially, with their engines running what seems continuously until the time comes to move off and reload their cargos - anything from four to six hours. Will you please do something about this Mr Livingstone? Similarly, your congestion charge camera vans have been parked in Tyers Street with engines running the whole time they are there.
It's all poisoning the children.
James Michael by e-mail

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 25, 2003.

Investment

Will the bonds bubble burst?
Small investors are pouring savings into bond funds to avoid stock market turbulence. Patrick Collinson reports
Saturday March 22, 2003
The Guardian
Corporate bonds have been the perfect safe haven during the turbulent stock market. While the average UK growth unit trust is down by 41.5% over the past three years, the average UK corporate bond fund is up 18.1%.
Small investors are pouring money into bond funds in their droves. Corporate bonds have been at the top of the best sellers list every month for the past seven months, and advisers expect them to be the most popular stock market Isa this year.
But the surge in sales is provoking concern in some quarters. Is there a dangerous bubble in bonds, akin to the technology bubble that burst in 2000? Brian Dennehy of financial advisers Dennehy Waller thinks so.
Last September, he issued a warning about the many hidden risks in bond investing. Chief among these is inflation, which destroys the value of bonds. Now he is concerned that bond fund managers are failing to protect investors from the possibility of deflation.
Deflation is no friend to bond investors: in the early 1930s, according to Mr Dennehy, triple-B bonds on Wall Street made capital losses of an average of 56%. Even triple-A bonds saw losses of 23%.
His conclusion? Avoid high-yield and head for triple-As and gilts only. "Funds with higher quality bonds will provide diversification in a deflationary environment, when equities and many other bonds will be falling sharply, and there is a flight to quality."
But M&G, which runs the UK's biggest corporate bond fund, is adamant that bonds are safe and will continue to offer decent, low volatility returns. M&G's bond chief Jim Leaviss says: "Bonds have now outperformed equities over a 10-year plus timescale, and with less risk too. The good news for bond investors? There's no reason why this can't continue."
Mr Leaviss says bonds will be supported by weak global growth and subdued inflation. He believes the rate of inflation will fall back soon, partly as oil price hikes drop out. But it does not fear outright deflation, except perhaps in Germany.
The central message is to expect more rate cuts in the UK, US and Europe.
But should investors buy funds investing in low-yield triple-A bonds, or plump for riskier, but higher yielding funds investing in triple-B bonds? Mr Leaviss says the best value is in high yield bonds. "High yield definitely warrants a second look. We see a lot of value in triple-Bs corporate bonds."
These bonds are from companies which have been through the pain of recession and cutbacks and whose cashflow is relatively secure.
Dr Keith Wright from North Wales is the first winners in our Investor of the Year 2003 challenge, sponsored by fund management group Artemis and run in conjunction with The Observer and Money Observer. Dr Wright's gain of 0.89% wins him Ł150 in cash plus a weekend break at a Marriott hotel.
Second place was won by David Meek from Buckinghamshire, with a gain of 0.64%, followed by Janet Ferguson from Thurso in Caithness, Hugh O'Kane from Belfast and Dr Tariq Hamid from Kennington in London. Each will receive Ł100.
Worried? Play safe with a cash Isa
For cautious investors who don't like the look of the stock market and believe bond funds are also too risky, a cash Isa is a safe bet. You can earn 4%-plus with a cash Isa and your capital is completely secure.
However, the April 5 deadline for using this year's Isa allowance is drawing near. You can put Ł3,000 into a cash Isa in any one tax year, and the majority of accounts allow you instant access to your cash.
Best buys include Northern Rock's 30-day notice mini cash Isa, currently paying 4.45%, though this rate will fall to 4.2% on March 31 following the last base rate reduction. This rate includes a 0.55% interest bonus for the first six months.
Monmouthshire building society is paying 4.25% on its instant access Isa while those of fering 4.2% include the banking arm of supermarket Safeway, Chatham-based Kent Reliance building society and West Midlands-based Tipton & Coseley building society.
Phone and internet bank Intelligent Finance recently bucked the trend of falling Isa rates by raising its rate from 3.7% to 4.05% and has also introduced a guarantee to pay at least 0.3% above the base rate until April 5, 2004.
Meanwhile, National Savings & Investments index-linked savings certificates are looking interesting. The rate on index-linked certificates is pegged to the RPI, currently 3.2%, plus you get a fixed amount - currently 0.5% on the two-year certificate and 0.8% on the five-year. All returns are tax-free.
Rupert Jones
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 22, 2003.

Royal Road Day Care Centre for the elderly under threat of closure

Day centre misery
Mar 21 2003
By Jon Ryder
South London Press
A DAY centre for the elderly will be shut down if councillors decide it can be sacrificed to save cash.
Royal Road Day Care Centre in Kennington caters for pensioners during the week and offers specialist care for dementia sufferers at the weekends.
But clients and their families have been told the doors could soon close for good.
Kim Beaumont's mother goes to the centre. She told the South London Press a lot of families were very concerned for the future. "People are really upset about it and nobody knows what's going on," she said. "They say everyone will be found alternative places, but a lot of people really like it there and have been going for quite some time.
"It feels like this could be just the start and that a lot of places will soon be closed down to save the council's budget."
A spokeswoman for the Southwark council said: "Southwark council is currently carrying out a consultation exercise as part of the modernisation of its community care day services.
"One element of this consultation is the possible closure of Royal Road Day Care Centre. However, no decision will be taken until the outcome of the consultation is considered by the council's executive committee in May.
"The welfare of older people in the borough who need community day care will be at the core of any decision made by the council."
She added: "Everyone who is assessed as needing a day care service will be provided with one."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 22, 2003.

Andrew Strickley's funeral

Dove is in the air
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
A COMMUNITY clubbed together to raise Ł3,000 for the funeral of a much-loved window cleaner.
The big-hearted Kennington residents marked Andrew Strickley's passing by releasing 41 doves into the sky outside his favourite pub.
The graceful birds took flight by The Little Apple on Kennington Lane on Tuesday, where the 41-year-old was a regular.
When Andrew - who had a brain tumour - passed away at King's College Hospital, friends were unable to track down any family members, so the community stepped in to help.
The funeral was also funded by the management board of the Penwith Manor estate where he used to clean windows.
About 150 people attended the funeral at West Norwood Cemetery after following a horse-drawn cortege from Kennington.
Rob Corlett, 56, chair of the Penwith Manor Estate Management Board, described how Andrew would clean the windows of disabled people who were not on his round because he wanted to help them out.
He added: "People recognised he had always been a friend for them. If they had ever been down on their luck, he rallied around. He was just that sort of personality."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 22, 2003.

Squatters

Ravers play supermarket club card - for 24 hours
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
A SUPERMARKET has pledged to secure an empty piece of land overrun by up to 600 ravers who held a rowdy 24-hour party.
Besieged Kennington residents described being woken up in the early hours by a deep bass beat as ravers over-ran an empty office block and adjoining land, owned by Tesco.
And the thumping bass continued to shake their Georgian homes until a court order forced the party-goers to leave.
Kennington Lane resident, Steve May, said: "There was a big thumping noise - a very deep base that got louder and louder as the day went on."
Another resident - who did not want to be named - said: "We were woken at 3am on Sunday. It was so loud that the walls were rattling in our flats."
She said she saw youngsters squeezing through a gap in the gate and there were 300 or 400 people milling around, adding: "We had a sleepless night and during the day the yard was occupied by these people who were treating the place like a latrine."
Residents called cops who said they couldn't do anything as so many people had got onto the site.
That afternoon, as the noise continued, Mr May had a prospective buyer look at his flat. After hearing the racket coming from the other side of his garden wall, the buyer withdrew. Mr May said: "He just couldn't believe the noise."
Residents became increasingly frustrated as the rave carried on through to Monday morning.
On Monday, Tesco applied to the High Court to get an order to evict the squatters who eventually left on Tuesday afternoon. A Tesco spokesman said: "The High Court order was granted far more quickly than is sometimes the case.
"We contacted the police immediately and they came to the site but their hands were tied as they had no powers to evict people.
"We are strengthening up security and are going to make it nigh on impossible for them to get back into the building. It will be very difficult for them to get in a second time."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 21, 2003.

Celia Sings

Charged
Mar 21 2003
South London Press
A LITTLE bit of politics and a whole evening of jazz sums up tomorrow's concert by the Kennington Association.
The gig is to raise funds for its failed court action over the congestion charge and will feature chansons and jazz in both French and English.
*** Celia Sings, 7pm tomorrow, at St Anselm's Church, Kennington Cross. For tickets (Ł5 concert only, Ł10 concert, table seat nibbles and a glass of wine) call 020-7793 0268 or email KenningtonAssn@aol.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 21, 2003.

Come along to a community event to discuss Vauxhall's parks

Dear colleague
Please find below an invitation to a community event which I am forwarding on behalf of Kassandra Polyzoides, Greening Vauxhall.
Kind regards,
Gerald Gohler
Area Information Officer, North Lambeth
North Lambeth Town Centre Office
London Borough of Lambeth
Community Renewal Unit
Chief Executive's Department
phone: 020 7926 8295
fax: 020 7926 2778
e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk
website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
20 Newburn Street
London SE11 5PJ
Come along to a community event to discuss Vauxhall's parks - everyone is welcome
Lambeth Council's Greening Vauxhall team, the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space and Marie Curie Cancer Care would like to invite you to a community event at Lambeth Walk Open Space, Fitzalan Street, SE11 on Saturday 29 March 2003, from 12pm onwards. The nearest tube is Kennington and buses 3, 59 and 159 pass nearby. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided free of charge. We would like to hear your views on how we can improve the parks covered by the Greening Vauxhall project, which are: Kennington Park, Lambeth Walk Open Space, Lambeth High Street Recreational Ground, Pedlar's Park, Vauxhall Park and Spring Gardens.
We'd also like to tell you more about the first 'Doorstep Green' project in North Lambeth, which is providing funds to involve the local community in how to improve Lambeth Walk Open Space. You'll have the opportunity to discuss your views, hopes and ideas and offer suggestions for improving this green space.
Marie Curie Cancer Care will also be there promoting their 'Fields of Hope' daffodil gardens, one of which was planted in the Lambeth Walk Open Space in December 2002. If you have any ideas where the next 'Field of Hope' should be planted in the Greening Vauxhall area, do come along and let us know. It's going to be a fun day for the kids as well from 12pm, with a children's art workshop led by artist Phil Coy at 'Roots & Shoots', Walnut Tree Walk, SE11. The workshop is for children aged from 6 - 14 and aims to get them involved in an enjoyable way in developing new artwork and ideas for improving our parks. They'll also be free face painting and balloon modelling on Lambeth Walk Open Space.
Sure Start Kennington - parents event on Saturday 29 March
Are you a parent or carer with children under four years old living in the Kennington area? If you are, we would also like to invite you to an event being held right next to the Lambeth Walk Open Space at Walnut Tree Walk Primary School from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 29 March. Sure Start Kennington is a programme of new services for under fours and their families in Kennington. There will be:
· a free crčche (please ring 0800 328 3513 to book a space)
· free, fun entertainment for your children
· lunch for all the family.
Call Sure Start Kennington for more information (freephone 0800 328 3513) or Sure Start's officer Beth Higgins on her mobile (07956 327 601).

-- Gerald (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), March 20, 2003.

Property

19/03/03 - Property news section
'We moved to escape the noise'
By Anthea Masey
Evening Standard
Peet Hahn makes hats and decorative hangings from felt, and her husband, Carl, makes chunky furniture and sculptures that are sold in trendy Notting Hill shops such as Themes and Variations.
Five years ago the couple and their two children, Lewis and Ejan, swapped a live/work space in Kennington for a farm with lots of outbuildings and 80 acres of land in south Devon. "We moved to get away from the noise and population of London, and because we wanted more outdoor space in which to work," says Peet.
The couple have no regrets and, even though Lewis and Ejan were teenagers when the family made the move, they too have adapted well to the change. Whereas in London their lives were ruled by the Northern line, here in Devon, it is the bus timetable. The family are thriving.
"It did take time to develop new markets for our work," says Peet. "People used to just pop into our workshop in Kennington and see what we were up to. Now we do a lot of craft fairs and we show in the local craft galleries instead."
Unlike a lot of townies, who would have simply rented out their land to a local farmer, Peet and Carl have taken a much more active interest. "Our land is in Defra's [Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs] Stewardship scheme, which is designed to increase biodiversity and reduce the environmental impact of farming," Peet says.
"We have planted over 1,000 metres of new hedge and to avoid over-farming our land we rent it out by head of sheep and cattle rather than acreage."
For further information about Carl Hahn's furniture, visit www.carlhahn.com.
Find this story at
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/3890752?version=1
©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 19, 2003.

Lambeth and Southwark in Historic Co-operation Meeting

Lambeth
Date: 11.03.2003
Ref: 1525
Press contact: Jo Rogers
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: jrogers2@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Lambeth and Southwark in Historic Co-operation Meeting
The Leaders and Deputy Leaders of Lambeth and Southwark have held an historic meeting concerning co-operation - the first for over 25 years. The Chief Executives of the two boroughs also attended in their capacity as heads of the paid service at the two authorities.
Productive talks took place on a number of issues, including:
· Joint working over regeneration projects
· Exchanges of information on planned school places
· Controlled Parking Zones
· The Herne Hill Town Centre, which straddles the boundaries of both boroughs
· Sports facilities close to the borough boundaries, at Kennington Park and Herne Hill
"Lambeth is determined to work in partnership with neighbouring boroughs," said Councillor Peter Truesdale, Lambeth Council Leader. "The dialogue will continue on a regular basis and involves staff in education, regeneration and transport."
"Following on from our recent talks with Wandsworth this is another step forward," said Councillor John Whelan, Deputy Council Leader. "We are grateful to our colleagues in Southwark for joining these discussions."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 18, 2003.

Special Deal from Kennington Lane Restaurant

Special Deal from Kennington Lane Restaurant
I'd like to recommend to you a special
Express Set Menu
now being offered at the Kennington Lane Restaurant and Bar, 205-209 Kennington Lane, SE11 5QS.
From Mondays to Fridays, 12-6pm they are offering 2 courses for Ł7.50, or 3 courses for Ł9.95 from this menu:
Starters
Soup of the Day
Moules Mariniere
Egg Mayonnaise Salad
Main Courses
Rib Eye Steak & Potato Dauphinois
Seafood Tagliatelle & Tomato Sauce
Choice of Omelettes & Mixed Salad
Desserts
Creme Brulee
Creme Caramel
Home Made Ice Cream
I had mussels and steak, plus a glass of wine and the whole bill, including service charge, came to less than Ł12. The meal was delicious as usual from this excellent restaurant.
Telephone on 7793 8313, fax 7793 8323 or you can check out their website at http://www.kenningtonlanerestaurant.com/
Enjoy!

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 17, 2003.

Enough council homes already

South London Press
Enough council homes already
Mar 14 2003
HOW dare Stephen Hack, of Myatts Fields Tenants' Association, claim to represent, it seems to me, the views of most local people in this opposition to the proposed regeneration of Myatts Fields South Estate (Letters, March 7). Many residents I have spoken to welcome the proposed transfer to a housing association and the construction of 500 new homes for sale.
North Brixton desperately needs a much broader social mix and this can only be achieved by creating more opportunities for home ownership, particularly since the Government has sabotaged the right to buy by restricting maximum discounts. Many people welcome the present imaginative proposals because they will lead to a more socially mixed community.
North Brixton has far too many council homes already - we don't want more of the same.
Owen Dignan
Salisbury Place
Langton Road
Kennington

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 17, 2003.

'Dad and Liz couldn't be together'

Saturday 15 March 2003
Telegraph
'Dad and Liz couldn't be together'
(Filed: 14/03/2003) Kate Burton talks to Elizabeth Grice about her father's alcoholism and his fiery relationship with step-mother Elizabeth Taylor
Kate Burton has seen the squalid church hall cubby-hole where it is proposed we might do the interview and refuses to go inside. It is little more than a cell, very cold, with a gaping hole in the ceiling.
Under a washbasin with no soap, there is a dirty grey towel, two half-used bags of sand and a bucket. The furnishings consist of two derelict microwaves, a large box of crockery, a trolley laden with unwashed glasses and a long, plastic-covered bench, grey with dust.
The company manager is suggesting the loan of a fan heater to take off the chill. "Can you believe it?" Burton asks. "We are rehearsing a West End play!" She is not being grand or actressy, just amazed, having come from New York, where rehearsal spaces are vast, purpose-built and presumably hygienic. We know about the backstage seediness of most West End theatres, so it shouldn't be a surprise to find that the church halls where actors rehearse are equally unappetising.
This one, in south London, is temporary home to the luminous cast of Chekhov's Three Sisters - Kristin Scott Thomas, Kate Burton, Madeleine Worrall, Douglas Hodge - and it is simply amazing that big-name stars are prepared to spend seven or eight weeks here, eating packed lunches or scouring the grim neighbourhood for a take-away. It must say something about the magnetic pull of the London stage.
As we adjourn to a pub across the road, Hodge, in crash helmet, flashes past on his bicycle. But Kate Burton, daughter of Richard, fresh from success on Broadway, has heroically travelled on the Northern Line to Kennington, possibly London Underground's most insalubrious station. She's uncritical, unfazed. She's a daughter of the Welsh valleys and she's here to make a late debut on the West End stage. "It's my favourite play. The cast is as good as it gets. It's just a dream."
Uncomplicated Kate. Practical, amused, unshrewish Kate. How does she do it? She was four when her father's grand passion for Elizabeth Taylor on the set of Cleopatra in 1962 broke up her family life and caused an international furore. Her mother, the actress Sybil Williams, fled to New York with her two small daughters to escape the publicity and begin a new life. She married Jordan Christopher, a rock musician turned actor, who was Kate's adored stepfather for 30 years.
Kate would spend several weeks every summer in the volatile Burton-Taylor menage. She tries to make it sound normal, but living on yachts and film sets and with visitors such as Ringo Starr, John Gielgud, Ava Gardner, Sean Connery and Peter O'Toole, how normal was normal? This is the little girl whom Jackie Kennedy famously helped to find her knickers during the New York City blackout of 1965.
Though fun at the time, the Burton-Taylor lifestyle seems to have left her unimpressed by celebrity. She couldn't understand how they coped with the lack of privacy, and witnessed the damage alcohol did to their marriage. "Things always went awry when they were drinking. They'd become caricatures of themselves. He'd brood and she'd become crazy and wacky," Kate once observed.
She says now that even when Burton's alcoholism "made things a bit touch and go, they were always dealt with with great humour and caring". After his death, Kate says she felt the vulnerability of being the child of an alcoholic and, even though she hardly drinks herself, attended Alcoholics Anonymous - "I felt the need to talk". She says her father would never have gone to AA. "It makes me howl with laughter to think of him sitting round sharing his experiences. He was the wrong generation."
Elizabeth Taylor was a "powerful", funny and generous step-parent, with whom she's still in touch - as she is with all her step-mothers and step-siblings and 50-odd Welsh cousins. "Dad was beloved for many reasons and we all feel very strongly about each other."
She had angry spats with her father but, before he died, of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1984, they had become very close and had just completed a television film together, Ellis Island.
"I was always able to take things in my stride," she says. "I spent my childhood on the jump-seat of a limousine but I was also perfectly happy on the subway. I was never one of those kids who expected anything other than what I had. I was happy with a sedate life - though 'sedate' is relative: my mother owned a discotheque and married a rock star.
"I could see all the pitfalls of showbusiness. Either you were a working actor or you weren't. There was no security whatsoever. I had one of the most famous actors in the world as my father and one of the most famous actresses in the world as my stepmother, so I saw what their lives were like. The celebrity part of it didn't appeal to me. There was nothing great about it from a child's point of view, constantly having people around. Dad and Elizabeth were two of the first victims of the paparazzi. My mom was a victim of the paparazzi. Why would I want to go into that? It was horrific."
As a small child, hurriedly leaving for New York, she remembers the explosion of flash-bulbs. Why, she asked her mother, did everybody want to take their picture? "Because you're so pretty," replied Sybil, whose complete lack of bitterness or public recrimination must have hugely shaped her daughter's easy outlook on life.
Sybil, now 74, and still running a small theatre, sounds a gem. There were no villains, she insisted, when her daughter was old enough to be told about the scandal; it was just something that happened. "I was incredibly well-adjusted because I was blessed with this extraordinary mom and with an incredible mafia of Welsh uncles and aunts. My mother knew that she was not going to be able to live in this country, the way the press were, always breathing down our necks, always at our front door. If she was going to survive and live and thrive, she had to leave. She did what she wanted to do, but she taught me how to live with grace under pressure. It's too bad she has never chosen to write something about it because it's great to let women know that, though cataclysmic and horrid things can happen, you can find a way out of the morass."
Burton doesn't claim that Elizabeth Taylor was necessarily the love of her father's life ("all Dad's wives came into his life at a time when he needed them"). "They had a very powerful relationship but - I think they would both say this - they couldn't be together any more. It wasn't great for either of them."
Kate Burton is now 45 and has two children of her own, Morgan, 15, and Charlotte, five. Her husband is the producer of the award-winning Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. She is startlingly like her father, with a broad open face, greenish eyes and a stubborn jaw that she declares she will never submit to plastic surgery. She can look imperious, in a classic English way, but the paleness of her complexion and her red hair are pure Celt.
"My children are American, I speak with an American accent, but I am a British citizen." Her 100 per cent Welshness is a source of pride and she has just been to visit her relatives in the valleys with her daughter. "It reminded me of how incredible it must have been for Dad, to come from that place and to go where he went; and for my mom to come from that same place and go on to run a night club in New York in the Sixties."
Fluent in Russian and French, she intended to become a diplomat, but the dramatic gene got the better of a good education. "I decided to go to Yale School of Drama because, being Dad's daughter, I wanted to have training. I did not want to be floating around with people saying: 'She got that because she's Richard Burton's daughter' - though even with the training and all my credits, there are still people who say that. It's absurd."
Her stage and screen work has been steady rather than meteoric, but there was a big shift towards stardom when she played Hedda Gabler two years ago. The New York Times critic Ben Brantley saw her in an out-of-town theatre production and praised her "natural radiant air of ordinariness", calling it "one of those benchmark performances that redefine both a classic character and an actress". It was enough to launch the play on Broadway.
Suddenly, at an age when most actresses routinely grumble that they are being overlooked and there are no decent roles for middle-aged women, Kate Burton is in demand. "I've got the best parts of my career since I turned 40. Hedda is probably the greatest part written for a woman. It was a turning point for me. Without it, I would not have gone on to do Elephant Man. Without it, I would probably not be here.
"Who knows what will happen next?"
Three Sisters is at The Playhouse Theatre, London WC2 from March 20 to May 18 . Box office: 020 7369 1785

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 15, 2003.

Anniversaries

Times
March 15, 2003
Anniversaries
TODAY
EVENTS:
In 1649 John Milton was appointed Cromwell’s Latin secretary for foreign affairs; in 1909 the American entrepreneur Gordon Selfridge opened the first department store in London; in 1917 Nicholas II (the last Russian Tsar), abdicated.
BIRTHS:
William Lamb (2nd Viscount Melbourne), Queen Victoria’s first Prime Minister, having assumed the post first in 1834 and then again between 1835 and 1841, born in London, 1779; Emil von Behring, bacteriologist who was awarded the first Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1901 for his work in immunisation against diphtheria, born in Hansdorf, Germany, 1854.
DEATHS:
Julius Caesar, Roman general who assumed dictatorial power after his defeat of Pompey, murdered in Rome, 44BC; Sir Henry Bessemer, engineer who invented the first process of mass-producing steel cheaply, died in London, 1898; August von Wasserman, bacteriologist who developed a test to diagnose syphilis, died in Berlin, 1925; Nevil Sidgwick, chemist who made important contributions to the theory of chemical bonding, died in Oxford, 1952; Aristotle Onassis, shipping magnate, died in Paris, 1975; Dame Rebecca West, writer, died in London, 1983.
TOMORROW
EVENTS:
In 1521 the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan sighted the Philippines; in 1872, watched by 2,000 people at the Kennington Oval, the Wanderers beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 in the first FA Cup Final; in 1973 the Queen opened the new London Bridge (the old one having been sold to Lake Havasa City, Arizona).
BIRTHS:
Caroline Herschel, sister of Sir William Herschel, who progressed from assisting his research to collating her own discoveries of nebulae and star clusters, born in Hanover, Germany, 1750; Matthew Flinders, naval captain whose circumnavigations of Australia and Tasmania produced valuable maps of their coastlines, born in Donington, Lincolnshire, 1774; George Ohm, physicist after whom the unit of electrical resistance was named, born in Erlangen, Germany, 1787; Aleksandr Popov, physicist whose research into the transmission of radio waves was contemporaneous to that undertaken by Marconi, born in Turinskiye Rudniki, Russia, 1859; Lucie Rie, potter and ceramicist, born in Vienna, 1902.
DEATHS:
Giovanni Pergolesi, composer, died in Pozzuoli, Italy, 1736; Aubrey Beardsley, illustrator and writer died of tuberculosis aged only 25, in Menton, France, 1898; John James Macleod, physiologist who shared with Frederick Banting the Nobel Prize of 1923 for the discovery of insulin, having discouraged the project at its outset but subsequently providing laboratory space and assistants for the extraction of pure samples, died in Aberdeen, 1935; Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secretary 1924-29 (Nobel peace laureate 1925), died in London, 1937; Constantin Brancusi, sculptor, died in Paris, 1957.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 15, 2003.

Home Secretary David Blunkett in Kennington

Stark message over crack dens
Mar 14 2003
By Richards Evans
South London Press
"We are not putting up with the intolerable any longer. If you are causing misery and distress, we will come down on you like a ton of bricks."
That was the stark message from Home Secretary David Blunkett as he announced new powers to shut down for good crack dens which plague south London.
Mr Blunkett chose the Cottington Close Tenants Management Co-operative in Kennington for a walkabout on Wednesday to highlight the publication of a White Paper on anti-social behaviour.
Measures in the paper include giving police powers to close down crack houses within 48 hours and then seal them up to stop them being a blight on the local community.
The lengthy process of closing down crack houses has proven a problem in south London.
In the case of Robin Reid - father of shoe bomber Richard Reid - it took Lambeth council months to evict him from his squalid Streatham flat which doubled up as a drugs den.
Statistics recently released by Lambeth show an open crack house can lead to an increase in crime in the surrounding area.
Mr Blunkett told the South London Press: "Police have been doing quite a good job but they have not had enough power to close and seal them.
"Under the new power, within 48 hours they can seal off a place and make sure people cannot reopen it again." Last year, Lambeth cops and the local authority launched a blitz on crack cocaine. It saw the number of crack raids soar to 12 per week.
Superintendent Jerry Savill, who led the police side of the initiative, has welcomed this week's announcement.
He said: "In cases where the premises are squatted it is easier but if it is a lawful tenant, eviction proceedings can get locked up in the county courts for two or three months.
Anything that will help use to bring a definitive closure to crack houses more quickly, we will whole-heartedly support." The plan for new powers to deal with crack houses forms part of a raft of measures to combat nuisance behaviour.
There will be fines of up to Ł80 for yobs as young as 16 and, if a family is completely dysfunctional and unwilling to accept help, children could be taken into foster care to break the cycle. Plans to tackle begging have also been included.
The measures were announced to the House of Commons on Wednesday, hours after Mr Blunkett's visit to the Kennington estate. A bill is expected to go to Parliament within weeks.
During his visit, Mr Blunkett said: "It is saying we will give support and backing to those who want to do something about their behaviour and other people's, but we will provide enforcement powers so people can change the world around them.
"People on an estate in Lambeth have changed the world around them and with greater powers they will be able to do a better job."
This is a bit of a crusade for me because I was brought up on the council estates I now represent." During the visit, Mr Blunkett highlighted the Cottington Close Tenants Management Co-Operative as an example of what can be done.
He said: "We will be reinforcing what has gone on on this estate. I am very impressed with what they have done because a lot of it they have done themselves. "Instead of putting cash into cleaning up, they have been putting cash into preventing things happening in the first place." Manager Barry Crawford was pleased the estate had been chosen for the Home Secretary's visit.
He said: "It was a lovely surprise when we knew he was coming." Joan Light, chair of the management committee, added: "I have lived on the estate for 45 years and there were times we used to despair of getting anything done.
"But there has been a real difference and the estate has been turned around." But Simon Hughes, Home Affairs spokesman and London Mayoral candidate for the Lib Dems, was not impressed by the new measures.
He said: "This looks like an attempt to distract the public from the continuing failures of six years of New Labour, rather than a coherent development of successful existing law and order policy."
* AIR guns and replicas will be banned from public places, and illegal possession or use of a firearm will be punished by a minimum five-year jail sentence.
* A 13-YEAR-OLD girl has been given the first interim Anti-Social Behaviour Order by Southwark council. The interim order was made at Camberwell Magistrates' Court on Monday to protect the alleged victims, witnesses and community from the girl before full court proceedings.
Under the order, she is not allowed to contact witnesses, behave in an anti-social way in Southwark, or enter three zones in the north of the borough.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 15, 2003.

Home Secretary, David Blunkett MP, in Kennington

South London Press
Opinion 14 March
Mar 14 2003
TOO many people living in south London know about the problems caused by anti-social behaviour.
So I was pleased to see Home Secretary, David Blunkett MP, in Kennington this week to launch a crackdown on the thugs who make decent people's lives a misery.
Mr Blunkett promised heavy fines for abusive yobs and said he will give cops the power to shut down crack houses within 48 hours of them being reported. We all know that sometimes within hours of a raid the dealers have broken back in and are at it again.
Let's hope these new measures close down these drug dens once and for all.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 15, 2003.

Event @ Duning Library: Monday, 17th March: THE REAL BEDOUIN: A perspective on Arab life

THE REAL BEDOUIN: A perspective on Arab life
Dear Friends
The next evening event at Durning Library will be on
Monday, 17th March
7pm for 7.30pm
Dr Jean Weddell worked in south Jordan when the Bedouins were still romantic nomads - with serious tuberculosis. Today it's different...
Ł2 including 1st drink and snacks.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane, London SE11
t: 020 7926 8682

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), March 09, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Clone Zone
Mar 7 2003
Exclusive By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
South London Press
NUMBER plates are being pinched from cars by crafty crooks - to dodge paying the congestion charge.
It seems registration plates are the new currency in the capital since the introduction of Ken Livingstone's fiver-a-day fee nearly three weeks ago.
Pilfered plates are being fixed to vehicles which are then driven freely into the zone, which includes Kennington and Elephant and Castle.
When Ken's cameras nab the car, the Ł80 fine is sent to the address the number plate is registered to.
The new scam - known as cloning - was revealed by furious readers who phoned the South London Press congestion charge rant line this week.
One of those callers, Michael Parkes, said: "I know of three people who have had their number plates stolen already. I'd like to know if Mr Livingstone is going to do anything about this."
Motoring organisation the AA says it is aware of the new crimewave sweeping through the capital. Spokeswoman Rebecca Rees revealed an Essex-based AA colleague - who has not driven into London for FIVE YEARS - has already had three fines through the post since her number plates were swiped.
She said: "It's known as 'cloning' and is something becoming more and more apparent as the weeks go on.
"We do not have any official figures yet to back this up and at this moment.
"We don't know how big a problem it is yet, or what to expect, but it will grow unless something is done."
Transport for London says the theft of plates "is a police matter".
A spokesman said: "Clearly, if it does happen, it should be reported to the police."
He added: "As far as the congestion charge is concerned, if a penalty charge notice is received and you have not been into the zone, there is a form attached for representations to be made.
"Clearly a police reference number would help in this case."
A police spokesman urged victims to report number plate theft immediately.
He said: "Driving with somebody else's number plates is an extremely serious matter."
Don't forget the South London Press congestion charge rant line: 0901 380 1810. Calls cost no more than 25p

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 08, 2003.

New Thai restaurant (opposite Imperial War Museum)

The Sun
Thu, Mar 6, 2003
Gripping stuff, Shane
By JOHN KAY
EASTENDERS star Shane Richie claims the award for Breast Supporting Actor as he larks with his gorgeous girlfriend at a swanky restaurant bash.
Gurning Shane, 38 — who plays Alfie Moon in the hit BBC soap — couldn’t keep his hands off 24-year-old Christie Goddard as they mingled with showbiz chums.
Former Albert Square babe Tamzin Outhwaite, star of the BBC1 hit Red Cap, was also among guests at the opening of a Thai eaterie in Kennington, South East London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 06, 2003.

It's all in a good jaws

It's all in a good jaws
Mar 4 2003
By Chris Pragnell
South London Press
DEATH defying surfer Monty Young might just struggle to get life insurance.
Armed with a surfboard and swimming trunks, the fearless south Londoner plans to PADDLE from Cuba to Florida in some of the most shark-infested waters in the world.
Using the motto 'No sharks please, we're British', Monty and a trio of chums will brave the notorious Gulf Stream to cross the 112 miles in July.
But the intrepid 33-year-old security consultant from Kennington Lane is shrugging off the danger.
"Sure there's a worry about sharks," he said. "I think they fished out a sixmetre great white around there - one of the world's biggest. But we are prepared."
Up to now Monty and his three pals have been practising their paddling technique on the tranquil Thames.
But apart from a brush with the law, the scenic river route from Twickenham to Vauxhall has not posed any immediate threat.
Paddling for their lives - and Cancer Research - alongside Monty will be Jay Layton, Jason De Groot and James McKenzie. The foursome make up Team Cuba. "You literally just use your arms and shoulders - it takes a hell of a lot of exertion," said Monty. "Paddle-boarding has been around since the 1920s. Hawaiians used it to get between islands."
The surf enthusiasts will compete against professional paddle-boarders from across the world.
Monty said they had a few tricks up their sleeves to keep the sharks at bay.
A three-metre protective device will be attached to each paddler to repel the sharks. The equipment sends out electronic pulses which are picked up by the sharks' noses.
A team of shark watchers will also keep their eyes peeled close by.
If the worst happens, the paddlers can be pulled to safety on deck.
By risking their lives in the perilous depths, they hope to raise around Ł25,000 for Cancer Research.
Friends at Monty's local, the South London Pacific in Kennington Lane, will hold a couple of fundraising evenings to help.
The first is on March 20.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 05, 2003.

Vauxhall's New Covent Garden Market

The future of Vauxhall's New Covent Garden Market is being considered by Government Ministers.
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/news.shtml
New Covent Garden:- "Vauxhall City"?
Still little more than a gleam in the eye of developers, this project would open up the area around the Nine Elms Lane, along and behind the riverside between the St George development and the Battersea Power Station development. It would inlcude land currently occupied by the New Covent Garden Market, the Stationery Office, a number of mail/parcels businesses and others.
But the project might gain momentum if Government Ministers decided to close the New Covent Garden Market:-
Ancient laws require fresh produce to be sold in four separate London markets. Fish must be sold in Billingsgate Market - originally on Lower Thames St in the City but now in Docklands. Meat must be sold in Smithfield Market - still on its original site. And fruit and veg must be sold in Spitalfields - originally near Liverpool St Station but now in New Spitalfields in Leyton, North-east London - or in Covent Garden Market - originally north of the Strand but now in New Covent Garden in Vauxhall. The new Covent Garden Market went into severe decline as supermarkets etc. began to bypass it, but has since diversified.
http://www.vauxhallsociety.org.uk/Covent.html
and see the report mentioned below for more detailed histories of the New Covent Garden Market.
A report in November 2002
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2002/021122a.htm
said that the four markets would not survive unless they became mixed markets and "one stop shops". The report recommended that central London should be served from New Covent Garden, but the Corporation of London (who own the other three markets) strongly disagrees and backs the New Spitalfields Market. It would not be surprising if the Government were to back Spitalfields in view of the development potential of the Vauxhall site and the consequent financial benefit for the UK taxpayer who would probably benefit if the Covent Garden Market Authorty were to be wound up. A decision is expected in or after May 2003.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 02, 2003.

Arts

'Great plays are born in the heat of passion'
Telegraph
(Filed: 01/03/2003)
In a few days, David Hare is up for an Oscar. But for now his mind is on the Birmingham Rep, as it prepares to revive his most famous work. Here he explains why the searing early-1990s trilogy is as resonant now as the day he wrote it.
Evelyn Waugh says somewhere that a novelist is exceptional if he turns out to have more than one theme. If he - or she - is prodigiously talented, then perhaps, in the whole of a long working life, he may find his way towards two.
However, just occasionally, at the moment when he least expects it, a writer of fiction may also have the luck to stumble on a pure gift of subject matter. It will certainly be something he doesn't deserve, a sort of bonus which is somehow just sitting there, as if waiting for his attention.
In Waugh's case, a visit to Forest Lawn cemetery on a trip to California revealed an unforeseen desire to make fun of the morbid death rites of modern Americans in The Loved One. In my own, a spontaneous decision, on the morning of July 13 1987, to get in my car and go up the motorway towards York led to my virgin attendance at the General Synod of the Church of England.
Everyone knows that dramatists find plays in the most unlikely places, but even so, you would hardly bet on any playwright being inspired by an assembly which is principally known for taking what you might call the parliamentary approach to spiritual matters.
There was something so ridiculous, so touching about full-frock clergymen rising to their feet "on a point of order, Madam Chairperson", or even "through the chair, if I may" that I found myself fascinated by the question of who on earth these people were, and why they were behaving in this extraordinary manner. Why did they imagine it regular theological practice to attempt an earnest, genteel mimicking of Westminster when trying to address the most profound questions known to man?
It took me, as it happened, almost two years and the close acquaintance of many dedicated clergymen in south London to realise that my first satirical impressions of the Church of England were both shallow and unworthy. As soon as I plunged myself into the pastoral life of working priests in Clapham, Battersea and Kennington, I discovered a hard-working group of men who were doing what was effectively social work, often among the most tragic and deprived people in the parish, and all for a salary of around Ł8,000 a year.
They were ostentatiously reluctant to force their own beliefs on a doubting public. Instead, they sought, from the liberal wing of the Church, to express their love of God through their own actions and behaviour. They believed in example, not in instruction.
At a time when trendy Thatcherite propaganda was insisting that the only valuable people in society were those who went out on their own initiative to create wealth, it was bracing and salutary to meet people whose values were so wholly against the spirit of the day.
As I followed these ever-hopeful vicars round their duties, it occurred to me that they were, in a sense, my new heroes. The Church in action demonstrated the belief that there was no nobler calling than to devote your life to bandaging wounds created by a transient administration whose successful intention had been to make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
As a young man, I had assumed that anyone who entered a traditional profession such as the church or the law was likely either to be naive or self-interested. They were perpetuating structures which often did not deserve to survive. But as I spent time over the subsequent five-year period, observing policemen, priests, doctors and teachers who were all trying, however inadequately, to mitigate the practical effects of the worst policies of the time, my view of the caring professions underwent a complete change.
What if these people were neither the institutional buffoons I had thought them in my caustic, ideological youth, nor indeed the hopeless losers of Margaret Thatcher's loathsome demonology, but simply people, more or less like me and you, trying their very best in often impossible circumstances?
It was this realisation - that here was a new group of people who were at once undervalued, unsung and confused - which fired me up to write the three plays which were finally presented together at the National Theatre in 1993. Racing Demon was about team ministry. Murmuring Judges was about the three parts of the criminal justice system - the bar, the police and the prisons. And The Absence of War was about a contemporary Labour Party leader coming to the painful realisation that he was unelectable.
It was Richard Eyre's inspiration, as the artistic director of the company, to put the plays on together in one season, with the idea - to me, again, almost heartstopping in its nobility - that the most important function of a national theatre was to provide the audience with a place where they might argue with themselves and see their own daily lives not just reflected but actually represented. The moment when all three were first played together in a single day was, without any question, the most professionally exciting of my life.
Since then, it has been a private sadness that no British theatre has seen its way to remounting all three plays at once. I could, of course, pretend that this was down to underfunding or a shameful lack of ambition. But this would be dishonest. Plays these days are like operas. It's much easier to get them on for a single production than it is to penetrate them into the repertory.
In this way, I have been no unluckier than anyone else. Racing Demon has been done all over the country, not least by church drama groups and often on stages in the shadows of great cathedrals. But otherwise, the practical challenge of putting on the other two, both with large casts and on forbidding subjects, has put off every likely producer.
You may imagine, therefore, the debt of gratitude I already feel to the suicidally courageous new director of the Birmingham Rep, Jonathan Church, who in 18 months has transformed his unloved concrete bunker (architecturally, a provincial Mini-Me to Denys Lasdun's South Bank Dr Evil) into the most popular and best-spoken-of theatre in the Midlands. Everyone knows he and his co-director Rachel Kavanaugh are taking a risk. A good deal has changed in the past 10 years.
There is a new Archbishop of Canterbury who seems, at least by the authority of his early pronouncements, to be that rarest of phenomena - the genuine spiritual leader. But also, in Britain at large, in law enforcement as much as in politics, there has been a definable shift of mood. Many of us have gone from clear-cut anger to something nearer sullen bewilderment.
The conventional wisdom tells us that nothing dates faster than the up-to-date. My own view is the opposite. Front-line reports acquire a special fascination when they begin to gleam in the different light which is thrown both by distance and a change of perspective.
With the passage of time, plays born in the heat of political passion can turn out much more interesting than those written with an eye to what are embarrassingly called "the eternal truths". These have a habit of going off, like fruit.
In the days when the trilogy was conceived, carers and copers all over the country felt that their role was being deliberately downgraded by a Conservative government which was nakedly unsympathetic to the common good. Now, under a Labour government which seemed at the outset so much more well-meaning and intelligent, they find themselves apparently not greatly advanced, contemplating the structural failings of the health services, of education and of the courts with incomprehension.
However hard we try, nothing seems to go right. It is perhaps not surprising that the only time that I have been in a room with Tony Blair, the only thing he wanted to talk about was his own uneasy memories of a performance of The Absence of War.
I have, as it happens, started work on a new play, intended for Nick Hytner's first season at the National Theatre, in which I try to capture the flavour of this near-despair about our any longer being able to do the most simple things effectively. In the meantime, however, the Reverend Lionel Espy, the liberal vicar, DC Barry Hopper, the corner-cutting detective, and George Jones, the hopeless Old Labour romantic, will make what are, for me, their welcome reappearances.
Plainly the world they lived in has changed, but the longings and frustrations they articulate have not. There is still at large an apparently unassuagable sense of loss, a feeling that we all live in a Britain which is somehow less than we would wish it to be. This mixes, in a complicated way, with our sense of individual powerlessness about being able to affect very much.
I see these three men coming towards me as old friends, dressed in history, but still unquestionably themselves. I can't wait to greet them.
David Hare's 'Racing Demon' opens on March 11, 'The Absence of War' on March 18 and 'Murmuring Judges' on April 7 at the Birmingham Rep (0121 236 4455).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 01, 2003.

Property

Evening Standard
25/02/03 - Property news section
Mind the hot spots
By Mira Bar-Hillel, Evening Standard
The Northern line worked hard to earn its nickname of the "misery line", with overcrowded trains, cancelled services and some of the worst conditions on the Tube.
For homeowners, however, it turns out to have a rather more positive message - in the form of soaring house prices. New research shows that homes along this most unfashionable of lines come with the highest price tags on the Tube network.
From Kennington to Edgware, from Morden to High Barnet, on the Northern line is the place to live if you want to see the value of your home go up.
A six- month study by the Woolwich analysed the average price of two-to-three bedroom homes across 228 Tube stops between zones two and six, and found properties on the Northern line are worth an average Ł270,456.
This is followed by homes along the Jubilee line at Ł259,279 and the Bakerloo at Ł258,352. The Jubilee has seen the most vigorous recent growth - property values have doubled since 1998 - and has moved from fourth place into second. House prices along the Northern line have grown by 92 per cent since 1998.
Those yet to step on to the property ladder should cast their eyes over the budget end of the Tube system, the Victoria line. This is the most affordable line for property, with an average price of Ł199,000, followed by the Docklands Light Railway at Ł210,162.
However, not even the most rarefied parts of the Northern line can hold a candle to West Brompton on the District line - the most expensive single stop on the Tube with the average home costing Ł489,082. Hampstead, Belsize Park and Chalk Farm on the Northern line record an average price of Ł485,713. Holland Park on the Central line and Westbourne Park on the Hammersmith & City line come in at Ł460,720.
Other exclusive stops are Warwick Avenue on the Bakerloo line (Ł394,000); St John's Wood on the Jubilee (Ł392,272), and Camden Town on the Northern line (Ł366,825).
First-time buyers could be better off in the outer reaches of the District and Central lines. with Dagenham (Ł118,219) the most affordable place in which to buy, having seen growth of 115 per cent since 1998.
Stratford (Ł154,071) has benefited enormously from its convenient Tube links and has seen growth of 134 per cent since 1998. Leyton (Ł159,088), also on the Central line, has seen 124 per cent rises. However, if the Central line remains closed much longer, who knows what the effect could be on property.
For City workers who don't want to travel far to work, the most affordable places in zone two are Brixton (Ł203,371); Bethnal Green (Ł186,825); Mile End (Ł209,065) and Bow Road (Ł209,065).
Andy Gray, from the Woolwich said: "Homeowners living on the Tube network have been real winners with growth in their homes' values reaching record levels in five years. But homeowners should 'mind the expectations gap' as we predict house price growth will slow to more sustainable levels as prices reach the peak of their affordability."
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/3550344?version=1©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 28, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
Violating our basic rights
Feb 28 2003
MONDAY, February 17, was a strange day for me.
It was the day that the Greater London (Central Zone) Congestion Charging Order 2001 came into force, and under which order Londoners were deprived of the right to drive into a large part of central London, unless they comply with the terms of this order, which uses the criminal law to force us to pay a new tax, and to provide to the Mayor dates of our journeys into the charging area.
At 7.15am, I joined a group of protesters at Kennington Road and held a banner in the cold until 9am.
The protesters were mainly from the Conservative Party, so for the first time I held a banner alongside Conservatives. I was relieved to hear the week before that the Conservative candidate for the London Assembly had given drivers some hope by promising to abolish this unfair scheme which, I believe, violates our freedom to travel in London.
By the end of the day, I was also beginning to think the unthinkable to me: namely voting Conservative. Unthinkable, because in the late 1970s I went through a Marxist phase - and disliking Margaret Thatcher was the fashion of that time.
But this new example of environmental fascism, which I say so seriously violates the customary rights of London's drivers, necessitates working-class persons (such as myself) to change our voting behaviour in order to regain our right to decide for ourselves whether we drive, or take public transport. Until we regain that right, working-class people, and middle-class people, too, must, I believe, vote Conservative.
Dudley Heslop
Canterbury Crescent
Brixton

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 28, 2003.

Tree photo exhibition in the Cafe in Kennington Park

branches against the sky
the seasons in Kennington Park
An exhibition of colour photographs by John Hoyland
2 - 29 March 2003
John Hoyland has been photographing the trees in Kennington Park for the past two years. His images reflect the way their mood changes according to the time of the year, the time of day, the weather, the light. The exhibition is a celebration of a beautiful London park.
The photos are accompanied by a text about the trees in the park by Jane Seymour.
The Cafe in the Park is a new arts venue and community cafe in Kennington Park.
Cafe in the Park
Kennington Park, SE11 5AS
(020 7793 8886)
Weekdays 09.00 - 17.30
Weekends 10.30 - 17.30
Nearest tube stations: Oval, Kennington
Admission free
Preview: 2 - 4 pm, Sunday 2 March 2003 (Press 1 pm)
Contact: call 07960 626 755, email johnhoyland@morefoma.com
View the pictures at www.morefoma.com/johnhoyland/
johnhoyland@email.com
e-fax/voicemail: 0870 169 2974

-- John (johnhoyland@morefoma.com), February 28, 2003.

Psychiatrist to the stars 'seduced one of his patients'

Psychiatrist to the stars 'seduced one of his patients'
By Matthew Bayley
femail.co.uk
26th February 2003
A PSYCHIATRIST who works with celebrities was accused of serious professional misconduct yesterday over an alleged seven-month affair with a patient.
Dr Mark Collins, a highly regarded consultant at the Ł500-a-night Priory Clinic, allegedly seduced the young woman after she went to him suffering from depression.
On one occasion, he rang her in the middle of the night to demand phone sex, the General Medical Council was told.
The 33-year-old musician, known only as Miss A, claimed she met the married consultant socially three times, including a lunch at her home in Kennington, South London, where they engaged in a sex act.
Dr Collins, who has been charged by the GMC with serious professional misconduct, admits meeting the patient out of work but denies any sexual relationship.
The hearing, in Central London, was told Miss A, a university graduate aged 25 at the time, was referred to Dr Collins - whose former patients include Princess Margaret, model Kate Moss and comedienne Caroline Aherne - by her GP in March 1994 for depression.
Over the next two months she attended four appointments at the exclusive clinic in Roehampton, South-West London.
Afterwards, she asked if she could meet silver-haired Dr Collins out of hospital hours.
Dr Collins - who had given Miss A a business card with his mobile phone number - agreed and the couple arranged a series of liaisons over the next seven months.
'In those days I perceived myself as having an affair rather than being the victim of malpractice,' Miss A said in a statement read to the hearing by Nicola Davies, QC, representing Dr Collins.
'A while later Dr Collins telephoned me at 3.30am and asked me if I would masturbate with him over the phone. I was very surprised and angry and said, "No, I will not". My mental health then began to deteriorate after that.'
The hearing was told the couple did not meet again. However, two years later Miss A was advised by another psychiatrist that she had been the victim of abuse.
'I was ashamed of the way Dr Collins had treated me and I felt guilty for him, took his guilt on my shoulders,' she said.
'I feared I wouldn't be believed and thought I would be made a scapegoat.' Miss A, who admitted making a number of calls to Dr Collins in the following years, finally complained to the GMC in August 2000.
Dr Collins, who is in his early fifties, denies the charge. His lawyers yesterday asked for the case to be dismissed, claiming a fair hearing was impossible after almost nine years.
Dr Collins, the clinic's associate medical director, specialises in addictive and mood disorders.
Two years ago he won praise for his treatment of Princess Margaret's depression.
He also treated the Marquess of Blandford, 46, who has a long history of drug use, for five years.
He treated Miss Aherne, 38, after she tried to commit suicide.
Dr Collins lives with his wife Rosamund in a Ł600,000 house in Putney, South-West London.
The hearing was adjourned for the panel to decide whether the case should be heard in full. It resumes today.
Find this story at:
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=165554&in_page_id=2
©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 26, 2003.

It's a chain reaction ...

It's a chain reaction ...
Feb 25 2003
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
A POKEY public loo perched in the bend of a road has been sold for Ł83,000 - a whopping Ł68,000 more than expected.
And a second public toilet, built partly underground on a grassy area between two blocks of flats, went for Ł70,000, - Ł50,000 more than anticipated.
The first loo, on Newport Street in Vauxhall, was put up for auction by Lambeth council with a guide price of just Ł15,000. But on the day of the sale, a buyer feeling decidedly flush forked out the Ł83,000.
The other toilet, on the corner of Wandsworth Road and Union Grove in Stockwell, had been put up for auction by the council for Ł20,000.
The Vauxhall toilet block was described by auctioneer Andrews & Robertson as having "potential for conversion or redevelopment to studio, storage, office or other suitable uses subject to the necessary planning consents".
Meanwhile, the south Lambeth toilet was described as having "potential for conversion to studio, community or other suitable uses subject to the necessary consents".
The toilets were the highlight of an auction day for Lambeth council which raised almost Ł3million through the sale of 17 properties.
The majority of the homes sold well over their guide prices and one - a three-bedroom house on Brook Drive in Kennington with an old bakehouse attached - fetched Ł125,000 more than its Ł250,000 price tag.
Lambeth's Liberal-Tory administration has come under fire for selling off the properties, of which five were said to have made ideal family homes.
Lambeth Labour's housing spokeswoman, Councillor Sharon Erdman, said: "The families waiting for these kind of properties can be stuck in overcrowded accommodation for years.
"That has a real impact on health and particularly the educational development of children.
"This seems to be a purely financial decision but we have to look at the social cost of having a lot of badly housed or homeless families."
The Liberal-Tory administration said the homes were sold because it was not worth the cost of refurbishing them, and added the proceeds would be reinvested in housing stock.
A council spokeswoman said: "We carefully examine each and every property to make a judgment as to what would be the most cost-effective way to use it - either to renovate it or sell it.
"Properties are placed for auction when it is clear this is the best way forward financially."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 25, 2003.

Cyclist dies in crash horror

Cyclist dies in crash horror
Feb 25 2003
By Peter Harrison
South London Press
HORRIFIED passers-by lifted up a car in a failed bid to save the life of a cyclist trapped underneath.
The 45-year-old man died after coming off his bike having collided with the open door of a parked van.
He had been cycling along Kennington Lane when his handlebars were caught in the door of a parked Renault Kangoo.
He fell off his bike and into the path of a Volvo car travelling behind him, shortly after 2pm on Sunday.
Onlookers rushed to help the local man, whom police were still not identifying yesterday, by lifting up the car and pulling him from underneath.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by a doctor after ambulance crews arrived by road and air moments later.
Police closed off the busy route as officers from Hampton's collision investigation unit carried out their investigations.
The road was reopened at about 5.40pm. Investigating officer, Sergeant Greg Page, said: "People assisted at the scene by helping to lift the vehicle the man was trapped under and pulled him out.
"We are only too eager to speak with anyone who saw this accident."
Police inquiries are continuing into the exact cause of the accident.
An inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned this week at Southwark Coroner's Court.
People with information should call the collision investigation unit at Hampton on 020-8247 6935.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 25, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times
February 25, 2003
Kengestion is extended (right back to 1965)
By Shirley English and Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
IT CAME as something of a shock to Tony Kielb when the Ł40 fine for dodging the congestion charge popped through his letterbox.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t been to London; he had. The problem was that his last visit to the capital had been 38 years ago — and he had been riding an exempt motorbike to boot.
Luckily for Mr Kielb, 57, he had spent last Tuesday in the company of his wife Betsy, 54. Otherwise, he might have had some explaining to do. There in black and white was the allegation from Transport for London that his silver Ford Focus Ghia, registration Y52 USL, had been recorded crossing the charging boundary between Kennington Lane and Vauxhall at 11.29am.
Mr Kielb, of Leslie, Fife, says that he was actually 400 miles away, shopping with his wife in the small Fife town of Glenrothes. His car was parked in the local car park. He has not been in London since 1965.
“I didn’t think the congestion boundaries stretched this far north,” he said yesterday. Mrs Kielb, 54, added: “I’ve never been to London in my life and the last time Tony was there was in 1965 when he was visiting his cousin in the Royal Marines.”
The couple have appealed, sending in receipts to prove they were shopping in Glenrothes at the time they were “spotted” in London.
A spokesman for Transport for London admitted there had been some “teething problems” with the new system, and blamed the mistakes on human error rather than technical hitches.
“If they have been wrongly charged we can only apologise and they will go through our independent appeals procedure,” he said. “We are dealing with hundreds of thousands of people every day and any mistakes are a tiny percentage.”
Yesterday, the roads around the charge zone saw the first heavy traffic since the toll began a week ago. The reopening of the majority of schools after the half-term holiday saw traffic across the capital rise by up to a fifth. Streets inside the zone remained much clearer than normal, with 20 per cent less traffic.
Transport for London said: “An estimated 20 per cent reduction inside the zone is an encouraging sign, particularly as today is the first day back for many schools.”
An RAC spokeswoman said: “While slightly busier than last week, traffic is still flowing relatively easily in and around London.”
The Finchley Road, approaching the charging zone, was very busy during the morning peak as drivers appeared to find new rat runs. The Marylebone flyover was slow but traffic had not built up to usual levels. Vehicles on Vauxhall Bridge northbound were moving freely and there were “more than the usual number of cyclists noticed”, the RAC said.
The Earl’s Court Road became busy with traffic trying to loop around the edge of the zone. The usual hotspots of Park Lane, Victoria, the A4 from the Hogarth roundabout, Euston Road after the underpass and Westminster were all said to be running freely.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 25, 2003.

Oval Mansions

Oval mansions
Hi there, my name is Hilary & I live in Australia. I was born in Lambeth & lived at the oval mansions until about 1967. My mother lived at the Oval all her life & her parents lived there for most of theirs too! I remember my pop going up to the landing so he could watch cricket over the wall of the Oval for free.
It is great to read of your association & it's goals as I believe parts of Kennington were becoming undesirable places to live.
But to the point of my email - I am trying to obtain a photo of the Oval Mansions (at the back of the Oval) somewhere around 1940's to 1970's to give to my ma as a surprise for her 70th birthday in August. I am prepared to cover all reasonable costs. I have written to newspapers but had no response at all. If you can't help me with a photo, do you have any other ideas of where I can try. Time is running out. I don't want a current photo as I was told the "mansions" are now home to squatters & look dreadful (not that they looked good even back when I knew them, they were pretty old even then!)
Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks very much
Hilary

-- Hilary (hilaryhill@westnet.com.au), February 23, 2003.

So Solid pair to stand trial

So Solid pair to stand trial
Two members of garage band So Solid Crew charged with firearms offences have been committed to crown court for trial.
Shane Neil and Jason Phillips, both 24, were remanded in custody after a 50-minute hearing at Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London.
The pair, who were charged following an alleged incident near central London's Leicester Square on 14 November last year, will appear before Southwark Crown Court on 27 March.
Shane Neil, who lives with his grandmother in Battersea, south London, was refused bail at a previous hearing at Bow Street earlier this week.
Executive producer
The singer, whose stage name is Kaish, is charged with possession of a loaded handgun and offering the supply of a controlled drug.
Jason Phillips, of Kennington, south London, is charged with possessing a loaded handgun and two further counts of possessing ammunition.
Better known as G-Man, he is the executive producer of So Solid Crew, a 30-member south London garage act.
District Judge Caroline Tubbs remanded both men in custody until a plea and directions hearing on 27 March.
Around 10 supporters of the band attended the hearing on Friday and shouted words of comfort as the men were led from the dock.
Story from
BBC NEWS
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/2788539.stm
Published: 2003/02/21 17:16:47
© BBC MMIII

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 22, 2003.

Squatters

Times
February 22, 2003
Squatters occupy large London houses
By Chris Johnston
SQUATTERS have taken over seven large houses in Kennington, South London, that the local council had left lying empty for almost a year.
Three Liberal Democrat councillors plan to call for an inquiry to determine why the houses were not properly secured after Southwark council — which is under no overall control, the Liberal Democrats holding the most seats — had another group of squatters evicted last April.
Local residents were furious that the new squatters, who include a number of Spanish students, had managed to get utilities reconnected and were now living rent-free.
Ignacio González, 21, an English-language student at nearby Lambeth College, said that he was living in one house with seven friends. “This is great — we’ve got hot water, electricity, heat. My parents think it’s great we don’t have to pay to live in England.”
His housemate Juan Carlos Inigo said that they had fixed up the houses and were taking care of them, but added that the neighbours had not been too friendly.
One local resident, Alex Madina, said: “They are stopping deserving families from using these homes.” More than 13,000 people are on the housing waiting list in Southwark.
The three-storey, five- bedroom homes had been handed back to the council by a housing association and were to be refurbished to accommodate large families.
The squatters have posted notices outside the houses declaring: “We live in this property and we intend to stay. Anyone who enters by violence, we will prosecute you. If you want to get us out, you will have to take out a summons.”
The three Liberal Democrat councillors, Danny McCarthy, Catriona Moore and Mark Pursey, said that they wanted to know why funding had not been available to carry out the refurbishment more quickly.
Southwark council’s executive member for housing, Beverley Bassom, said that the houses would be refurbished next month. “It has taken some time to secure this funding, which is why there has been a delay.”
She conceded that it could be “really frustrating” to see properties lying empty when there was a huge demand for housing in the borough. But the squatters may not have long to enjoy their free accommodation: Ms Bassom said that the council had begun legal proceedings to evict them.C

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 22, 2003.

Defenceless OAP robbed by teens

Defenceless OAP robbed by teens
Feb 21 2003
By Greg Truscott
South London Press
DETECTIVES have released CCTV images of two suspects wanted for questioning in connection with a violent robbery on a 74-year-old woman.
Mary Hammond was left with a fractured pelvis and broken elbow when two teenagers forced their way into her home in Wimbourne House, Dorset Road, Clapham, at around 9.30am on Monday, February 10.
The OAP had answered her door and was confronted by the pair who pushed their way into the premises and knocked her to the ground.
The robbers made off on foot with Ł30 in cash.
Mrs Hammond was able to call 999 and police and an ambulance rushed to her home. She was taken to a south London hospital where she was treated.
She was in a stable condition when we went to press.
Kennington CID Detective Inspector Tim Forber, who is leading the hunt for the robbers, said: "This is a violent and callous attack on a defenceless elderly woman.
"The victim has suffered terrible injuries and has been extremely traumatised by the incident.
"More than a week has passed since this incident and the victim remains in hospital receiving treatment for her injuries. We are reappealing to anyone who witnessed this attack or who knows who is responsible to contact police immediately."
The suspects are both described as black teenagers.
Suspect one was 6ft tall, aged around 17, and had a moustache. He was wearing a dark jacket, dark trousers and a dark baseball cap.
Suspect two was 5ft 10ins tall and aged around 14 or 15. He was wearing a red, white and blue sports jacket.
Two youths were seen running from Wimbourne House.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may know who is responsible, should contact Kennington CID on 020-8649 2882 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 22, 2003.

Scandal of the Ł3.5m squats

Scandal of the Ł3.5m squats
Feb 21 2003
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
SQUATTERS have taken over seven huge houses valued at HALF-A-MILLION POUNDS each.
The three-storey, five-bedroom homes in Southwark - where nearly 13,000 people are waiting for a new home - were due to be refurbished to house large families.
But for the last 10 months the pricey Kennington properties have lain empty.
News the squatters have made themselves at home in Ł3.5MILLION worth of council houses is sure to incense hard-working south Londoners, fighting to get a foot on the property ladder.
Neighbour Alex Madina blasted: "They are living free, using water, gas and electricity and blocking a family using this home."
The group has reconnected gas, electricity and water supplies and appears to be moving between the houses on Brook Drive.
Threatening posters - citing housing laws - have been pasted on the buildings warning outsiders not to interfere.
Another neighbour, Mary Roberts, said: "Why does the council leave these houses empty for so long?
"No gas, electricity or water goes into these places, but they have got supplies now - they are so organised."
The houses were boarded up last April by owner Southwark council after it evicted an earlier group of squatters.
Council contractors, who secured the homes, told residents they were to be refurbished for large families.
Now three local Liberal Democrat councillors - Danny McCarthy, Catriona Moore and Mark Pursey - are to jointly call for an investigation.
Cllr McCarthy said: "We want to know why the properties were not secured. Why did we not look at short-term leases as a way forward and why was funding not available to carry out the refurbishment?
"Why did we not keep tenants informed of what was going on?"
Southwark council's executive member for housing, Beverley Bassom, told the South London Press there are plans to refurbish the houses next month.
She said the properties were handed back to Southwark by a housing association. Rather than sell them, the council applied for cash to refurbish them.
Cllr Bassom added: "It has taken some time to secure this funding which is why there has been a delay but we are pleased this refurbishment work will now start in March. We know it can be really frustrating to see properties lying empty when there is such a demand for housing in the borough.
"Equally, the nuisance caused by illegal squatters can be very disruptive in a neighbourhood. We have already begun the legal process to evict these squatters."
In 1999, squatter Timothy Ellis won the right to keep a Brixton house worth Ł200,000 after living there for 12 years.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 22, 2003.

Squatters invade families' low-cost homes

Evening Standard
21/02/03 - News and city section
Squatters invade families' low-cost homes
Squatters have taken over seven houses worth a total Ł3.5million in a London borough desperately short of affordable housing.
The five-bedroom properties in Southwark were due to be refurbished for large families on the council waiting list.
News that unwelcome tenants have moved into the homes in Brook Drive, Kennington, will infuriate south Londoners desperate to get a foot on the property ladder.
Liberal Democrat councillors are calling for an investigation.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/3503810?version=1 ©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 21, 2003.

Vauxhall

Times
February 21, 2003
Acres of pleasure
By Amy Lamé
WHEN GOD mapped out London, Vauxhall got the fuzzy end of the lollipop. It’s a big mess, with the busiest intersection in the capital and gridlocked traffic thanks to the seemingly permanent roadworks. People don’t meander leisurely in Vauxhall, it is not a hospitable area — rubbish swirls on the streets, discarded lager cans clog the gutters. This gateway to South London is a clutch of office blocks, council estates, Victorian conversions and posh riverside apartments — Vauxhall’s most famous former resident is Jeffrey Archer.
It is a place to pass through, not to linger. But at the weekend it’s a different story. A small triangle of land sliced in two by Kennington Lane is a microcosm of clubbing that draws people in search of unadulterated hedonism in one of London’s — and Britain’s — hidden hellholes, reeking of fantasy, excess and seediness.
Late-night revelry in Vauxhall isn’t new — it’s been happening since the mid-17th century, when the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens first opened its gates to punters from royalty to rogues. For the next two centuries visitors strolled the illuminated grounds and gorged on entertainment such as Handel’s music with fireworks, hot-air balloon launches, Madame Saqui the bearded tightrope walker, and American Indians from the colonies.
Some dared venture to the overgrown shrubbery at the back, known as Slut’s Hole. Few returned with their trousers — or wallets — intact.
Fast-forward to 2003 — strobes, superstar DJs and drag queens have replaced the more genteel night life, but the seedier side is still there. Vauxhall’s landmark is the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, built in 1863, so named because Queen Victoria is said to have stopped in for a port and lemonade once. Queens of a different type have been gathering in the pub since the early 1950s for drag shows.
It has helped launch the careers of Lily Savage and Julian Clary. Now it’s home to Duckie, the Saturday night post-gay rock’n’roll bunfight — run by yours truly.
Sunday nights have been a Royal Vauxhall institution for years with the sequinned heels and vodka-rattled voice of the Dame Edna Experience. Round the corner, underneath the railway arches, Saturday nights are for Crash bunnies who flex their pecs to hard-house sounds, aided by bottles of pure mineral water. A few remaining arches are being turned into a pool hall and strip joint. If you see gangs of chaps wearing chaps, they are on their way to the Hoist, a venue favoured by leather-loving men. Once I saw Jean-Paul Gaultier get out of a taxi right in front of Duckie. I instructed the door staff to allow him in on the guest list, only to watch him flounce over to the Hoist in a leather kilt.
Dukes on Kennington Lane is a local-style gay pub with nights for various facets of the “community” — hirsute chubbsters (Chunkies), country-and-western dancers (Lines & Bears), Ben Sherman-shirted baldies (Man Size). Across the street, the Fringe used to be a slick boozer; now it is a dual-purpose venue. On the ground floor is a clubby atmosphere, former home of the legendary soul-jazz Saturday Night Fish Fry, and upstairs is a fully equipped dungeon should anyone fancy something a bit more risqué than unfit thirtysomethings attempting Northern soul dance moves. The last Saturday of every month is so outré that Abdul, the man who runs the off-licence opposite, can’t bear to look out of the window — Banghra is a gay Asian night where Sikhs in turbans mix with young Asian bent-wrist types wearing saris.
All of Vauxhall’s nightlife converges at the Glyn Street minicab office, run by calm-voiced African men keen to prevent puking on the seats. The taxi queue looks like the bar scene from Star Wars, with last-minute one-night-stands negotiated as fares are agreed. Brian is the man with the clipboard. If you’re female and wearing a short skirt, you’ll jump the queue. This is crucial, because safe escape from Vauxhall in the wee hours should be everyone’s main objective.
Under the cover of darkness, Vauxhall may be squalid, sordid, dilapidated, mysterious and tatty. But I can think of no other corner of London — or indeed these isles — where hedonists from all walks of life converge in such fierce pursuit of pleasure. Hogarth, Dickens and Pepys did the same in their day.
Modern-day Vauxhallians dedicated to the delights of Slut’s Hole are carrying the ratty, tatty torch of delight right into the 21st century.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 21, 2003.

Entertainment

Cocktail of new bands
Feb 21 2003
South London Press
NEW weekly band night Cocktail Carnage gets going at South London Pacific on Thursday.
It will be a chance for The Lock Down Project to showcase their debut single, Everybody In The Morning (Gronland Records) which somehow conjoins white rap and ska with acoustic Spanish guitar.
Also on the triple bill are punk/garage outfits Rosco and Murdock, while DJ WB plays grunge and indie.
Cocktail Carnage is at South London Pacific, Kennington Road, Kennington on Thursday with first band on at 8.30pm. Ł5 (Ł3).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 21, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press
Dawn of new transport era
Feb 18 2003
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
FOR such an historic day, Kennington was eerily quiet yesterday morning.
Apart, that is, from the small but vocal band of banner-wielding protesters who had gathered.
Demonstrators shouting "Kenny, Kenny, Kenny - Out, Out, Out!," were greeted with toots of support from drivers passing into the zone. While many predicted a mass influx of traffic into the zone from 6.30am onwards, most seemed to be travelling in the opposite direction, with motorists keen to get out before the cameras were activated.
Stuart Cutts, a fruit and veg delivery van driver, was one of the first past the post when 7am came.
He told the South London Press: "My boss has jacked it all in because of these charges."
He added: "It's all a waste of time. I don't think it will work - it won't make any difference at all."
Motorist Brian Stern, who on Sunday night managed to make it through to Transport for London's website to pay his fiver, followed.
He agreed: "It's not a good idea. It's not going to work."
A lone cyclist, with a self-satisfied grin on his face, passed over the red Cs which now adorn Kennington Cross, before screaming obscenities at the anti-congestion charge lobby.
He was not alone. In among the protesters were Lambeth cyclists Jon Davies and Deborah Arnold.
Mr Davies, who lives on the Kennington Lane boundary, said: "We've got to give this a chance. It is an historic day for London. Ken is a very brave man."
Tories who had gathered at Kennington to voice their opposition - and win a few votes - disagreed.
Lambeth councillor Bernard Gentry branded the choice of Kennington Lane as a boundary road 'nonsensical'.
He said: "Anyone who knows this area will tell you that. Ken was at the anti-war demonstration on Saturday calling for Tony Blair to listen to Londoners on the Iraq issue.
"Maybe he should practice what he preaches and listen to south Londoners on the congestion charge."
Lambeth deputy leader John Whelan predicted the charge would be "a disaster for the people of Lambeth" and "divide the Kennington community in two".
At 6.59am, over at Tower Bridge, one driver about to cross into the congestion charge boundary seemed to speed up just to make sure he got into town before the clocked ticked over 7am.
Perhaps he didn't know there are cameras positioned all over the zone - not just at the boundary line - ready to read your plates. Like Kennington, at 6.45am more cars seemed to be leaving the zone rather than entering it.
In fact, most of the drivers the South London Press spoke to cheerily explained they were exempt because they were driving LPG-powered cars, using a rental vehicle or had a disabled pass.
Not so lucky was Jarred Truz, who said: "I guess it has to be done hasn't it?
"But I've got a suggestion for people who don't want to pay though - why not use a ferry down the river?"
Transit driver Brett Ready added: "Well, I've not really got a choice, have I? I'm a builder so I have to drive to work and they are taking a liberty. But there's no point in complaining now is there?"
Also on Tower Bridge was Tory London Assembly member Tony Arbour, who said: "At 7am people started fleeing the capital - people do not want to pay. These drivers love what we're doing, but they hate Ken."
If Ken was at City Hall on Monday morning watching over Tower Bridge, he would have heard the dissenting car horns for himself.
For commuters who did ditch their cars and opted for the Tube there were delays to the already-overcrowded Northern Line when police were called to deal with what London Underground called "a mentally disturbed woman" reportedly walking on tracks in north London.
Elsewhere, LU says the Victoria Line northbound and Tubes at London Bridge station were noticeably busier.
Try to cross the notorious Elephant and Castle roundabout on any weekday rush hour and you usually find yourself sat in a jam. Yesterday was different.
A quick drive around south London's boundary roads -- which were supposed to be transformed into one giant car park -- showed Sunday morning traffic levels at the height of rush hour.
Around 10 people braved the bitter cold to make their point. They held placards and handed out leaflets to passing motorists.
George Taylor, a Conservative, had travelled from Bromley to demonstrate and said: "The bookies are offering 10-1 on [Ken] resigning before the election. I do not think they are bad odds."
Dave Watson, one of the first drivers through the Elephant and Castle boundary added: "I think it is a crazy plan and the only good thing is there's an election next year. The sooner they get rid of it, the better."
Mr Livingstone himself said yesterday: "This is a historic day for London. "Tough decisions have to be made to tackle the congestion which cripples this city. From today something is being done."
By 7am yesterday morning around 30,000 had paid the congestion charge.
Derek Turner, TfL managing director of street management, predicted 'disruption and teething problems' over the first few weeks.
Yesterday, at least, they were not evident.
Additional reporting by Richard Evans and Jon Ryder

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 19, 2003.

Freedom Passes

South London Press
Next stop, Parliament
Feb 18 2003
By Mike Pflanz
PENSIONERS say they will still march on Parliament to defend their free travel despite Government assurances there are no plans to scrap the scheme.
In response to the South London Press campaign to Keep Travel Free For OAPs, Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling said on Friday the Government had 'no intention' of changing the system.
But Freedom Pass holders such as Barbara Glosby, 64, say they will still descend on Parliament, demanding 'outright rejection' of a report which proposes cutting free travel back to half-price.
The South London Press has been inundated with letters and phone calls backing our push for the Government to reject the Commission for Integrated Transport's recommendation.
Mrs Glosby, of Black Prince Road, Kennington, says she relies on her pass and will still march to Westminster on March 20.
She uses her pass every day to travel throughout south London.
As she waited for the 159 to take her to Brixton Library early on Friday, she said: "It's not good enough just to say they have no intentions at the moment, we want more.
"I rely on that pass because I have to get out of the house every day or I'd go doolally cooped up with nothing but the television.
"After all my bills, I sometimes have only Ł10 a week to live on, so I need the pass to be free."
Replying to pensioners' concerns and the South London Press campaign, Alistair Darling said: "We have no intention of changing the statutory minimum requirement [to provide half-price bus travel] or to stop local authorities from running more generous schemes."
But Lambeth Pensioners' Action Group member Dot Gibson said: "This is the same old line they've given us before and it is not enough.
"They say they have 'no intentions', but pensioners no longer trust this Government after so many U-turns and changes of heart.
"We want them to put in writing a rejection of the recommendations in the Commission for Integrated Transport report.
"Then we will stop our campaign."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 19, 2003.

Crime

South London Press
Task force on street crime
Feb 18 2003
By Crime Reporter Greg Truscott
MORE than 50 uniformed and undercover cops have been deployed on a special operation in one of South London's street robbery hot spots.
Regular police officers, transport cops and plain clothes detectives, supported by dog handlers and a Met chopper, are blitzing Lambeth North during the coming weeks in a bid to reduce street crime.
Areas identified as crime hot spots such as Tube stations and bus stops will be targeted in the crack-down, which is part of Scotland Yard's Operation Safer Streets.
It is the second such deployment of Lambeth cops and British Transport Police (BTP), and follows a highly successful Kennington-based joint operation in November and December last year.
Detective Inspector Tim Forber, of Kennington CID, said: "This type of operation with British Transport Police has proved extremely effective in the past and I am confident that we can repeat this success.
"Lambeth police are committed to reducing street robbery, and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure that the downward trend in street crime continues."
The BTP officers will join Lambeth officers, uniformed task force officers, Special Constabulary officers and proactive CID officers.
The task force will be supported by local mounted officers, Transport for London officers, traffic officers, dog handlers and the Air Support Unit.
The operation will utilise a new mobile police station and officers based in the Lambeth council CCTV control room.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 19, 2003.

Elephant & Castle

Southwark Council have approved a major regeneration project around the Elephant. The London Park Hotel and the Fusion Leisure Centre are to be demolished and around 700 homes built in the area, including on St Mary's Churchyard. Building work is planned to start before the end of 2003.
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/news.shtml
http://www.southwark.gov.uk/future/ecnewsletter.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Chaos fails to stall London as traffic scheme takes off
The Irish Examiner
18 Feb 2003
THE most ambitious traffic calming scheme in Britain crept in quietly yesterday with none of the transport chaos that had been feared.
While local residents and Conservative politicians demonstrated against the stgŁ5 (7.50) a day congestion charge in London, motorists appeared to be giving the centre of the capital a miss.
The Irish Government is also considering whether to introduce charges for Dublin to combat major traffic congestion.
An official said Transport Minister Seamus Brennan will consider the move, but has not made any decision yet.
However, it is unlikely levies would be introduced at a time when public transport services, such as the Luas, are not yet on-stream.
The launch of London Mayor Ken Livingstone's scheme coincided with the first day of the school half-term holidays and traffic in the London area was light.
Mr Livingstone marked the 7am start of the scheme with a visit to the London Traffic Control Centre.
The anxious mayor admitted: "I'm just waiting for something to go wrong."
But by late morning, scheme organisers Transport for London (TfL) and motoring organisations said there had been few problems, although they warned things could get worse in days to come.
Mr Livingstone said it was "absolutely crucial" the scheme worked.
But shadow minister for London Eric Pickles, who was among Tory MPs protesting yesterday, said congestion charging was "an unfair tax".
The AA warned a lack of traffic in central London although welcome for anti-congestion campaigners could signal trouble for the capital's economy.
Only the British city of Durham has a similar charging scheme and the British government and local authorities are waiting to see how the London plan works out.
As the scheme started, protesters braved the cold to demonstrate against its introduction.
Those living on or near roads bordering the congestion area were particularly vociferous.
Speaking in Kennington, south London, driver Stuart Cutts said his fruit and vegetable delivery business was going to have to close because of the charge.
Kennington resident Doreen Coombes, 68, complained that she would have to pay extra every time she wanted a builder, locksmith or plumber.
At Smithfield meat market in central London, Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith and the Conservative's London mayoral candidate Steve Norris spoke to workers protesting against the charge before 200 demonstrators set off on a march through the city.
Mr Pickles joined protesters at Tower Bridge Road.
He said the tax would "cut communities in two" and would not tackle the real problems of London's infrastructure.
The scheme, which operates from 7am to 6.30pm each weekday, aims to cut congestion by 10%-15% and raise Ł130 million (194 million) annually for public transport projects.
Mr Livingstone said: "I would expect for us to see the benefits by Easter and to know whether or not it will work."
TfL congestion charging director Michele Dix said the scheme had "a good start".
By 8am, motorists were making payments at newsagents and stores at the rate of one every three seconds.
By midday, 8,000 payments in 600 stores throughout the country had been made.
Motorists paid for their charge as far north as Halifax in West Yorkshire, as far east as Fakenham in Norfolk, as far south as Gosport in Hampshire and as far west as Tavistock in Devon.
London Underground said it noticed "no significant difference" in passenger numbers during the morning rush hour as a result of the congestion charge.
There were "no substantial changes worth noting", a spokeswoman said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times
February 18, 2003
Virgin cyclists ring the changes
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
WHIZZING past queues of fuming drivers is one of the great pleasures of cycling in London. Yesterday morning, however, it was the drivers who were whizzing past me on my 12-mile pedal round the boundary of the congestion charge zone.
Each junction offered another view of deserted streets inside the zone. They were so empty you half expected to see tumbleweed spinning across the road.
Small groups of anti-charge protesters, huddled together for warmth, were to be found every couple of miles along the border. Sadly for them, most drivers were moving too fast to notice their placards, much less collect a leaflet. There were a few honks of support, but many more rings from bicycle bells as cyclists offered sympathy or scorn.
At Kennington Lane, widely predicted to become a congestion hotspot because the boundary narrows through a residential area, the only person on four wheels was an ageing skateboarder scooting down the middle of the road.
Gareth Adamson, a member of the local residents’ group, which is struggling to pay a Ł20,000 legal bill for a failed challenge to the scheme, had got up early to protest. “We have to admit there is no congestion this morning, but it could be a false dawn,” he said.
At Vauxhall Bridge Road another group of protesters began packing up before 9am. “It’s just too cold to hang around,” one Conservative Party organiser said.
Vauxhall Cross, where cyclists normally thread carefully through the traffic, had become a racetrack. Drivers swerved across five lanes, unable to believe their luck at finding so much empty tarmac.
The only hold-up came at Hyde Park Corner as a steady stream of cyclists cut diagonally across the junction.
The number of shiny new bikes and pristine yellow bibs did much to explain just what had happened to all those vanished motorists.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Lightened wallets, less traffic
Sarah Lyall/NYT
The New York Times
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
London survives first day of its commuter fee
LONDON
London's bold new program to control traffic by charging motorists to drive into the center of town started off smoothly Monday morning with no major public transportation breakdowns, no obvious technological glitches and no major outbreak of civil disobedience.
Traffic was far lighter than usual, but most of the decrease was due to the midterm school holiday that started Friday, officials said. They said it would be some time before they could gauge the success of the new plan, in which people are required to pay Ł5 (about $8) a day to drive into an 8-square-mile (21-square-kilometer) area in the center of town during business hours.
The program is being closely watched around traffic-clogged urban Britain, where other municipalities plan to go ahead with similar schemes if London's is deemed a success. Mayor Ken Livingstone, who has staked his political future on the outcome of the so-called congestion charges, said Monday that the plan had until Easter to prove itself.
"This is an historic day for London," said the mayor, who rides the subway to work and uses taxis - which are exempt from the charge - on government business. "Everyone knows that tough decisions have to be made to tackle the congestion which cripples this city of ours. From today something is being done." Members of the Green Party held a celebratory rally, complete with alcohol-free champagne, at a subway stop in Islington. But opponents protested in Kennington, which is being split in two by the congestion zone boundary, and at the Smithfield meat market, where workers have said that they will refuse to pay the fee. People using cars in the congestion zone between 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays are liable for the fee, which can be paid via the Internet, over the telephone, through the mail or at a network of stores with special ticket machines. Scofflaws' license plates will be identified by 700 cameras set up on and around the congestion zone, and failure to pay by midnight on the day the trip is made will bring an escalating series of penalties, culminating in a Ł120 ticket and then clamping or towing.
It's classic Ken," said the Conservative leader, Iain Duncan Smith, speaking of Livingstone. "It's only going to hit the people on low incomes who can least afford it."
But Livingstone said he was confident that the plan would work. "We will spend much of the summer discussing where to extend the scheme to," he said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Half-term launch pays off for travellers
By Roger Blitz and Juliette Jowit
Published: February 18 2003 4:00 | Last Updated: February 18 2003 4:00
Financial Times
Ken Livingstone's decision to launch the congestion charge during school half-term holidays looked to have paid off as the first day of the scheme passed off more smoothly than expected.
Relieved traffic managers reported 25 per cent fewer vehicles entering central London than on a normal working day. During school holidays, traffic tends to fall by between 10-15 per cent. Also road works had been stopped until drivers have got used to the scheme.
The mayor accepted it was too early to tell the longer term impact of the ?5 charge. The combination of school holidays and Mr Livingstone's warning that yesterday would be "a bloody day" may have contributed to the stay-away.
There were few problems either inside the eight square mile zone or around the edges, where congested rat-runs had been expected.
Several usually jammed routes inside the zone - including Victoria Street, Parliament Square, Tower Hill, the City of London, Covent Garden and Aldwych - had smooth traffic flows throughout the day.
Jonathan Simpson, a press officer for the RAC Foundation motoring organisation, said it had started "remarkably smoothly", possibly because many motorists had been scared off by warnings of traffic mayhem.
Michelle Dix, congestion charge manager for the mayor's Transport for London agency, denied traffic lights on ring roads had been rephased to smooth flows.
Steve Norris, the Tory candidate for next year's London mayoral elections, said it was "entirely predictable" that the streets would be relatively quiet. But he added: "I don't believe in the long term it's a good scheme at all. You'll get a lot more traffic next Monday and the Monday after that."
TfL was bullish about registration for payment. By early evening, 75,000 had paid for the charge for periods including yesterday. Despite some snags at the call centre in Glasgow and some slow progress on the congestion charge website, TfL said there were "no significant problems".
The Freight Transport Association said traffic had been moving well but re-vealed a software problem could have corrupted up to 800 company fleet registrations. TfL has been forced to agree emergency measures for fleet operators.
Opposition to the charge remained undiminished, particularly from low-paid workers dependent on their vehicles. But there was little evidence of refusal to pay. About 150 Smithfield meat market traders marched on City Hall in a mood of resignation rather than defiance.
"Four or five weeks ago, people were saying don't pay it. But you can only do it if every worker did it," said Ken Bussey, who drives in from Essex. "None of us can afford to lose our car. We're really protesting but paying - we can't take the risk."
Actress Samantha Bond, who has led the "Miss Moneypenny campaign" against the charge, said she wanted to confront Mr Livingstone about the plight of low-paid workers. "This charge is taking 11 per cent of their post-tax income. If any government was to suggest it, you would expect Mr Livingstone to lead the charge against it," she said.
At Kennington Cross in south London, where the cordon surrounding the zone cuts through a community, a small protest, perhaps diminished by the biting cold, appeared to be populated by locals and "flying" Conservatives, claiming they would abolish the new charge.
Susan Giles, a Kennington resident who lives inside the zone, expressed anger at "yet another tax" and said it would now cost her son and daughter Ł14 if they came to stay: ?5 each day for the charge as well as Ł2 a day for a visitor's parking permit.
Ed Blakemoor, a taxi driver, said it would take a week for the scheme to bed down. "We'll get more business if people can see taxis can actually move about. People don't want to sit [in a jam] watching the meter tick up," he said.
Shares in Capita, the contractor operating the scheme, were among the best performing in the FTSE 100 yesterday , rising 11p, almost 6 per cent, to 209p.
Additional reporting by Ben Hunt, Lydia Adetunji and Andrea Felsted ..

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

On the perimeter
Residents fear for their streets
Felicity Lawrence
Tuesday February 18, 2003
The Guardian
Rush hour in Kennington, just outside the congestion charge zone, was eerily quiet. The usual tailbacks along the roads where main routes into the City from south London meet had vaporised.
Courtney Coltress, an accountant from Brixton who drives in to central London every day, just had long enough at the lights to complain about the charge before accelerating off into an empty road.
In the pedestrian junction on Kennington Road, a couple of dozen local residents, who fear traffic being diverted into their streets, were doing their best to sound angry for the cameras, which outnumbered them.
Edward Heckles was trying to get the hang of his brass megaphone to rouse passing motorists to honk their opposition to Ken's tax. Several obliged, but there was not quite the volume of traffic to keep up the momentum.
Mr Heckles lives in Southwark and walks to work, but he said it would be impossible for his wife to do the shopping with their five-month-old child. "Of course if you could just walk to your local shops, that would be fantastic, but the traffic will be much heavier on residential roads."
Charles Pender, who works in insurance in the City, had come to protest, briefcase in hand, on his way in.
He was worried about the impact on his wife and two small children, and other young mothers. "The supermarket will be impossible without paying, though actually in our case the Sainsbury's is outside the zone. But if you are going to have a charge it should cover most of London and stop people from outside coming in, not make it harder for those who live here," he said.
Anne and Charles Malpass, a barrister and solicitor in central London, were also doing a brief stint with their plac ards before going into work by public transport as usual. "This is just penalising those on the edge of the congestion zone. We think it's a good idea, but it should be on the north and south circular, not here," Mrs Malpass said.
A good natured exchange took place with the sole counter-protester on the opposite pavement. A week ago it would have been impossible to shout over the roar of traffic, but yesterday Jon Davies was able to heckle Mr Heckles across the bare tarmac with a polite "on yer bike".
"You can't get on your bike with several kilos of shopping," came the reply. But Mr Davies welcomed the charge. He works in the health service and cycles or uses public transport. He also has a car.
"We hardly use it, but if we do, we'll pay. A few weeks ago there was an accident here, a kid got run over. St Thomas's hospital is just down the road, but it took 30 minutes to get an ambulance to him. It couldn't just go on," he said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Better for cyclists, even in rush hour
By David Firn
Financial Times
Published: February 17 2003 11:12 | Last Updated: February 17 2003 11:12
Keen to test the impact of the new congestion charge, I deliberately waited until 9 am - the peak of the rush hour in my part of south-west London - to cycle into work on Monday.
At this time of day it would usually take me 40 minutes-to-an-hour on the 344 bus or about 25 minutes by bike.
Battersea Park Road was very quiet, but I reminded myself that the mayor has cunningly introduced the charge during school holidays. In term time there would normally be a convoy of harassed parents in four-heel drives heading for Newton Prep school at this time of day.
The most stressful part of my journey is the stretch along Nine Elms Lane, from Battersea Dogs Home to Vauxhall Cross, the start of the congestion charging zone. It is a fastish stretch of road through an industrial zone. Drivers often cut up the bus and cycle lane to beat the lights.
There was no doubt about it. The road was unusually quiet. Quieter than I've ever seen it on a working day.
At Vauxhall Cross, right on the edge of the zone, a steady stream of traffic was heading south over the river - the last free crossing from the north to the south-west of the city. But it was moving.
In recent weeks this junction has often ground to an angry gridlock for hours. But that probably had as much to do with the year of roadworks - preparations for charging - as the volume of traffic. I noticed last week that two sets of lights here had been re-set to allow more cars through on the way out of town.
Calvin Winner, a regular cycle commuter, said things seemed to be better than usual. "It is half-term so its hard to tell, but I've just come through Kennington on the border and that seemed to be clear."
Inside the charging zone on Millbank it was cycle paradise for a moment. The first car to overtake me brought me back to my senses as it sped past at an unprecedented 30 mph.
An articulated truck that had got stuck between bollards at Lambeth Palace seemed to be having little impact on the traffic.
"It's fantastic. Like Christmas," called a lady cyclist as she sped through the lights at Lambeth Bridge wearing fluorescent yellow Goretex.
Sidney Few, a taxi driver, said he had only just got into the charging zone so it was too early to say whether things were really better than usual. Traffic outside the zone was less heavy than usual though. "It's OK," was his cautious response.
The heaviest traffic is usually around Waterloo, but here too, things were quiet. From Waterloo I cut on to Upper Ground, which runs parallel to the river and is the suggested cycle route. It is always quiet, but with two theatres and a TV studio it is quite an obstacle course. It was not much different today.
By 9.20am I was at the gate of the FT, a few minutes ahead of schedule, despite a cold headwind, and feeling a bit less hassled than usual.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Charge turns bus into a smooth operator
By Ben Hunt
Financial Times
Published: February 17 2003 11:27 | Last Updated: February 17 2003 11:27
A rare occurrence on Monday morning: the 344 Clapham Junction to Liverpool Street bus turned up when the timetable said it would.
The bus arrived at the Imperial War Museum about 6 minutes after the previous bus had departed, delighting and surprising the one passenger in the queue.
About four minutes later it left the new congestion charge zone for about 15 seconds at Elephant & Castle before breezing back into it and on to Southwark Bridge roads at speeds most customers were not aware the bus was capable of.
And nine minutes after departure the bus stopped outside the Financial Times, and the passenger, having travelled for two miles, was early for work.
Nine minutes would represent a good journey time at the weekend or in the middle of the day, and so for a Monday morning rush hour, when the journey takes closer to 15 minutes ordinarily, it is a bit of a result.
The Connex-managed service, which links south-west London with the city via traffic black spots like Vauxhall Cross and Elephant & Castle, is erratic at best during rush hour.
The haphazard timetable, often disrupted by too much traffic or by too few staff and buses, makes judging departure times something of a gamble.
It is not unknown to wait half an hour for a bus, only for three to turn up at once - one cliche anchored in experience - and at other times the buses run smoothly and take just a few minutes to make their short journey from Kennington to the south edge of the City.
A week ago a late-running, packed bus ran into 20 minutes of traffic jams around the Elephant, having already been held up by the seemingly endless roadworks at Vauxhall.
But with London's roads half-emptied by half-term - and perhaps by the deterrent of a Ł5 charge to enter the zone - the service ran smoothly, stopping only for traffic lights and to pick up passengers.
Only the bitterly cold weather served as a reminder that this was not August when London's traffic is at its lowest and best.

-- Cathy (cathvypreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

BBC News Online
Monday, 17 February, 2003, 11:16 GMT
A stress-free drive to London
By Tom Geoghegan
A day ahead of my test drive into central London, I thought I'd try paying the congestion charge in advance.
But my local newsagent did not even know what the charge was, let alone where I could pay for it.
He obviously wasn't among the 96% of people in the capital reached by the advertising campaign, according to Transport for London.
The next morning, I left my Croydon home at 0700 GMT, just as the charge was coming into effect.
Usually a drive to the West End at this time of the morning would fill me with dread.
I estimated 90 minutes, maybe less given it was half-term, and doubted any benefits from the charge in central London would impact on the suburbs.
The trip got off to a good start and there was one moment on Tulse Hill when the whole road before me was clear on both sides, apart from a couple of buses.
Empty buses
It was like a Ken Livingstone utopia - not even a pigeon in sight.
Brixton - close to the charging zone and usually a nightmare for drivers - was also trouble-free.
But buses were also empty, so there was nothing to suggest drivers had opted for public transport.
The first signpost warning that I was about to get clobbered for Ł5 was on Kennington Lane, just moments before the boundary at Elephant & Castle.
I was braced for a minor panic, maybe drivers swerving across lanes to escape, but it was a picture of calm.
Driving into the zone itself would have been a bit of an anticlimax, had it not been for a handful of protesters with placards.
The cameras must be placed quite discreetly because I couldn't see them.
And the only signs I noticed to mark the spot were on the road itself.
So there's not a great deal to show for a fiver.
Easy parking
But if I'd been in a traffic jam, I might have been able to savour the moment a little more.
Crossing Westminster Bridge and then up Whitehall reminded me of a scene from the film 28 Days Later, when a deadly virus wipes out most of the population.
London was like a ghost town and possessed an eerie beauty.
Further ahead there was another reminder of Ken Livingstone's radical transport policy, with Trafalgar Square undergoing pedestrianisation.
Parking spaces were, unsurprisingly, in abundance and I pulled up a stone's throw from Oxford Street in no time.
I looked at my watch and it was 0745 GMT, about half an hour ahead of schedule.
Maybe I had underestimated the effect of the half-term holidays on traffic levels, but the difference had staggered me.
After 0800 GMT, there were more cars in the West End, but cabs still outnumbered other cars.
Pleasure drive
Piccadilly, Holborn and Kingsway were all relatively quiet - hardly the famous "bustling" West End.
A 15-minute delay to my journey into work was down to frustrations with the one-way system, rather than congestion.
Even leaving the zone at Hyde Park Corner and driving up Park Lane saw no obvious increase in traffic, as predicted by opponents of the scheme.
But what about paying for the pleasure of a stress-free drive around central London?
As soon as I got to my desk, I logged on to the congestion charging website www.cclondon.com and paid online. I even got a receipt.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

South London Press

Protests greet start of congestion charging
Feb 17 2003
Opponents of the central London congestion charge, including the Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, are protesting against the introduction of the Ł5 toll.
In south London boundary area, residents say the charge will mean more noise and pollution as drivers sought to steer clear of the zone.
In Kennington Lane, which marks part of the boundary of the zone, about 20 residents joined councillors with banners reading: "Scrap The Ken-gestion Charge."
At Smithfield meat market in central London, Mr Duncan Smith and Tory mayoral candidate Steven Norris spoke to workers protesting against the charge.
Mr Duncan Smith met traders and other staff before around 200 workers set off on a noisy march through the City of London.
Workers at Smithfield say they will march on the first Tuesday of every month against the charge.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

BBC News
Monday, 17 February, 2003, 08:55 GMT
Congestion charge comes into force
Motorists travelling into central London face a Ł5 daily charge as the capital's congestion charging scheme comes into force.
The scheme designed to alleviate traffic gridlock in London is the most ambitious ever undertaken by a capital city and its success is being watched closely by cities across the UK.
As the charge launched at 0700 GMT on Monday, there were no early signs of the feared traffic chaos or major public transport problems.
This was partly due to lighter traffic during the half-term school holidays, according to motoring organisations.
Up to 30,000 drivers were expected to leave their cars at home and find another way into central London.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone, speaking from the traffic control centre, said: "I'm just waiting for something to go wrong."
Any motorists not paying the Ł5 daily charge, which operates 0700-1830 GMT weekdays, risk being caught on cameras and fined Ł80.
Officials from 30 other British cities, including Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Leeds and Bristol are also considering introducing congestion charges.
'Bloody day'
By 0630 GMT, more than 30,000 people had already paid the congestion charge for Monday and 50,000 had registered to pay by text message.
Mr Livingstone, who is gambling his political career on the innovative scheme, said it would reduce traffic and raise millions of pounds every week to re-invest in transport.
But he warned of a "bloody day" on Monday.
"If there is a collapse at the call centre or if there is gridlock then clearly the system will have failed", he said.
However there were also no reported delays on the Transport for London congestion payment phone line.
The mayor expects they will know if the scheme is working by Easter.
BBC News Online's Tom Geoghegan found his journey by car from Croydon into Oxford Circus trouble-free and he arrived within 45 minutes.
Having failed to be able to pay his Ł5 charge in his local newsagent, he intends to pay online.
An RAC spokesman said: "There was not the anticipated early rush of motorists attempting to get across the zone before the 7am start.
"Neither is there increased traffic around the periphery of the zone."
Opposition
Protests against the scheme are being held.
In Kennington, south London, a handful of demonstrators took part in a protest organised by local Conservative councillors.
Driver Stuart Cutts said his fruit and vegetable delivery business would have to close.
"We are based in Hertfordshire and would have to drive into the zone every day".
Tory MP Eric Pickles, shadow minister for London, led a small group protesting on Tower Bridge, describing the charge as an "unfair tax".
The Brentwood and Ongar MP said: "It is cutting communities in two and does not tackle the real problems of London's infrastructure".
Mr Livingstone has already admitted if the technology behind the scheme failed he would scrap it.
Alternative transport
An extra 11,000 spaces on buses into central London have been created.
But a report last week warned most intended to use the Tube, despite the closure of the Central Line and the Waterloo and City Line following the derailment on 25 January.
It is hoped the charge will raise Ł130m in two years towards improving London's public transport in a city where average speed has fallen to 10mph.
Conservative mayoral candidate Steven Norris said he would concentrate instead on better traffic regulation.
"It shifts a lot of traffic around but it doesn't actually reduce pollution, it doesn't actually reduce the number of vehicles significantly overall, and it does it at enormous cost to people who aren't necessarily wealthy simply because they run a car."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times
February 17, 2003
Light traffic for congestion charge start
by PA News
Britain's most ambitious traffic-control experiment launched today in London without the chaotic scenes some had predicted.
Traffic was light for the start of Ken Livingstone's congestion charge with school half-term holidays starting, but there was no early rush of motorists attempting to get into the charging zone before the 7am launch.
A spokesman for RAC Motoring Services said: "The overall picture in and around the London congestion charging zone is extremely quiet.
"There was not the anticipated early rush of motorists attempting to get across the zone before the 7am start. Neither is there increased traffic around the periphery of the zone."
The A4 and A40 trunk roads in West London were busy as normal for a Monday morning, he added, with traffic slightly lighter traffic because of the school half term holiday.
Mr Livingstone, who was at the London Traffic Control Centre when the scheme came into force, said that he did not expect to finish the day without seeing some problems. "I'm just waiting for something to go wrong," he said.
"Clearly we are not going to get through the day without problems. "If there is a collapse at the call centre or if there is gridlock then clearly the system will have failed. I expect there will be problems with people trying to get in touch with the call centre and rat-running."
Protests greeted the introduction of the controversial scheme to charge motorists Ł5 a day to drive into central London.
Tory MP Eric Pickles, shadow minister for London, headed a small group at the roadside holding aloft placards declaring that the Conservatives would scrap the new congestion charge.
Mr Pickles, MP for Brentwood and Ongar, and his supporters were greeted by motorists sounding their horns in support as they drove into the congestion zone. Mr Pickles said: "This is an unfair tax.
"It is cutting communities in two and does not tackle the real problems of London's infrastructure. It is just a tax on congestion. It is doing nothing about the real problems.
"I think Mayor Livingstone predicted that it is not going to go terribly well today. I think it is just a warm-up for what's coming, half of London's drivers have not registered and it is school holidays.
"Next Monday, when people start receiving Ł80 bills will be the real start of the problems."
In Kennington, two residents, John Davies and Deborah Arnott, who live just 30 feet from the zone boundaries, said they were happy with the charge, which would make their streets more peaceful and safer.
"We have four bus routes, and three tube stations nearby," said John. "There is an accident on this junction nearly every day and since the charge was launched two new pedestrian crossings have been marked out and we have a new bus route.
But Lambeth Council deputy leader John Whelan said: "This is a complete disaster for the residents of Kennington and businesses. It's a tax for residents of the borough already struggling, particularly those on low incomes."

-- Cathy (cathvypreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Daily Express
Monday, February 17, 2003
Protests over congestion charging
Opponents of the London congestion charge braved freezing temperatures to protest against the introduction of the Ł5 toll.
In south London boundary area, residents said the charge would mean more noise and pollution as drivers sought to steer clear of the zone.
In Kennington Lane, which marks part of the boundary of the zone, about 20 residents joined councillors with banners reading: "Scrap The Ken-gestion Charge."
Driver Stuart Cutts said his fruit and vegetable delivery business was going to close because of the charge.
He said: "We are based in Hertfordshire and would have to drive into the zone every day. My boss is jacking in the business because we will lose too much money now.
"I don't think the congestion charge will stop people driving into central London so I don't think it will make much difference in terms of traffic but it will affect people like us."
Clapham Conservative councillor Bernard Gentry, who was among the protesters, said: "This is just the start of the battle for the people of south London.
"They are going to suffer disproportionate noise and pollution every morning.
"The rush hour started earlier today and it will do from now on. The local residents will have to contend with more noise and disturbance earlier along these streets.
"Caroline King, of the Vauxhall Conservative Association, who was carrying a banner saying "Ken Out", said: "We're all very worried that this is going to hugely increase the traffic on our streets and create an unfair burden on people driving to work."
© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2003, All Rights Reserved.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Smithfield workers in protest march
By Laura Smith
Evening Standard
17 February 2003
Demonstrations across London greeted the launch of congestion charging today.
From market traders at Smithfield to protesters with banners in Kennington, hundreds braved the cold to make clear their reaction to the scheme.
At Smithfield meat market hundreds of workers voiced fury at Ken Livingstone. The workers form the most hardcore opposition to the Ł5-a-day toll - with some threatening to go to prison rather than pay.
Today, as they turned up for work well before dawn, they were met by Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who denounced the charge as "nonsense".
Mr Duncan Smith, whose party has consistently opposed the charge, said: "It's classic Ken. It has cost huge amounts of money to implement and it's going to hit those sorts of people who have no other way of getting in to work. If he'd thought about it at all he would realise that it's only going to hit the people on low incomes who can least afford it."
Later more than 400 members of the Smithfield Market Tennants Association were set to demonstrate against the charge with a march from the market to Mansion House, where they were due to present a letter to the Lord Mayor, and then on to the GLA, where they will present a written protest to Mr Livingstone's office.
The workers, many of whom live in the suburbs of east London and Essex, claim the charge is nothing but a "tax" because they have no alternative but to drive into work. Their trading hours start from 3am onwards - when public transport is non-existent - but they will have to pay the charge on their way home.
George Abrahams, a member of the Smithfield Market's Tenants Association said: "If there was a 24-hour Tube service then at least we would have a choice. But Smithfield meat market has been here for a thousand years and this charge is being forced upon us."
Mr Abrahams, who travels to the market from Essex at around 2.30am every day, added: "I'd like to challenge Ken Livingstone to try getting into work in these subzero temperatures, for a month, waiting for a bus at that time of the morning."
Elsewhere there were both gestures of support and opposition to the charge. A handful of protesters braved the bitterly cold weather to take a stand against its introduction.
Motorist Steve Jordan, from Farnborough, Kent, said: "I think it's a total liberty. It's another tax on people and we get ripped off enough," he said.
Among the demonstrators from the Westminster Conservative Party, Nick Dines, 24, said: "It's an unfair aggressive tax on Londoners. The principle is wrong and the scheme is wrong."
In South London, protesters with banners lined streets on the boundary streets. On Kennington Lane around 20 residents joined councillors. Driver Stuart Cutts said his fruit and vegetable delivery business was going to close because of the congestion charge. "My boss is jacking in the business because we will lose too much money now," he said.
Clapham Tory councillor Bernard Gentry, who was with the protesters, said: "This is just the start of the battle for the people of south London."
Others had different view, however. The London Assembly Green Group staged a "non-alcoholic champagne" celebration at Angel, Islington to celebrate " London's big brave experiment".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times
February 16, 2003
Congestion charge: Beyond our Ken: clever ways not to pay
Londoners don’t have to abandon the roads to avoid the mayor’s toll, writes Ray Hutton
It may reduce congestion, it may cause gridlock.
But the one certain thing about Ken Livingstone’s charge is that it will boost all manner of weird and wonderful alternative methods of transport. ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-120-577821,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 16, 2003.

Motoring

Telegraph
Motoring
Portrait of a driver: Kate Hoey
(Filed: 15/02/2003) The Labour MP for Vauxhall talks to Harry Mount
`I urge people not to pay the congestion charge in advance, but to wait until that first week. Unfortunately, there will then be lots of mistakes in collecting it," says Kate Hoey with a wicked smile as we set off from Parliament towards her Vauxhall constituency, cut in two by London's new Berlin Wall - the congestion charge border.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fmotoring%2F2003%2F02%2F14%2Femrport15.xml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 15, 2003.

Cricket

Times
February 15, 2003
Vaas hat-trick shatters Bangladesh
By Mel Webb
INITIALS by the fistful he has got, and initial mayhem is what he caused yesterday. W. P. U. C. J. Vaas — or Chaminda, as he is known from Kennington to Kandy — was not feeling too good when he got up yesterday morning. A few hours later he had forgotten all about his aching back after creating a slice of international cricket history by taking a hat-trick with the first three balls of a match. ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-5427-578250,00.html?gavalidate

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 15, 2003.

Book Review

Saturday February 15, 2003
The Guardian
Book Review

London's Dark
by James Robinson and Paul Johnson (Titan, Ł6.99)
London's Dark is indeed dark, both in subject and presentation, with each page teeming with grimy black and white visions of the East End during the Blitz. Illustrator Paul Johnson's mix of newspaper headlines, maps and detailed illustration creates a paranoid setting for this story of romance and murder.
An air-raid warden with a bad heart is sent to investigate the dealings of a local fortune teller, with whom he falls in love. The paranormal voice she's been hearing is that of the man who ran the grocers' off Kennington Lane, who claims he was murdered, though the neighbourhood believes he was killed in an air raid. From there, writer James Robinson works quickly to bring the crime story to a climax amid the destruction brought on by German bombs. More of the lovers, more of the violence, and more of Johnson's imaginative settings would have made it an unforgettable comic.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 15, 2003.

Property

A BID FOR BETTER THINGS
Fancy your chances at the auction houses? Impending war and recession may be making us glum, but the good news is the auction market is full of exciting chances to buy. David Spittles reports on what's on offer under the hammer....
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/3353066?version=1

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 15, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Zone homes in value slump
By Isabel Oakeshott
Evening Standard
12 February 2003
Householders who live just outside the congestion charging zone were today warned to brace themselves for a slump in the value of their homes.
A survey by Britain's most respected property analysts has revealed half of London's property experts believe prices along the boundary will plummet after the scheme begins on 17 February.
Research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors suggests potential housebuyers will shun the area just outside the zone amid fears it will lead to a surge in traffic in areas not normally affected by congestion.
The RICS survey has also dashed hopes that the scheme will increase the value of homes inside the zone. It found house prices were already extremely high in central London and were unlikely to rise further because of the Mayor's scheme.
The findings came after the RICS, the trade body for chartered surveyors, quizzed 25 members who are senior estate agents around central London.
They found there has been no noticeable change in rents and prices in and around the congestion area in the run-up to the scheme.
But half those surveyed said prices near the boundary will fall because of commuters "rat-running" or parking on the edge of the zone.
RICS chief executive Louis Armstrong said: "This survey echoes concerns already raised by us, that while the scheme may succeed in reducing traffic in central London, it may have the reverse effect on the areas bordering the charging zone."
Homeowners inside the zone had hoped the value of their property would soar thanks to the scheme as streets became more free of traffic.
Last year, estate agents predicted that prices inside the zone could rise by up to Ł40,000 because residents will receive a 90 per cent discount on the Ł1,200 annual cost of driving in central London. RICS said in today's report that such figures were over-optimistic.
The organisation said it was too early to estimate how much property prices along the boundary will fall. But experts believe many potential buyers will be put off by the prospect of increased pollution and competition for parking spaces around the zone.
The findings will be a bitter blow for house owners near the boundary, who are already angry that they do not qualify for any discount.
Angie Bray, congestion charge spokeswoman for Conservatives on the London Assembly, said: "This is a double whammy for people living just outside the boundary. They don't qualify for the discount and they will have to put up with all the displaced traffic. The last thing they need is a fall in the value of their property."
Key roads on the boundary where house prices could fall include: Tower Bridge Road, Kennington Lane, Edgware Road, Victoria Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Marylebone High Street and Tottenham Court Road. Streets in Belgravia which may be affected include those closest to Victoria, such as Eccleston Place, Lower Belgrave Street and Ebury Street. Chartered-surveyor Gary French works in the Belgravia offices of Friend & Falcke, less than 200 metres outside the congestion boundary. "Values in the quieter roads of Belgravia could suffer if they become congestion charging rat runs," he said.
"Motorists driving along the zone boundary between Park Lane and Vauxhall Bridge could try to avoid the charge by coming through Belgravia. This would affect Lower Belgrave Street, where a family house costs in the range of Ł1.9 million to Ł2.4 million.
"These streets are already busier, and around 20 per cent cheaper, than the areas connecting them: Chester Square, Eaton Square and Eaton Place. If congestion charging results in increased traffic through these squares, it is bound to hit house prices."
©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 14, 2003.

A clean getaway

A clean getaway
Feb 14 2003
By Chris Pragnell
South London Press
ROAD sweeper James Kilty keeps the streets of Lambeth clear of rubbish - but when his council bosses want the streets clear of him, it's another story.
For years he's been playing a catand-mouse game with the council, living in a caravan at the roadside until the authority moves him on.
His bosses and police evicted him from his pitch in Kennington Grove last Friday - but he's moved just round the corner.
He said: "It's like Wacky Races. I've lost count of how many times they've evicted me. But I just move to another spot."
"All I want is a house or flat for me and my dogs.
"If I get that, I swear I'll give the caravan to a homeless person."
Council officials last week caught up with the 56-year-old living next to the road sweepers' depot where he uses the bathrooms.
He moved just yards away to Oval Way, and Lambeth has warned him he can't stay. "I'm prepared to go to prison over this," he said. "If I can't get a flat, I'll live in this caravan.
"I've lived in Lambeth all my life and I'm not leaving."
According to Mr Kilty, he's been playing the absurd game with his employers for years. "Normally I get about five or six months before they move me on.
"I'm banned from driving anyway so technically I'd be breaking the law if I drove the van."
Mr Kilty was born and bred in Kennington but for the past 12 years he has lived in his caravan.
He shares it with Megan, his five-year-old Jack Russell-Staffordshire cross, and her litter of five puppies.
A spokeswoman for the council confirmed an eviction notice had been served on Mr Kilty. "Technically, he's squatting and we've gone through the correct legal procedure to have him moved on.
"He signed up for the housing register in 1999, but sadly it could take some time before we find something.
"He should come in and speak to us - there may be special circumstances."
The spokeswoman also said she had no record of Mr Kilty's previous evictions but added that areas such as parks and open land were dealt with by a different department.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 14, 2003.

Pal strangled flatmate in drunken row

South London Press

Pal strangled flatmate in drunken row
Feb 14 2003
Croydon Advertiser
An ex-soldier killed his flatmate in a drunken rage after discovering he was a paedophile, a jury was told.
Ronald Harrison, 51, throttled James Luffrum so hard he snapped bones in the victim's neck at their apartment in Mayday Gardens, Croydon.
Harrison lost his temper after Mr Luffrum confessed to him that he was a child abuser.
Harrison was jailed for six years last Thursday after a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of manslaughter following a ten-day trial.
Harrison, who later lived at Woodland Road, Thornton Heath, was cleared of murdering Mr Luffrum, also 51.
The defendant denied murder and was convicted by the jury of the lesser charge of manslaughter, to which he had entered no plea.
The pair's volatile relationship finally ended in Mr Luffrum's death on December 19, 2001.
Former landscape gardener Harrison, who was dismissed from the army for dishonesty in 1972, told police he had been asleep in a park in Kennington on the night of the killing and said he had returned home to find Mr Luffrum dead.
The court heard that the defendant, who had a long list of previous convictions for theft, burglary and deception, blamed another man for the crime.
Sally O'Neill, defending, said her client genuinely cared for Luffrum.
Jailing Harrison, Judge Gerald Gordon, said: "This offence was the result of a combination of drink and anger."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 14, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Tory stunt will add to first-day confusion
Andrew Clark, Transport Correspondent
Wednesday February 12 2003
The Guardian
The Conservatives intend to demonstrate against the London congestion charge at every main entry point on Monday in an attempt to whip up antagonism towards the mayor, Ken Livingstone.
An internal email seen by the Guardian reveals that the party intends to use the event to promote its mayoral candidate, who will be named on Sunday after a run-off between the former minister Steve Norris and a rightwinger, Roger Evans.
The message sent to activists in Camden, north London, says: "Conservatives will be taking part in demonstrations against the charge at all key entry points to the zone."
It continues: "This will take place the day after our London mayoral candidate is selected and he will be visiting several of the demonstrations to show his support."
It calls the introduction of the Ł5-a-day fee for drivers a "golden opportunity" to "get a few quotes in the papers".
The 30,000 party members in London vote this weekend for a candidate. Mr Norris, the clear favourite, is accused of hypocrisy because he was an early backer of urban congestion charging when he was a transport minister in the 90s.
Monday morning's rush-hour will be enlivened by a series of stunts. Motorists are planning a demonstration in Kennington which will culminate in the world's fastest window cleaner, Terry Burrows, riding into London on a horse and cart singing a specially written abusive song about the mayor.
Cyclists and pedestrians supporting the scheme plan to gather on the boundary in Islington to toast its success in champagne.
Mr Livingstone admitted yesterday that Monday was likely to be a "bloody day" as drivers struggled to get used to the charge.
He urged them not to leave it until the day to pay, warning that the call centres might be jammed. "There is a possibility that if people leave it to the last minute they might not get through," he said.
By last night 11,242 people had paid the first day's charge in advance. More than 100,000 a day are expected to be liable for the charge. Only 16,711 of the 40,000 car owners in the central zone have registered for the 90% residents' discount.
The RAC Foundation urged people hoping to skirt the zone to plan their routes in advance: at any one time an estimated 8% of motorists in the capital were lost, its executive director, Edmund King, said. "There could be severe road safety implications if we get thousands of lost motorists driving up dead ends."
Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited
http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardianpolitics/story/0,3605,894255,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 13, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Rat runs could hit house prices
Estate agents issue warning
Andrew Clark, transport correspondent
Wednesday February 12, 2003
The Guardian
London's imminent congestion charge could knock tens of thousands of pounds off house prices around the edge of the city's central zone, as motorists find new rat runs to skirt the Ł5 a day fee.
More than half of property experts polled by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors expect to see the value of homes fall in quiet streets which experience a surge in traffic after the congestion charge begins next Monday.
More...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,893622,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 12, 2003.

Officials ready to send hundreds of Kurds back to Iraq

Officials ready to send hundreds of Kurds back to Iraq
By Ian Burrell Home Affairs Correspondent
Independent
11 February 2003
The Home Office is planning to return to the Kurdish region of Iraq hundreds of failed asylum-seekers, many of whom are living in destitution in British cities.
Refugee groups said the region was not safe and predicted an "outcry" if ministers went ahead with the plans while allied troops leave for the Gulf.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva said: "There's such a huge question mark hanging over the whole country. It would seem not a very opportune moment to send people back."
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=377370

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 11, 2003.

STOP THE WAR - MARCH & RALLY

Stop War March
Dear Friends,
If you are at all worried about the prospect of going to war alongside Mr Bush and Mr Blair, you may like to join our vicar, Angus and a group of like minded locals this Saturday. With best wishes - Celia.
STOP THE WAR - MARCH & RALLY
Organised by the Stop The War Coalition
THIS SATURDAY - February 15th
Assemble at Embankment tube or in Gower Street at 12 noon.
Marches depart at 12.30, meeting in Piccadilly Circus, then on to the rally in Hyde Park - (speakers now include Rev Jesse Jackson - for full and latest list check stop war web site, see below) rally scheduled to end at 5.30pm.
KENNINGTON, OVAL, VAUXHALL AREA GROUP
To join a group of marchers from the Kennington area, led by Rev Angus Aagaard team rector of North Lambeth, please gather at:
SAINT ANSELM'S CHURCH at Kennington Cross SE11 at 10.30am (junction of Kennington Road and Kennington Lane, nearest tubes, Kennington or Oval) departing to walk to the Embankment at 11am.
If you can, do make your own placard or banner with your own message - though there will be some spare posters if you would like to carry something.
But if you would like to stop the bombs raining on Iraqui people and prevent the birth of new generations of terrorists, the main thing is just to be there and be counted. It seems only numbers can stop this war now.
We look forward to meeting you.
Saint Anselm's Church: Tel/fax 020 7735 3403
anselm.nlp@virgin.net
MORE INFO ON MARCH, RALLY & SPEAKERS: www.stopwar.org.uk

-- Celia (FoKenningtonX@aol.com), February 10, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Congestion Charging Action Day
Monday 17th February 2003 @ Kennington Cross 7am-9am and 5pm-7pm
Vauxhall Conservatives and Lambeth's Conservative Councillors are organising a mass protest against Livingstone’s Congestion Charge for Congestion Charging Day on February 17th. Join them at Kennington Cross.
Bring your own posters and banners!
More details are available from Councillor Bernard Gentry on Tel: 020 7642 9078

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 10, 2003.

Golden age of cinema

BBC London
Inside Out: tonight at 7.30pm BBC1

The golden age of cinema lives on in Charlie Chaplin's former London workhouse
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/insideldn/insideout/chaplin.shtml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 10, 2003.

Sick baby in ambulance crash

BBC News
Sick baby in ambulance crash
An ambulance carrying a baby boy overturns after a collision with a police car in south London.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/2743897.stm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 10, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Telegraph
Capital idea or motorists' nightmare?
(Filed: 10/02/2003)
Success or failure will not rest on traffic speed alone but on the impact the experiment has on people's lives, reports Paul Marston
A week from today, the curtain rises on the biggest experiment in transport policy since the dawn of mass car travel half a century ago. When Big Ben strikes 7am, London will be transformed into a traffic planners' laboratory as decades of theoretical debate about rationing access to the public highway collide with the unpredictable dynamic of real human behaviour.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$XCJM3ET2B5AJBQFIQMFCFF4AVCBQYIV0?xml=%2Fnews%2F2003%2F02%2F10%2Fntoll110.xml&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=10304

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 10, 2003.

Sport

ITV
Rooney surprised by call-up
12.00PM GMT, 9 Feb 2003
Everton's teenage sensation Wayne Rooney admits he did not expect to be called up for the full England squad.
The 17-year-old will become the youngest ever England international if he appears during the friendly against Australia at Upton Park on Wednesday.
It is the first time he has ever been called up to represent his country and his first call-up comes before he has played for the England under-21 side.
Rooney said: "When the gaffer told me I was in the squad I was really happy and asked when the Under 21s had to report. He just laughed, shook his head, and said: `No, the full squad'. I couldn't believe it.
"To have the chance to be around senior internationals is going to be a great experience for me and I can't wait."
Former Everton manager Joe Royle believes Sven-Goran Eriksson decided to call Rooney up to avoid him playing for another country.
Royle said: "He is possibly up for grabs for a number of nations. Sven will want to put a stamp on him. I am sure Sven wants to see him as soon as possible in an international atmosphere. Equally I am sure David Moyes (Everton manager) would like it to be at least 12 months down the line.
"I know David is protecting him as well as he can at the moment. The kid is just 17 and it is immense for him. He is having all the growing pains he will get at this age and it will be hard for him. But he is a prodigious talent and the sooner we see him the better I suppose."
Rooney would not be allowed to play for any other country once he has played in a competitive international for England either at full or under-21 level, but the game against Australia is only a friendly so he would still be able to represent any other country he might qualify for.
Former international striker John Aldridge was among the candidates to replace Mick McCarthy as Republic of Ireland but the job went to Brian Kerr. Aldridge thinks the Football Association of Ireland should try to find out if they can poach Everton's prodigy.
He said: "That would have been one of my first agendas to give him a ring and see how he qualifies.
"From an English perspective it is good to get him in the squad straight away. It keeps the wolves from knocking at the door. He is a fantastic young player."
Rooney will be 17 years and 111 days old on Wednesday but the youngest England international to date was James Prinsep who played against Scotland at Kennington Oval in 1879 at the age of 17 years and 252 days.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 10, 2003.

Book Reveiw

The Guardian
Sat 8 Feb 2003
Humanising history
'I can re-people with the past," wrote Byron in the Italian canto of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage . Byron's Venice in particular was a crowded scene. It thronged with the figures of its 1,000 years of h...
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,890539,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 08, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Financial Times
Fri 7 Feb 2003
Congestion charges: Agents have differing views on likely impact
By Steve Killick
Developers have plans for commuter-friendly schemes with extra parking spaces - and even motorcycle and scooter bays
The final count-down to the congestion charge on people drivin... http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1042491622534&p=1012571727159/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 08, 2003.

Congestion Charging

"Berlin Wall" in Lambeth warning
South London Press
THE CONGESTION charge will create a 'Berlin Wall' through Lambeth, warned a Conservative councillor.
Councillor Bernard Gentry last week argued the charge will create a barrier across north Lambeth - along Kennington Lane and Kennington Park Road - separating communities and increasing air pollution. He told a meeting: "The congestion charge is not wanted by the people of this borough or by the council. It is a recipe for disaster and will create a Berlin Wall across the north of the borough. You will not physically be able to get from one end of this borough to the other because of extra traffic." Cllr Gentry claimed Ken Livingstone is only interested in keeping traffic out of Zone One and does not care where it goes instead.
He said: "I have no doubt there will be a reduction in the traffic in Westminster but there will be a dramatic increase in traffic in Lambeth. This council should stand up and tell the Mayor he is wrong and to think again." Councillor Dinti Wakefield pointed out people in Kennington face a 'double whammy' of having to pay the congestion charge, as the area is classed as central London by the scheme, but then they also have to pay for a two-zone Tube fare into central London as their Tube stop is in Zone Two.
A Transport for London spokesman said: "People do not have to make these journeys by private car so the issue of a Berlin Wall does not apply.
"The area will be well served by public transport and the vast majority of people will choose to travel by public transport.
"We have taken a great deal of time and money to make sure the inner-ring road runs smoothly, and local authorities have had a substantial budget - Ł70million so far and another Ł30million is in the kitty - to put measures in place that offset potentially negative effects."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 08, 2003.

Parking

Consultation plan for Kennington 'K' CPZ review
Draft consultation plan for review of Kennington 'K' CPZ
Released: 6 February, 2003 03:29
Filesize: 245kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/016210.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 07, 2003.

Congestion Charging

The Independent

Capital offence
Traffic in London is getting ever worse: roads are gridlocked and tempers are fraying. The Mayor's congestion charge is just over a week away – but will it make any difference? Stephen Bayley hops into his Subaru and attempts to drive from A to Z. Though even getting to B would be nice
06 February 2003
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/story.jsp?story=375972

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 07, 2003.

Theatre funding

South London Press
Much ado about funding
Feb 4 2003
THE curtain could be coming down on theatre productions all over south London - because they are running ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/page.cfm?objectid=12604512&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 05, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times

Boycott congestion toll, says car group
February 04, 2003
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
A HARD-LINE motoring group is putting pressure on organisations and individuals supporting the Central London congestion charge and calling on motorists to boycott any company that profits from the scheme
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-565665,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 04, 2003.

Adventure Playground

Lambeth

Question to Education Scrutiny Sub Committee (Luke Plowden) 05/02/2003
Released: 31 January, 2003 03:37
Filesize: 12kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/017853.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 04, 2003.

Buses

Two new bus routes
New easy access low-floor buses are now operating new route 360 every day from Elephant Castle through Kennington Cross, Black Prince Road, Vauxhall Cross, Pimlico, Sloane Square (for Peter Jones and the Kings Road) to Queens Gate for the Museums and Kensington.
And pay in advance easy access bus 436 will from 8 February supplement bus 36 from the Oval and Vauxhall Cross through Victoria and up Park Lane to Paddington.
New 360 (Kensington-Elephant & Castle) – 25 January
Another new central London route will be introduced providing many new direct links as well as providing a first time bus service along some roads:
· New route 360 will run from Kensington (Queen's Gate) via South Kensington, Brompton Cross, Sloane Avenue, Draycott Place, Sloane Square, Chelsea Bridge Road, Lupus Street, Pimlico Station, Vauxhall, Black Prince Road and Kennington Cross to Elephant & Castle.
· This new route will run every day of the week, from early morning until late at night. During the day, buses will run about 12 minutes on Mondays to Saturdays and every 15 minutes on Sundays. During early mornings and evenings buses will run every 20 minutes.
· Easy access low-floor single deck buses will be operated, fully accessible to wheelchairs users.
http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/buses/cib_service_change.shtml#36

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 02, 2003.

Property/Congestion Charging

Times
February 02, 2003
London: Zone insiders lead in price race
The new congestion charge is set to make central homes more valuable than ever, says Graham Norwood
Nickie and Alex Aiken are selling up, driven by warnings that London’s congestion charge could knock 10% off the value of homes like theirs that are on the boundaries of the scheme. But the Ł5-a-day fee for driving within central London, which comes into force on February 17, is not bad news for all homeowners. Those inside the zone could see price rises.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-530-559539,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), February 02, 2003.

Toddler dies

South London Press
31 January 2003
Toddler dies after blaze
A BABY boy died after a blaze ripped through the flat he was sleeping in on Tuesday morning.
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm?objectid=12590736&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 31, 2003.

Children's clubs

South London Press
Jan 31 2003
Mums' protest: cops called to town hall
COPS were called to a town hall to contain a throng of mums and children, protesting over plans to close ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm?objectid=12590742&method=full&siteid=50100

Time to worry about clubs
THREE afternoon clubs for tots aged up to four are under threat of closure.
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm?objectid=12590737&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 31, 2003.

Property/Congestion Charging

Times
Property
January 31, 2003
Market Analysis
For what it's worth
If you park your cash in a garage, the congestion zone charge could drive up your profits
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,587-559444,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 31, 2003.

Property

Evening Standard
Homes & property: Property news
28/01/03

Aitken is a Chelsea girl
By Compton Miller
Celebs. They may think they can move house without us knowing about it, but - ha - how wrong they are. This week, society girl Alexandra Aitken is looking for a new pad in upmarket Chelsea, while Jane McDonald is also flat-hunting...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/3116698?source=Evening%20Standard

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 31, 2003.

Music

South London Press

Singer-songwriter takes centre stage
Jan 31 2003
AFTER an 18-year singing career in which she has supported some of the world's finest musicians, from ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/1000whatson/0200music/page.cfm?objectid=12586573&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 31, 2003.

Congestion Charging

NATIONAL NEWS: Problem of bridging the congestion gap
By Roger Blitz
Financial Times
Jan 29, 2003
If Ken Livingstone wantsa snapshot of the effect of his congestion charge scheme on February 17, he could do worse than look outside his office window.
http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=030129000665

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 29, 2003.

Transport

South London Press
Why ignore a perfect plan?
Jan 24 2003
LAST year, I was encouraged to see the progress of Transport for London's (TfL's) planning of the Cross River Transit. In south London, it would relieve the buses in Walworth, Peckham and Brixton, and the horribly over-crowded Tubes in Kennington, Stockwell and Brixton.
At a presentation made by TfL, longer-term plans for a link with the very successful Croydon system via Streatham were discussed. This would be the sort of scheme that ought to be the beneficiary of the congestion charge, providing a real alternative to cars blighting the town centres strung along the A23.
Just when the tram plans all looked fixed, Lambeth council appears to have called Brixton into question, favouring the duplication of the Northern Line to Clapham Common instead.
Apart from the fact that TfL's plan has been fully costed, assessed and been subject to public consultation, surely such tinkering can only delay the project and put in place a lengthly detour on the projected link to Streatham, making it much more unattractive to the A23 road and bus users.
Nicholas Weedon
Brixton Hill

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 29, 2003.

Pilates in Kennington? Anyone know of some Pilates classes in Kennington or local area? Katrina

-- Katrina Phillips (katrina.phillips@virgin.net), January 26, 2003.

Tupperware

Times

The tupper classes
January 24, 2003
THE creation of the handsomely-handled Earl Silas Tupper in 1942 — a man who envisaged the “Tupperisation” of the world — took America by storm. Its success can be attributed to the sales technique of Brownie Wise, who took the foot-in-the-door approach of the travelling salesman a step further. In came the Tupperware party. In a flash, Tupper had cut out the middleman and brought in the middlewoman. ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-552636,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 25, 2003.

Second flat corpse

South London Press
Second flat corpse
THE body of a 73-year-old whose home had "a history of bad odours" was found by police on ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm?objectid=12566818&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 24, 2003.

Right to buy - new rules

Right to buy - new rules apply to Lambeth, Southwark and Westminster
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2683123.stm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 23, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Telegraph
What price will London pay for curbing cars?
Author Caroline McGhie
DATE: 22 Jan 2003
Rat-runs in the heart of the capital, gridlocks outside the zone; overpriced garages and parking rights . . . Caroline McGhie on the likely effects of the new congestion charges
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml;$sessionid$XNCEXGDCA23FVQFIQMFCFF4AVCBQYIV0?xml=%2Fproperty%2F2003%2F01%2F22%2Fpcong19.xml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 23, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Independent

Analysis: London at the crossroads as 40,000 motorists await the final realisation of Ken Livingstone's big idea
17 January 2003
With one month to go until the capital's congestion charging system comes into effect, what do ordinary drivers need to know?
http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=370034

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 23, 2003.

Protest over playgrounds 'axe'

Protest over playgrounds 'axe'
PROTESTERS from playgroups staged a demonstration over a proposal to shut three adventure playgrounds.
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm?objectid=12555464&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 21, 2003.

Missing Persons

Concern grows for missing two
Jan 21 2003
South London Press
COPS are concerned for the welfare of a 28-year-old woman missing from her Kennington home.
Sofia Tekle was last seen by her husband at 8am on New Year's Day at their home address in Blythe House, Kennington Park Road.
Sofia is black, 5ft 2ins tall and of slim build. She has black, collar-length, straight hair and brown eyes.
When she was last seen, Sofia was wearing a black winter coat with a hood, blue jeans, a grey jumper and trainers. She was also wearing a wristwatch with a leather strap and gold stud earrings.
Information to PC Gabi Desouza, of Lambeth Police Missing Persons Unit, on 020-8649 2577 or the Missing Persons Helpline on 0500 700 700.
* Meanwhile a south London pensioner has gone missing at Heathrow airport. Police are appealing for information in tracing Akingbade Adebari, 64, from Surrey Quays, who was last seen by his son at Heathrow Terminal 3 on Thursday.
Mr Adebari was scheduled to fly to Lagos in Nigeria from Heathrow at 8pm to visit his relatives who contacted his son when he did not arrive. Mr Adebari is a black male, 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build, clean-shaven with short greying hair. He was last seen wearing a black suit jacket, cream trousers and a cream jumper. He wears a gold wedding ring and sometimes wears glasses.
Mr Adebari has difficulties speaking following a stroke and suffers from high blood pressure and asthma. Information to Heathrow CID on 020-88972 1212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 21, 2003.

Tube station closures

The Times
January 21, 2003
20 Tube stations to close
By A Correspondent
London Underground announced last night that 20 deep-level stations served by lifts will close from 9am this morning to 9am tomorrow to “maintain customer safety”.
A further two stations would be affected but would open for limited periods, it said.
The 20 closed stations are: Belsize Park, Borough, Caledonian Road, Chalk Farm, Covent Garden, Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line), Elephant & Castle, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Holland Park, Holloway Road, Kennington, Lambeth North, Lancaster Gate, Mornington Crescent, Queensway, Regent’s Park, Russell Square, Tufnell Park and Wapping.
At Gloucester Road the Piccadilly Line will be closed but District and Circle Lines will still be open. Shadwell will also be closed during the morning and evening peaks.
London Underground said the closures would also apply if strikes went ahead on January 28 and February 1.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 21, 2003.

Laurel & Hardy evening in Kennington

Laurel & Hardy evening
Saturday, February 15th
You are invited to another evening of fun and frolics when The Live Ghost tent holds another fine meeting on Saturday February 15th. 5:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. at The Pilgrim, 247 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QU when we will pay:
A Tribute to Anita Garvin
The Live Ghost tent will be celebrating Anita Garvin's birthday at this meeting (Anita was born on February 11, 1907, in New York City). Tonight we will remember this great comedienne who has given us so many great laughs.
5:30 pm. Meet and greet each other, take a cocktail or two or order some food at the bar.
(WARNING. Food should be ordered by 8 pm), visit the sales stall; get your raffle tickets etc.
6:00 - 8:00 pm Film show Part One.
8:00 INTERVAL. Buy last minute raffle tickets, visit the Sales Stall, socialise etc. We will have any competitions, announcements, the raffle prize draw, the loyal toasts, our International Anthem and any other tent business here.
9:15 - 10:45 ish Film show Part Two.
10:25 Buy those last minute items from the sales stall; perhaps take one more cocktail for the desert ……
10:30 Sales stall closes.
11:00 Bar closes and meeting ends…. Till the next time.
Entry is free for club members and Ł3:00 each for guests. Any questions on this? Phone our membership secretary Jim Hutchinson (01689 823420 or 07881 833458.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 19, 2003.

Hughes will join Mayor race

17/01/03 - News and city section
Hughes will join Mayor race
By Joe Murphy, Whitehall Editor
Evening Standard
Simon Hughes will next week abandon his ambition to be Liberal Democrat deputy leader - and fight to become London Mayor.
His decision will spark a new contest to succeed Alan Beith for the centre party's number two slot under Charles Kennedy.
It could also dramatically change the odds when Ken Livingstone fights to stay in office in the 2004 mayoral election.
Mr Hughes, Lib-Dem home affairs spokesman, confirmed today he will be making a statement on Tuesday. "It is obviously a very tricky decision," he said. "I have consulted widely among friends and colleagues and I have made up my mind. I will be making an announcement next week." His decision not to challenge for the deputy leadership will astonish some colleagues. The Bermondsey MP, a Left-winger, had lobbied hard for the post and was regarded as a shoo-in.
A moderniser closer to Mr Kennedy is now likely to get the job. Mr Beith is vacating it to take on a major Commons committee.
Only two weeks ago Mr Hughes said he was likely to drop out of the mayoral race to pursue his Westminster ambitions.
He came under pressure from senior supporters in the party to stand for Mayor because he is seen as the most likely candidate to beat Mr Livingstone. One supporter said: "He is the only candidate who can win it for us. If he succeeds he will become one of the most important people in the party.
"Simon is aware of the responsibility and although he could easily win a vote for deputy leader, this is in reality a bigger and better challenge."
Susan Kramer, who stood for the Lib-Dems last time and is pressing for a second chance against Mr Livingstone, is likely to be dismayed.
A poll for the Evening Standard disclosed last month that Mr Hughes had twice as much support as she did among voters. It put him on 24 per cent, which was also ahead of Labour candidate Nicky Gavron.
©2003 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2003.

Congestion Charging

CONGESTION CHARGING: MASS MEETING
Solicitors Class Law [ www.classlaw.co.uk ] have arranged a meeting about the Congestion Charge. A whole range of people now oppose the scheme, from Smithfield meat porters to West End actors. This is a great opportunity to show the strength of opposition to the charge, in its present form, whether or not a new legal challenge results.
Palace Theatre, Cambridge Circus WC2, Monday January 20, 1pm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2003.

Lillian Bayliss School

Lillian Bayliss School PFI Procurement - Exec 27/1/03
Report on New Lillian Bayliss School PFI Procurement.
Released: January 17, 2003 3:12 PM
Filesize: 90kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/017583.pdf
Lillian Bayliss PFI Rpt - Exec 27/1/03 - Appendices
Appendix to PFI report, contains procurement information.
Released: January 17, 2003 3:17 PM
Filesize: 48kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/017584.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2003.

Job vacancy

Teaching Support Assistant
For further information, please refer to advert.
Released: January 17, 2003 5:46 PM
Filesize: 13kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a-default/017597.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2003.

On this day

Siege of Leningrad ended on this day

Ananova:
Sat, 18 Jan 2003
1778: Captain Cook discovered Hawaii.
1788: A penal settlement was established in Botany Bay, Australia.
1879: The first England-Wales football international was played at Kennington Oval in London, England winning 2-1.
1882: AA Milne, creator of Winnie the Pooh, was born in St John's Wood, London.
1911: US pilot Eugene Ely, in a Curtiss aircraft, made the first landing on the deck of a ship - the cruiser Pennsylvania moored in San Francisco Bay.
1912: British explorer Captain Scott reached the South Pole - only to find the Norwegian Amundsen had arrived 35 days earlier.
1933: The "bodyline bowling" row flared up in an Australian v England Test match in Adelaide.
1944: The 900-day siege of Leningrad ended.
1977: In the worst rail disaster in Australian history, 82 people died when a Sydney-bound train was derailed.
1989: Knuckledusters, hand claws and other offensive weapons were officially banned by the Home Office.
1992: Faced with a new outbreak of terrorism, the Government decided to send more troops to Northern Ireland.
Story filed: 07:11 Saturday 18th January 2003
Related stories:
The Thames freezes over on this day in 1940 06:17 Friday 17th January 2003
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_738974.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 18, 2003.

Museum of Garden History - Herb Study Day

The London Friends of the Museum of Garden History
Invite you to a
Herb Study Day
06 May 2003 at the Museum of Garden History
Jan Greenland, who is the main lecturer and demonstrator for the Herb Society, will lead this study day. She has lectured at the British Museum, Chelsea Physic Garden, the Holbourne Museum of Art in Bath, and at many National Trust properties, as well as overseas. Jan is an experienced Home Economist, and a food historian. She is also a committed environmentalist, a member of the Soil Association and the Henry Doubleday Research Association. In 2000 she demonstrated at the Organic Food and Wine Festival in London. A keen gardener and member of the NCCPG, the Hardy Plant and Cottage Garden Societies, Jan grows over 300 herbs in her walled garden, which hosted a National Herb Day in 2002.
The day will begin with an illustrated talk about the culinary and aesthetic uses of herbs in the kitchen and garden, followed by a walk round the Museum's knot garden to look at and discuss the herbs growing there. After lunch, the afternoon will focus on the history of making tussie-mussies and nosegays. Jan will give practical demonstrations, introducing unusual aromatic herbs and flowers from her own garden; students will then be invited to make their own posy to take home with them.
The cost of the day is Ł65 per person for Friends of the Museum of Garden History, Ł70 for other people. Tickets may be obtained by sending an sae with your cheque, made payable to 'London Friends of the MGH', to the London Friends, at the Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Palace Road, London SE1 7LB. For more information, you can call us on 020 7820 8994.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 17, 2003.

Beyond her Kennington

Telegraph - Peterborough
Friday 17 January 2003
Edited by Charlie Methven
pboro@telegraph.co.uk

Beyond her Kennington
Alexandra Aitken, daughter of the disgraced former Tory MP Jonathan, has tired of the ascetic south London life she took up after being hoofed out of the family's Westminster pad two years ago. Late last year, Ali was mugged as she returned home to Kennington, and has since been burgled. Now the 22-year-old wannabe film producer has decided to seek a less hazardous home.
"I am moving," she tells me decisively. "I just have to get out of the street where I'm living at the moment. You know those yellow posters that the police put up when something happens? There are three of those on my pin-board just from this week."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Telegraph - Peterborough
Friday 17 January 2003
Edited by Charlie Methven
pboro@telegraph.co.uk

Chefs in a stew over Livingstone
For a man who prides himself on his Jack-the-Lad charm, Ken Livingstone is accumulating a fearsome array of enemies. Following the pigeon feeders, theatre proprietors and his old Labour comrades, the latest to take issue with Ken are two of the capital's most famous chefs: Marco-Pierre White and Nico Ladenis.
"I cannot imagine anyone worse than Ken Livingstone for the restaurant industry," says MPW. "When I think of him, I just remember the way he ------ up the GLC. The man's an idiot, and if he asks me to one of his lunches I won't go. He's dreadful. You could fit his sensible policies, particuarly on transport, on the back of a postage stamp."
Ladenis, while more measured, is equally critical of his plans to introduce congestion charging. "I know Ken Livingstone personally. He is very well meaning, but his policies will be a problem for our trade. I just bought a new BMW, but I'm going to sell it and walk instead.
"Lots of other people are just going to stop coming into the West End. It's going to damage theatres, and as we do a lot of our trade pre- and post-theatre, it's very bad for us too. These are difficult times in the restaurant industry, and I have no doubt that the congestion charge will force some of us out of business."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Analysis: London at the crossroads as 40,000 motorists await the final realisation of Ken Livingstone's big idea
Fri 17 Jan 2003
The Independent
With one month to go until the capital's congestion charging system comes into effect, what do ordinary drivers need to know?...
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/story.jsp?story=370034

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 17, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times
January 16, 2003
Darling has doubts over congestion boundary
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
ALISTAIR DARLING, the Transport Secretary, made his first public criticism of the London congestion charge yesterday by suggesting that the boundary had been drawn in the wrong place.
Mr Darling also raised doubts about whether the technology used to enforce the charge and collect payments would work.
The Transport Secretary had refused to comment on the details of the scheme, saying that they were a matter for Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London. But he broke his silence after increasing evidence that the boundary of the zone will cut communities in half and create rat runs through residential areas.
The London Assembly has highlighted the plight of residents of Kennington Lane, which forms part of the southern boundary. People living on the inner side of the roads get a 90 per cent discount and their neighbours opposite must pay the full Ł5 a day.
Mr Darling said: “Getting the detail right is absolutely critical. The issues include whether or not Mr Livingstone has got the cordon in the right place and whether or not the technology works. I hope he is working day and night.”
Nicky Gavron, the Labour candidate who will challenge Mr Livingstone in next year’s mayoral election, said she would consider expanding the zone to include the whole of Westminster. She said the technology could also be improved to allow concessions for public sector workers and those doing night shifts.
Mr Livingstone has said that he will consider expanding the zone both to the east and the west, with the possibility of a congestion charge for people driving to Heathrow Airport.
John Biggs, chairman of the London Assembly’s transport committee, said the River Thames might have been a better southern boundary for the zone. “It also might have made sense to pilot the scheme in a smaller area, such as the City of London,” he said. Mr Biggs urged Mr Livingstone to extend the 90 per cent discount to “natural communities” which straddle the boundary. People living just outside the zone who were part of a community that continued inside the zone should not have to pay the full rate, he said.
More than half the profits from the charge, which starts on February 17, will be spent on improving buses. The 150,000 motorists expected to pay each day will benefit from less than a third of the Ł130 million annual surplus.
A total of Ł84 million will be spent on bus improvements, including 200 new buses and improved frequency on dozens of routes. Another Ł4 million will be spent on CCTV cameras on board buses to monitor violent passengers and catch drivers parking in bus lanes.
Projects aimed at improving the safety of children who walk or cycle to school will receive Ł6 million.
Drivers will benefit from Ł36 million planned for road safety. But much of that will go on improving the safety of pedestrians, with measures to reduce the speed of traffic.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 16, 2003.

Congestion Charging

DRIVING UP LONDON PRICES
The arrival of the congestion charge will affect more than just the capital's traffic. Demand for homes in central London is predicted to rise as Londoners weigh up the benefits of beating the scheme, explains David Spittles....
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/2907935?version=1

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 15, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Living in the zone
By David Spittles
Evening Standard
14 January 2003
Television producer Steve Adamson has lived in Kennington since 1996. His one-bedroom flat has more than doubled in value, but he is worried about the impact of the charge on the local neighbourhood.
He says: "Living just inside the zone, I won't have to pay the full Ł5 daily charge and my property should nudge up in value. But roadworks have been going on for months. There's a labyrinth of pedestrian diversions and the traffic is now worse than ever. The latest upheavals have caused uncertainty on both sides of the divide. Some people are considering moving house and small businesses fear they may go bust.
"Even if, like me, you are a motorist living on the inside, there's a certain absurdity to it all. If I take the car to go shopping, I'll drive into Victoria. But my work takes me outside the zone into heavily congested areas like Clapham and Earl's Court."
As a zone resident, he has to pay Ł126 a year plus another Ł60 for a parking permit.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 15, 2003.

Underground

The Times

Interview: Amanda Hall: Putting the Tube back on the rails
January 12, 2003
Terry Morgan,chief executive of Tube Lines, has London’s toughest job — modernising the Underground. Whatever made him take it on?
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2-528-539553,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 12, 2003.

Education

Hungry for fame
A new play looks at why youngsters are obsessed with celebrities. By Helen Hague Helen Hague
Monday January 06 2003
The Guardian
Celebrity may not be on the national curriculum, but is certainly whets young appetites for knowledge. The minutiae of lives - from micro-celeb to megastar - are picked over endlessly in the playground, fuelled by pop, football and, of course, reality TV, chronicled unstintingly by must-read mags such as Heat and OK.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/egweekly/story/0,5500,869511,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 09, 2003.

Event at Durning Library: Excavations at Kennington Palace

Excavations at Kennington Palace
Dear Friends
The next evening event at Durning Library will be on
Monday, 20th January
7pm for 7.30pm
when the Chair of the Southwark and Lambeth Archeological Society, Graham Dawson, will be speaking on the excavations at Kennington Palace on which he worked. Deputy Keeper of Cuming Museum, Mr Dawson is building a database on Medieval Lambeth and Southwark.
As a curtain-raiser, Elisabeth Stuart, Duchy of Cornwall Archivist, will show beautiful slides on the Duchy.
We look forward to seeing you there.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), January 08, 2003.

Congestion Charging

Times

Lady Macbeth: out, damned congestion charge, out
Lady Macbeth is sharpening her dagger for an assault on Ken Livingstone’s congestion charge, and she is unlikely to be satisfied with the eye of one of the Mayor of London’s famous newts.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-536031,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 08, 2003.

Lost skier rescued after texting mother in UK

Independent
Lost skier rescued after texting mother in UK
By Terri Judd
07 January 2003
A British skier lost on an Italian mountain was rescued after he sent a text message to his mother 900 miles away in England.
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=367053

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 07, 2003.

900-mile txt saves ski Brit

900-mile txt saves ski Brit
A SKIER trapped on an Italian mountain was saved after he sent a desperate text message to his mum’s mobile — 900 miles away back in England.
The SOS from Alexander Smith, 35 — lost and shaken after plunging from a ledge at 5,000ft — read: “I’m in difficulty. Quick call police.”
The building firm boss gave the name of the resort where wife Patul, 35, was waiting for him — Arabba in the Italian Dolomites.
Frantic mum Carol, who was in Derbyshire visiting relatives, immediately phoned international directory inquiries. Amazingly the operator had recently been to the same area. He gave her the number of the local nick.
After more than six hours in temperatures of minus 10°C, Alexander was found by rescuers unhurt.
The building firm boss, of Kennington, South London, said yesterday: “I was in a bad reception area so I couldn’t receive calls on my mobile.
“But I was able to send text messages. I’m just so glad my mum acted quickly.”
Relieved Carol, of Gerrards Cross, Bucks, said: “I didn’t even know he had gone skiing.”
Police captain Federico Quintani said: “It was a very unusual rescue.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 07, 2003.

Bananas

The Sun
Tue, Jan 7, 2003
Bananamania at Sun diet
By TOM WORDEN and MARK STEVENSON
SHOPPERS bought MILLIONS of extra bananas yesterday as Britain went crazy for The Sun’s new diet.
Tesco sold 750,000 more nationwide — an increase of 30 per cent — thanks to the tasty way to lose 14lb in 28 days.
Safeway reported a similar rise. A spokesman said:
“Bananas have been flying off shelves thanks to the diet.”
Asda said sales were up 17 per cent across the country.
Shopper Melissa Whitehead, 23, from Kennington, South London — buying bananas near Tower Bridge — said: “I love them. It should be a joy sticking to the diet.”
At Tesco in Surrey Quays, South London, shoppers bought so many bananas that staff were constantly restocking shelves.
Safeway saw the biggest increase in sales at stores in Glasgow, Bristol, Milton Keynes, Basingstoke, Maidstone, and Plymouth.
Shopper Marina Wilkinson, 19, of Middlesbrough, said: “It’s made me realise bananas are good for you.”
Beauty therapist Sheryl Thomas, 28, of Todmorden, West Yorks, bought two bags full and said: “I can’t wait to see what top dishes are in The Sun tomorrow.”
Asda said: “Bananas were already our biggest selling item so a rise of 17 per cent is astonishing.”
Big Brother’s Jonny Regan — playing the genie in Aladdin in Newcastle upon Tyne — said: “I’ll get my panto pals chomping bananas.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 07, 2003.

Trees in Kennington Park

Trees for London invite you to visit the café in Kennington Park to vote for the type of tree to be planted in the park on Tree Planting Day on Saturday 8 February.
http://www.treesforlondon.org.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 05, 2003.

Congestion charging

Times

Traffic charge is driving teachers out of London
02 Jan 2003
Schools inside London’s congestion charge zone are facing an exodus of teachers unable or unwilling to pay an extra Ł1,200 a year to drive to work
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-4646-529585,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 05, 2003.

Property

A nation of stay-at-homes - with the builders in

Telegraph
Author Caroline McGhie
DATE: 29 Dec 2002 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/main.jhtml;$sessionid$TX4GIYZW0NRE5QFIQMFCFF4AVCBQYIV0?xml=%2Fproperty%2F2002%2F12%2F30%2Fpbuilder.xml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 04, 2003.

New Year's Eve

The perfect arty New Year’s party
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,585-528038,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 01, 2003.

2002

South London Press
Royals, reefers and Rio - that was 2002
Dec 31 2002
A RECENT survey revealed a whopping 68 per cent of southerners thought the war on terror was the most ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200southlondonheadlines/page.cfm?objectid=12492208&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), January 01, 2003.

Patrick McGrath

Madness, my father and me
28 Dec 2002
This week, Patrick McGrath's novel about a schizophrenic, Spider, hits the big screen. He tells Tim Teeman how growing up in Broadmoor shaped his obsession with the twisted side of human nature
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-197-524302,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 30, 2002.

Nurseries, clubs and play areas could shut

South London Press

Nurseries, clubs and play areas could shut
Dec 24 2002
By Vicky Wilks
CHILDREN's nurseries, oneo'clock clubs and adventure playgrounds could face the axe as cash-strapped Lambeth council tries to balance its books.
Three of Lambeth council's five day-nurseries could be shut down by the end of next year, saving the council Ł1.2million.
Instead, tots under five would be put into two "centres of excellence" in deprived parts of Lambeth.
A written proposal for the cut points out there is already a vibrant private sector market for tots in Lambeth. Existing council-run nurseries are in Norwood, Streatham, Kennington, Brixton and Clapham.
Sue Wallis, whose son goes to Streatham Day Nursery on Garrads Road, fought to keep that nursery open last year when it was under threat of closure. She has vowed to fight again. "Why should day-nurseries all be in deprived areas?", she says.
"Just because we live in Streatham it doesn't mean we can afford private nursery fees of between Ł150 and Ł200 a week. "We are paying our council taxes so our children should have the right to go to day-nurseries."
It has also been proposed that Lambeth's 12 afternoon clubs for tots under five are handed over to the voluntary sector, to make a saving of Ł321,000.
And some council-run adventure playgrounds could face the axe in a bid to save Ł320,000.
Labour's lead councillor for education, Nick Cattermole, said: "This just shows in Liberal Lambeth, nothing is sacred.
"Young children and their parents will suffer for these cuts. They will be mostly in deprived areas and the last thing they need is another kick in the teeth from the council."
But Lambeth's executive member for the environment, Lib Dem councillor Anthony Bottrall, said the proposed cuts were a response "to the appalling overall financial situation of the council his administration has inherited".
He pointed out a Youth and Play Strategy has been drawn up and said: "The strategy is based on a longer-term plan for the council to retreat from direct provision of services to facilitating the voluntary sector to take over more responsibility in these areas."
He added that voluntary organisations can draw in extra funding --whereas the council cannot - and pointed out some adventure playgrounds are already being well run by voluntary groups.
He said: "We are committed to working with the voluntary sector and Lambeth Play Association to develop a whole range of services for children of different age groups. "These are the kind of unpleasant decisions we have to make under financial pressure. "I have worked with children's services since I was first elected in 1994. We are not doing this blindly and without thought about how we are going to improve these services over the medium to long term."
The final decisions on the proposed cuts will be made in February.
"What do YOU think about plans to close nurseries? E mail the South London Press at: newsdesk@slp. co.uk or write to 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PD

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 24, 2002.

Parking fees

South London Press

Parking hike ploy to fight congestion
Dec 24 2002
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali
PARKING fees have been hiked in anticipation of the congestion charge launch.
Lambeth has jacked-up the price to deter out-of-town motorists from using the borough as a giant car park when the Ł5 levy is introduced in February.
Kennington - split in half by Mayor Ken's boundary - is the worst hit with fees DOUBLING from Ł1.50 an hour to Ł3. There's also a hefty jump for Waterloo - Ł2.40 to Ł4 - and in Brixton, Stockwell, Clapham, Camberwell and Tulse Hill, it's up 80p to Ł2.
The news is sure to infuriate independent traders who fear shoppers will flock to supermarkets, many of which offer free parking.
John Johnson, of non-political pressure group Rescue London, said: "It will hit the poor hardest and it is being dressed up us protecting us locals from commuter parking."
The group - made up of fed-up Walworth Road traders - has seen profits plummet as parking fees have risen.
The news comes after the announcement that parking fines may rise to Ł100 in some boroughs.
Meanwhile, Lambeth has slashed the price of resident and visitor permits for people living inside the congestion charge boundary.
The price of a visitor permit - available only to those who know someone in the road - falls from Ł2.50 to Ł2, and residents will now pay Ł50 a year instead of Ł60.
Lambeth says it is to compensate for the cost of congestion charge and make it easier for friends or family to park.
In terms of the hourly hikes, the council said pay and display parking places were last increased in Brixton, Kennington and Clapham in 1997 and 1998 in Waterloo, where parking is considerably cheaper than in neighbouring Westminster.
A spokeswoman said: "The increase in pay and display charges is necessary to discourage the knock-on effect of congestion charging displacement parking. "This may have a particular impact in areas where there are rail and Tube stations which attract travellers to central London."
Lambeth councillor Andrew Sawdon, who has responsibility for transport, said: "Many of these meters are on side streets and the majority of small shops in Lambeth tend to be on main roads where there are 20-minute free parking bays."
Southwark council told the South London Press it had no plans to increase parking charges in this financial year.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 24, 2002.

Road death

South London Press

Woman killed in early morning smash
Dec 24 2002
By Robert Dex
A YOUNG woman died in hospital early yesterday morning after she was found fatally injured near Kennington Park Road.
Cops found the victim at around 4.30am yesterday at the junction with Newington Butts.
The woman is described as black and in her early 20s, and was taken to St Thomas' Hospital, where she died of her injuries at around 7am. A police spokes-woman said the victim had been identified but her name was not being released before next-of-kin had been informed.
She added that initial reports of a shooting had been discounted after a search of the scene.
As we went to press, cops were describing the circumstances leading to the death as a 'traffic incident'.
Traffic going to the Elephant and Castle roundabout was diverted for several hours afterwards.
One motorist who drove past the scene just before 9am said: "I was diverted up Penton Place.
"There were cops everywhere and the incident scene was taped off.
"There were at least four police cars diverting people away from the scene.
"It will have caused a hell of a lot of trouble for people getting to work."
Anyone with any information is asked to call Walworth police on 020-7701 1212.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 24, 2002.

Night buses

South London Press

Night buses are being improved all the time
Dec 20 2002
THE driver of the night bus who reporter Oscar Mortali describes in the 'Seeing Red' column "Hard work getting home on the night bus", (South London Press, December 6) took exactly the right action by not leaving Trafalgar Square overloaded.
I'm disappointed that Oscar's father had a long journey home on this occasion and I hope that he will continue to use our services.
We are making night buses more extensive and more and more people are using them - last year 19million trips were made on night buses alone across the capital.
Under the Mayor's transport strategy we've made them cheaper, increased frequencies and improved security through more vehicles with CCTV, lighting at bus stops and introduced a dedicated uniformed policing presence on 26 key routes.
South London is now served by more night buses than ever before - since autumn 2000 we've introduced brand new services to Lewisham, Clapham, Crystal Palace, Tooting, Camberwell and Deptford. From early in the new year, passengers travelling from central London to Kennington, Brixton and Streatham will be served by a new night bus N133.
If your bus is full, it shouldn't be too long until the next one. The driver Oscar describes was not stubborn at all but took exactly the right action to make sure passengers had a safe journey.
Peter Hendy
Managing Director of Surface Transport
Transport for London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 23, 2002.

Shell - planning permission refused

Shell shock for oil giant
Dec 17 2002
By Oscar Mortali
South London Press
OIL giant Shell is reeling after Ł160million plans to change the face of the South Bank were dramatically snubbed.
In one of London's biggest planning decisions this year, Lambeth council refused Shell permission to build Belvedere Court - a huge office block and retail development under the shadow of the London Eye.
Determined campaigners - who have fought tooth and nail to preserve Waterloo's few remaining open spaces - are overjoyed.
County Hall resident Marina Thaine said: "We are very pleased but it is a bitter-sweet victory.
"This application should never have got this far because it is so wrong for the area."
Shell is now considering an appeal to the Secretary of State and a public inquiry could follow over what has been dubbed Lambeth's "biggest planning decision in the past decade".
Thursday's planning meeting was considered so important the local authority took the unusual step of holding it near Waterloo station, instead of the Town Hall.
There was standing room only as objectors queued to have their say.
Cheers rang out when the controversial Belvedere Court planning application was refused on four grounds.
These were: concerns over the loss of the podium site as open space; the effect on trade in nearby Lower Marsh Street; the height, bulk and mass of the proposed office development; and concerns about the office building over-looking the north block of County Hall.
When the we interviewed Shell directors and planners this year, the company insisted the parade of 20 to 25 shops and mini-supermarket would not have a negative effect on established traders in Lower Marsh Street.
The company also insisted the podium site - currently popular with skateboarders - would be transformed into 'something better' and all planning guidelines had been met.
The joint application - by Shell and Bluewater developers Lendlease - was initially deferred on September 10 for further analysis.
Reacting to Thursday night's meeting, a Shell spokeswoman said the company was 'surprised and disappointed' with Lambeth's decision.
She added: "We believe Belvedere Court is an integral part of developing the South Bank."
The spokeswoman added Shell was currently 'reviewing' whether to appeal to the Secretary of State.
* What do you think about Shell losing?
Should the company go to appeal? Should Lambeth spend money fighting it?
Write to the Letters Page, South London Press, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PD or email newsdesk@slp.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 20, 2002.

Congestion charging

Dozens of key roads will be blocked
By David Williams Motoring Editor
Evening Standard
17 December 2002
Congestion charging will cause chaos on dozens of key London roads, a highly influential report warns today.
The scheme's vital boundary road could be swamped with extra traffic - while key roads adjacent to the boundary will be hit with up to 200 extra vehicles an hour after congestion charging starts on 17 February, it says.
It warns that up to 1.5 million people living on the edge of the zone could be hit by the twin problems of greater traffic and a squeeze on their public transport as some motorists cease using their cars.
The study, conducted by the London Assembly's own transport committee, makes alarming reading for London residents and workers as it is the first direct evidence backing what pressure groups and critics have claimed for months.
It says:
• Displaced motorists will force existing commuters off public transport
• Provision of extra public transport will do little to reduce overcrowding
• Many buses are still not running on time
• There should have been a full public examination of the congestion charging scheme.
It says London could face a wave of "civil disobedience", including a flood of cars using false registration plates, and questions Transport for London's assertion that extra buses will "soak up" those forced out of their cars.
Roads that could be swamped with extra traffic include Tower Bridge Road, Kennington Lane, Vauxhall Bridge Road and Southwark Bridge. There will be additional "rat-running" around the edges of the zone.
Crucially, the transport committee claims that only one in four of the 165 schemes planned to minimise traffic forced onto unsuitable roads will be in place when congestion charging starts, leaving residents to suffer "long after February 2003".
The report, by committee members who studied TfL's own data, says "much heavier" traffic at key points on and adjacent to the vital boundary road will create a "double whammy" for residents who will have their streets disrupted - and who will be forced off overcrowded Tubes.
"By the time these more crowded services reach inner London stations, locals will have to wait longer for space on carriages or be forced onto buses," says the report.
It acknowledges that more buses have been planned but questions whether TfL has sufficiently improved services ahead of the scheme's introduction. Other concerns are that the Mayor " underestimated the importance of consulting and taking the public with him".
Assembly members are concerned that the Mayor has refused to reveal how and when he will judge whether the scheme is a success. "There is the possibility that, without proper public oversight, it may be declared a success by tackling congestion in central London while ignoring its impact on other parts of the city," it adds.
A spokesman for Transport for London rejected many of the findings. He said there would only be a "small rise" in traffic on a small number of roads. "It will just be a few per cent more vehicles," he said. "We are confident that we will have traffic management measures in place to keep traffic moving."
The spokesman added: "We are making extra public transport provision so that it will cope. We believe that buses can handle the switchover from the roads." He said the Mayor would publish criteria by which he would judge the success of the scheme in the new year.
©2002 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 18, 2002.

Roots & Shoots - Christmas trees

It's Christmas!:
Roots and shoots
By Clive Aslet
Evening Standard
Are you thinking about buying a real Christmas tree but aren't sure if you should? Branch out this weekend by buying a Christmas tree from Roots and Shoots. All the money raised will go to a good horticultural cause....
Roots and shoots
11 December 2002
If you are in need of a Christmas tree, and would also like to support a good horticultural cause, go to Roots And Shoots at Walnut Tree Walk, off Kennington Road, in Lambeth. This wildlife garden was founded some 20 years ago, on the site of an old factory.
With the help of botanists and gardeners, nature has reasserted itself to such an extent that it now teems with insects, inlcuding rare species of cricket. David Perkins, the wildlife outreach worker, lovingly points out ant hills, as well as beehives. In this small space, there are almost as many types of habitat as at the Eden Project. You can loiter beneath a spreading kiwi vine, or peer into a pond full of newts and frogs (at least you could have done in the summer). In one corner, guavas and pineapples are growing, in another scented herbs.
Roots And Shoots is not just a garden, though. It is also a training ground for young gardeners and woodworkers. They may not always have been much of a success in school but here they are acquiring the skills that will get them jobs. Now the organisers are launching a Ł1 million appeal for new buildings. That's a lot of Christmas trees!
Roots And Shoots Vauxhall Centre, Walnut Tree Walk, SE11 (020-7582 1800).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 16, 2002.

Congestion charging

The Times
December 16, 2002
Toll 'rat runs' will carry extra 200 vehicles an hour
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
CONGESTION on some of London’s busiest roads will increase from February as drivers find new rat runs to avoid paying the Ł5 daily toll, the team behind the new charge has admitted.
At least 20 streets, many of them through residential areas, will carry an extra 200 vehicles an hour at peak times, according to Transport for London (TfL).
The scheme, starting on February 17, is expected to cut congestion by 20 to 30 per cent inside the charging zone, which covers eight square miles of Central London bounded by Vauxhall Bridge, Elephant & Castle, Tower Bridge and Euston Road.
TfL has previously said that congestion would rise slightly around the boundary, but a map produced by the authority reveals that the impact will be much greater than previously thought and will stretch far beyond the zone.
Several roads forming the boundary, which will be free to all drivers, will gain more than 180 extra vehicles an hour in the morning peak. They include Tower Bridge Road, Commercial Street, City Road, Vauxhall Bridge Road and Kennington Lane. A similar rise in traffic is expected in Edgware Road, Camden Street and Shoreditch High Street.
Drivers will begin to alter their routes from several miles outside the zone, leading to more congestion on a number of streets in Maida Vale, Wandsworth, Peckham, South Kensington and Limehouse.
Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, is hoping that the extra congestion on some streets will be outweighed by reductions elsewhere as 20,000 drivers a day switch to public transport.
The TfL map shows substantial reductions in congestion on a few arterial roads leading into the zone. Inside the zone, Piccadilly, Embankment, Upper Thames Street and Westminster, Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges will all carry much less traffic, according to TfL’s analysis. But other routes across the Thames will become more congested, including Tower Bridge, Wandsworth Bridge, Vauxhall Bridge, and Rotherhithe Tunnel.
Mr Livingstone has allocated Ł100million for 165 schemes around London to prevent rat-running and other negative effects. But the London Assembly, in a report published today on the impact of congestion charging, says that one in four of the schemes will not be in place by February.
The report says: “For those living on the edge of the charging zone this amounts to a double whammy — more overcrowding on trains to work and greater likelihood of rat-running in their local streets.”
The Assembly says that Mr Livingstone’s refusal to publish the criteria for judging the scheme means that he is its “sole arbiter” and will be able to claim success without justification.
Several major roadworks, including at Shoreditch, Trafalgar Square and Vauxhall Cross, are due to be concluded before the charge begins. The Assembly is concerned that improvements in traffic flow resulting from these projects will be falsely attributed to the introduction of the charge.
“We find it astounding that a scheme, which will have a major impact on London, can be arbitrarily withdrawn without any published performance criteria by which it can be publicly judged,” the report says.
The Assembly does not oppose the scheme in principle but says that TfL may be liable for hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation to Capita and other contractors, over and above the Ł200 million start-up costs.
John Biggs, chairman of the Assembly’s Transport Committee, said: “Alleviating congestion in Central London will inevitably involve some disruption. It may, however, come at the cost of frustrating, inconveniencing and alienating large numbers of Londoners, and that is its greatest risk.”
A TfL spokesman said: “A few roads around the zone may experience a small percentage increase in traffic. But we expect there will be a net reduction in traffic in the boroughs around the zone.”
Mr Livingstone has promised that congestion charging will lead to “school holiday levels of traffic all year round” and will raise Ł130 million a year for transport improvements
DEBATE
Is it time for businesses (and people) to move out of the capital? E-mail your views to debate@thetimes.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 16, 2002.

Congestion charging

The Times
December 16, 2002
'I'm being charged to drive out of my own road'
By Gabriel Rozenberg
FEW of London’s residents can be looking forward to the congestion charge with a greater sense of dread than those of Kennington Lane, SE11.
The road, running along the edge of the congestion charging zone, is likely to become South London’s biggest rat run on February 17. Transport for London predicts that more than 180 extra vehicles an hour will pass through it at peak times. To add to their woes, those living on the south side of the road have been told that they must pay the charge in full whenever they drive into town, even though their neighbours on the north side will get a 90 per cent discount.
Charlotte Bacon, an actress living on the south side of Kennington Lane, said she needed her car for work but was now trapped by the charge.
“I can effectively only drive one way out of my road without paying,” she said. “I’m being charged to drive out of my own road, which is ridiculous.” Miss Bacon, 27, said that she supported the congestion charge in theory but that noise and congestion in her street would quickly become impossible to deal with.
“Already there are huge tailbacks and it’s going to be a nightmare,” she said. “I’m dreading what’s going to happen round here. The fact that this main road outside Central London will suddenly have motorway-volumes of traffic doesn’t fill me with a great deal of joy.
“It’s difficult to resign yourself to the fact that, because you live in London, that’s what you have to put up with. I feel utterly powerless.”
Miss Bacon said that pollution could only get worse on her street. “God knows what it’s going to do to my front garden,” she said.
Non-driving residents of Kennington Lane, by contrast, had few complaints about the congestion charge.
André Rostant, 40, a father of four, said that his family had reaped the benefits of greater investment in transport for non-drivers. Pedestrian crossings, which residents had been calling for for 30 years, were now being installed, he said. Ramps for prams had been installed and the recent rephasing of traffic lights favoured pedestrians. Mr Rostant said that London was a walkable city, and that Soho was only 40 minutes away by foot.
“Ninety-nine per cent of people here are angry about the charge, but I’m not sure they’re angry for rational reasons,” he said. “They want something to be angry at, and Ken is a convenient target.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 16, 2002.

Congestion charging

NATIONAL NEWS: Road chaos 'double whammy' for London
By Juliette Jowit, Transport Correspondent
Financial Times, Dec 16, 2002
Many Londoners face a "double whammy" of road chaos caused by diverted traffic and worse public transport when the capital...
http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=021216000480

Where traffic will flow more easily, and where it won't
By Juliette Jowit
FT.com site, Dec 15, 2002
The chart models traffic flow in the morning peak hour (8am - 9am) and assumes that many drivers are seeking to avoid...
http://search.ft.com/search/article.html?id=021215002822

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 16, 2002.

Regeneration

The Times
December 15, 2002
London: Shops that sell houses
House prices rise when a trendy shop, pub or restaurant opens nearby, says Oliver Bennett
We know that Londoners move house to be near good schools, parks, bus routes, Tube stations and ageing relatives. What is less well known is the magnetic effect of some shops, pubs and restaurants.
These neighbourhood honeypots may not directly add thousands to your property price, but their presence can enhance the desirability of the area you live in, pushing up prices indirectly. They may even lure buyers into choosing a district. Novelist Nick Hornby moved to be near Arsenal football ground, and Nigel Slater, the food writer, moved to be near his favourite delicatessen in Highbury.
The Anglo-Anatolian Turkish restaurant in Stoke Newington Church Street was certainly part of the attraction for architect Jonathan Darke, of SEF architects in Islington, when he decided to move to Stoke Newington. “We could definitely see ourselves going for nice Sunday evening meals there and our decision followed,” says Darke.
Lynn Brooks, of Brooks estate agent, says the difference in price between a house near the shops and restaurants of Church Street and one further away could be “between Ł10,000 and Ł20,000”. The price of one of Stoke Newington’s three-bedroom houses, which cost upwards of Ł350,000 close to the high street, could dip to Ł330,000 in the roads leading down towards bleaker Dalston Junction.
Textile designer Maureen O’Connell plumped for Islington on the basis of a favourite stop-off.
“I used to cycle through Islington, and stopped every day at Bliss patisserie, close to Angel, for a coffee and a croissant. I decided to move round there,” she says.
Every neighbourhood needs a focus, which is often provided by a keynote shop or bar. “We call it the ‘pint of milk’ factor,” says Pascal Levine, of London Residential Research. “If you have to drive 30 minutes for basic groceries, or for a nice place to go for a meal and drink, why live in that area? Londoners like urban village life, which is often built around shops and good pubs.”
He cites the area around Amwell Street in south Islington as a classic example. “It’s got a deli, a cafe, a good paper shop and a good pub. It’s the quintessential London neighbourhood, and people want to move there because of its amenities.”
Adam Wolfryd, of estate agent Felicity Lord, which has an office in Clerkenwell, agrees: “Prices are about 15% higher in the Amwell Street area than they are closer to King’s Cross, which doesn’t have that village feel.”
Property developers and house-builders, always on the lookout for an “X-factor”, realise the attraction of neighbourhood shops. “The developer St George has worked hard to bring Marks & Spencer into a development near the Imperial War Museum in Kennington,” says Levine.
“It’s a good idea, otherwise buyers might feel a bit bereft by the lack of shops, and possibly not move there.”
But it’s not just the big shops that can swing a sale. Waterloo’s pulling power may have been sealed by the Eurostar terminal, but the Konditor & Cook bakers on the corner of Cornwall Road and Roupell Street has become a vital local resource.
Several people have told proprietor Gerhard Jenne that they moved to be near his shop. And Jenne faces up to his responsibility as a neighbourhood focus. “People leave their keys with me, and even come to me first if they’ve got a flat to rent,” he says. “It’s lovely, as you have local trust and you know what’s going on in the area.”
As if to illustrate the importance of local shops, London Residential Research divides London into three location types: “frontier”, without infrastructure; “established but immature”, with housing but little infrastructure or community presence; and “mature”, such as Hampstead and Islington, stuffed to the gills with places to eat, drink and shop.
Much of Hackney falls into the second category, but the Prince George pub at London Fields is one of those neighbourhood-defining places. “There’s definitely a ‘George’ factor in that part of London Fields,” says Jonathan Myers, of Bennett-Walden estate agent in Dalston. “It’s on the corner of Parkholme Road, which is the most expensive road in the area.”
Bennett-Walden recently sold a house on Parkholme Road for Ł490,000, a price that contrasts with about Ł350,000-Ł400,000 for similar homes in less attractive parts of London Fields. Similar boozers with personality include the Shakespeare in Stoke Newington and the Approach Tavern in Bethnal Green.
But the lure doesn’t have to be alcoholic — it could be as humble as a hardware store. In Clapham, the much-loved Treohans of Abbeville Road, and Dechardom’s hardware shop in St John’s Hill (recently lauded by the actor Prunella Scales, who lives in Clapham, as her favourite shop) both have firm fan bases.
Sometimes, it takes just one shop or pub to establish confidence in an area. Take Clerkenwell, transformed in the past decade from urban dust bowl to vibrant hot spot.
“The Eagle pub on Farringdon Road was the place people would always mention when they moved into the area,” says Richard Darwin, of loft agency Urban Spaces. “Now the area’s established, it’s moved on: I’m getting more clients who are interested in being near Smiths of Smithfields (a New York-style bar that packs out for Sunday brunch).”
As for the equally fashionable Shoreditch/Hoxton district, Darwin cites the Bricklayer’s Arms and the Canteloupe bar. “I’d say they were instrumental in helping the area gain the cachet it now enjoys.”
Stephen Codner, of Oliver’s estate agent in Kentish Town Road, Camden, says buyers like to know about special neighbourhood places. In Kentish Town, the Pineapple pub on Leverton Street is a draw, he says. “People come to it from miles around. And Mehmet’s corner shop, also in Leverton Street, is amazing. You get all sorts in there, including Jon Snow of Channel 4 News.”
The pastel, two-bedroom cottages on Leverton Street sell for Ł450,000- Ł500,000, compared with the less popular St Leonard’s Square, where Oliver’s has a house on at Ł389,950.
Meanwhile, over in the southern end of Camden Town, it is an unassuming Portuguese delicatessen on Delancey Street, called Delancey Stores, that is the chief lure. “The local residents, including Julian Clary, who lives on Delancey Street, love it,” says Codner.
The process of gentrification often starts with an attractive shop, which creates the confidence that leads to a boost in the local housing market.
Nick Goble, of Winkworth in Clapham, says: “What matters is having a thriving high street, such as Northcote Road. It has restaurants, a market, gift shops, children’s shops — the lot. People are attracted to that.”
So, if you want the house prices in an area to go up, urge an entrepreneur to start a patisserie. From small croissants flourishing neighbourhoods grow.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 15, 2002.

One-bed flat for sale

One-bed garden flat for sale
The flat has its own entrance in a beautiful Georgian Grade II listed terrace in the Conservation area.
It has been fully-modernised to a high specification, recently decorated inside and out, and comes with its own allocated car parking space.
Ł220,000 ono
Telephone 020 7582 8965

-- Steve and Meral (meral@stevemay.plus.com), December 14, 2002.

Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space (FoLWOS)

Lambeth
Date:12.12.2002
Ref: 1459
Press contact: Jo Rogers
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: jrogers3@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

Planting A Field Of Hope: 3,000 Daffodils For Marie Curie Cancer Care
Children from Walnut Tree Walk Primary School will be helping Marie Curie Cancer Care, the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space (FoLWOS) and Lambeth Council plant thousands of bulbs on Lambeth Walk Open Space on Monday 16 December, from 11.30am to 1.00pm.
Lambeth Walk Open Space is a public open space in Kennington, London SE1 - named after the famous walking dance "The Lambeth Walk" and the music hall song "Doing the Lambeth Walk".
Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, will launch the bulb planting event at 12.00 noon, along with pupils and staff from Walnut Tree Walk School.
Fields of Hope are special places planted with daffodils by Marie Curie Cancer Care as a way of remembering loved ones - they symbolise hope for the future. Donations can be made by the public in memory of loved ones and in return Marie Curie Cancer Care will dedicate a daffodil in the field to them. A "roll of honour" listing the names of all people remembered in each Field of Hope will be publicly displayed.
The site is managed by Lambeth Council on behalf of and in partnership with the local community, which is represented by the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space (FoLWOS).
"The display of daffodils early next year will be stunning," says Councillor Clare Whelan, executive member for the environment. "I'm sure it will be appreciated by local residents who enjoy taking a walk in the park."
The event will also provide an opportunity to announce the award of a 'Doorstep Green Project Preparation Grant' to FoLWOS by the Countryside Agency, the countryside protection and development agency for England. The 'Doorstep Green' scheme is a lottery-funded programme which enables local communities to improve their local open spaces, bringing a bit of 'countryside to their doorstep'.
A Doorstep Green Project Preparation Grant will enable FoLWOS to consult with local residents, schools and businesses, as well as those using Lambeth Walk Open Space, to identify how the site can be made safer, more accessible and more welcoming to use and enjoy. If this stage is successful, FoLWOS would be able to bid for a substantial amount of funding to help make visible and lasting improvements to Lambeth Walk Open Space which are needed and supported by local people and users.
For more information on the Lambeth Walk Field of Hope or the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care, please contact Mural Ismail, London Community Fundraising Co-ordinator, on 020 7599 7773.
For more information on Lambeth Walk Open Space and the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space, contact Ian Nicolson, Chair of FoLWOS on 07711 627 998 or email friendsof.lwos@which.net.
For more information on Lambeth's 64 parks and open spaces, including Lambeth Walk Open Space, please contact Iain Boulton, Community Environment Officer on 020 7926 6209 or iboulton@lambeth.gov.uk
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 14, 2002.

AMP Oval

South London Press
News
On the face of it
Dec 13 2002
By Michael Brown
ENGLAND'S cricket hopes might be going up in smoke after their capitulation at the hands of the Aussies in the Ashes series.
But the Surrey County Cricket Club are determined their hopes don't follow the fortunes of Nasser Hussain and his boys.
Surrey have unveiled plans to increase the capacity at the AMP Oval from 18,500 to 23,000 by the time England are scheduled take on Australia in a fight for the Ashes in the summer of 2005.
It would mean a comprehensive redevelopment of the Vauxhall End to replace some of the current temporary structures as will as providing community and administrative areas. Seating will also be brought closer to the playing area.
Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon said the world's oldest Test match venue is desperately in need of an upgrade and, if it doesn't, there is a huge price to pay.
"If we don't modernise the venue then we will lose our status as a Test match ground," he said.
"And our priority is to keep that."
The Oval has been playing host to Test cricket since 1845, and Surrey recently signed an agreement with the England and Wales Cricket Board guaranteeing them at least one Test and one one-day international a summer for the next 20 years, as long as it completes the modernisation plans.
Sheldon explained that the club had been in constant dialogue with local Kennington residents about how best to achieve these.
A planning application has been lodged and, if successful, work will begin as early as October next season.
"Modernising the Oval has been the subject of debate for the last five years, but we now think we have found the most neighbour-friendly scheme possible," Sheldon added.
"We have conducted surveys with groups in the area. Most realise that we need to rebuild the ground to stay as a cricket ground.
"It would be awful if it reverted to something like a supermarket. Most residents who are aware of the scheme have given us positive feed-back."
Construction work, if it goes ahead on time, might affect the Test match against the West Indies and a onedayer against New Zealand in 2005.
"We might have a problem staging some county games in 2005, but we plan to do it so we have minimal interruption to the season."
If construction has not begun by the end of 2005/06, the 20-year guarantee from the EWCB will be rescinded.
Surrey are displaying the redevelopment plans at the Bedsar Lounge at the Oval on Saturday (12-4pm), Monday (4-8pm) and Tuesday (4-8pm). Members of the development team will be on hand to answer any questions.
Tickets have already gone on sale for the one-day internationals between England and Pakistan on June 20, 2003, and England and South Africa on June 28.
They have also gone on sale for the Test match with South Africa starting on September 4, but demand is so huge, many who have already applied are likely to miss out.
On the playing front, Surrey have been boosted by the news that exciting youngster Rikki Clarke has signed a new five-year deal with the club.
The 21-year-old all-rounder scored a century on his first class debut and, was named Young England Cricketer of the Year and was called up for the England one-day squad.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 14, 2002.

Drugs raid

South London Press
News
Men in court after police drugs swoop at pub
Dec 14 2002
Croydon Advertiser
A number of men have appeared in court following Friday night's raid on a pub run by three former boxing brothers.
Specialist officers stormed McKenzie Bros, in Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath, at 8.30pm and made 25 arrests for drugs, firearm and immigration offences.
After searching the premises, they uncovered crack cocaine, cannabis, a loaded 8mm handgun and a quantity of cash.
The arrested men were taken to Croydon police station, while others were transported to stations across south London.
Some of them appeared before Croydon magistrates on Monday morning.
The raid followed a covert police operation lasting several weeks into suspected drug dealing.
The pub was renowned as a haven for drug dealers and the scene of numerous fights and stabbings.
Winston, Clinton and Duke McKenzie took over the pub in 2000 and say they have made great strides to clean it up.
Friday's raid comes despite a zero-tolerance attitude at the pub, formerly known as the Prince of Wales.
Winston McKenzie said: "We have gone out of our way over the last few years to clean the situation up.
"I am dead against drugs because of the damage they do to society."
He was not at the pub at the time of the raid, but arrived 30 minutes later and helped police search the premises.
Conran Jermaine Smith, 19, of 32 Elmer Road, Thornton Heath, was charged with possession of an firearm and ammunition and was transferred to the Old Bailey where he will remain in custody until a hearing on December 16.
Hopeton Anthony Blair, 18, of St Paul's Road, Thornton Heath, Colin Archibald Gordon, 37, of Amot Road, East Dulwich, Everton Gary Brown, 26, of Westminster Avenue, Thornton Heath, and Jeffrey Griffiths, 37, of no known address, all appeared on charges of supplying crack cocaine.
Blair and Griffiths were remanded in custody to appear again on December 17, Gordon will remain in custody until his hearing on December 24.
Kevin Brookes, 50, of Brook Drive, Kennington, appeared on charges of intent to sell crack cocaine and cannabis and was remanded in custody until December 17.
Another man, Prine Valentine Irvine, 19, of Warwick Road, Croydon was deported on Saturday morning after he was found to be an illegal immigrant.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 13, 2002.

Suspected measles outbreak

Pupils in measles test alert

Daily Mail
12th December 2002
A suspected measles outbreak involving children as young as four has renewed fears of an epidemic of the disease due to low uptake of the MMR jab.
More than 15 pupils at a primary school in Kennington, South London, are being tested after showing signs of the virus.
The alarm comes as Public Health Laboratory figures reveal 215 confirmed cases of measles were reported up to the end of September, compared with just 72 for the whole of last year.
Many children showing early signs of measles at Kennington's Crampton primary have not had the combined measles, mumps and rubella jab, which is feared to be linked to autism and bowel disease.
Uptake of the controversial jab has fallen as low as 65 per cent in some parts of Southwark.
Nationally, just 84 per cent of children had received the triple jab by their second birthday - 11 per cent below the World Health Organisation's recommended target.
Kathy Durnford, of Health Choice UK, which is planning an emergency clinic for single measles jabs in Kennington on Saturday, said: 'This Government will be to blame for very serious outbreaks of disease if this continues.'
Find this story at:
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=151171&in_page_id=169
©2002 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 13, 2002.

Christopher Cazenove

Actor foils high street cash raid
By Edmund Conway
(Filed: 12/12/2002)
The Telegraph
Christopher Cazenove, the actor best known for his role as the louche rogue Ben Carrington in the American soap opera Dynasty, was praised by police yesterday after he foiled a bank raid by hitting a robber with a wooden chopping board.
Cazenove, 56, was shopping in London on Tuesday when he saw a pair of men attack a Securicor guard delivering a cash box to the Clapham High Street branch of Natwest Bank.
The men had taken the box from the guard and hit him over the head with it before fleeing down the street towards Cazenove.
The actor knocked the thief to the ground with a chopping board he had just bought. He then retrieved the box and took it back to the van while the robbers fled empty-handed.
Speaking to The Telegraph from his home in Kennington, London, yesterday, Cazenove described the incident as "terrifying" but said it was instinct more than anything else that prompted him to action.
"When I saw this man running down the street towards me, my first thought was 'this is the last place I want to be'," he said. "I dropped my bags, and everything but the chopping board I had just bought.
"Of course the best plan of action would have been to fell him with a rugby tackle; but without much time to think, I launched the board straight at his face. He went straight to the ground.
"I wasn't feeling massively heroic, and at that point I thought: 'well this is it - I'm going to die'. But I don't think either of them was armed, and he didn't come after me when I grabbed the box and took it back towards the van. The last thing I saw of the two men was them running away.
"The police phoned me this morning to thank me, although I haven't heard anything from the bank yet."
Scotland Yard yesterday said that the two men had not been caught. An inquiry was launched into the incident, and they were appealing to the public for any information.
Det Con Keith Gerham praised Mr Cazenove for what he did. "We are extremely grateful to the member of the public who offered his assistance at the scene of the crime," he said.
Cazenove originally found fame in the Seventies when he appeared in a number of costume dramas.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 13, 2002.

Christopher Cazenove

Dynasty star foils raid
By MIKE SULLIVAN
Crime Editor
The Sun
ACTOR Christopher Cazenove foiled a bank raid yesterday when he belted a robber with a wooden chopping board.
The ex-Dynasty smoothie was leaving a shop with the board as two men raided a NatWest next door.
A thug had just snatched a black cash box from a security guard and was clouting him over the head with it when gallant Christopher, 56, spotted the drama and waded in.
The star — who played Ben Carrington in the 80’s US soap — clobbered the raider with the board he had just bought at Sainsbury’s and sent him sprawling.
The thief then dropped the cash box before fleeing with his pal from the scene in Clapham High Street, South London.
Speaking at his flat in nearby Kennington last night, Christopher played down his actions.
He said: “I don’t think I acted like a hero — more like a nutter.
“I really thought it was a very minor incident.”
He added: “I’m not sure if other people should necessarily stand up to criminals like that.”
Police were last night hunting two white youths.
They praised Christopher’s bravery in preventing them from making off with a “substantial” haul of cash.
One cop said: “He was very courageous. Thanks to his public spiritedness the guard did not suffer any serious injuries and we got the cash box back.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 13, 2002.

Rapist jailed

Busker rapist caged for life
Dec 10 2002
South London Press
A BUSKER who raped three tourists after being freed for an alleged attack on a 13-year-old girl was caged for life on Friday.
Dreadlocked Emmanuel Ekezie preyed on victims while playing the African drums at London tourists spots, a court heard.
Cynically he would invite them back to his Kennington flat where he raped them. After each rape, the 36-year-old turned on the charm again and walked the confused victim to a nearby Tube station.
The Old Bailey heard Ekezie was arrested three times after almost identical allegations were made against him.
Each time he was released from custody and told charges would not be brought. And each time the serial rapist went on to take another victim, jurors were told. The Old Bailey heard that on May 2, 1997, he attacked a girl after meeting her in Waterloo.
He took her to his flat, in Hotspur Street, plied her with drink and threatened to break her legs with a hammer before raping her on a sofa. When arrested, Ekezie told cops the youngster came on to him after 'dancing provocatively' in his flat.
He was released without charge after it was decided a conviction was unlikely. Then on June 23, 1998, he raped a woman after chatting to her at Piccadilly Circus.
Ekezie was arrested but again claimed the victim initiated sex. No further action was taken.
On August 28, Ekezie raped a teenage student twice. Again he claimed the girl had come on to him and he was freed. His five-year reign of terror was finally brought to an end after a detective noticed the similarities between the rape claims and launched a video surveillance of his flat.
The court heard as the Crown Prosecution Service decided whether to press charges, Ekezie struck again, on January 9 this year, attacking a Japanese student. Officers then swooped on his home and arrested him.
A jury convicted Ekezie, who protested his innocence on the four rape charges.
Sentencing him on Friday to life on each charge, Judge Giles Forrester said Ekezie had used 'predatory tactics' and that all four of his victims were 'distressed and terrified' during the attacks. He will remain on the sex offenders' register for life. Speaking after the case, Detective Sergeant Kevin Young, of Lambeth police, said he was "delighted at today's sentence".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 11, 2002.

From SE1 Direct

SE1 Direct

BYWAYS OF WATERLOO - STEPPING OUT GUIDED WALK
Wednesdays 11 & 18 December
Meet 11am at Lambeth North Station; conc
A tour around a network of pretty streets featuring railway, theatre and shop history.
http://www.walklon.ndirect.co.uk
JOIN THE ANGELS AND HELP A NEIGHBOUR
Elephant Angels, the community advocacy project serving SE1, SE11 and SE17, is looking for volunteers.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view.php?ArtID=380
SE1 Southwark councillors in conduct inquiry (SLP)
http://www.se1direct.co.uk/quicklink/go.php?id=266

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 09, 2002.

An Architecture of Promise: George Gilbert Scott Jr and the Late Gothic Revival

The man between
His father built St Pancras station, his son designed the red telephone box. But who was George Gilbert Scott Jr?
Jonathan Glancey
Monday December 9, 2002
The Guardian
Norwich's medieval cathedral is festive as a Christmas tree. With its vigorous spire, vibrant stone carving, contemplative cloister, variety of historic styles and bright setting in a Georgian close, it is acclaimed by historians and loved by congregation and visitors. But there is another cathedral in Norwich - and this one is severe, chaste and forbidding. The Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to St John the Baptist sits just outside the old city walls, on the site of a former prison. It was realised between 1884 and 1910 in a strict Early English idiom, its tall, narrow lancet windows like a suit of armour in stone, but stripped of all colour and adornment. Formal where its medieval sibling is informal, the cathedral is rather frightening - perhaps one of the scariest buildings in England.
What makes St John's, now the Catholic cathedral of East Anglia, especially sad is that it ought to have been the crowning glory of the career of George Gilbert Scott Jr (1839-1897). An innovator, Scott Jr occupied a key role in the development of English architecture between 1870 and the first world war. But he was also an alcoholic who, at the age of 45, was certified insane. He is one of England's most unfairly forgotten architects, his work now eclipsed by that of his father and son.
His father was Sir George Gilbert Scott, that tireless Victorian goth whose most celebrated buildings include the Midland Grand Hotel at St Pancras station in London and the Albert Memorial in Kensington Gardens. Scott Sr was, I suppose, the Norman Foster of Victorian England; forever busy, an inveterate traveller, he ran the biggest and most prolific architectural practice of his day. Scott Jr's early years (Eton, Cambridge, a fellowship at Jesus College) were cosseted by his father's self-made fortune, and he lived the rest of his life in the imposing gothic shadow of Great Scott.
Unlike his father, Scott Jr got to build a great church that became a cathedral - but even that was to be overshadowed by the mighty Anglican cathedral Giles Gilbert Scott designed for Liverpool. Giles was one of Scott Jr's six children - and one of the 20th century's greatest architects. With Waterloo Bridge, the red telephone box and those magnificent power stations at Battersea and Bankside (now Tate Modern), his reputation soared.
Sandwiched between these two hugely successful and knighted professionals, Scott Jr's life was perhaps inevitably squeezed between the pages of history. Now, though, he has been thrown a lifeline by Gavin Stamp, the architectural historian, whose compelling new biography of "Middle Scott" attempts to redeem a misunderstood artist, and in the process explain why it would be unfair to judge Scott Jr's career on the disturbing experience of St John's.
After all, the whole drive of Scott Jr's aesthetic was against the rigorous early gothic style pursued, for the most part, by his father. Far from being a chip off the old block, Scott Jr was a kind of revolutionary. Not only was he one of the pioneers of an imaginative revival of perpendicular gothic - that very English style of the 14th and 15th centuries represented by the Somerset parish churches and the airy chapels at Windsor and King's College Cambridge - but he helped give rise to a new form of English domestic architecture. This was the "Queen Anne" style, which allowed the late-19th century house to escape the strictures of ecclesiastical gothic propagated by the Scott Sr generation. In doing so, Middle Scott was the creative missing link between the Victorian gothic revival and the arts and crafts movement, between Pugin and William Morris.
In his 1870s heyday, Scott Jr designed two radical churches, the Vicarage St Agnes Kennington and All Hallows Southwark, plus a trio of fine, unpretentious churches in Yorkshire. The tiny church of St Mary Magdalene at Eastmoors is a particular gem, with all the life and warmth St John's so singularly lacks. Sadly, his masterpiece - St Agnes - was badly damaged in the blitz and demolished after the war; so too All Hallows. In fact all too many of Scott Jr's buildings have vanished into dust, including his one shot at a country house, Garboldisham Manor in Norfolk.
But the handsome Queen Anne-style rectories that survive in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire and Pevensey, Sussex, demonstrate what a fine designer and builder Scott Jr was. He was a brilliant decorator, too, and loved to design furniture, wallpapers, carpets, metalwork and needlework; he even designed a bidet. In 1874 he joined with fellow architects to set up Watts and Co, a decorating business to rival the hugely influential Morris and Co. He had a passion for collecting antiques, refusing to limit himself to any one style of architecture, furniture or decoration. "I yield to no one," he wrote, "in my love of medieval art, but I recognise the merits of the really good work of all schools."
Unlike his purposeful father, he wanted to keep churches in their original condition. He was a great admirer of Wren, and sympathetically restored Pembroke Chapel, Cambridge. He even won praise from the prickly Society For the Protection of Ancient Buildings, established by William Morris in 1877 to put a halt to the overzealous restoration work of the many disciples of Scott Sr.
Scott Jr's life began to change in 1880, when he converted to Roman Catholicism from Anglo-Catholicism. This new faith brought him a wealthy client: Henry Fitzalan-Howard, 15th Duke of Norfolk. The duke commissioned Scott Jr to build a church in Norwich - but what he wanted was nothing less than an Early English building, the favoured style of Scott Sr. Like all architects, then and now, Scott Jr found it hard to turn a job down. So he built St John the Baptist (raised to cathedral status in 1976) as if his father's hand was guiding him. The morbidity of the cathedral (Stamp describes its "sombre interior" as "melancholy and unloved") suggests this was not a happy experience.
Was it this curb to his creativity that ruined Scott Jr? Here was a sensitive, imaginative, skilled and wealthy Victorian, an apparently content husband and father of six children, four of whom survived into adulthood. But following his conversion to Rome and the Norwich commission he turned to drink; then in 1884 he was certified insane.
The great church was completed by his brother, the anti-Catholic John Oldrid Scott. Separated from his wife and children, Scott Jr began to spend time in Rouen with a mistress between spells in Bedlam and St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton - where the gothic chapel had been built by his father. Scott Jr attempted to set the asylum on fire, brandished knives and smoked pieces of cheese in his pipe. He was convinced that the US had invaded Canada and that Gladstone was dead. He was to die, suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, in one of the bedrooms of the Midland Grand: his father held him in his architectural arms until the last.
Remarkably, Scott Jr's practice continued to evolve under his brilliant protege, Temple Lushington Moore (1856-1920), one of England's most original and, until the blitz, influential church architects.
Was Scott's depressive psychosis, as Stamp suggests, hereditary? Perhaps. Giles Gilbert Scott once said: "Grandfather was the successful practical man, and a phenomenal scholar in gothic precedent, but father was the artist." An artist, yes, but how tragic that the Norwich cathedral, Scott Jr's biggest commission, was to prove a denial of his innovative artistry, a return to his father's pedantic form. How strange that he finally died in the Midland Grand, deep in the clutch of Scott Sr's particular and forceful genius. How intriguing that his finest works - St Agnes and All Hallows - were designed before his conversion to Rome. How very sad they have gone.
· Gavin Stamp's An Architecture of Promise: George Gilbert Scott Jr and the Late Gothic Revival is published by Shaun Tyas, price Ł49.50.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 09, 2002.

Football workshop for inner-city kids in Kennington Park

Independent

Silva: how kids can live the dream like me
Champions' League: Modest midfielder who conquered the world is keen to scale Europe's heights with Arsenal
By Alex Hayes
08 December 2002
Such is the ease with which Gilberto Silva has slotted in to the Arsenal midfield this season that many have started to question the theory that foreigners need an acclimatisation period when they arrive on these shores. Or at least that was the case until late afternoon on Thursday, when the highly adaptable World Cup winner turned up at a football workshop for inner-city kids in Kennington Park wearing just a shirt and jeans. Well, at least we now know he is not perfect.
Silva's appreciation of London temperatures in early December may leave a lot to be desired, but his understanding of English football has been flawless. When you look at the quality of his performances in the centre of Arsenal's midfield, it is hard to believe that the Brazilian only arrived at the club in August. More impressive still is the fact that he had no pre-season training to help him adjust to the conditions – Silva had an extended vacation following Brazil's victory in Japan and Korea – and yet has looked completely at ease in his new surroundings.
"What can I say?" he smiles. "I'm just so happy here because I know that I'm in a special club, with special players. This is an experience that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. By winning the World Cup I have achieved the dream. Now I want more at Arsenal."
Those who know him best are not surprised by this adaptability. Even as a child, Silva always dreamed of coming to Europe. So when Arsenal paid out Ł4.5 million to give him the opportunity to fulfil his life-long ambition, the midfield enforcer was prepared.
"I always loved English football," he says, shivering from the cold. "As a kid, I wanted to come here to play, so I'm so happy. When I first came to England from Brazil I thought the game would be completely dominated by strength and power, but what I have found at Arsenal is that the level of football is also very skilful.
"It doesn't matter where you play in the world, you must have strong players. But the difference between Arsenal and other teams is that we have all-round players who can mix strength with a lot of style and skill. That's why I think Arsenal are so technically and tactically superior."
Silva's impact has been immediate, and yet the Brazilian star remains shy and modest. His decision to support the Street League programme – a charity whose aim is to use football to empower the homeless, disadvantaged and other marginalised groups throughout the UK – is a further indication of his generosity of spirit. How many other World Cup winners would devote the best part of two hours to a football scheme less than 48 hours before the biggest match of their season?
It is rather apt that Silva should be chosen as the figurehead of this project, which will culminate next May with a tour of Brazil. Like many of the children being put through their paces on Thursday, Gilberto Aparecido da Silva was born on the wrong side of the tracks. He learned how to play the beautiful game on the dirty streets of Lagoa da Prata, often having to use whatever spherical object was available to act as a ball.
"In Brazil, football is a culture," the 26-year-old says. "It's a way of life. Everyone goes into the streets to kick anything around. As soon as I could walk, I would go to the fields or the beach and play the game in bare feet. It's helped me stay clear of drugs and crime, and allowed me to make it in life.
That's what I wanted to tell these English kids, 'Follow your dream; never give up on the game. Football is a dream and you must not stop believing. You are here today, but you could be at a professional club tomorrow'. I'm living proof of that, and that's why I'm so happy that these kids have had the chance to see me and touch me. Now they can believe."
Silva knows exactly what living a dream feels like. His emergence has been nothing short of spectacular. A year ago, he was playing for a little-known club and had not represented his country. But then fate intervened when the Brazil captain Emerson dislocated his shoulder in a freak accident in training, and Silva was given his chance.
One year ago, no one had heard of me in Brazil, let alone anywhere else in the world, and now I am a world champion," says the man who appeared in every game during the finals. "It's incredible. Thank God things are happening for me now, but it has not always been easy. I've been through the tough times, but I've learned from that and have become a stronger character. I know what it takes to get to the top."
So he does. At the age of 16 he was forced to abandon his dream of becoming a footballer in order to take up a job to support his parents and three sisters. For three years he toiled from morning to night, first in a quarry and then at a sweet factory, to feed his family. "Although I was only 16 at the time," he says, "it was not a difficult decision for me to make. There was no choice. My family's needs were more important than my own ambitions at the time."
Silva eventually returned to his local club, America, but it was not until his transfer to Atletico Mineiro last November that he made his first appearance for his country. A mere seven months later, his strength and discipline as the defensive anchor of the Brazil midfield gave Rivaldo, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho the freedom to produce their samba football at the World Cup.
The same is happening with Arsenal, where the likes of Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg, Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and now even Patrick Vieira can gallop forward safe in the knowledge that the back door is firmly bolted.
Not that Silva is just a defensive shield. His goal against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions' League earlier this season was the fastest ever recorded in the competition at 19.4 seconds. "As far as the fans are concerned I know that winning the Champions' League is a big aim because last season the club won the domestic Double," he says. "We are capable of being the best in Europe, and playing Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos' Real Madrid in the final would be fantastic. Before then, though, we have to get through Valencia and this tough group."
Gilberto was dubbed the Invisible Wall in Brazil after a World Cup in which he served as a no-frills barrier in front of the defence. He may still prefer the low-key approach with Arsenal, but he is certainly not going unnoticed.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 08, 2002.

Penwith Manor awards

Lambeth
Date: 29.11.2002
Ref: 1452
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email:imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

Pride of Penwith Manor awards
Penwith Manor residents will celebrate the culmination of the estate's Neighbour of the Year and Garden Competition awards with a ceremony on Friday 6 December. Vouchers and trophies will be presented to the prizewinners during an event held on the Kennington Park estate.
This is the third successive year of the competitions, with every year seeing an increase in the numbers entering the garden contest, and competitiveness running very high. The effect can be seen in resplendent foliage and flowers flourishing across the estate in every season.
The Neighbour of the Year award, which always goes to some one who has contributed towards the well being of their fellow residents, will be given this year to Linda Murphy of Cornwall Square. Despite severe medical and mobility problems, she has always volunteered her services in supporting community events.
She takes particular care to look out for vulnerable residents and provides a caring and sympathetic ear for every-one. Linda has also helped in looking after the Penwith Manor environment.
Alan Joyce of Cornwall Square has claimed the prize for the best house garden, with runner-up Dawn Ives also coming from Cornwall Square.
Joint third places go to Veronica Efrant, Lina Santocruz and Marsha Gardener, from x y and z respectively. They all live on Cornwall Square.
The prize for best ground floor flat garden area goes to Shaun Marks of Falmouth House, with John Kraft of Cornwall Square coming second and LP White of Penryn House coming third.
Phil McGuire of Falmouth House was judged to have the best patio above ground floor, with Ron Ansell of Penryn House taking second place, followed by Rebiela Bermudez in third. Best window box planter display was that of Mrs T Slupnicki of Penryn House, with Monica O'Brien of Cornwall Square providing the best balcony box display.
Note to Editors: Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend the presentation, which will take place on Friday December 6 at 7pm at Penryn House reception, 64 Kennington Park, SE11 (opposite Kennington Tube station). The presentation will be made by Lambeth executive member for community safety, Councillor Charles Anglin.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 07, 2002.

Rapist jailed

South London Press
News
Four life sentences for rapist busker
Dec 7 2002
A street musician has been jailed for life after raping three women.
A court heard that Emmanuel Ekezie attacked the women after he had initially been accused of assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
The Old Bailey heard he went on to rape the three women tourists that he had chatted up after authorities decided not to charge him in the case of the 13-year-old.
Old Bailey Judge Giles Forrester gave Ekezie four life sentences and told him he was a "dangerous rapist" who had now been brought to justice.
Ekezie had earlier told the court he maintained his innocence and his lawyers were "guilty of misconduct."
Judge Giles said Ekezie, 36, of Kennington, south London, had lured the victims to his flat using his charm - but had then changed in a way which terrified the women.
Police believe the drummer, who lured tourists to his flat from London's West End where he played African drums, may have been responsible for other rapes on women who have since returned home.
The court was told why the case of the first victim, a 13-year-old girl, were initially dropped.
Ann Curnow, QC, prosecuting, said her allegations and his outright denial were reported to senior police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service.
"It was decided, wisely or not, it is not for me to comment, that she had undoubtedly told untruths. It was a case of one against one and a realistic prospect of conviction was not there. The defendant would be told there would be no further action at this time," said Miss Curnow.
Ekezie was found guilty of raping the teenager in May 1997; a dancer from the United States in June 1998; a Lithuanian student in August 2001; and a Japanese student on a working holiday in London in January 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 07, 2002.

Student march

'Stop top-ups'
Dec 6 2002
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
STUDENTS look to have won a major victory following a protest march against top-up fees with ended a rally in Kennington Park.
Thousands of students marched through London on Wednesday calling for the Government not to introduce top-up fees for degree students, but instead bring back student grants.
The same day, Tony Blair ruled out the idea of universities being allowed to charge more for popular courses.
The Government has been reviewing how university students are funded. The ideas of students paying a larger proportion of their fees themselves, higher interest rates on student loans and a graduate tax, have all been floated.
Students pay a quarter of their tuition fees, which is about Ł1,100 a year.
If they paid the full amount, students would have to find Ł4,500 for each year of their degree, as well as cash for living costs.
The National Union of Students (NUS) says if introduced, then by the time an 11-year-old went to university, he or she would pay Ł16,451 in fees over three years and Ł22,729 in living costs - a total of Ł39,180 for a higher education.
NUS president Mandy Telford said: "Top-up fees will quite simply cripple our higher education. With fees at this level it is quite clear many people will not be able to afford university in the future."
Unison, the UK's largest union, also joined the march and rally. The Government has set a target of getting 50 per of 18 to 30-year-olds into higher education by 2010.
What do YOU think about the students' protest? E-mail us at: newsdesk@slp.co.uk or write to us at: SLP, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PD * Give your full name, address and telephone number

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 07, 2002.

Student march

10,000 STUDENTS MARCH TO DEMAND: "FREEZE OUR FEES"

Mirror
Outraged students take to the streets to urge the Government to freeze tuition fees amid fears degree ...
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12427570&method=full&siteid=50143

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2002.

Student protest

British Students Protest Plan to Hike Tuition Fees

Tehran Times
LONDON -- Thousands of students marched Wednesday on rain-drenched London streets to shout down proposals from Prime Minist...
http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=12/5/02&Cat=2&Num=23

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2002.

Cricket

In King Viv's court

The Daily Star
Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards needs no introduction. Richards is to cricket what Maradona or Pele is to football. Richards ...
http://www.dailystarnews.com/200212/05/n2120504.htm#BODY2

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2002.

Blair rules out upfront payment of top-up fees - FT link

Blair rules out upfront payment of top-up fees
http://financialtimes.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=271044019

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2002.

Student march

South London Press
News
Thousands take part in top-up fees march
Dec 5 2002
Thousands of students have taken part in a London march to protest at the introduction of university tuition top-up fees.
Metropolitan Police estimate 5,000 people took part in the demonstration from University College London to Kennington Park.
But Daniel Harkin, co-chairman of the Oxford University Anti Top-up Fees group, claims more than 10,000 took part.
He said: "There's definitely more than last year and 10,000 turned up then," referring to the Grants Not Fees march past Downing Street last year.
Sean Sullivan, the Oxford Union's vice-president of finance, said: "Our position is clear: we want grants not fees and we are of course opposed to top-up fees.
"It is up to the Government to find the money for this. It is not our position to tell it how but it must come from non-welfare spending budgets.
"Raising tax to 50% for people earning over Ł100,000 a year would be one way of doing this."
Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan showed their support for demonstrators by joining them as they marched. The students passed the studios where the Channel 4 presenters film their show and spotted Madeley at a window.
The group then began chanting: "Who do we want? Judy. When do we want her? Now."
The pair decided to take a break from their programme rehearsals to talk to the students who had gathered outside the building in Kennington, south London.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 05, 2002.

Rally in Kennington Park

Students face Ł40,000 university price tag
Polly Curtis
Tuesday December 03 2002
The Guardian
The National Union of Students today claimed that by the time today's 11-year-olds are 18, the cost of going to university for a standard three-year degree will be nearly Ł40,000.
The announcement came as students prepare for a day of protest against tuition fees.
The figure is based on the actual cost of a university education, recently mentioned in a government discussion paper on how to solve the university funding crisis.
The annual cost of fees payable by students is now Ł1,100, but, on average, the real cost is nearer Ł4,500. Three years of fees, added to the estimated Ł22,729 maintenance costs, works out at Ł39,180.
Thousands of students from across the country are expected to march through central London today demanding the government rules out the introduction of top-up fees, which would allow universities to set their own fees and dramatically increase the cost of education at some universities. They also want the government to bring back maintenance grants.
Mandy Telford, NUS president, said: "Top-up fees will quite simply cripple our higher education system. With fees at this level it is quite clear that many people will not be able to afford university in the future. While the top-up fee debate continues we must not forget that the cost of being a student already prohibits many people from going to university."
She added: "We need the brightest, not just the richest to enter university."
University lecturers have backed today's day of action. Paul Mackney, general secretary of lecturers' union Natfhe, who is due to speak at a rally in Kennington Park later today, said: "Natfhe supports the demands of students and the NUS for grants not fees. Entry to higher education should be based on ability to study not ability to pay. Tony Blair should abandon the idea of top-up fees and ministers - who have themselves had grants - should not pull up the drawbridge."
Today's protest will be the last by students before the government publishes its long anticipated review of higher education funding, expected in January.
Ministers have to decide how to fund universities without deterring poorer students from going to university. Fee hikes are expected, coupled with the re-introduction of grants for the poorest students.
Universities say they are suffering a Ł10bn shortfall.
At a debate on university funding last night, Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy told students: "Every day that passes, there seems to be a new idea - top-up fees, a graduate tax, extra tax for employers who take on graduates, extra tax on all graduates. The Blairites and the Brownites are entitled to fight their titanic battles if they want to. But they shouldn't use the future of our country's students as their weapons."
Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 04, 2002.

Rally in Kennington Park

The Times
December 03, 2002
Students to demonstrate against costs
Students from across the country will march through central London tomorrow protesting about lack of funding and the prospect of rising tuition fees.
The demonstration, which kicks off at the University of London Union at midday, will be attended by campaigners who are concerned about hardship and ever-increasing student debt.
"The demo is a vital opportunity for us to drill home the message to the government that top-up fees will cripple higher education and stop thousands of people from being able to attend university," said Mandy Telford, President of the National Union of Students (NUS).
"We do not want a situation where access to university is determined by wealth as opposed to ability."
The event will culminate in a rally in Kennington Park, where the crowd will be addressed by Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour MP.
The NUS has calculated that in seven years' time it will cost Ł40,000 to put a child through the university system. The organisation, which based its estimate on the Government's university funding discussion paper, says that paying full tuition fees for a three-year course will cost Ł16,451, with a further Ł22,729 for living costs.
In a separate finding, the British Medical Association (BMA) has announced that the average debt of a medical student finishing university is nearly Ł13,000, with many owing Ł20,000 or more.
Liz Kingston, Deputy Chairman of the BMA's medical students committee, said: "It is feared that school leavers, particularly those from lower income families, are being deterred from applying to study medicine because of the huge debts they face."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2002.

No. 3 Bus accident

Evening Standard
03/12/02 - News and city section
Bus roof sliced off
Ten people are in hospital after double decker bus had its roof sliced off by a tree in central London during this morning's rush hour.
The passengers, all adults, were on the bus as it travelled towards the Houses of Parliament from Lambeth Bridge shortly before 9am. At least one had to be taken off the top deck on a stretcher.
Two people were feared to have serious head injuries while the others had more minor injuries, an ambulance service spokeswoman said.
An elderly man is seriously hurt, having suffered head, neck, shoulder and chest injuries.
Mark Coote, 18, a scaffolder from Croydon, south London, was working nearby when the accident happened.
He said: "I heard a big bang and turned around. The roof had come straight off the bus. There was a lot of shouting and screaming. I went over to the bus and there were a lot of people coming off. I noticed that upstairs there was a man trapped under the roof at the back."
Mr Coote went on: "With a colleague and two other members of the public, I ran up the bus and together we lifted the section of the roof that was propped up at the back end of the bus.
"This man had a nasty, nasty cut on the top of his head - the skin off his head was hanging off and there was loads of blood."
He was conscious and we were talking to him. I gave him a T-shirt to soak up the blood. We stayed there until the emergency services had arrived and took over."
Four ambulances were sent to the scene and the ten injured passengers were all taken to nearby St Thomas's Hospital.
A bus - a Number 3 operated by the Connex transport and running from Crystal Palace to Oxford Circus - is a modern low-floor double-decker. It had passed through Brixton, Kennington and Lambeth Palace before crossing the River Thames.
The accident resulted in a lengthy portion of Millbank being cordoned off by the emergency services.
A Connex spokeswoman said today: "There is an overhanging tree on the route and this was a known problem. Buses have to swing out to avoid the tree but clearly something went wrong this time."
A spokesman for London Buses said: "We are co-operating with the police in the investigation into this accident."
It is not yet clear how the impact with the trunk of the tree managed to slice off the bus's roof.
But Steve Bonsor, an assistant divisional officer with London Fire Brigade, said that the roof would have been one of the weaker parts of the vehicle. He said: "The roof structure is supported only by thin uprights."
A police spokesman added that the bus did not appear to have been travelling particularly fast.
It had hit the main body of the tree rather than an overhanging branch. The police spokesman said: "The top has literally sliced off."
The spokesman said the bus driver among those taken to hospital - he is said to be shocked.
Traffic accident investigators are looking into how the accident happened.
Find this story at http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/2301627?version=1
©2002 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2002.

Seeking 2 double bedroom property to rent in Kennington from end of January 2003.

-- Clea (tammes@artistsindependent.com), December 03, 2002.

322 Bus

London's worst bus route revealed
By Hugh Muir
Evening Standard
2 December 2002
Passengers know it. Drivers know it. Now it's official. The 322 bus is the worst in London. An analysis of bus companies' performance identifies the 322 as the route which suffers most delays.
Connex, which runs the service, today announced a Ł400 bounty for drivers if they help recruit more good bus drivers.
Transport for London has released previously restricted information about individual routes. It reveals that the 322 is plagued by some of the most congested roads in London as it travels through West Norwood, Brixton, Stockwell and Vauxhall Cross.
John Ashmore, production manager for Connex Buses UK, said: "It goes through some of the worst traffic hotspots in London. It is difficult to maintain the schedule but we bid for the contract and we won it so we should get it right and we will get it right."
He said Connex plans to reward drivers if they recruit a colleague who remains with the company for six months. One driver said: "It is a challenging route. There are roadworks and the route is often marked by demonstrations. It's for experienced drivers only."
Danielle Demetriou writes: The station worker who handed me a copy of the 322 timetable said: "You do realise this is pure fiction, don't you?"
It was an ominous start to a trying mission: to find out if this bus route really is London's worst.
And unfortunately, his words proved considerably more accurate than the details featured in the timetable.
The bus pulled out of Crystal Palace Parade at 9.08am. It was only three minutes late, but it had inexplicably been sitting only metres from the bus stop throughout this time.
The first setback came in the form of a narrow winding road leading to West Norwood. At times the street was reduced to a single lane, bringing vehicles to a halt. By the time it arrived at Herne Hill it was 9.39am - six minutes behind schedule.
As the bus proceeded to Stockwell via Brixton, the traffic became heavier, the bus more full and the timetable less accurate. It was at this point that the strange and irritating phenomenon of multiple buses came to light as a second 322 appeared directly behind.
Linda Hussein, 54, who travels daily from Stockwell to work near Kennington Lane, described how she had always been convinced it was the worst route in London.
Mrs Hussein, who works in a school for special needs children, told me this was a good day for the route, adding: "I've lived in London all my life and I've never known a bus route as bad as this. It's not unusual to wait an hour for the 322 and then three come at once.
"This is a good day. Don't be deceived by the fact that you probably didn't have to wait too long. It's much worse in the afternoon.
"Only yesterday my daughter rang me from Brixton at 4.50pm at the 322 bus stop. She didn't get on the bus until 5.45pm. That's not unusual, but it's not acceptable."
Sarah Clarkson, a 24-year-old admin worker, travels from her home near Herne Hill to Kennington every day.
She said: "The most annoying thing is having to wait ages for a bus, then because so many other people have been waiting too, you can't get on because it was full from the first stop.
"It's frustrating, particularly when you have to get to work. But to be honest I probably have more problems in the afternoon."
Between Kennington Lane and its final destination at Elephant and Castle, the bus managed to regain some of its lost time, arriving only about 10 minutes late.
Asked about the notoriety of the 322, the driver merely offered a weak smile and shrugged his shoulders before driving off to start all over again.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 03, 2002.

Property: Vauxhall

The Times
December 01, 2002
London: Vauxhall takes the rough with the smooth
Nobody pretends it’s elegant and the traffic can be terrible, but Vauxhall is appealing to a new class of buyer, reports John Elliott
For thousands of anguished motorists, London’s Vauxhall Cross roundabout has become a daily obstacle course. Every morning they find themselves caught up for ages in a gigantic set of roadworks that makes it impossible to be on time for work or for that crucial meeting.
The good news is that Transport for London says the worst of the roadworks will be finished next month. Traffic will once again be able to proceed at more or less the same pace as before the work started.
But just as the holes, diggers, cones and workers in fluorescent jackets are about to disappear, another factor threatens to increase the pressure on roads in the area. Vauxhall Cross, Vauxhall Bridge and Kennington Lane are on the edge of mayor Ken Livingstone’s congestion charging zone, which comes into effect in February.
As in other areas on the perimeter, drivers hoping to skirt the zone and avoid the Ł5-a-day charge are expected to scurry down local roads, which means even more cars and even more fumes. Residents fear that rat runs will develop down side streets, and that Lambeth council may close off roads to prevent this, making it even more difficult for car-owning locals.
In the meantime, there are plans to build a bus station in the middle of the gyratory system by the summer. Other adjustments to road crossings and pavement layouts should make the area easier for pedestrians.
According to estate agents, despite the expected extra traffic caused by the congestion zone, property prices may rise, thanks to the bus station and gyratory. “The better roundabout and nice bus station will make the area look tidier and safer, and at the end of the day how things look matters a great deal,” says one agent. “We expect that to have a positive effect on prices. It’s true that locals aren’t keen on the charging zone, but maybe that’s just resistance to change.”
If we’re being honest, Vauxhall Cross is one of the ugliest patches of central London, and will continue to be, even after the new bus station and adjustments to the roads. Fiddling with the roundabout is not going to turn this eyesore, dominated by railway arches and the curious MI6 headquarters building, into St Mark’s Square.
But the area is changing. All along the southern riverbank from Battersea eastwards, gleaming steel-and-glass towers are being built, offering flats close to the centre of town for professionals who want to be within walking distance of the West End.
The most prominent is St George’s Wharf, a collection of towers across the road from the MI6 headquarters, where a two-bedroom flat with views over the Thames can be had for Ł425,000 from Foxtons. At Parliament View, opposite Lambeth Bridge, the television presenter Carol Vorderman bought two adjoining penthouses for Ł7m, and at Riverside Court, on Nine Elms Lane, a three-bedroom flat fetches Ł835,000.
But what are the brightly scrubbed professionals at whom such properties are being targeted letting themselves in for? There is a large Sainsbury’s on Wandsworth Road, but aside from some decent Italian delis and Portuguese cafes and restaurants, that’s about it in terms of obvious attractions. Vauxhall, which boasts one of London’s highest crime rates, is not the place for people who want to insulate themselves from the less agreeable aspects of life in a big city.
But for the more adventurous, it does boast some relatively modestly priced property, including pockets of attractive Victorian housing scattered among the huge council estates. A four-bedroom early Victorian family house can be bought for less than Ł580,000 — a bargain in central London — while former local authority flats are available for less than Ł140,000.
Hidden away off the South Lambeth Road is Albert Square, where the actress Joanna Lumley lives. It offers beautiful, high-ceilinged stucco houses of the type more common in South Kensington, as does Fentiman Road, with its sprinkling of young corporate lawyers and television researchers.
The author Will Self lives in the area, and Gordon Brown’s right-hand man, Ed Balls, and his wife, Yvette Cooper, who is a minister in the lord chancellor’s department, live in a sweet Victorian terraced house. Growing numbers of young graduates are following their lead and moving into Victorian houses and conversions.
Two months ago, Rosalind Thomas, a 27-year-old theatre designer, and her doctor boyfriend, Guy Smith, moved from Clapham to Bonnington Square, hidden away only a hundred yards from Vauxhall Cross. There, they rent a two-bedroom flat in a grey-brick Victorian house for Ł1,083 a month.
“You take the rough with the smooth, and it’s tougher than Clapham,” says Thomas, “but the square is really nice. It’s friendly, it’s lovely, it’s got a strong community feel. There are a lot of people here who used to be squatters, so everybody’s quite good at talking to one another.
“Lots of my friends now live round here. I don’t particularly want to live somewhere like Notting Hill or Camden: when Gap arrives in an area, then it’s not so interesting — you lose all the shops run by local people, and I like those. The downside is it’s still quite poor here in some places, so it’s a bit more dangerous.”
The new breed of trend-setting Vauxhall dwellers such as Thomas and Smith is often driven to the area by daunting house prices and rents elsewhere in central London. They speak highly, if not always convincingly, of the virtues of living in a “no-frills” area.
At Estrela, an excellent Portuguese cafe on South Lambeth Road — on a stretch crammed with tapas bars and known as Little Portugal — you can best see the charming side of life in Vauxhall. On summer weekends, the tables outside are packed with locals: Portuguese families, builders, young professionals, Moroccan taxi drivers, the man who runs the car hi-fi shop across the road — all enjoying the excellent coffee and spicy patatas bravas. At night, everybody gathers inside to drink and chat while the television, usually showing a Portuguese football match, blares in the background.
It’s not Notting Hill or Clerkenwell, but that’s the point. To live in Vauxhall is to be pleasantly removed from trendy London, clogged with its fashion victims all clad in the same brand of Ł200 jeans.
What's on offer

Victorian terraces go for about Ł450,000, Georgian town houses for Ł800,000. One-bedroom flats in a period conversion are about Ł185,000; two-beds, Ł235,000

Prices in new developments are from Ł200,000 for a studio and Ł1.5m for a penthouse

Resident celebrities of SW8 include Lord Archer, Joanna Lumley, John Major and Will Self

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 01, 2002.

Defence secretary moves into Ł200,000 Westminster flat as war threat grows

Scotland on Sunday
Sun 1 Dec 2002

Defence secretary moves into Ł200,000 Westminster flat as war threat grows
BRIAN BRADY WESTMINSTER EDITOR
GEOFF Hoon has moved into a luxurious flat at the heart of government in Westminster - at a cost of some Ł200,000 to the taxpayer - as preparations for war in Iraq gather pace.
The Defence Secretary has left his south London flat for a plush rent-free apartment in Admiralty House, where he will live alongside fellow Cabinet ministers John Prescott and Margaret Beckett.
The palatial 18th-century building is a stone’s throw from the Ministry of Defence and the underground ‘COBRA’ unit that will form the nerve centre of any military campaign against Saddam Hussein.
Admiralty House is owned by the Cabinet Office, which rents the three flats out to fellow government departments for a total approaching Ł600,000 a year.
Officials confirmed that the third flat had been occupied, but refused to confirm that the Defence Secretary had moved in, citing "security grounds".
But government sources last night admitted that Hoon has become the deputy prime minister’s new neighbour, after advisers decided his Kennington flat was not secure enough for a senior minister.
The move was seen as an indication that Hoon wants to be close to the centre of operations, and his department in particular. The armed forces are faced with the responsibility of fighting fires while firefighters are on strike, maintaining defences in the ongoing campaign against terrorism, and preparing for possible military action in the Gulf.
Hoon is a key member of the special cabinet task force COBRA set up by Tony Blair to deal with emergencies.
But senior Tories last night condemned Hoon’s expensive move to a grace-and-favour residence at a time when they claim the forces are struggling with cuts imposed by his government.
Shadow defence spokesman Julian Lewis claimed there was no need for Hoon to move, at such a great financial cost to the MoD. He said: "We may be short of ships and we may be scrapping Sea Harriers, but it is reassuring to know that what have traditionally been the Navy’s most luxurious apartments are still reserved for Labour cabinet ministers."
The Grade I listed Admiralty House complex, valued at more than Ł60m by Treasury accountants, stands on a 1,200 sq m site in Whitehall, in the shadow of Nelson’s Column. The flats, once home to Sir Winston Churchill and more recently a series of senior figures including John Major, look out onto Horse Guards Parade and St James’s Park.
Property experts estimate that any of the apartments would be worth at least Ł100,000 a year in rental income if they were offered at market rates. Government records reveal that the Cabinet Office earns Ł654,000 a year from renting off its property to other departments.
Hoon has claimed the attic flat - above Prescott’s own residence - which was once occupied by former Cabinet Office minister Mo Mowlam. Lord Robertson was the last Defence Secretary to stay there, before he left to become Nato Secretary General in 1999. Official residences are normally allocated to ministers only on security grounds, or when it is judged that the award would enable them to carry out their duties more efficiently.
Prescott was moved out of the building earlier this year while asbestos was removed from the building, but he is now back in residence. The Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett also has a flat in the building.
"I can confirm that the third flat has been allocated," a Cabinet Office spokeswoman told Scotland on Sunday. "But we wouldn’t confirm who it has been allocated to, for security reasons.
"The Cabinet Office rents out the flats and the amount is a figure approaching Ł600,000. The figure includes approximate costs for maintenance, management, security, fuel and utilities, which comes to around Ł130,000."
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1337772002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), December 01, 2002.

Traffic & travel

Traffic light tensions mount
By Ross Lydall
Evening Standard
27 November 2002
Twelve sets of traffic lights are at the heart of the West End's gridlock. The time they stay green has been cut by up to six seconds, causing massive tailbacks and severe delays for motorists.
One of the areas worst affected by the rephased lights is Piccadilly Circus, where pedestrians have been given extra time to cross the road. This is holding back traffic at the lights for longer. Severe delays are also being experienced around New Oxford Street, High Holborn, Regent Street and The Mall.
The effect of the changes, which began in the summer, is revealed in a Transport for London document obtained by the Evening Standard.
The document ranks the effects on the central London road network on a scale from "none" and "negligible" through "slight" and "moderate" to "severe".
Traffic chiefs insist the rephasing is necessary to keep vehicles away from Trafalgar Square while it is being pedestrianised, as well as improving road safety.
Overall, TfL has altered the timings on 97 sets of traffic lights within the central zone - defined by Marylebone Road to the north, Commercial Street to the east, Kennington Lane to the south and Park Lane to the west. Twelve of these have been classified by TfL's own experts as having a "severe" effect on traffic flow.
The rephasing of the lights sparked such a public outcry in the summer that Mayor Ken Livingstone, who chairs the TfL board, had to be provided with monthly updates in an attempt to deflect criticism.
TfL was also forced into repeated denials that the lights were being changed to worsen gridlock in advance of congestion charging being introduced in February.
It was suggested that the Mayor would return the lights to their old settings once charging began - allowing him to claim that traffic was moving freely under his new scheme.
But Mr Livingstone and TfL have insisted that the timings are coincidental, and that the pedestrianisation work on Trafalgar Square had been planned before he came to office in 2000.
Jim Landles, TfL's assistant director of traffic and technology services, admitted that the Piccadilly Circus area was likely to remain heavily congested because of the rephased lights introduced there to restrict traffic flowing into Trafalgar Square.
He said that, if the lights were switched back to their normal settings, too many vehicles would pass through and bring traffic in Haymarket to a halt. He said this was because the North Terrace at Trafalgar Square was closed to traffic in September, and vehicles could no longer driver around all four sides of the Square.
However, he said TfL hoped to reverse the worst effects of the rephasing programme by reverting as many of the lights to timings that gave drivers more "green time". Mr Landles said he expected this would happen before Christmas at the majority of the 12 worst-hit junctions, adding: "We are hoping for quite a significant change. Most of these 'severe' ratings should disappear. We will be putting back as much capacity into the network as we can.
"Having said that, the network has settled down quite significantly and is moving quite well."
A spokesman for the RAC Foundation said motorists were sceptical about the changes, and the fact they were being rephased before congestion charging was introduced in February. "The level of congestion was absolutely terrible," he said. "There were tailbacks in Regent Street and the whole of the Mall was having problems and so was Whitehall. Motorists are just avoiding the area at all costs - and who can blame them."
©2002 Associated New Media

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 30, 2002.

A life that spans 3 centuries

A life that spans 3 centuries
Nov 29 2002
By Richard Evans
South London Press
A WOMAN who outdates the modern Olympic Games has celebrated her 107th birthday.
Margaret Lawless was born in Kennington in 1895 when Queen Victoria still had six years left of her reign.
She shares her year of birth with the London School of Economics - and the same year, film was first shown in public. She beat the modern Olympics off the blocks by 12 months.
Despite all that, she is still a good seven years the junior of the oldest woman in the world, and around two years younger than the country's oldest woman who is believed to be 109.
Margaret left school aged 13 and went to work in a factory, where she made army uniforms during the First World War.
She was a dressmaker in her spare time.
A painter's daughter, she never married and has no children of her own.
She had two brothers and two sisters. When one of her sisters died, she took on her two nieces and one nephew.
Margaret now lives in the Queens Oak Care Centre in Queens Road, Peckham.
Here are some stories from the South London Press in 1895.
* The Brixton Ladies Early Closing League was calling for a 2pm closing in Brixton on Wednesdays.
* The South London Press called for a reform of the Poor Law.
* An advert appeared: "Teeth. A complete set for one guinea. Single teeth - 2s 6d. Five year warranty."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 30, 2002.

Traffic jams

Sorting out the jams is Ken's job
Simon Jenkins
Evening Standard
28 November 2002
Is there a conspiracy or is there not? Wherever two or three Londoners are gathered together, they whisper of "the plot". Why has traffic on key routes in central London slowed to 2.9mph, according to this newspaper, or an average of 9.5mph, according to the Mayor? The evidence of the eyes confirms it. From Baker Street to Islington, from Shoreditch to Vauxhall Cross, a mass of metropolitan rage congeals around one conviction, that someone, somewhere is strangling the traffic. Whodunnit? A traffic jam is no respecter of rich or poor. Like death, it is a great leveller, trapping the minister in his limousine, the doctor, the white-van driver, the tourist and the man on the Clapham omnibus. At Piccadilly, the rephasing of lights backs-up traffic to Hyde Park. Trafalgar Square clogs the Strand and Charing Cross Road. Gower Street is now a car park to the Euston Road. North London's rich are locked in holding pens at St John's Wood roundabout, permitted down Baker Street only in twos and threes. Roadworks at Bishopsgate and Vauxhall stifle all of human life.
Cycle lanes lie unused and gathering leaves. Bumps and blisters narrow roadways and entomb goods vehicles. The only way from Kennington to Westminster in rush hour is by Sherman tank.
The number one suspect must be the Mayor. He has both motive and weapon. Next February he is introducing the one policy he can call truly his own, the congestion charge, on which he says he will stand or fall. His enemy is the private motorist. He has traffic lights and roadworks at his disposal. Next year he wants to show that traffic speeds have risen. What better prelude than to create chaos now and boast a better future tomorrow? He must have done it.
The truth of the matter appears to be as follows. London's roadworks are now completely out of control. The Strand was dug up 160 times in the past year. My local street is never "at peace". Westminster city council counted 58,000 separate roadworks in the past year, almost double those the year before. The streets of Karachi and Kabul are more efficiently managed.
The Mayor is indeed trying to finish big road schemes before next year and has rephased traffic lights to ease flows through them. But he cannot control utilities, which can dig up roads at will.
More suspect are the urban guerrillas in the office of London's traffic supremo, Derek Turner. Using Health and Safety rules and a target on boroughs to cut the rise in urban traffic by a third, they have gone round "tweaking" traffic lights. To these mavericks a jam is a joy to behold, an enraged motorist a thing of beauty. To them, the streets are being returned to the proletariat - defined as cyclists and pedestrians - who are now able to wander Oxford Circus, Piccadilly and Holborn, supposedly strumming guitars, eating pizzas and singing praises to Citizen Ken. Not for nothing are these venues called " all- red phases". The net effect has been interesting. It has crudely held back a tide of traffic at the boundaries of the new congestion-charge zone, south of the river, east of the City and north of Euston Road. In doing so, it has replicated the charge's effect. Away from roadworks, parts, at least, of the innerzone area do seem less congested. With parking bays costing an exorbitant Ł4 an hour, Mr Livingstone is making the West End, ironically, more convenient for the rich. They should cheer the charge.
But in that case, goes the cry, why bother with a charge at all? The Mayor already admits to a cut in vehicle numbers within the zone of 16 per cent in the past year, against his target for the congestion charge of 15 per cent. Traffic lights and parking fees have done the trick. The latest figures for the charge anyway look poor value for money. Over the first six years, the total cost of the scheme is now Ł490 million and mounting, against a predicted revenue of Ł794 million (and probably falling).
I still believe that charging motorists for scarce road space is, in principle, better than the present "rationing by congestion". I refuse to abandon the principle because of a city motorists' hue and cry. But the scheme chosen is phenomenally complex. A similar scheme in Melbourne took nine months of electronic chaos to become enforceable. Nobody knows how half a million vehicles are to be registered for exemption in the next 10 weeks without crashing Capita's computers with daily penalty notices. There must be a cheaper way of collecting Ł300 million from London motorists over the next six years. By then, satellite tracking should do the job more cheaply.
One person whose nerve has already cracked is Alistair Darling, the Transport Secretary. Yesterday he told this newspaper that London's traffic now poses "a real threat to jobs and the status of London as one of the world's leading centres". His knee duly jerked, and he announced the appointment of a "czar" to resume control over traffic in London. This individual would have legislative powers to override the Mayor and his transport commissioner, Bob Kiley. The czar will be given statutory control both over traffic-light phasing and over the digging up of the roads.
This is madness. I want to blame Ken Livingstone. If more powers are needed to control roadworks, why are they not given to him? It was Tory central government that deregulated roadworks. It was Labour central government that demanded "30 per cent less traffic" and licensed the traffic-light guerrillas. There is no reason why London's government should be stripped of its powers because of the past failings of Whitehall.
London needs no more of the pestilential czars who so conspicuously failed to run the city for 10 years. If Mr Livingstone screws up the congestion charge, then we shall sling him out. That is not the job of Mr Darling.
©2002 Associated New Media | Terms | Privacy policy

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 29, 2002.

Honest Ben-not quite so honest

Lambeth
Date: 13.11.2002
Ref: 1440
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

Honest Ben-not quite so honest
"Honest Ben's", a Cost Cutter shop at Black Prince Road in Vauxhall, has been fined as a result of a prosecution taken by Lambeth Trading Standards at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court.
Trading Standards brought the prosecution after investigating complaints from local workers that the shop did not display any prices and that the owner, Mr Parveen Goyal, seemed to make up the prices on seeing the customer.
It is a legal requirement on shops to display their prices.
Officers from trading standards visited the sop and found 17 food items in the chilled cabinet on sale well beyond their "use by" dates. They also discovered that virtually none of the goods on display were priced.
The officers also noted that there was no sign in the shop forbidding the sale of cigarettes to children.
Mr Goyal pleaded guilty to offences under the Prices Act 1974, the Food Safety Act 1990, the Business Names Act 1985 and the Children and Young Persons (Protection from Tobacco) Act 1991.
He and was fined Ł500 and had to pay the council costs of Ł304.

-- Cathy (Cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 28, 2002.

Obituary: Karel Reisz

The Times

Obituaries
November 28, 2002
Karel Reisz
Director who spearheaded the Sixties film revolution and later changed course to find a new raison d'ętre in the theatre
A leading figure in the British cinema renaissance that took place in the the early 1960s, Karel Reisz made his name with Saturday Night and Sunday Morning which burst like a thunderclap on British cinema audiences in 1960. An adaptation of Alan Sillitoe’s novel of working-class life in the Midlands, it starred Albert Finney as a young factory worker, Arthur Seaton, trying to kick over the traces of a stultifying job on a car production line through a social life that was a violent rejection of the regimentation of the workplace.
In the year 1960, the Sixties as they .developed - broad-minded about sex, class and bad behaviour - had, in reality, not yet begun. And Finney’s hero - self-destructively drunken, rebellious, self-loathing and sexually predatory - delighted the audiences that flocked to see the film from across the social spectrum. It not only pitted a working class against bourgeois respectability, but youth against an older (even if working-class) generation inclined in itself to capitulate to convention. Its message was that while parents were sitting in watching TV on Saturday nights, the young were out drinking - and probably copulating - as if there were no tomorrow and, as a consequence, liable to get into all sorts of trouble. For the first time in British film was articulated a viewpoint, given its form at the outset of the film by its protagonist: “What I’m out for is a good time! The rest is propaganda!”
The film certainly frightened the horses. In Warwickshire, birthplace of Shakespeare no less, it was banned, leading the production company to declare stoutly that it would not cut the bedroom scenes objected to by the county council. British film was certainly never to be the same again, and Saturday Night was the progenitor of many offspring, notably, and hard on its heels, A Taste of Honey (1961) and A Kind of Loving (1962).
Such was the impact of the film, a huge popular as well as a critical success, that the rest of Reisz’s career could scarcely avoid seeming something of an anticlimax. But if his later films did not generate the same excitement, they were invariably made with intelligence, a sharp eye for detail and a high degree of cinematic skill.
Reisz was a methodical worker, who liked to prepare his films thoroughly and leave nothing to chance. He was also very particular about his choice of subject and declared that he would rather not work at all than go ahead with a project in which he was less than fully engaged.
For these reasons he was not a prolific director and after Saturday Night and Sunday Morning he completed only eight feature films over the next 30 years. Yet each was different from the one before, discouraging attempts to analyse Reisz’s output in terms of common themes and preoccupations. He was, at heart, a craftsman, relying on the virtues of script, acting and cinematic technique.
In the 1990s Reisz developed a successful career as a director for the stage. In this, too, his tastes were eclectic, varying from mainstream modern classics to the minimalism of Harold Pinter, with whom he had worked on what was, perhaps, his second most discussed film, The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981).
Karel Reisz was born in Octava, Czechoslovakia, on July 21, 1926. He arrived in Britain from Prague at the age of 12 on a kindertransport train as a refugee from the persecution of Jews in his Nazi-occupied country. His parents died in Auschwitz. He was educated at Leighton Park School, Reading, where he made some 16mm films.
During the Second World War he served in a Czech Royal Air Force squadron. Afterwards he read chemistry at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and taught for two years in a North London school.
His interest in film led him to the magazine Sequence, where in company with other young critics such as Lindsay Anderson and Gavin Lambert he sustained a vigorous attack on the feebleness of the British cinema. Less contentiously, he wrote The Technique of Film Editing, which became a standard manual on its publication in 1953. In the early 1950s, too, he was in charge of programme planning at the National Film Theatre.
From Sequence developed the movement known as Free Cinema, whose leading lights were Reisz, Anderson and Tony Richardson. The principal ideas of Free Cinema were that film artists (that is, directors) should have the opportunities for personal expression; and that films should reflect the problems and issues of contemporary life.
The group put these precepts into practice with a series of documentaries shown at the National Film Theatre between 1956 and 1959. Reisz’s films were Momma Don’t Allow (1956), a portrait of a North London jazz club co-directed with Tony Richardson; and We Are The Lambeth Boys (1958), a sympathetic study of a youth club in Kennington. The second was sponsored by the Ford Motor Company, of which Reisz was films officer.
One by one the leaders of Free Cinema went into feature films. Reisz made Saturday Night and Sunday Morning for Woodfall, a production company formed by Richardson with the playwright John Osborne. It was an auspicious debut, showing a feeling - rare in British films up to then - for the industrial working-class milieu, and launching Albert Finney as a powerful new actor.
Reisz acted as producer on Lindsay Anderson’s first feature, This Sporting Life (1963), and then tried to set up a film about the Australian outlaw Ned Kelly. When this proved abortive he accepted an invitation from MGM to do a remake of Emlyn Williams’s sinister stage crime thriller of 1935, Night Must Fall, which he also co-produced and which came out in 1964. For a man who had campaigned to put the British cinema more in touch with contemporary life, it was, perhaps, a strange choice; and the film was coolly received.
A more ambitious exercise was Morgan - A Suitable Case for Treatment (1965), derived from a television play by David Mercer about a young artist - engagingly played by the gangling David Warner - suffering from schizophrenia. As a comic treatment of madness, the film was highly successful though marred at times by the director’s over-indulgence in visual gimmicry.
Isadora (1968) was an ambitious attempt at the difficult task of presenting the life of the unconventional American character dancer, Isadora Duncan, with Vanessa Redgrave striking in the title role.
During the 1970s Reisz made only two films, both in the US. The Gambler (1975) starred James Caan as a man being destroyed by his obsessive desire to play the casinos; while Who’ll Stop the Rain (1978) - British title Dog Soldiers - was a drug-pushing thriller set in the shadow of the Vietnam war. Both hinted at an underlying sickness in American society.
In 1981 he realised a long cherished project, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, based on John Fowles’s complex novel about a Victorian gentleman’s passion for a woman jilted by a French lover. With a script by Harold Pinter, which controversially introduced a parallel story set in the present day, and a sensitive performance from the American actress Meryl Streep (who won an Oscar nomination), it confirmed Reisz as a film-maker of stature.
Sweet Dreams (1986) was a biopic about the effect on her marriage of the folk-singer Patsy Kline’s career success, while Everybody Wins (1990) was a study of small-town corruption in which Nick Nolte’s private detective is seduced by the unstable woman (played by Debra Winger) who has hired him.
From 1990 onwards, Reisz saw his directing future as being linked inextricably with the theatre and he took on projects both modern minimalist and traditional. Among other things, he resumed a collaboration with Pinter, whose Moonlight he directed at the Donmar Warehouse, London, and in New York in 1994 and 1995. His flawless direction of a revival of Pinter’s 1982 play A Kind of Alaska, first at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, and later at the Donmar, was also much admired, when it was put on there as part of a treble bill of Pinter plays in 1998. Act Sans Paroles (2000) was a short film of the Beckett play that had been done at the Gate.
But Reisz did not eschew the traditional theatre: among other modern classics he tackled Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, and Eugene O’Neill’s A Long Day’s Journey Into Night, and was quite at home with the conventionality of Terence Rattigan’s early 1950s drama of infidelity and attempted suicide, The Deep Blue Sea.
Reisz’s marriage, in 1953, to his first wife, Julia, was dissolved in 1963. In that year he married the actress Betsy Blair. She and the three sons of his first marriage survive him.
Karel Reisz, film and theatre director, was born in Octava, Czechoslovakia, on July 21, 1926. He died of a blood disorder in London on November 25, 2002, aged 76.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 28, 2002.

Congestion Charging

Congestion Charging
Released: 26 November, 2002 02:34
Filesize: 29kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/016597.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 27, 2002.

Good Samaritan

Who was the Good Samaritan who came to Tabitha's aid?
Nov 26 2002
By Peter Harrison
South London Press
A CRECHE worker who was knocked down and injured by a cyclist wants to trace a Good Samaritan who rushed to her aid.
Tabitha Ellwood, 33, suffered two black eyes, a lump on her head, bruising and a suspected broken nose in the incident.
She had been walking back from her job at the Charlie Chaplin playground in Kennington when she was injured in Peckham Rye on November 16.
She said: "I was crossing the road in Peckham Rye one minute, the next I was lying on the pavement with a really sore head and covered in blood.
"When I came round there were a lot of people fussing over me and this cyclist telling me I should be more careful - all I could think was 'I'm not exactly in the mood for a lecture right now'."
She added: "Then there was this really calm person called Sarah who seemed to take control of it all."
The woman accompanied Tabitha home on the bus before leaving her with a flatmate.
* Are you the mysterious Good Samaritan 'Sarah'?
If so, call Peter Harrison at the South London Press on 020-8710 6441.

-- Cathy (CathyvPreece@aol.com), November 27, 2002.

Vision for Vauxhall forum

COME TO THE NEXT
Vision for Vauxhall Forum
for open discussion of what Vauxhall wants and how to get it
Vauxhall Cross
What's going on, what's planned and when?
local access, walkers, bus/tube/rail/cyclists,
the cab rank, speeds, going two way.…
Come & discuss with
Transport for London & Lambeth Transport
7pm Tues November 26 2002
at Vauxhall St Peter's Heritage Centre
Tyers St, off Kennington Lane
Ideas, Involvement and Information

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 25, 2002.

Firefighters' strike

Mayor warns of fire strike travel chaos
London's mayor warns the Tube and bus system will break down as the firefighters' strike takes hold.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/england/2508729.stm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 25, 2002.

Firefighters' strike

'Safety' walkouts on Tube will hit roads
COMMUTERS face rush-hour chaos in London today with Tube delays and gridlocked roads because of the knock-on effects of the strike.
Twenty Tube stations, including Russell Square and Holloway Road, ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-491915,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 25, 2002.

From SE1 Direct

From SE1 Direct

VAUXHALL CROSS ROW CONTINUES
A row has erupted between Lambeth Council and Transport for London over the roadworks at Vauxhall Cross.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view.php?ArtID=372

Will Vauxhall be the next Bankside?
(Standard)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/homes/news/articles/2129314

Derek Jacobi to star in Tempest at Old Vic
(Theatrenow)
http://www.theatrenow.com/asp/site/news.asp?art=4150&cat=5

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 25, 2002.

Application forms parking permits

Application form for business parking permit
Application form for Parking Services - business parking permit.
Released: 21 November, 2002 01:46
Filesize: 116kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/form/012222.pdf
Application form for residents or visitors parking permit
Application form for Parking Services - resident or visitors parking permit.
Released: 21 November, 2002 11:56
Filesize: 312kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/form/012221.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 24, 2002.

MUSEUM OF GARDEN HISTORY

Pre-Christmas Social at the
MUSEUM OF GARDEN HISTORY
(next to Lambeth Palace)

Wednesday 27 November
6.30 to 8.30 pm
an invitation from the London Friends of the MGH
If you haven't visited the Museum recently, come along for a bit of a surprise - we've had a radical revamp. We've got new cases to show off the collections, and a brilliant new display all along the South wall of the museum. The shop has also received lots of yummy new stock ready to solve your Christmas present purchasing dilemmas.
The Museum will be opened specially for us to have a private view of the new look, including the current special exhibition by the New Elizabethans embroidery group, and a leisurely browse in the shop. To enhance the ambience, we also offer a glass of wine. A rather good wind quartet will play some seasonal music, and we are delighted to announce that this evening will be the occasion for the first performance of a piece of music specially written by Chris Potts to celebrate the Museum's 25th anniversary year.
Tickets cost Ł4 for Friends of the MGH, Ł5 for guests (cheques payable to 'London Friends of the MGH')
For details, please call 020 7820 8994 or write to:
London Friends of the MGH, Museum of Garden History
St Mary at Lambeth
Lambeth Palace Road
London SE1 7LB

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 24, 2002.

Tibeb Intermedia Ltd - opening tomorrow

Opening a new shop

Tibeb Intermedia Ltd
You are invited to the official opening of our new business on Saturday 23rd (tomorrow).
There will be Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony, the ceremony is between 10am to 6pm. Please do come and invite your friends too.
The full address of the business is
Tibeb Intermedia Ltd
10 Cleaver Street
Kennington
SE11 4DP
020 7582 8000

-- Mike (tibebintermedia@yahoo.co.uk), November 22, 2002.

A History of Britain by Simon Schama

History of Britain
We just wanted to let you know that this weekend's episode of History of Britain (Saturday on BB2 at 7.55pm) is the one which includes, briefly, Simon Schama in our Kennington Park talking about the birth of democracy. You might like to check it out.

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), November 22, 2002.

North Lambeth Festive Winter Events 2002

North Lambeth Festive Winter Events 2002

Switching on the Festive Lights at the Oval
Monday 25 Nov 02 5.30pm in front of the Lavender Restaurant, 24 Clapham Rd, SW9
The Rt Hon Kate Hoey, MP will switch on the lights and the Magic Eye Steel Band will be providing the entertainment.
Switching on of the Festive Lights in Lower Marsh
Tuesday 26 Nov 02 5.30pm in front of The Gallery, 104 Lower Marsh, SE1
The Worshipful Mayor of Lambeth, Cllr June Fewtrell, will light up Lower Marsh to joyful gospel sounds.
North Lambeth Winter Social
Tuesday 10 Dec 2002 5.30 - 8.00pm, St Anselms Church, 286 Kennington Road, SE11
A chance to mingle with other North Lambeth Forum members and staff. Please RSVP for this event with Gerald Gohler on 020 7926 8295 or ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 21, 2002.

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall TCM Board Minutes 17 Oct 2002

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall TCM Board Minutes 17 Oct 2002
Released: 19 November, 2002 04:46
Filesize: 32kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/016489.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2002.

Straw's limo in bus lane dodge to beat the traffic

Straw's limo in bus lane dodge to beat the traffic
by TAHIRA YAQOOB
Daily Mail
20th November 2002
Maybe Jack Straw has been spending too much time abroad - where very important people like himself rarely have to worry about traffic snarl-ups.
For being swept by limousine from airports in far-flung foreign capitals, while local drivers are kept firmly out of the way, appears to be habit-forming.
When the Foreign Secretary found himself in a traffic jam near his home, his chauffeur-driven Daimler sneaked into a bus lane to beat the gridlock.
It was a move that left rush-hour motorists seething - and added another chapter to the Government's patchy driving record.
Mr Straw was caught in a jam near Waterloo at 8.30am while being driven from his home in Kennington, South London, towards Westminster Bridge.
But while law-abiding road users stayed put and grumbled, his vehicle glided into the bus lane.
Ministers are only allowed to flout traffic laws in 'exceptional circumstances', such as being under threat of attack. Mr Straw did not appear in imminent danger.
He was spotted in the bus lane by Catriona Sutherland-Hawes, an aide to North Wiltshire Tory MP James Gray, and a former secretary to the Prince of Wales.
Mrs Sutherland-Hawes, who cycles to work every day, found her path blocked by Mr Straw's car.
She said: 'There is always someone who thinks they can save five minutes but it makes life very dangerous for cyclists. I always shout at offending drivers as I go past and make a point of glaring into the vehicle to shame them.
'This time it was Mr Straw sitting in the car. There was no sign of an emergency and no police escort - in fact he was reading the papers and did not look up.
'I shouted at him as I feel very strongly that you should lead by example if you are trying to encourage people to use public transport.'
Mr Gray, who tabled a question on the incident in the House of Commons, added: 'It sets an appalling example. It is wrong for him to abuse traffic bylaws.'
In a statement in reply to Mr Gray, Mr Straw said: 'The official vehicles in which I travel are driven by police officers who are subject to the same provisions of law as other officers in similar circumstances.'
Bus lanes in London are, usually, open to cyclists and black cabs but ordinary drivers face an Ł80 fine if they use them.
The bus lane incident is not Mr Straw's, or the Government's, first difficulty with transport issues.
Two years ago, when Home Secretary, Mr Straw's police driver was caught doing 103mph on the M5. He escaped prosecution after saying he was escaping a 'perceived threat'.
In 1999, the Prime Minister's motorcade was caught using the M4 bus lane to escape a hold-up.
And deputy premier John Prescott was nicknamed Two Jags for his failure to practise what he preaches on public transport.
Find this story at:
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=148018&in_page_id=2

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2002.

Firefighters' strike

South London Press

Crew battles in vain to save Tube victim
Nov 19 2002
By Vicky Wilks And Chris Pragnell
THE body of a 66-year-old woman is carried away from Stockwell Tube Station on Friday after she was killed under a train.
The woman - from West Dulwich - was found on the northbound track of the Victoria Line.
Brixton firefighters - on strike at the time - left their picket line in a bid to rescue her at around 1pm.
But she was pronounced dead at the scene 20 minutes later.
A British Transport Police spokesman told the South London Press there were "no suspicious circumstances".
He added the Tube train had to be moved for the woman to be taken from the track.
A Green Goddess manned by the army and emergency services helicopter also attended.
It proved to be a busy 48 hours for the south London Green Goddess crew for last week's 48-hour walk-out by firefighters.
Although the time passed without major disaster, four depots - based at Camberwell, Catford, Grove Park and Tulse Hill - fielded a total of 96 calls between them during the strike.
The majority were car fires, although Army crews did tackle a blaze at a pub in Kennington.
Captain Alex McKay said: "We had a hell of a lot of small fires - cars set alight, mattresses, that sort of thing.
"Though these are not necessarily hoax calls as such - because there is a fire - there may have been an element of children starting the fires deliberately to see the Green Goddesses come out.
"But the fire brigade get similar problems."
Firefighters and their employers were set for yet further discussions yesterday - this time with an eight-day walkout looming.
If an agreement is not reached by the end of the week, firefighters will head home on Friday and not return until the end of the month.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 20, 2002.

Profile: Rolf Harris

The Telegraph

Dumbed up
(Filed: 17/11/2002)
Profile: Rolf Harris
When the British public votes you the world's greatest artist - greater not only than Rembrant, El Greco and Raphael, but than the kind of talents who did the Chinese lady with the green face, and that one of the stag in the heather - the only way to go is up. "I was humbled," said Rolf Harris, and he wasn't the only one.
Fair dinkum: Rolf has never claimed to be the new Vermeer, but up-up-up he has gone regardless. He is currently presenting the second series of the most watched "fine arts" programme in British television history, Rolf on Art (BBC1), and a selection of his paintings - or, strictly speaking, his spirited knock-offs of other people's paintings - is showing in the National Gallery. Next month an exhibition of his work is to open at a private gallery in London.
Is he a renaissance man or a public menace? Despite the record audiences, there's a feeling around that his show is to art what Blind Date is to romance. Melvyn Bragg labelled its very existence proof of the BBC's "dereliction of duty" towards serious cultural programming, while The Daily Telegraph's art critic, Richard Dorment, emptied a king-size can of emulsion over Harris's head last week, accusing the presenter of being "a grotesque self-publicist burbling a stream of inanities".
The dissidents surely have a point. In last week's programme, for example, Rolf informed us that Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec "was most famous for being short". You wouldn't have heard Lord Clark of Civilisation say that. But then you wouldn't have heard Lord Clark accompanying himself on the didgeridoo for a rendition of Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport. Civilisation, so to speak, is over and instead we have Rolf.
It could be worse. His programme pulls them in - up to seven million a week - because it chooses to treat art as familiar and friendly territory rather than a distant and hostile land. Rolf, 72, plods gamely through the hazy Provenal sunflower fields, whips out his palette and attempts to emulate Van Gogh. The eyesore that results is all part of the fun. In failing so completely to capture what Vincent could do he illustrates the singular wonder of the original; but in trying at all he makes the point that whatever else it may be, great art is nothing to be frightened of.
Not that the carping will worry him. If anyone knows how to ride out the wrath of purists, Rolf Harris does. He has been doing it for most of his career. Nine years ago he was talked into recording his own version of the classic Led Zeppelin hit Stairway to Heaven. Dismissing suggestions that he should first hear the original, he gave the number the full Rolf treatment with wobbleboards and an "all-together-now" chorus. The band's fans questioned whether the blasphemy laws might apply, but the track was a huge hit, and it made him a campus cult figure who, later that year, played to delirious acclaim at Glastonbury. Some time afterwards, when he finally heard Led Zep's version, Rolf fell to his knees, groaning: "My God, what have I done?"
He was born in Bassendean, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, on March 30, 1930, the son of Crom and Marge Harris, who had emigrated from Wales, but continued to think of the UK as their true home.
Rolf's memories of childhood are overwhelmingly happy. He and his older brother Bruce (now his manager) grew up in the ramshackle suburban house his handyman father built out of the best materials he could scrounge. For most of his early years, Rolf remembers, he slept outdoors on the veranda. He grew into a sporting prodigy, becoming, in his mid-teens, Australia's junior backstroke champion. Sadly, for Rolf, the same talent did not extend to his painting, but it was what he most liked to do. At the age of 22, he arrived in London to study at an art college in Kennington.
It was there that he happened upon a mildly eccentric fellow student, Alwen Hughes. "Every day," recalls Rolf, "I'd poke my head around her easel and say: 'How's it going?' " Alwen never said anything, and it was some years after they had left the college that they met up again at the Royal Academy's summer exhibition. They were married on March 10, 1958, with Alwen's black poodle as her bridesmaid. That night, the luckless pooch joined the newlyweds in their bed.
After a brief spell as a teacher, Rolf had begun to be invited to appear on television. His affable Aussie blokeishness, and ability to entertain with a paint pot and a brush the width of a loofah, made him a natural for children's programmes. He began building songs into the act, soon feeding in the comic potential of his didgeridoo. His first major hit was the 1962, Aboriginal-inspired Sun Arise.
Sun arise, she come in the morning,
Bringin' back the warmth to the ground,
Dinnnnggghhhh, dunghummm.
Unfortunately, at the time the song was recorded, Rolf couldn't actually play the didgeridoo, and didn't know anyone in England who could. Rather than bear the cost of flying in a proficient Aboriginal, the Beatles' producer, George Martin, simulated the sound with eight double basses. The song reached number two in the charts, beaten only by Elvis Presley's Return to Sender.
Rolf has been in demand ever since. Perhaps too much in demand, for in the biography he published last year, Can You Tell What It Is Yet?, Harris candidly admitted to being a poor husband to Alwen, and a worse father to his artist daughter, Bindi. He tells in the book of finding a note in Alwen's diary, reading: "I feel like killing myself. I am so bored. Please take me away from here." In the week that Bindi was born he flew to the United States to keep a routine work engagement.
A change appears to have come after Bindi told him frankly how much his absences had pained her as a child. He says he is choosier these days, although work continues to rule his life to an arguably unhealthy extent, and he was recently ordered to rest after being diagnosed as suffering from exhaustion. He and Alwen, who is a sculptor, live in a large Thameside house close to Michael Parkinson's, near Bray in Berkshire.
Yet the endearingly Tigger-like qualities that have made Rolf such an all-bouncing, all-flouncing children's favourite are nothing if not authentic. Rolf is much the same in real life. He runs everywhere, sings as he goes, talks non-stop in his surprisingly soft, unmistakably Aussie voice, and scribbles manically on whatever surface is available. His enthusiasm and persistence are famous. He first heard Two Little Boys when it was sung to him during a trip to Holland by a wandering fellow Australian. Later, when Rolf couldn't find the tape he made, he tracked the man down 12,000 miles away and made him sing it again down the telephone. The song reached number one.
As an art collector, Rolf may not be a major figure, but he takes his art more seriously than his critics take Rolf. He knows his tastes, too, and he isn't afraid to stand up for them. Along with the likes of Sir Tom Stoppard and the Culture Minister, Kim "Bullshit" Howells, he is scathing about the conceptual art movement and dismissive of its credo that a work is art if the artist says it is.
Those who broadly agree with Rolf that art should bear less resemblance to what you sleep in than what you hang on the wall, could hardly be in better hands. His television programme may be of its time, in the sense that it is showy, chatty and designed from scratch to sneak beneath the innate scepticism of mass audiences. But its soul belongs to another age, in which art was more easily recognised as such. You don't need, as Rolf's tormentors seem to imply, a chap with a bow tie, half-moon glasses and a vault pallor to tell you this. Just look at the pictures and let Rolf explain the rest. He can explain it all if you give him the chance, including why he's the world's greatest artist. "Michelangelo," he says, "didn't do much television."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 18, 2002.

The History of the FA Cup

The Times
November 16, 2002
Pros and cons of university life in the Cup
By Walter Gammie
THE decision taken by Oxford University to pull out of the FA Cup in June 1880, despite having reached the final in the previous season when they lost 1-0 to Clapham Rovers at the Kennington Oval, was no surprise. Geoffrey Green, the former Times Football Correspondent, makes plain in The History of the FA Cup that there were reservations among amateur clubs about entering the Cup at its outset in 1872. The amateurs felt “it might give rise to excessive rivalry and tempt clubs to subvert the wellbeing of the game to their own selfish interests. The general standards of morality of those competing would be lower.” Oxford had won the Cup in 1874 and lost in four finals in eight years of entering the competition — so much so that Aston Villa, drawn away to Oxford in the third round in their first season in the Cup in 1879-80, decided it was not worth their while making the trip and withdrew. Colin Weir, the historian of Oxford and Cambridge University football, said: “The universities withdrew because of the increased professionalism. It might sound horribly snobbish to say in this day and age but the likes of Blackburn Rovers and Darwen brought a different ethos with which they were uncomfortable.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 16, 2002.

Road works

TfL named and shamed
Nov 12 2002
South London Press
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone and Transport for London are to be 'named and shamed' as the reason behind the massive traffic-jams blighting south London.
Lambeth council has been on the wrong end of hundreds of phonecalls from furious motorists snarled up in jams at Vauxhall Cross.
But the council is hitting back by erecting dozens of signs saying exactly who is responsible for the infuriating roadworks at the busy junction.
The last few months have seen Vauxhall Cross become a virtual no-go area, particularly during rush hour.
The complete re-structuring of traffic-flow and the building of a new bus interchange are to blame.
A Lambeth council spokeswoman confirmed road signs would be going up at Vauxhall Cross and Kennington, possibly as early as this week. Signs may also go up at other traffic hotspots where TfL roadworks are to blame.
She said: "A lot of people are calling the council complaining about these works. The idea is that the signs will say these are TfL works and will include a hotline for people to call."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 13, 2002.

Who is the greatest south Londoner?

Who is the greatest south Londoner?
Nov 12 2002
By Richard Evans, South London Press
THE identity of the greatest Briton has been the question on everybody's lips over the last few weeks because of the BBC series.
But we want to know who deserves the title of the greatest ever south Londoner?
Is it someone listed below or somebody else? The South London Press has set up a phone vote so you can let us know what you think.
We will use the results to draw up a short-list of five finalists.
Ken Livingstone: 'Red Ken' was born in Streatham and went on to lock horns with Margaret Thatcher as head of the Greater London Council (GLC). Although the GLC was scrapped, Ken bounced back to become London's first elected mayor.
Rio Ferdinand: Born in Peckham, the Manchester United player has twice shattered the world record transfer fee for a defender.
William Mildin: The 14th Earl of Streatham was the inspiration for Tarzan of the Apes. In 1868, he was shipwrecked off West Africa and spent 11 years living in the jungle.
John Major: Born in Brixton, he married Norma in St Matthew's Church and cut his political teeth at Lambeth town hall, long before he became Prime Minister.
Charlie Chaplin: Born in Kennington, he became one of the most famous figures in movie history, directing such classics as The Great Dictator.
Jade Goody: The Bermondsey babe might not have won this year's Big Brother, but she was certainly the star of the show. Has to be included for enriching all our lives with gems such as asking if Wales was the capital of England, or if Sherlock Holmes invented the toilet. Priceless.
Boris Karloff: The Dulwich-born actor appeared in all manner of creepy films, most famously as Frankenstein's monster.
Lloyd Honeyghan: The 'Ragamuffin Man' shocked the world when he knocked out Donald Curry, the world's best pound-for-pound boxer, in the American's backyard.
David Bowie: The man who gave us Ziggy Stardust was born in Brixton and became one of the greatest recording artists ever.
Michael Caine: The Bermondsey actor has starred in such films as Get Carter and The Italian Job.
Henry Cooper: A ripped glove stood between the Bellingham boxer and an historic knockout of Cassius Clay. The man who was to become Muhammad Ali was saved by the bell at the end of the fourth round and a problem with his glove meant he got extra time to recover before stopping Henry on cuts in the fifth.
Naomi Campbell: The Streatham supermodel's inclusion on the list might raise a few eyebrows, but there's no other south Londoner the male employees at the South London Press would rather step out with!
WHO is the greatest south Londoner ever? The vote line number is: 0901 380 2848. Calls cost 25p and the line is open until Monday, November 25 at 9am.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 13, 2002.

Tube stations to be closed by strike

South London Press
News
Tube stations to be closed by strike
Nov 12 2002
Nineteen London Underground stations will definitely close during the 48-hour firefighters' strike.
They include Covent Garden, Wapping, Edgware Road and Russell Square. But although admitting it will be offering a "slightly reduced service", LU says it plans to carry on.
"Safety will not be compromised," said the Tube's safety director Mike Strzelecki.
He went on: "We have clear, well-practised procedures to deal with fire alerts. But the critical safety factor is to evacuate potential danger areas quickly and calmly."
The stations that will have to close are all deep-lying ones. They are Belsize Park, Borough, Caledonian Road, Covent Garden, Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line), Elephant & Castle, Gloucester Road, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Holland Park, Kennington, Lambeth North, Lancaster Gate, Mornington Crescent, Queensway, Regent's Park, Russell Square, Tufnell Park and Wapping.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 13, 2002.

Roadworks

Lambeth
Date: 11.11.2002
Ref: 1439
Press contact: Isolda McNeill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

Roadworks not down to us, says Lambeth
Lambeth council is erecting signs placing responsibility for the congestion at London's biggest roadworks squarely where it belongs-on the shoulders of Transport for London. Transport for London answers to the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.
The signs will go up around Vauxhall Cross, scene of the capital's most notorious roadworks. The council is acting because officers are getting hundreds of phone calls each week from irate motorists who believe the council is to blame for the traffic chaos called by the TfL scheme.
"Lambeth is getting a bad name through TfL mismanagment and through its failure to install courtesy boards informing people who is responsible and how they can complain, " said Councillor Andrew Sawdon, Lambeth council executive member for transport.
"The work at Vauxhall Cross is being undertaken by Transport for London, which is responsible to the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. Lambeth council is not involved. If yo want to raise any issues about these works please ring Transport for London on 0207 941 2010 or the Greater London Authority on 0207 983 4000, " the signs say.
PHOTO CALL WEDNESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 8.30am
Councillor Sawdon will put up the signs at Vauxhall cross at 8.30am on Wednesday November 13. You are invited to send a photographer to xxx. Please notify the Communication Centre on the number above if you would like to attend.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2002.

48 Hours In: Wartime London

Independent

48 Hours In: Wartime London

The capital is full of the history of conflict.
Marcus Waring and Simon Calder investigate
09 November 2002
http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=351061

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2002.

Alexandra Aitken tells of burglary

Alexandra Aitken tells of burglary

By Richard Holliday, Evening Standard
Actress Alexandra Aitken told today how she cowered under her duvet as burglars ransacked her London home.
The 22-year-old daughter of disgraced former Tory minister Jonathan Aitken was awakened by suspicious noises in her Kennington flat early on Sunday.
She said: "I heard noises, but I wasn't sure whether it was the people in the flat downstairs, so I just hid under my duvet.
"It was terrifying - awful. I didn't even have my phone to hand, so I couldn't call the police until much later because I didn't dare leave the bedroom."
She later discovered the thieves had taken money, jewellery and other items worth an estimated ÂŁ5,000. "I wasn't insured. It's going to be very expensive," she added.
In July Alexandra was attacked by four muggers who escaped with her mobile phone.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 12, 2002.

Congestion charges

Congestion charges:
· New sod-u-ken site.
http://www.sod-u-ken.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 11, 2002.

Congestion Charging

Property
Price fear amid car fee chaos

House values on the edge of the London traffic zone could fall, warns Alexander Garrett
Sunday November 10, 2002
The Observer
Estate agent Mark Davis's office window gives him a bird's eye view of preparations for London's congestion charging scheme.
Cameras have already been installed, the road outside is being widened, 'magic' boxes with odd-looking wiring systems are being fitted and the sequencing of the traffic lights has been changed.
An increasing number of people are only interested in property inside the zone and we're putting it on all our details,' says Davis. 'It hasn't affected prices yet, but it's bound to.'
Kennington Lane, where he works in a branch of Winkworth, is on the southern edge of the zone that motorists will pay Ł5 a day to enter when the scheme starts on 17 February 2003.
People living on the north side of the lane will be eligible for a 90 per cent discount, while those on the south side face paying Ł1,250 a year for the privilege of driving beyond the other side of their own road.
The aim of Mayor Ken Livingstone's scheme is to reduce traffic in the the centre of the capital. But many people, particularly those living around the periphery of the eight square mile zone, are unhappy. The inhabitants of Kennington Lane fear their relatively quiet residential street will become London's new southern ring road, with a huge increase in traffic and pollution. A court action by their body, the Kennington Association, and Westminster Council failed last summer to have the scheme postponed, and the residents were left nursing a bill for Ł10,000 costs.
John Clemens, the association's secretary, says: 'We are very concerned about the social effect this will have on our community as well as the air and noise pollution.
'It's going to be hugely inconvenient and expensive for anybody who needs to cross the ring road, take children to school or go to the doctor.'
The group commissioned estate agent Cluttons to report on the likely effect of the scheme on house prices in Kennington Lane. The verdict: they would lose, on average, 16 per cent of their value.
Undaunted, Transport for London commissioned its own report from another agent, Chesterton, which concluded it would have 'no discernible effect'.
The zone was only one small component in the complex bundle of factors that determine London property prices, it added.
The High Court judge accepted Chesterton's view.
David MacLean-Watt, who wrote the Cluttons report, says Kennington Lane faces 'a significant increase in traf fic, and I concluded that this would result in a severe decrease in property prices'.
He predicts that, because of the knock-on effect of drivers trying to avoid charges, those outside the boundary will be asking to be included.
The charging zone will affect people's shopping habits and social life, he argues. 'If you live outside, you will think twice about going to a restaurant inside; if you go to a school inside the zone but live outside, will your parents drive you over to play with your friends, if it costs them a fiver?'
Similar fears are felt all around the periphery of the zone. There are residents in Westminster who live outside it, but have parking space allocated to them inside the area. As one contributor to an internet bulletin board put it: 'I am apparently not eligible for a discount and I will have to pay Ł5 to drive down my own road, and park at the end of it, if there is no space directly outside my house.'
In Islington, on the northern edge, most properties are outside the boundary. Nick Moore, of estate agent Hamptons, says: 'As people start to think about it, it may well affect property values.'
If there are winners, they will be the 83,000 people living inside the congestion charging zone. Those wanting to use their car full-time will pay only Ł2.50 a week, or around Ł125 a year, more than Ł1,000 less than 'outsiders'.
For this reason alone, many predict that homes inside the zone will soon be worth more than those just outside it.
Yet some inside the zone are still unhappy, saying they are the only ones forced to pay congestion charges unless they simply don't use their cars, and that friends and family will be deterred from visiting them.
Transport for London is running roadshows around the capital to try to assuage the residents' concerns. If the benefits of the scheme become evident once it has started - and TfL predicts a 15 per cent fall in central London traffic - those living in places such as Kennington will simply have to learn to live with it.
Charging ahead
From 17 February, anybody driving in the charging zone between 7am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, will have to pay the daily congestion charge of Ł5. If you pay between 10pm and midnight, there is a surcharge of an additional Ł5. Cameras will record the registration numbers of cars moving within the zone and, if you have not paid by the end of the day, you will be sent an Ł80 penalty (Ł40 if paid within 14 days). The 83,000 people who live within the zone can register for a 90 per cent discount. There is a range of payment options, including online at www.cclondon.com, by phone (0845 900 1234), at a post office, selected retail outlets, petrol stations and at car parks.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 10, 2002.

Backstairs Billy

A bit old but...
The fall of Backstairs Billy
by GEOFFREY LEVT and RICHARD KAY,
Daily Mail
5th October 2002
Even at midnight the two passers-by could see this was no ordinary drunk lying on his back in the gutter. Designer pinstripe suit, fashionable check shirt, gleaming tassled loafers.
http://www.femail.co.uk/pages/standard/article.html?in_article_id=141424&in_page_id=2

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 10, 2002.

Ancient maps

Thu 7 Nov 2002
Ancient maps chart London's growth
BBC News
Most people in London never go anywhere without their A - Z and a new exhibition has opened which shows the same was true 200...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2417303.stm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 10, 2002.

FOKP: Children's meeting

Children's facilities in Kennington Park
Dear Friends and Neighbours
Do you have young children?
Would you like to see facilities for parents and kids improved in the park?
The Friends of Kennington Park would like to hear your likes and dislikes about the facilities for young children. What should be changed? Please come and have your say on,
Wednesday 13th November, 10.30am
at the Kennington Park Café
The Friends would like to hear from parents with young children, as this group often finds it difficult to make early evening meetings. As a result their views are not heard as much as we would like - we hope this will put that right!

-- Diane May (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), November 07, 2002.

Bus initiatives and Controlled Parking Zone Review

Bus initiatives and Controlled Parking Zone Review

Environment - Transport and Highways - Bus initiatives and CPZs
Web page for Environment/Transport and Highways/Bus Initiatives and Controlled Parking Zones
Released: 6 November, 2002 01:57
Filesize: 32kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc-cgi/iis_idc_cgi.dll?IdcService=GET_HIGHLIGHT_INFO&QueryText=kennington&SortField=dInDate&SortOrder=Desc&dDocName=012101&HighlightType=HtmlHighlight&dWebExtension=htm
Draft consultation plan for Kennington 'K' CPZ review
Draft consultation plan for review of Kennington 'K' CPZ
Released: 6 November, 2002 10:09
Filesize: 248kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/016210.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2002.

Happy underdogs, England start yet another impossible series

Happy underdogs, England start yet another impossible series
Manish Verma (English)
Hindustan Times
New Delhi, November 05
It is not easy being Nasser Hussain and lead England to Australia for the Ashes series after lo...
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_97475,00010002.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 07, 2002.

House-sitting in Kennington

House-sitting in Kennington
My mother, who lives at present in Lincolnshire, has just set herself up as a house-sitter/pet-minder for people who are away on business or holiday, or who might otherwise want someone reliable and responsible to look after things for them.
Being able to carry out this service in Kennington, near to us and her grandson, would be perfect.
She is 56, has references and so on and would be grateful for any work.

-- Giles Chapman (annabel.chapman@virgin.net), November 07, 2002.

Events in and around Kennington

Check out this link for events in and around Kennington:
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/1000whatson/All_Listings.cfm?whfilm=&whfilmid=&eventid=&channel=ALL&usercatid=10&category=10&where=Kennington&vicinitywhere=SE11%205&validated=Yes&searchtype=1&selwhen=-2&howfar=5

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 06, 2002.

Stamp duty? Legal fees? Not if you buy the right house.

Independent

An offer you can't refuse?
06 November 2002
Stamp duty? Legal fees? Not if you buy the right house.
http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=349202

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 06, 2002.

Oval Christmas lights

Kate Hoey, our local MP, will switch on the Oval Christmas lights at a ceremony outside the Lavender Bar/Restaurant at 24 Clapham Road at 1730 on Monday 25 November 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 04, 2002.

Transport for London meeting

Transport for London meeting
Letter from Derek Turner reads:
As part of the public information campaign to inform Londoners of the congestion charge Transport for London is holding an exhibition in Lambeth at:
St. Anselms Church open to Public and staffed on:
Wednesday 11th December from 11am to 8pm, on Thursday 12th December from 9am to 5pm, on Friday 13th December from 11am to 8pm and on Saturday 14th December from 10am to 2pm.
Regards
Rita.

-- Rita (RitKatFitz@aol.com), November 04, 2002.

Coming to the White Bear Theatre Club next

Willing Suspension presents
The Tapes
By Tom Clark and Daniel Norcross

The White Bear Kennington

November 5 - 17
Tuesday - Sat 8pm, Sun 4pm
Tickets Ł8 (Ł6 conc)
Four people.
One flat.
A camera
Is Big Brother something you should try at home?
The Tapes is a gripping new drama of deceit, control and the power of failure.

The White Bear
138 Kennington Park Road
London SE11 4RB
Call the White Bear box office today on 020 7793 9193

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 03, 2002.

Crack house raid nets biggest drugs haul

Crack house raid nets biggest drugs haul
By Helen Parrott, Croydon Advertiser
Drug-busting detectives have seized over Ł250,000-worth of crack cocaine in the biggest raid of its kind in Croydon.
Elite police teams swooped on the crack house, in Mersham Road, South Norwood, last Thursday afternoon.
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0225croydon/page.cfm?objectid=12330594&method=full&siteid=53340

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 02, 2002.

Commercial conversions: Fortune favours the meek

Commercial conversions: Fortune favours the meek
By Liz Phillips
FT.com site; Oct 30, 2002
Investors keen to put their spare cash to work have turned their sights from buy-to-let to commercial property. Experts warn, however, that this is not for the novice nor the faint-hearted.
http://financialtimes.emailthis.clickability.com/et/emailThis?clickMap=viewThis&etMailToID=914160858

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), November 01, 2002.

A Strange Entertainment

Dear Neighbours
As you know we have several fundraising benefit events planned.
The first of these is an evening of fun with Richard Strange at the White Bear Theatre Club on Monday 2nd December. Please see details below.
If you are able to help display posters or would like further information, do please let me know. I could e-mail the poster as a Word attachment if you are able to display it.
With very many thanks
Kind regards
Cathy

A Strange Entertainment
at
The White Bear Theatre Club

138 Kennington Park Road SE11 4DJ
Richard 'Kid' Strange, musician, actor, writer and adventurer, will entertain us with songs, chat and a reading from his new autobiography:
"Strange - Punks and Drunks and Flicks and Kicks"
"A hilarious romp through the last 30 years of Pop Culture, as charming and amusing as the man himself" - Esquire

Monday, 2nd December 2002
7pm for 7.30pm
to be followed by the Grand Prize Draw
To book tickets, telephone 020 7793 0268
Ł10 each
A fundraising benefit event arranged by the Kennington Association for which Richard Strange is kindly donating his talents

-- Cathy (kenningtonassn@aol.com), October 30, 2002.

OLD fashioned police boxes could soon be back on the streets of south London.

Step back in timelord: the Tardis returns?
Oct 29 2002
By Robert Dex
South London Press
OLD fashioned police boxes could soon be back on the streets of south London.
The boxes, complete with flashing blue lights, were made famous by the Tardis in the BBC TV show about timelord Dr Who.
They were a fixture on the streets of London for more than 30 years before they were phased out in the late 1960s.
But they could be making a comeback after Toby Harris, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority, called for their return.
Lord Harris said bringing back the boxes would help cut down the number of people calling 999 and clogging up the emergency lines.
The old boxes had a phone so coppers on the beat could stay in touch with their station in the days before walkie-talkies. They were also used by people to report less serious crimes and problems.
Lord Harris said: "I want to see a return to the days when people could call the police quickly and easily by picking up the phone in a public location.
"We could bring the old style police boxes up to date by using the latest technology, such as touch screens, at locations that are familiar and easy to access, like bus stops."
Lord Harris also said he would be asking the Met to conduct a feasibility study into the idea.
The call to bring the boxes back sparked a few memories for at least one retired south London copper.
Harry Cole, who joined the force in Walworth in 1952, said the boxes were popular with officers trying to keep dry on rainy days.
Recalling his first visit to a police box as a new recruit, Harry said: "We had a box at Oval which we shared with the station at Kennington.
"I was on the beat for the first time and thought I'd go along to it and have a sit down because my legs were aching as I wasn't used to the walking.
"When I got to the box, there were already three coppers in there and they told me to go away.
"There was smoke coming out through the windows because they had their pipes going."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 29, 2002.

For families in Kennington, Lambeth North and Elephant Castle

St Jude's Playgroup
For parents looking for a place for their children to mix with others before starting school, I would recommend St Jude's Playgroup on St George Road (originally created by Save the Children 20-25 years ago). They accept children from the age of 2 and a half upto school age (4-5). St Jude's has a very small budget, so they charge Ł21 (twenty one pounds) a week, but it is open from 9-9.30am to 12pm and twice a week till 3pm, i.e. caring for your child for a pound an hour, a bargain. Again, as they are only 2 working there (Carol and Vi), parents are asked to cover several rotas a month. But all children I know (including my daughter) have been able to settle very easily at school. And most of all they all seem HAPPY when they are here. Unfortunately, all playgroups grants have been lowered and not being advertised they are now in a difficult financial position, not having enough funding nor kids. So if you are looking for a place for your toddler to have fun, please contact St Jude's Playgroup on 020 7928 4534.
Sylvie sylvie.cordier@lineone.net

-- Sylvie (sylvie.cordier@lineone.net), October 29, 2002.

Vintage Car race.

I lived at 22 Mitchem lane Streatham SW16. I saw the Vintage Car race. The year was 1938. I was 10 years old. The cars drove down Streatham High rd. All of the local kids enjoyed seeing all the old cars.

-- Howard E Hallum (hhallum1@sunline.net), November 19, 2003.

London to Brighton Vintage Car Race

The London to Brighton Run passes through Kennington on Sun 3 November 2002: Veteran cars - over 100 years old - drive up Kennington Road, past Kennington Park, and up the Brixton Road. The first reach Kennington Cross at about 0745.
http://www.vccofgb.co.uk/lontobri/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 28, 2002.

Congestion Charging Update

Congestion Charging Update
Released: October 25, 2002 11:51 AM
Filesize: 29kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/015962.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 26, 2002.

Technology lifeline for troubled school

Technology lifeline for troubled school
A SCHOOL branded a failure five years ago has been given the chance of a dramatic change in fortune...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm?objectid=12311521&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 26, 2002.

Bath seek to repeat FA Cup history

Bath seek to repeat FA Cup history
25 October 2002
Oxford University, seeking to win the FA Cup for the second time in what was their fourth appearance in the final, were beaten 1-0 by Clapham Rovers, who thus gained revenge for three earlier losses to the same opponents in the competition.
http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=345709

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 26, 2002.

Felt-tip icon

Felt-tip icon
Rolf Harris is to be exhibited at the National Gallery, our correspondent looks forward to his retrospective
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-457580,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 26, 2002.

Watchman

Music

My South London: Watchman
Oct 25 2002
PULP Fiction ends with Samuel L Jackson's gangster having traded in the way of the gun for the path of the righteous after a 'miracle'. For Brixton's 33-year-old David Williams, the conversion was no less dramatic. Since turning his back on aremed robbery and prison and reinventing himself as a gospel ragga artist Watchman, he has clocked up a MOBO nomination for his debut album Contemporary Christian, and performed at the Queen's Jubilee. With new album Tongues Of Fire out now and his Rap Academy encouraging youngsters back in to education and employment, he tells CEDRIC PORTER the story of his rise to grace...
South London Press
Q. Are you south London born and bred?
A. I was born in King's College Hospital. We lived in Brixton just round the corner from where I am now. I went to Loughborough primary school and Kennington boys in Myatts Field.
Q. Were you into singing?
A. I was into boxing and used to box at the Marcus Lipton Centre. But I didn't have enough discipline although I used to train a lot. Every morning I used to get up and run to Streatham Ice Rink and back - I had a lot of aggression in me. When I was at school I had a lot of difficulty with reading and writing. Probably I was dyslexic.
Q. How did you first get into music?
A. My dad George had a sound system, the Mighty Gold Crown, and I used to go round with him to the Green Man and all the pubs in Brixton.
Q. What was the first time you were in trouble with the police?
A. I was accused of having an offensive weapon.
A. For me it was, like, that was it. I would try and get into a fight at least once a week. I had the attitude of looking at people and, when they looked at me, asking "What are you looking at?" One police officer, every time he saw me, he gave me a producer, to produce my driving documents.
I got about 40 to 60 of these in a period of just a few months.
Q. Why did you go to prison?
A. I was stopped by four police officers in Camberwell. During a struggle, I threw a punch and knocked one of them out. They put me in a van and took me to Carter Street Station and I was fighting all the way. The officer I hit didn't attend - I hope to God that he's well - and I got nine months, three months for each charge of assault. When I got charged with assault I was on remand for grievous bodily harm as well.
I was living in a six-bed hostel in Peckham but I beat everybody up. We couldn't seem to get on and no one would stay there. The housing association staff were scared of me and they handed over the keys. I was 19/20 and it just went crazy. I had girls in nearly every room.
was so angry - every time I came to a zebra crossing I ran in front of cars because I said it was my right of way. Cars would come skidding to a halt - I'd smash the windscreen and smack the driver and leave them hanging out the window.
Q. What happened in prison?
A. In Belmarsh Prison I learned to read by reading the Bible. These armed robbers and drug dealers around me started giving their lives to Jesus. It was like I was a Christian but I didn't know. One day in Belmarsh I opened the South London Press and there I was - wanted by the police on a serious charge but that's all over and done with.
Q. Where did the name Watchman come from?
A. While I was in Belmarsh I went to see if I could get bail but I had a knockback and it was refused. On my way back in the sweatbox with the blacked out windows I opened up the Bible at Ezekiel 3.17 which said "I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel". I knew God was speaking to me. I opened up the Bible again in Jeremiah and it said "I have appointed you to be a watchman". I had never heard the word before. Back in the prison in a matter of hours I was told: "Williams, get your kit, you're going home".
Q. Did this make a difference?
A. After I got out I went on the rampage for a year with street robbery, armed robbery but I never got sentenced for it because people refused to testify. They wanted to deal with it their own way. I split a guy open with a knife and he was in hospital for six months. When he came out of hospital he was trying to kill me with his car - I got knocked down four or five times. A couple of guys lashed out with knives and I had to fight them off. 'Respect' was everything. I had to flee to another hostel ... I went into this pub with a gun because the landlord said: "You can't play pool unless you buy a drink".
Q. So how did you become a Christian?
A. This girl got her mum to phone me and tell me: "My daughter said you have to get up and go to church." My brother Isaac, who is now pastor of the Faith Harvest Church at Brixton Recreation Centre, was coming with me. I was sleeping with one girl and another turned up and I got rid of her - I didn't want my brother to see her. I reached into the fridge for my Tennants - I couldn't go to church without having that first. It was September 27th, 1992. In the church, someone in the congregation asked if I would like to be prayed for. I told him 'No!' When he asked me why I said "Because I am a liar".
He asked me three times if I had to lie and the third time I repeated the question over in my head and answered it: 'No!' I felt as light as a feather. I jumped from my seat, turning to the congregation as I made my way to the front to be prayed for. The presence of God was so powerful that it knocked me backwards to the floor. I got up immediately, embarrassed, dusting off my clothes to pretend I'd slipped, but I was knocked backwards again. As I tried to scramble up, I heard a voice that I immediately knew as the voice of God saying 'Stay there!' I had finally met my match.
*** Watchman headlines a concert tomorrow as part of a Gathering of Worshippers weekend held by Exousia at Haberdasher Aske's College auditorium, Hatcham College, Pepys Road, New Cross.
Also on the 6pm bill are vocalists Sharon McPherson and Beverlyn McKinson with poet Marie Reynolds. Admission Ł5. Rap Academy can be contacted at www.rapacademy.com or on 020-8299 6622.
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002
icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 26, 2002.

UDP

UDP
I'm not sure if you have seen these documents now on Lambeth's website.
Regards
Cathy

UDP Policies 2,4,15,21,29,44,45 for UDP 24/10/2002
Policies 2,4,15,21,29,44,45 for UDP Executive Group meeting scheduled for 24th October 2002
Released: October 23, 2002 11:13 AM
Filesize: 245kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/015950.pdf

UDP Executive Group Minutes 09/10/2002
Minutes of UDP Executive Group meeting held on 9th October 2002
Released: October 23, 2002 10:24 AM
Filesize: 23kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/015949.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 26, 2002.

VICTIMS' TRAUMA AT HANDS OF RAPIST

VICTIMS' TRAUMA AT HANDS OF RAPIST
The continuing ordeals of the four victims of serial rapist Emmanuel Ekezie were revealed for the first time today. Three of them live abroad and are so distraught they are unwilling to return to Britain after having to relive their ordeal in the witness box. ...
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/1655483?version=1
18/10/02

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 23, 2002.

Firefighters strike

'Striking is only choice'
Oct 22 2002
By Robert Dex
South London Press
ONE week today will see firefighters across south London walk out in the first of a wave of strikes over pay.
As Guy Fawkes Night draws closer, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is staging two 48-hour walkouts on October 29 and November 2. It will be followed by a series of eight-day strikes running up to Christmas.
When the South London Press spoke to firefighters at several stations across south London, all of them said they regretted going on strike but felt they had no other choice.
Station Officer Bill Parr at Dockhead station said firefighters were resigned to taking strike action.
He added: "We are not being listened to, so strike action is the only thing we can do."
A union official at Brixton fire station said he hoped the strike would not go on too long, adding: "No one wants this strike but the employers refuse to come back to the negotiating table."
And at Deptford, another fire-fighter, who did not want to be named, agreed that no-one wanted the strike. He said: "It's one of those things we've got to do - it's sad it has come to this."
London firefighters currently earn Ł21,500 a year after four years' training.
The FBU wants pay to rise to Ł30,000 to bring them on terms with Tube drivers who earn in excess of Ł31,000.
Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority Val Shawcross warned people to take extra care during the strike.
She said: "The scale of cover cannot match the speed and level of response the brigade offers, which is why we are urging people to think safe and take care."
Four south London Tube stations will close if the fire-fighters go out on strike. London Underground will close Lambeth North, Kennington, Elephant & Castle and Borough because of safety fears.
Do you think firefighters should strike? E-mail us at: newsdesk@slp.co.uk or write to us at: SLP, 2-4 Leigham Court Road, London SW16 2PD Give your full name, address and telephone number

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 23, 2002.

Serial rapist is suspected of further attacks

Serial rapist is suspected of further attacks
Oct 22 2002
South London Press
COPS have set up a hotline because they believe a serial rapist, convicted of four attacks, may have pounced on more women too terrified to come forward.
Emmanuel Ekezie, 36, of Hotspur Street, Kennington, is facing a life sentence after a five-year reign of terror.
After keeping the man's flat under surveillance for months, detectives believe more attacks could have gone unreported.
Ekezie was arrested three times after near-identical allegations were made against him, but each time was released without charge when cops swallowed his cover story.
But his cycle of abuse was brought to an end when a detective noticed links between the rape claims and put Ekezie's flat under video surveillance.
Even then, Ekezie managed to attack a student before officers swooped on his home and arrested him.
Judge Giles Forrester at the Old Bailey remanded him in custody for psychiatric reports but told the rapist: "These are four very serious offences. One of the factors I need to determine is the extent of the danger this man may pose to members of the public."
Busker Ekezie met his victims while playing drums at tourist spots in London, the court heard.
The court heard he exploited their love of music to get them back to his flat, put his stereo on full blast, then pounced.
He attacked a 13-year-old girl he met on the banks of the Thames in 1997, a 23-year-old he chatted to in Piccadilly Circus in 1998, and a 19-year-old student he met in Leicester Square in August last year.
A 29-year-old student was raped three times after chatting to the dreadlocked busker in Covent Garden on January 9.
Ekezie always stuck to his cover story in court, even claiming that each victim had come on so strongly that it was more accurate to say they had raped him.
He is due to be sentenced on November 15. Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Tony Anderson, of Kennington Police, described the surveillance, saying: "We were made aware there were many callers to Ekezie's address and often they were young women.
"I think there is every likelihood that there are women who have been attacked and may have not reported it."
Anyone who thinks they may have been a victim should call 020-8649 2834.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 23, 2002.

What will stop when the firefighters strike?

What will stop when the firefighters strike?

Workplaces, trains, stadiums and theatres face safety threat
David Brown
Monday October 21 2002
The Guardian
Employers have been told to review their safety plans amid concerns that many businesses could be forced to shut during a strike by firefighters.
Sir Graham Meldrum, the chief inspector of fire services, is writing to more than 25,000 employers after unions warned that staff could refuse to work because of safety concerns.
Areas most likely to be hit include underground rail networks such as Eurotunnel and the London Underground. Workers at power stations, office blocks and factories could also join the walkout.
Sports stadiums may be ordered to close if there are serious concerns about the safety of spectators. Theatres, cinemas and restaurants could face limited operations. Unions said that staff would walk out if employers could not prove that their health and safety plans had been reviewed to take account of the lower level of service provided by the army's green goddesses.
The move follows a warning by Andy Gilchrist, leader of the Fire Brigades Union, in the Guardian yesterday that the dispute would have knock-on effects.
Janet Asherson, head of health and safety at the Confederation of British Industry, said: "At this stage there seems little evidence of wholesale shutdowns; in fact, a number of organisations have already indicated they will continue as normal." But she added: "Employers take the safety of staff and customers very seriously and many are reviewing their emergency plans, particularly in sectors such as chemicals and oil that have to be particularly aware of the danger of fire."
Underground
London Underground will close 19 stations served by lifts. They are: Belsize Park, Borough, Caledonian Road, Covent Garden, Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line), Elephant & Castle, Gloucester Road, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Holland Park, Kennington, Lambeth North, Lancaster Gate, Mornington Crescent, Queensway, Regent's Park, Russell Square, Tufnell Park and Wapping.
The RMT, Britain's biggest rail union, has warned that its members would refuse to work if they had concerns about the safety of the system without full fire brigade cover. It would ballot for strike action if staff who felt at risk were forced to work. The unions have similar concerns about the safety of the underground services in Merseyside, Glasgow and Newcastle.
Mainline rail
The rail industry hopes that services would not be affected following a safety review by Railtrack, the Association of Train Operating Companies, the health and safety executive and Railway Safety, the rail industry's safety watchdog. Rail unions have already raised safety concerns, particularly on lines with long tunnels and services carrying hazardous cargos.
Channel Tunnel
Eurotunnel said it planned to run a normal service. However, the Transport and General Workers union, which represents drivers, has expressed concerns about safety and is negotiating with management. Green goddesses are too big to enter the tunnel and it requires specialist engines operated by the FBU.
Airports
Flights should not be interrupted as all airports used for commercial passenger flights employ their own firefighters, who are not in the FBU. The civil aviation authority said yesterday that it was satisfied with new contingency plans prepared by airports which take account of a firefighters' strike.
Fuel distribution
Unlikely to be affected as the unions be lieve that the green goddesses can successfully deal with a fire in a fuel tanker. Oil refineries employ their own firefighters.
Power stations
Power generating companies intend to operate as normal. BNFL, which operates the nuclear power stations, said it would keep the situation under constant review and would shut down if safety was at risk. Power station workers are considered likely to be one of the first groups to walk out because of safety concerns.
Offices and factories
All employers must complete a workplace risk assessment under health and safety at work regulations. These are likely to include an assumption that there will be a local authority fire service. Union health and safety representatives have raised concerns about workers in multi-storey office buildings who would rely on the fire brigade for evacuation.
Sporting events
The Premier League believes that all 20 clubs should be able to comply with the requirements for a new fire safety certificate. Spokesman Philip French said the clubs "have been working very hard with safety authorities for this particular contingency over recent weeks". A spokesman for the Football League, which has 72 clubs, said: "We are pretty confident that all our games will be able to go ahead, although it always depends on local conditions and the nature of any strike action."
Entertainment venues
Cinemas, concert venues and nightclubs will have to satisfy local authority licensing officers that their safety plans include a contingency for the firefighters' strike. The main criteria is the speed of evacuation, which is unlikely to be affected by the dispute. Emma de Souza, of the Society of West End Theatres, said: "Our understanding is that none of our theatres will have to close during the fire strike."
Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 22, 2002.

Computer Use Fun Day at Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre Wed October 30th

Computer Use Fun Day at Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre Wed October 30th
On Wednesday 30th October 2002, Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre will be holding a FREE open day called ‘MAD4IT’ for local residents to learn how to use a computer. Computers and printers have been provided by Lambeth Council and we will run interactive learning sessions on a number of hobbies, sport and information topics.
The day will run from 10.00am to 5.00pm and will aim to be fun & interactive.
We will teach you everything.
Fun To Learn
These are the subjects that you can learn about on the computer:

Create a booklet of recipes

Create a Baby’s record book

Make a thank you card

Create a family history using a family tree

DIY SOS – help on solving those DIY queries

Make a map of your Neighbourhood

Gardening: Learn how to grow things

Make a Family Calendar

If you have any other subjects you would like to learn about on the computer, we may be able to help you with that too.
Please bring along family and friends as non-members will be welcome at The Spring.
If you have any questions on what will be happening during the MAD4IT day on Wednesday 30th October 02, please speak to Tim at The Spring on 020 7582 4480 or email the centre at thespringvgcc@yahoo.com
We look forward to seeing you at The Spring, Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre, 100 Vauxhall Walk (opposite Walker Books)
The MAD4IT Team

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), October 22, 2002.

Kennington tube station closures

The Times
October 18, 2002
Firefighters announce 36 national strike days
By PA news
Firefighters will stage a series of strikes amounting to 36 days starting on Tuesday October 29, after 87 per cent voted in favour of action over pay, their union announced today.
The Fire Brigades Union said that its members would strike for 48 hours from October 29 and from November 2 and would carry out four eight-day strikes in November and December.
Nick Raynsford, the Fire Service Minister, described the decision as "wretched and wrong."
Andy Gilchrist, FBU General Secretary, said the vote reflected the strength of feeling his members had towards their pay dispute. Firefighters are arguing for a near-40 per cent pay rise to Ł30,000.
"Not one… took the decision to vote yes in this ballot lightly. Every single one of them knows only too well the risks involved in withdrawing their labour from an emergency service," he added.
The union decided not to call a strike on Bonfire Night and Mr Gilchrist stressed that the dispute was not with the public.
“We will therefore ensure public safety is guaranteed for November 5 and the Christmas period.
"We want to see an end to professional firefighters working a 48 hour shift and then instead of going home to their families, going on to another place of employment to get enough money to make ends meet."
The union said the eight day strikes would begin on November 6, November 22, December 4 and December 16.
"It is still not too late for this dispute to be resolved," he said, inviting the Government to resolve the dispute in the next ten days.
London Underground has said that it would have to close 19 stations because they have deep lifts and no escalators, on health and safety grounds.
The stations are: Belsize Park, Borough, Caledonian Road, Covent Garden, Edgware Road (Bakerloo Line), Elephant & Castle, Gloucester Road, Goodge Street, Hampstead, Holland Park, Kennington, Lambeth North, Lancaster Gate, Mornington Crescent, Queensway, Regent's Park, Russell Square, Tufnell Park and Wapping.
The strike dates and times in full (all start and finish at 9am):
48 hours
Tuesday, October 29 to Thursday, October 31
Saturday, November 2 to Monday, November 4
8 days
Wednesday, November 6 to Thursday, November 14
Friday, November 22 to Saturday, November 30
Wednesday, December 4 to Thursday, December 12
Monday, December 16 to Tuesday, December 24

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 19, 2002.

Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, St George's Road, Kennington

It's war on peace camp
Oct 18 2002
By Peter Harrison
South London Press
PEACE protesters camped out in a park are facing eviction after complaints from nearby residents.
A large ex-army tent went up at the end of September in Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, St George's Road, Kennington, as a protest against war on Iraq.
The campaigners say they chose this location because it was so close to the Imperial War Museum, where people can see the "true atrocities of war".
The protesters also say they clean up their own rubbish on a daily basis, and allow homeless people to take shelter in their tent as an alternative to sleeping in the rain. No drugs or alcohol are tolerated in the encampment.
But Maria Parry-Burns, who lives nearby, claimed the camp has been taken over by drunks who leave rubbish strewn all over the park.
She said: "I've seen these people defecating and vomiting in the park. They seem to spend their time drinking and lighting fires."
A Southwark council spokesman confirmed a complaint had been received about the group and legal action was under way.
And Councillor Richard Thomas, Southwark's executive member for the environment, added: "I was relaxed about people protesting about the situation in the Middle East. I support the right to peaceful protest.
"But I am now concerned the protesters have installed a generator, created mountains of litter and have defecated all over our park."
These are claims strongly denied by the protesters who say they have support from many locals.
Protester David Cousins said: "We go around the area every morning to tidy the park.
"We collect not only our own rubbish, but also anything dropped by others. We even brought in a recycling bin."
When asked about the accusation that they had defecated in the park, he simply laughed and added: "Someone comes to complain on a regular basis and while they does that their dog c**ps on the side of our tent.
"We're given a lot of support from local groups and pubs, and even staff at the Imperial War Museum let us use their toilet and washing facilities."
He added: "This is a peace camp with a transient population of about four people at any time - yes, there are rough sleepers who use our tent, but we never tolerate drink or hard drugs."
He added: "When visitors leave the museum they will see our protest and realise war is wrong. We're happy for anyone to come and talk to us."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 19, 2002.

Congestion Charging

'We'll be forced to close'
Oct 18 2002
By Vicky Wilks
South London Press
CONGESTION charging will force some businesses to close and ruin the environment, say 3,000 south Londoners who have signed a petition against the Mayor's policy.
The petition was organised by the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum (KOV) - a residents' group that argues there has been no research into how congestion charging will affect local businesses or the environment.
KOV forum board member Mark Rogers told the South London Press how recent roadworks had already forced a building business on South Lambeth Road to lay off eight staff.
He said: "We think that is the kind of thing that will happen in the future."
As for environmental damage such as increased air pollution, Mr Rogers said: "Transport for London say they have done an environmental study but they haven't published any findings."
He added that the forum had asked TfL to monitor air quality on main roads in the area but it refused.
He said: "Unless you know what the base level rates are how can you monitor change?"
KOV forum chairwoman Rita Fitzgerald said: "South Londoners see no advantage in this scheme - just more jams, more pollution and little shops closing. We're already suffering from Ken's congestion charging 'stick'. The Mayor can help our community to survive and we need these 'carrots' now. We hope he'll be listening."
A TfL spokesman said an economic impact assessment has been done using a random sample of businesses across the whole of London.
He said: "We can't guarantee businesses along Kennington Lane will be included but street management chief Derek Turner has told the group he would look at that."
He said TfL and the GLA have also conducted London-wide environment monitoring but could not do an air-quality assessment in a small area.
The campaigners handed their 3,024 signatures to Southwark and Lambeth GLA member, Val Shawcross, who will give it to the Mayor.
She said: "There are very real worries over the impact the congestion charge will have on this community, and Ken would do well to listen carefully and act fast to avoid local people's predictions becoming reality.
She added: "I also urge Lambeth council to work co-operatively with Transport for London to try and reduce the impact of traffic outside the zone.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 18, 2002.

Future Evening Event at Durning: Monday 4th November 7pm for 7.30pm: The Wetland Centre in Barnes

This will be an opportunity to learn from Peter Day about the Wetland Centre in Barnes. This is an inspiring landscape where wildlife, in particular wild birds, find a haven to nest and feed, or to stop over on their migratory journeys. It is a veritable home to a wealth of creatures.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), October 18, 2002.

Lambeth playground voted best in London

The Charlie Chaplin adventure playground in Kennington has been voted tops in two categories in the London Adventure Playground of the Year awards organised by London play, a charity promoting children's rights to play.
Released: October 16, 2002 10:11 AM
Filesize: 7kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/pressrelease/015778.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2002.

Firefighters' strike will close down Tube stations

Wed 16 Oct 2002
The Independent
Some of London Underground's busiest stations will be closed during the expected strikes by firefighters, causing severe disr...
http://wn.com/link/nph-link.cgi?worldnews/search.txt&16230348&http%3A%2F%2Fnews%2Eindependent%2Eco%2Euk%2Fuk%2Ftransport%2Fstory%2Ejsp%3Fstory%3D342969

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 16, 2002.

Kennington Petition at GLA
Dear Cathy, Very sorry to give no notice of this... Didn't know when it was happening and then no time to organise.
This is not a huge event but if you could send this out to anyone on all the mailing lists who gathered signatures and might want to go along to City Hall to see the petition presented by Val to the GLA and Ken, then that would be great.
TOMORROW, Wednesday 16th at 9.30am for small (presenting petition to Val) photocall and then listen to Val present petition to GLA Assembly meeting at 10am. OPEN TO ALL.
Mayor Ken Livingstone will be addressing the Assembly on transport issues in his role as Chairman of Transport for London, so this may also be of general interest.
Wednesday 16th October at City Hall, Queens Walk, London SE1 (By Tower Bridge)
9.30am Photocall outside City Hall with residents and community representatives from Kennington, Oval, Vauxhall and Southwark.
9.55am Photocall inside City Hall with Val Shawcross

-- Celia (FoKenningtonX@aol.com), October 15, 2002.

More on Area Committees:
Taking Democracy Closer to the People
Considerations for the development of Area Committees in Lambeth
Released: October 15, 2002 9:16 AM
Filesize: 291kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0 15766.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 15, 2002.

The countryside online

The Times
Mon 14 Oct 2002 Sir, Dr Chris Cheetham (letter, October 8) may well be correct that in his own village the need for proper IT links is more o...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-445551,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 14, 2002.

The Times
Mon 14 Oct 2002
Richmond rule as the Oval survives Down Under derby
(English)
NOT many English accents could be heard at the Oval on Saturday when 12,000 Australians, most of them twentysomethings on two...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,4-445593,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 14, 2002.

South London Press

'We weren't terrorists'
Oct 11 2002
KAMIKAZE instructor Hichiro Naemura visited south London this week and came face to face with war veterans ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm? objectid=12274204&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

Reminder

SATURDAY 12th OCTOBER, 2.0 pm

WALK IN CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S FOOTSTEPS
TONY MERRICK walks the walk: a couple of hours of very informative fun. The local historian from an old Vauxhall family, who entertained a full house at the Durning in September, will lead an actual walk round the young Charlie's Kennington haunts.
Meet at 2.0 on the steps of the Durning, where Charlie was invited to tea as a youth around 1910.Open to all.
Donation Ł2 in aid of the library.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

Planning Applications Cttee Agenda 22 October 2002
Full Agenda of a meeting of the Planning Applications Committee to be held at 7.00pm on 22 October 2002
Released: October 11, 2002 10:25 AM
Filesize: 40kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a- default/015718.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

Local area committees . . . have your say (questionnaire)
Consultation questionnaire on area committees - deadline 4 November 2002
Released: October 11, 2002 11:35 AM
Filesize: 101kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01571 7.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

Breathe
New performance at The Oval House Theatre.
Released: October 11, 2002 12:23 PM
Filesize: 19kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01572 1.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

ArtsWeb - Visual arts, crafts and photography
Visual arts, photography, crafts. Exhibitions and events
Released: October 11, 2002 1:14 PM
Filesize: 65kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/00746 6.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

The Times

Restored flat in Kennington Zone 2-3
11 Oct 2002
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-119-441418,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 11, 2002.

Road Works

I assume it's part of the wonderful congestion charging infrastructure changes. Certainly the cameras have already gone up on Kennington Road. I have now dispensed with my alarm clock as the pneumatic drills do a far more effective job.

-- Richard Freeman (kennington_lane@hotmail.com), October 10, 2002.

Road works
Does any one know why there are road works at almost all the major junctions in the Kennington area simultaneously?
I can’t remember how long it’s been going on at Vauxhall. There seems no end in sight!
The work still isn’t completed at Lambeth North, and then they start wrecking the islands at the Oval. Now before that work is completed they have started on Kennington Cross and the junction Kennington Park Road and Kennington Road.
Is there any method in their madness or is it just part of Ken’s Plan to make living in London hell??
Frances McKay

-- Frances McKay (frances@francesmckay.com), October 10, 2002.

One day in a busy life
05 Oct 2002

Times
Apart from performing one of the most onerous jobs on the opposition front bench, he is a director of N M Rothschild, the merchant bank, and is fighting to protect a 1,414 majority in West Dorset
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-10-436351,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 10, 2002.

As part of Black History Month,
THE ORIGINS OF GOSPEL MUSIC
which is a workshop and demonstration provided by Colin Vassell from Morley College, will be help at the DURNING LIBRARY on Friday 11th October, 2-4pm.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), October 08, 2002.

Time to put this house in order
It was supposed to give council tenants the chance to get on the property ladder. Instead, Margaret Thatcher's great idea has left a legacy of exploitation
Mary O'Hara
Friday October 04 2002
The Guardian
Giving council tenants the right to buy their home was one of Margaret Thatcher's most popular and enduring policies, but critics now claim it is exacerbating housing shortages as tenants cash in on soaring prices.
Many former council houses and flats - especially those in desirable postcodes in London and the south- east - have doubled or more in price and are increasingly seen as a sound investment.
Right-to-buy was initially intended to "empower" council tenants by allowing them to buy their homes at a significant discount. But instead it has helped spawn a glaring gulf in the housing market by taking one third of council rental properties, 1.5m in number, out of the sector over a time when the number of new homes being built has been in freefall.
The situation came to a head this week when deputy prime minister John Prescott told the Labour Party conference in Blackpool that while he had no intention of abolishing the 22-year- old scheme, he did plan to reform it radically.
But even if right- to-buy is not scrapped, there are concerns that the threat will provoke a rush of applications over the next few months, reducing council stock further and throwing even more fuel on the housing crisis fire.
Mr Prescott told the conference that sweeping reforms were necessary following a series of revelations about "exploitation and abuses" of the system by unscrupulous property companies and landlords.
Evidence has emerged in recent months of property companies offering council tenants money up-front if they buy their home and then sell it on to the company.
And there are growing concerns at the number of former council tenants who are letting their properties in the private rental market, undermining a main objective of right-to-buy - having owners living alongside council tenants in mixed communities.
"Right-to-buy undermined, and continues to undermine, social housing in designated housing crisis areas," Mr Prescott told delegates on Monday. "In those areas where exploitation and abuse of the system exist it would be irresponsible not to act."
The speech was welcomed by critics of right-to-buy - including homeless charity, Shelter. Ben Jackson, Shelter's director of external affairs says the speech vindicates their campaign to reduce the number of council properties being bought when a sufficient amount of replacements are not being built.
According to Shelter, the available social housing stock has dropped by 20% over the past 22 years because of this failure.
"Right-to-buy as it stands is a catastrophic waste of taxpayers' money," Mr Jackson says. "The priority must be to stem the loss of valuable housing. Mr Prescott's statement recognises the desperate need to change the policy."
Shelter, which has a long running campaign to tackle the shortage of affordable housing, says it has nothing against right-to- buy in principle.
But it argues that it is only a good thing if those properties sold off are replaced to help house key workers and the 80,000 families currently homeless in the UK and living in temporary accommodation.
Around 52,000 former council or housing association properties were sold in 2001 while just 18,000 new council properties were built. And to make matters worse, while they are being sold at often huge discounts, the unit cost of replacing each one leaves councils in deficit.
Roy Hattersly, who was Labour spokesman for housing when right- to-buy was introduced, illustrated the problem recently in this paper when he pointed out that while, on average, a social housing property sells for Ł40,000, it costs the government an average of Ł65,000 to replace it.
There is no way that tweaking right-to-buy will resolve the crisis in affordable housing. Quite simply, it will take years to increase housing stock, even with the recently announced Ł1.5bn cash injection for London and the south-east. But, if dealt with carefully, and quickly, it could make some contribution.
Possible suggestions include a temporary suspension of discounts or a permanent reduction on how much is available, a complete ban on right-to-buy in affordable housing crisis hotspots, and an extension of the number of years a person must own the property before they can sell it on the private market from three to six years.
Others advocate reform in the private rental sector to reduce rents, but as organisations such as Shelter have pointed out, any solution needs to go hand-in-hand with a radical rethink of the provision and scale of social housing.
How it works and who can benefit
Right-to-buy was launched by the 1980 Housing Act and allows people to buy the home they are renting from a local authority, housing association or housing action trust.
Only the legal tenant of the property can purchase it and they must have lived there for at least two years.
Originally tenants were offered a maximum discount of 50% on a house but this was replaced in 1999 by nine capped regional cash discount limits ranging from Ł22,000 in the north-east to a maximum of Ł38,000 in London.
The level of discount depends on how long the tenant has been in the property, or been a council tenant and on the type of dwelling.
If you sell within three years you must pay back some or all of the discount.
Right-to-buy claim forms can be requested from the landlord. They must provide one. Forms are also available from the department for local government and the regions. If a landlord says someone does not qualify for right-to-buy they must explain why.
Approval and agreement to go ahead can take months but prospective buyers can complain to the council if they feel the process is too drawn out or that they are likely to have to pay more because the property has increased significantly in value during the delay.
A number of properties are automatically excluded from right- to-buy such as those rented from social landlords which are also charities, as well as sheltered housing for the elderly. Other exceptions are listed on the government department website at: www.housing.odpm.gov.uk.
Some properties may qualify for sale yet still be in bad condition (these might be designated as defective under the Housing Act 1985) so purchasers should get a survey done and think carefully about whether the problems could hinder a future sale.
Some councils will buy the property back if there are problems with keeping up mortgage repayments.
The new owner of an ex-council property is responsible for all repair and maintenance and may have monthly service charges if the property is leasehold.
Where to get a mortgage
Prospective borrowers will be judged on the same critieria as standard buyers - the perceived ability of the applicant to pay back the loan, the type and condition of property, and the size of mortgage.
Most big lenders happily arrange deals up to 100% of the purchase price. But some will not offer loans for flats which are in tower blocks more than six storeys high, made of concrete, built to certain structural specifications or in less desirable areas that could make it difficult to sell at a later point.
There are exceptions though. Scottish Widows Bank will consider lending on flats in blocks up to nine storeys while the Co-operative Bank's limit is 10.
Some lenders may ask for larger deposits or charge higher interest if they think the property is in a questionable area, and some will not lend at all on a property in a block where the majority of flats are still in council hands.
Cheltenham & Gloucester, Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Abbey National also have a good record for lending on former council properties.
The long wait that finally paid off
Performing arts lecturer Keith Brazil had been a council tenant in Kennington, south London, for five years before he felt financially secure enough to buy his two- bed flat through the right-to-buy scheme.
His income had fluctuated widely but by 1999, after a few years of steady contracts, he wrote to Southwark Council to see if he qualified.
"I had been working on longer contracts for a few years and I was 35. The timing felt right," he says.
But, Mr Brazil says, council bureaucracy meant that the time from his initial inquiry to actually owning the property was almost two years.
"It was a long process," he says. "They seemed to stretch every deadline. But I would never have been able to afford to buy a property on the open market. When I was looking, prices had already started going up by quite a lot and only the council discount made it possible."
By 1999 Mr Brazil was a council tenant of nine years' standing and he qualified for the maximum London discount of Ł38,000. The council had valued his flat at Ł92,000 but on the advice of a surveyor friend he had an independent valuation done. This came out at Ł7,000 less than the council estimate and the local authority agreed to a new price of Ł85,000 - equal to Ł47,000 after the discount.
"I finally settled on a mortgage, discounted for one year, with the Nationwide. I have found affordable housing that I own and that makes me feel secure," he says.
What's more, similar properties in the area are now selling for more than Ł140,000.
Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 05, 2002.

Body found in park
Oct 4 2002
South London Press
THIS is the moment police made the gruesome discovery of a body in a park.
Police were called to Kennington Park on Monday afternoon after the body of a white male, thought to be in his 30s, was found in undergrowth some 50 metres from the war memorial.
It is believed the body had been there for no more than a couple of hours. London Ambulance Service and a police medic attended. Police said there were no suspicious circumstance surrounding the death.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 04, 2002.

MEET LOCAL AUTHORS
15 OCTOBER 2002
Did you know that South London has a thriving literary scene and is home to many best selling authors? Alexandra Campbell, Helena Drysdale and others have organised an event on the 15th October which will provide a rare opportunity to meet some of our local authors. The event will take place at the Type Museum in Hackford Road. The museum houses on of the world's largest collections of typography and still makes type faces for developing countries where electricity cannot be relied on. The museum needs to raise funds to set up educational and research facilities and to open to the public as a fully functioning museum.
To support this worthy cause and reserve your tickets please ring the Oval Bookshop now on 0800 389 0463.
Tickets arer Ł7.50 each including one glass of wine. Doors will be open from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. There will be a bookstall, bar, raffle and tours of the museum. The following authors are expected to support the event subject to professional commitments:

Stephen Bayley

Guy Barker

Dea Birkett

Jerry Brotton

Elizabeth Buchan

Alexandra Campbell

Rupert Christiansen

John Clay

John Coleman

Peter J Conradi

Natasha Cooper

Brenda Downes

Patrick Dillon

Helena Drysdale

Will Eaves

David Flusfeder

Michael Glover

A C Grayling

Phillip Hensher

Katie Hickman

Rachel Holmes

Michael Leapman

Julie Myerson

Jonathan Myerson

Matt Seaton

Will Self

Anna Shapiro

Debra Shipley

Giles Waterfield

Mark Watters

Julie Wheelwright

Ann Widdecombe

Oval Bookshop

Serving the local community
"The Oval Bookshop is an independent book seller serving the local community. As a member of the Booksellers Association, our staff are committed to providing a good service to local residents, schools and businesses. We can supply almost any currently published book, video or DVD. We currently have in stock:
Thousands of books (over 4000 individual titles) including current best sellers

Greeting cards - some by local artists

Videos and DVDs that you may find difficult to locate in other video stores inclusing classic British and foreign language films, TV series, education, elected children's titles, etc.
What we don't have in stock - book, video or DVD - can usually be obtained within a few days. Local delivery is free for orders over Ł20 or just visit the shop at 28B Clapham Road (at the corner of Claylands Road near the Oval Station). If you want to find out more call us free on 0800 389 0463"

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 04, 2002.

Publicity for 2 FoDL events: Jon Newman talk, Tony Merrick walk
COMING TO THE DURNING LIBRARY
167 Kennington Lane, SE11
MONDAY 7th OCTOBER, 7.0 for 7.30 pm
"CHRISTIAN CHARITY OR SOCIAL CONTROL?
PUBLIC AND PAROCHIAL CHARITIES IN LAMBETH, 1700-1900."
200 years of charity - or was it social control? You may remember JON NEWMAN's talks on the Lambeth of William Blake, and on "Gentlemen of Leisure and Ladies of the Night". This should equal them in interest, if not in raciness.
Jon Newman is archives and library manager at Lambeth's Minet Library, and also archivist at Lincoln College, Oxford.
Open to all. Entry free. Drinks and nibbles (suggested donation Ł2 in aid of the library).
SATURDAY 12th OCTOBER, 2.0 pm
WALK IN CHARLIE CHAPLIN'S FOOTSTEPS
TONY MERRICK walks the walk: a couple of hours of very informative fun. The local historian from an old Vauxhall family, who entertained a full house at the Durning in September, will lead an actual walk round the young Charlie's Kennington haunts.
Meet at 2.0 on the steps of the Durning, where Charlie was invited to tea as a youth around 1910.
Open to all. Donation Ł2 in aid of the library.
Both events are organised by the Friends of the Durning Library.

-- Cathy (FoDuringLibrary@aol.com), October 02, 2002.

Man's body is found in park
Oct 1 2002
South London Press
KENNINGTON: The body of a man was discovered in Kennington Park yesterday morning.
It is believed the gruesome discovery was made somewhere near the park bandstand. Police have begun an investigation.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), October 01, 2002.

For details of a walk around Kennington, check out:
http://www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkkenningtonintro.htm
where you can pick up the walk instructions and a map of the area covered.
The walk is linear from Oval tube Station (Northern line) to Lambeth.
Property in Kennington has belonged to the Duchy of Cornwall since the time of James I and earlier the Black Prince had a palace in the area. The Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were a major attraction from 1661-1859 but especially in the mid 18th century.
The Lambeth riverfront changed dramatically with the construction of the Albert Embankment.
There are cafes at Lambeth Pier and the Museum of Garden History at the end of the walk
This walk is 3Ľ miles mostly paths & pavements.
This walk takes in some attractive Duchy of Cornwall premises as well as the Prince Consort's Model Lodge. The site of the pleasure gardens is used by the Vauxhall City Farm situated opposite.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 29, 2002.

Scotsman
Fri 27 Sep 2002
12:59pm (UK)

Teenager Sentenced for Robbing Aitken's Daughter
By Sherna Noah, PA News
A teenager who robbed the daughter of disgraced former Tory minister Jonathan Aitken was was today ordered to serve a 10-month detention and training order.
The 17- year-old, who cannot be named, was one of four boys who attacked Alexandra Aitken near her London home in broad daylight.
The 17- year-old – who was subject to a community rehabilitation and punishment order for an offence of false imprisonment at the time of the robbery – had written a letter to his victim, apologising, Balham Youth Court was told.
Twenty two-year-old Miss Aitken became another high profile victim of street crime as she made her way to a newspaper interview on July 26 this year.
At 2.10pm she was walking near her home in Kennington, south London, when she was surrounded by the gang.
Maryan Erfan, prosecuting, said the 17-year-old, who was accompanied by his parents when he appeared in court today, was caught by onlookers after a lengthy chase.
Miss Aitken was walking along, carrying a handbag and mobile telephone in her hands.
“She was suddenly surrounded by a group of four males. One, not the defendant, tried to grab her handbag but was unable to do so. The defendant then snatched the mobile telephone from the hands of the victim, Miss Erfan said.
“He was followed by a witness who had seen the whole incident. The defendant ran through the street where a member of the public, who had heard the victim screaming, saw him running through gardens. He attempted to hide under a car parked in the driveway of one of the houses.
The witnesses spotted him hiding underneath the car. He tried to run away but was apprehended by members of the public chasing him.”
Miss Aitken’s mobile phone was found shortly afterwards, in one of the gardens.
The court was told at an earlier hearing that after the robbery Miss Aitken made a statement to police in which she said “that day she suddenly became quite frightened and broke down in tears”.
Stephen Sweeney, defending, told the court that the youth “seeks to apologise to the victim for whom this was obviously a traumatic matter ... He has written a letter to the victim conveying his apology.”
He said the 17-year-old, who had the verbal skills of an eight-year-old, had not intended to gain any profit from taking the phone but had expected to hand it over to his peers.
Mr Sweeney added that the teenager had suffered stress and anxiety from racist bullying at school, from which his mother had remove him, and that he was a “suggestible young man”, who offended because of the influence of the other youths.
District Judge John Perkins said he took into account the teenager’s guilty plea and the fact that he had “shown some degree of remorse” but added: “I also have to take into account the affect of these kinds of offences on victims.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2002.

Urban guerrilla
27 Sep 2002
Seeming and real scruffiness is the secret of Vauxhall’s success. It doesn’t attract the type of person who cries if they can’t have soya milk in their latte
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-119-426983,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2002.

Hunting not the only country issue
Nick Palmer, MP, is completely unfair to state that MPs cannot have a dialogue with the Countryside Alliance on any subject than hunting
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-428171,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 27, 2002.

Corrections and clarifications
Guardian
Thursday September 26, 2002
Excerpt
In our discussion of the possible effects of the Countryside Alliance march, page 2, G2, September 24, we conflated several of Francis Wheen's thoughts in the editing, giving an impression, among others, that he placed the Peterloo massacre in the mid-19th century. The Peterloo massacre - a stimulus to the foundation of the Manchester Guardian in 1821 - occurred in 1819. The Duke of Wellington had nothing to do with Peterloo (although the name was a reference to his victory at Waterloo). The duke was brought out of retirement at the time of the great Chartist demonstration at Kennington Common in 1848.
It is the policy of the Guardian to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please quote the date and page number. Readers may contact the office of the readers' editor by telephoning 0845 451 9589 between 11am and 5pm Monday to Friday (all calls are charged at local rate).
Mail: Readers' editor, The Guardian, 119 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3ER.
Fax: 020-7239 9997.
Email: reader@guardian.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 26, 2002.

AITKEN PARTY IS A PANTOMIME
The days are getting colder, the nights are drawing in, so what better way to cheer yourself up than hiring a few dwarfs for an end- of-summer party?
Alexandra Aitken, 22, threw a bash to usher in autumn after a summer in which she was mugged near her new flat in Kennington.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=706227&in_review_text_id=680124
26 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 26, 2002.

PETRONELLA WYATT MUGGED
Columnist Petronella Wyatt is recovering today after becoming the latest in a series of high-profile mugging victims.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=705482&in_review_text_id=679139
25 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 25, 2002.

BELLAMYS DINING ROOM
Tom Kerridge has worked in the kitchens of some interesting places including The ...
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/food/eatout/top_review.h tml?in_review_id=386710&in_review_text_id=333114

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

Local History Group
At a recent meeting of The Vauxhall Society's Executive Committee it was agreed that a new Local History group should be set up to encourage interest in and research into the long and fascinating history of Northern Lambeth and the many interesting people who have lived here. Anyone interested in the history of the area is invited to attend the first meeting of the new group which will be held on Wednesday, 16th October at 7pm at Vauxhall St Peter's Heritage Centre, 310 Kennington Lane, SE11 (entrance in Tyers Street).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

WATERLOO COMEDY CLUB
Sunday 29 September
8.30pm (doors open 7.45pm); The Florence Nightingale, 199 Westminster Bridge Road; Ł6 (conc Ł5)
Week 2 of this new comedy club, featuring Mike Wilmot, Ian Stone and Jimmy Carr. Moves to Friday nights from 4 October
http://www.waterloocomedy.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

LAMBETH ARCHIVES OPEN DAY: MADE IN LAMBETH
Saturday 28 September
10am-5pm at Lambeth Archives,Knatchbull Road SE5; free
Annual Lambeth Archives open day with talks and opportunity to see old prints of Lambeth and Waterloo.
Children's activities from 2pm.
Boats, candles, lead shot, glass, artificial stone - all made in Lambeth over the centuries, exported around the country and the world, and now the focus for the 2002 Lambeth Archives annual open day, looking at industry in the borough.
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/press_releases/pr_default3.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

ARCHAEOLOGY OF REIGATE STONE
Tuesday 24 September
7.30pm at Hawkstone Hall, Kennington Road; Ł1 (refreshments from 7pm)
The winter season of popular monthly Southwark & Lambeth Archaeological Society talks opens with Paul Sowan telling the story of Reigate stone from "underground quarries to standing buildings".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

Black Poppies

Imperial War Museum
5 - 6 October
A weekend of films and videos devoted to the involvement of Africans, Asians and Caribbean men and women in the two World Wars.
http://www.iwm.org.uk/lambeth/wotfilm15.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

INTOLERANCE AND PREJUDICE THAT MADE ME MARCH
Some decisions come more easily to a politician than others.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=703732&in_review_text_id=677409
23 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

In at the kill as the hunt rides into town

Stephen Moss makes it to London after four days on horseback
Sunday September 22 2002
The Observer
Andrew German, who led the four-day South and West Wilts hunt's ride into London, had injured himself. Not on the ride, but by walking into a taxi door at 5am after a night of pre-march partying. The gash on the crown of his head seemed to confirm his suspicion about London.
The last leg of the journey from Dorset had taken us from Leatherhead to Wimbledon. As we came in on Saturday morning, Ashtead was asleep, Epsom supportive, Morden suspicious. We stopped for lunch at a drive (or, in this case, ride) through McDonalds, where children patted the horses and the manager fretted about his car park. When the country comes to town things can get messy.
We reached Wimbledon just after 2pm and were greeted by a piper, a small group of Countryside Alliance supporters and several TV crews. One of the greeters was the senior master of foxhounds in the US, who had brought across 200 hunting supporters for the march. "This is the frontline," he said. "If hunting is banned here we will be next."
Despite his cut - and lack of sleep - Mr German was at Hyde Park Corner, where the Liberty half of the march began, at 10am yesterday. He wasn't wearing his hunting regalia; no one was: the organisers evidently felt that massed red jackets would send the wrong signal.
It was reckoned to be the biggest protest in London since the Chartists assembled at Kennington in 1848; it was certainly the largest number of people with shooting sticks to attend a demo. Police forces can rarely have had so little to fear. One elderly woman berated two teenage boys for pulling conkers off a tree. Violence seemed unlikely.
There were few anti-hunting demonstrators along the way, though the Urban Alliance had plastered stickers on the gates of the park. "Proof that incest leads to genetic malfunction," read one. Hard to chant but pleasingly witty.
Mr German was marching with his wife, his mother, and friends from the hunt. The march came to a standstill in Pall Mall and did a succession of Mexican waves for the other breed of clubbers on the balconies. A young Scottish soldier offered whisky from a hip flask and explained why he, against regulations, had come along. "It's the thin end of the wedge. It'll be shooting and fishing next. Then what are people in the country supposed to do? Sit around drinking cups of tea?"
As we reached Parliament Square, Mr German said he felt he had achieved what he set out to do: to take his cause from his home at the kennels in Motcombe to the door of parliament.
This morning, he resumes hunting in earnest; he regretted the days he had to miss to make his point. This afternoon, he will take the hounds to the funeral of a hunt member who died of cancer at 38. It was her last wish that she be buried to the sound of their yelps. Hunting knows how to deal with any death - except of course its own.
Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited
To see this story with its related links on the Guardian Unlimited site, go to http://www.guardian.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 23, 2002.

The Times
September 22, 2002
Starting out: Sophie Hollow and her brother James
Graham Norwood
Sophie Hollow, 25, a PR manager, felt she was wasting money by paying rent on a flat in London. Her brother James, 23, was finishing university and wanted to live in the capital. But despite each inheriting enough money for a deposit on a home, they could not afford mortgages on individual properties. What could they do?
"I was spending Ł440 a month on a shared flat in Kennington. I'd calculated that in two years I'd paid Ł10,000 and that was really a waste of money. James knew he wanted to live in London so we thought we'd buy a place jointly," says Sophie.
The siblings made an offer on a flat in Clapham, in south London, but were gazumped after paying for a survey. Then they found a two-bed flat two miles away, in a house in a Grade II-listed Georgian terrace near the Oval cricket ground."It was like a grotty rental flat when we first saw it but there was potential. It had been on sale for more than Ł180,000 but we got it for Ł178,500. Since moving in, we've stripped the floorboards, redecorated and moved the kitchen from the ground floor to the basement, where French doors lead out to a garden," says Sophie.
The pair put down the Ł20,000 they had inherited as a deposit. But because James had no paid employment record when leaving university, and because they both still had student loans to pay off, they had to get the Ł158,500 repayment mortgage from Barclays guaranteed by their parents.
"I'm paying the same amount each month as when I shared a rented flat, but I'm paying directly to my mother and after two years the mortgage will be transferred to my brother and myself," she says.
The siblings say their chance to own a flat is thanks to their parents. James, who is likely to work in Japan next year, is preparing to rent out his room to cover his mortgage repayments. "We always said we wouldn't let the responsibility of a mortgage rule our lives — but it is important to own and not rent," says Sophie.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 22, 2002.

Bus & Tube Zone Review
Dear Kennington Association members & local residents,
You may be interested in the following motion I put forward (and which was unanimously passed) at Wednesday's Full Council:
"In view of the impending imposition of a Congestion Charging Zone in the centre of London, part of which falls into the north of this Borough, this Council calls on the Mayor and Transport for London to undertake a comprehensive review of Tube and Bus Zones with a view to ending the current bias in favour of areas north of the Thames whereby Notting Hill Gate and Earls Court in west London (respectively 1 and 2/3 miles and 2 miles from the Congestion Charging boundary) fall within Tube Zone 1 whereas Kennington (1/6 of a mile from the boundary), Oval (1/2 a mile from the boundary), Stockwell (1 mile from the boundary) and Brixton (1 and 2/3 miles from the boundary) are all designated as Zone 2. This Council particularly condemns a situation in which Kennington residents are faced with a "double whammy" of both a Ł5 Congestion Charge on their doorstep and a two-zone Tube fare into central London"
Councillor Dinti Wakefield
Liberal Democrat, Prince's Ward
London Borough of Lambeth
Mail: Lambeth Town Hall, London SW2 1RW
Telephone: 020 7735 4648
E-mail: councillordw@yahoo.com

-- Dinti Wakefield (councillordw@yahoo.com), September 21, 2002.

BILLIE'S BACK AFTER YEAR OF BEHAVING BADLY
Twelve months of pure hedonism have clearly done her no lasting harm.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/hottx/top_review.html? in_review_id=701476&in_review_text_id=675035
20 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 20, 2002.

What's on in south London this week?
Sep 20 2002
South London Press
WHETHER it's clubbing, comedy, dance, literature or music you're after check out our what's on listings...

Clubs
SOUTH LONDON PACIFIC, Kennington Road, 020-7820 9189: Pacific Lounge (tonight 9pm-2am) Ł5/Ł4. Hotel Honolulu (tomorrow 9pm-2am) free before 10pm, Ł4 after.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 20, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 18.09.2002
Ref: 1401
Press contact: Charles Wright
Tel: 020 7926 2949
Email: cwright@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

Mayor to launch Lambeth's Cycle Training Scheme
Lambeth Mayor Councillor June Fewtrell will be getting on her bike on Sunday to launch the borough's new cycle training scheme.
The launch will take place at 1.30pm on Sunday 22nd September in Sunnyhill Road, Streatham, which will be closed to cars during the day as Lambeth's contribution to European Car Free Day 2002.
The free, two-hour one-to-one cycle training lessons are provided by Cycle Training UK, a professional on-road training service based in the borough, in Kennington. The training is for all ages and all levels, aimed at encouraging confidence and assertiveness on the road.
Says Richard Ambler, Cycle Projects Manager at Lambeth Transport: "Cycling is quick, convenient, helps the environment and is excellent exercise. But many people are daunted by the thought of cycling in London's traffic.
"This new scheme will enable them to cycle confidently and safely on Lambeth's roads, and enjoy all the benefits of cycling."
Places are limited. For more information and to book up please call Cycle Training UK on 020 7820 3788 or 020 7564 5990.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 19, 2002.

CONGESTION CHARGE COULD DOUBLE
Thousands of motorists will find themselves paying Ł10 - not Ł5 - to drive in Ken Livingstone's congestion charging zone.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=699683&in_review_text_id=672801
19 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 19, 2002.

The Marchers (an everyday story of country folk)
As more than a quarter of a million country people prepare to descend on London for a march in defence of their way of life, our correspondent looks at the planning and logistics behind this weekend's extraordinary street protest
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7-419825,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 19, 2002.

Dear Neighbours
Please make a note in your diaries for our
Fundraising Bazaar
which will be held in the church hall and parking area of
St Mary's Newington at 57 Kennington Park Road SE11 4JQ
on
Saturday, 26th October 2002
11am until 3pm
We are planning to accommodate a boot sale, jumble sale, books, cakes, tea, hot sausages, tombola, etc.
If you are able to help organise, we'd be very grateful.
If you have items you'd be willing to donate, they can be delivered to the church hall on the Friday evening (25th October) between 8-9pm, or on the Saturday morning between 9-10am.
Further diary dates coming up:

The Grand Prize Draw is tentatively set for a benefit event evening at the White Bear Theatre Club on Monday, 9th December
We hope to organise an Edith Piaf evening of chansons in the early New Year, and
there are also plans in the pipeline for a Noel Coward evening.

Further details to follow.
Best wishes
Cathy
Kennington Association
335 Kennington Road, North Lambeth, London SE11 4QE
E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com
W: www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), September 18, 2002.

KEN: HEATHROW IS NEXT CONGESTION TARGET
Congestion charging will be quickly brought in around Heathrow if the central London scheme is a success, the Mayor said today.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=699057&in_review_text_id=672092
18 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 18, 2002.

Free Neutering for Cats
Our local veterinary clinic, Goddard's, is able to offer free neutering for cats through the RSPCA. You may apply if:-

You receive state benefits OR

You receive state pension OR

You are caring for a stray or feral cat OR

You are unable to afford private veterinary fees

For an application form, contact Goddard Vet Group, 351 Kennington Road SE11 020 7735 6541 or RSPCA Central London Branch, Box 145, 2 Lansdowne Row, London W1J 6HL 020 7355 1677
5 GOOD REASONS FOR HAVING YOUR CAT NEUTERED

Reduces fighting, injury and noise

Reduces spraying and smelling

Much less likely to wander and get lost

Safer from diseases like feline AIDS, mammary tumours and feline leukaemia

Reduces the number of unwanted kittens

DID YOU KNOW...

A female kitten can become pregnant as young as five or six months

It is not beneficial for a cat to have "just one litter"

It is not good for a cat to have kittens endlessly

A female cat can be responsible for over 20,000 descendants in just five years

There are not enough good homes for all the cats and kittens that need them

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2002.

The London Open House Weekend takes place next Saturday/Sunday 21/22 September. This is a London-wide event in which many fascinating buildings normally closed to the public open their doors. The web site http://www.londonopenhouse.org/ contains a useful search facility. You need to book for some visits, and queue for others, but most of the smaller venues are readily accessible on a "turn up and enter" basis. Local attractions include buildings as diverse as Lambeth Palace and the Stockwell Bus Garage.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 16.09.2002
Ref: 1400
Press contact: Andrea Lake
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: alake@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release
Come and have your say at Archbishop Park fun day
The Friends of Archbishop Park have a plan, and that plan includes you, the users of the park. The group, set up two years ago have been working on a survey and management plan to protect and preserve the park. The first draft will be unveiled at their annual open day, which will run from 10am to 5pm on Saturday September 21.
The 80 strong team which comprises the 'Friends' organisation have been pursuing a mission to encourage people to use the facilities and to develop a plan for the area that will reflect the needs and desires of the local and park communities. They have, through their various fundraising efforts raised Ł35,000 to finance this strategy.
A day of fun and games is planned for the Open Day including a football tournament for six to 16 year olds, organised by Fulham Football in the Community. There will also be a bouncy castle, home-made cakes, and nature, history and arts to enjoy.
The event is also intended to provide visitors with the opportunity to have their say about the draft plans that will be on view throughout the day.
"If you haven't been to Archbishops Park before, now is the time to take a look," comments Sarah O'Connell chair of the Friends of Archbishop Park. It is one of Lambeth's prettiest green spaces.
"The open day is your chance to make a valuable contribution to the future of the park by viewing and commenting on the draft plans. Let's make sure that our children continue to have this wonderful space to play in," concludes Sarah.
Peter Truesdale, ward councillor and Lambeth Council leader comments; "Archbishop Park is such a great place, Lambeth needs to work with the Friends to make it better still."
Councillor Clare Whelan, executive member for environment says; "The Friends of Archbishops' Park have put a great deal of effort into this project. I do hope park users and local people will come along and not only comment on the plans but also enjoy themselves at the fun day."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 17, 2002.

Car charge angers US embassy
A diplomatic row has been sparked by proposals to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into the centre of London.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/2260203.stm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2002.

The Times

Music for children
Recently the Millennium Commission awarded Clubs for Young People a Ł1 million contract that will enable some 40,000 young people to visit a performance of the professional performing arts.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-416855,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2002.

Independent

Tony Banks: Cheeky chappy ready for a dirty fight with chirpy Ken
By Sean O'Grady
16 September 2002
I am running late for my appointment with Tony Banks, the last declared candidate for the Labour nomination for mayor of London. I hop into a black taxi at Charing Cross station and ask for the House of Commons. As we skirt around Trafalgar Square, now in the process of being pedestrianised by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, my cabbie makes his views on the increased traffic congestion abundantly clear.
In fact he grows so angry that he cannot bring himself to utter Mr Livingstone's name – "you know who I mean" – even though he voted for him. So I ask him who he'd vote for next time. "Banks," is the unhesitating and unprompted reply. He hasn't heard of the other main runner, the deputy mayor, Ms Nicky Gavron ("Who's he?"). I didn't trouble him with the third Labour aspirant, Bob Shannon, a former leader of Harrow council.
All of which brings a smile to the surprisingly youthful, cheeky chappy, face of Tony Banks. (He is knocking on 60 but looks at least a decade younger.) "I hope you'll put that in your article." Happy to oblige, but Mr Banks knows that winning the cabbies over is only a small part of the challenge he faces.
The problem, of course, is how to beat a seemingly unassailable Mr Livingstone, who has been notably bitchy about Mr Banks, once a close political ally at the Greater London Council, until that body was abolished by Margaret Thatcher in 1986. In a recent interview with The Independent, he said of Mr Banks: "I don't think Tony will be the Labour candidate. Tony is clearly very bitter and I don't think that's simply about me. I think that's exactly what's wrong with British politics, that someone like Tony, who has real ability and devotes his life to politics, comes to the end of their political career and they are able to look back on two years as chair of the general purposes committee of the GLC, two years as chair of the arts committee and two years as sports minister. That's six years in relatively minor roles."
Mr Banks is a tad more generous. He acknowledges that the Mayor is a "huge character nationally", but quickly focuses on Mr Livingstone's central weakness, the question of trust: "I haven't changed, Ken has changed. It's as simple as that. I speak much more in sorrow than in anger about Ken. Ken was someone that I stood up for and said should be leader of the Labour Party and I said I would devote myself to working for him if he did become leader. But although Ken's an exceptional politician, there's something missing from his make-up, and that's loyalty, either to individuals or institutions.
"He did his time on the GLC and then walked away from it. He did virtually nothing inside Parliament, and indeed was going nowhere until Tony Blair picked up on this idea that I put forward in 1990 to have a directly elected mayor. Otherwise Ken Livingstone would probably still be doing game shows. He owes everything to Labour and he walked out of the party. There's no climate of trust between Ken and government ministers because you don't know what Ken's going to do next.
"The one thing you can be certain of is that if it's in Ken's interest, he'll do it. Ken is just a guy who has some exceptional talents but spoils them by being untrustworthy. If the result isn't what Ken wants then he'll turn over everyone and everything."
It all points towards a rather personalised, bitter campaign until polling day in May 2004. Mr Banks wants to see the issue of trust in terms of how it damages the mayoralty rather than the mayor. He wants to see the institution being given more powers because "if the mayor doesn't get more powers it will never effectively work". And he asks who is likely to win those powers from sceptical ministers: the untrustworthy Mr Livingstone or Mr Banks himself who can, in his words, "work with government, but not be a stooge of government".
But what would Mr Banks use his extra powers for? On policy he is sketchy. He wouldn't have introduced the congestion charge because it is an "unfair tax" but he won't abolish it, promising instead an "immediate review". Similarly with the PPP for the London Underground: he was opposed and agrees that "Ken had some good arguments", although he couldn't deploy them as Mr Livingstone spent his time "abusing Gordon Brown and saying the PPP will end up with dead bodies all over the place".
Mr Banks hopes to do better than that, but how? He promises that he has some "alternative ideas" that he will be "sitting down and discussing quietly" with the Treasury over the next 18 months or so. Again, no detail and, as yet, no clear water between him and the incumbent; just the hope that because Mr Brown doesn't actually hate his guts he might be persuaded to loosen the purse strings a little.
A symbolic break Mr Banks would like to see would be a move for the London Assembly and the Mayor from their new building next to Tower Bridge – the so-called "glass testicle" – back into the historic home of London government, County Hall on the South Bank. Now converted into a hotel with an aquarium and a McDonald's attached, this could only be considered if it was "at nil cost to Londoners", he says.
This early in his campaign Mr Banks is not going be "jumping fully armed like Pallas Athena from the head of Zeus", as he puts it. However, he does favour banning smoking in restaurants. There goes the Ab Fab vote, darling.
Where Mr Banks has been fully armed and dangerous for many years is in the war against blood sports. Mayor or not, he is as determined as ever to end hunting with dogs. He is equally clear, and again not a million miles away from Mr Livingstone's positions, on some of the big international issues. He has an honourable record going back to the 1980s of fiercely attacking Saddam Hussein but remains to be convinced in the current debate about military action. "If Saddam is a genuine security threat to London or New York, say, then let's see the evidence, because I'm deeply uneasy about what's going on at the moment. Does he have the capacity to hit London? Give us the evidence. In the meantime, go through the United Nations. There is no room in this world for unilateral action. If the UN sanctions it, I'm in favour of it."
And on the other great historic question – Europe – Mr Banks is again plain-speaking. He is more than happy with the notion of a "United States of Europe" and suggests that it is "inevitable". "Why not? Who's to say that the nation state is the end of development?"
Who indeed? Not Mayor Livingstone, another ardent europhile. Mr Banks' problem – or opportunity – in this campaign may be that his views are so close to Mr Livingstone's that he is regarded as a sort of "Livingstone Lite". That's good if Mr Banks can persuade Londoners that he wants the same sort of things as Mr Livingstone does, but is less extreme and has a better chance of persuading Mr Blair and Mr Brown to give him the money to achieve them. It's bad if Londoners think that, as with Frank Dobson before, Mr Banks wouldn't stick up for the capital and that his loyalty to Labour would make him a soft touch for ministers.
Mr Banks says the choice is between "a mayor who can do a deal for London or a nice chirpy fella who is independent but in the end can't deliver. If you want the chirpy fella, vote for Ken". Ken the chirpy fella versus Tony the cheeky chappy: it's going to be a dirty fight.
Anthony Louis Banks: The CV
Born: Belfast, 8 April 1943
Education: St John's School, Brixton, London; Archbishop Tenison's Grammar School, Kennington, London; York University (BA); London School of Economics
Family: Married to Sally Jones, no children
Career: Greater London Council: Member for Hammersmith (1970-77) and for Tooting (1981-86);
Labour MP for Newham North West (1983-97);
MP for West Ham (1997-);
Opposition spokesman for pensions (1990-1991); transport and environment (1992-1993); junior minister, Department of Culture, Media and Sport (1997-1999)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 16, 2002.

The Times
September 15, 2002
Focus: Country strife
Rural rising or muddy mess? Jonathan Lewis reports on divisions over next Sunday's mass march by countryside campaigners
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-523-415879,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 15, 2002.

Rikki is a rare talent
Kevin Mitchell
September 15 2002
Rikki Clarke's presence in England's squad to contest the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka over the next couple of weeks is significant in more ways than one.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4501365,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 15, 2002.

There is another local website that you might like to explore at
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/localonline/index.htm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2002.

Lessons to be learned from 9/11
Sep 13 2002
AN HEROIC Ground Zero cop urged kids to learn to help others when he spoke about the September 11 tragedy to a south London school assembly yesterday.
By Oscar Mortali and Mike Pflanz, South London Press
New York Police Department Lieutenant Frank Dwyer was on duty when terrorists struck Lower Manhattan last year.
On Wednesday's anniversary he poignantly presented a charred Union Flag found in the Twin Towers rubble to Home Secretary David Blunkett.
Lt Dwyer spoke to hundreds of 11-to- 18-year-olds from London Nautical School near Waterloo about the "strength of support from Great Britain".
He said: "I know school can be boring sometimes, but I would ask you when you are a bit bored, just think to yourself, what can I learn today which I can use to help others?"
School captain Kerry O'Sullivan, 17, from Kennington, presented Lt Dwyer with a plaque bearing the school's crest.
She said: "When he was talking, and I was thinking about what happened, it did bring a tear to my eye. But it was inspirational as well."
Also on Wednesday, at 1.46pm south London firefighters took time out for a minute's silence to remember their 343 US colleagues who perished.
Fire Commissioner Brian Robinson paid tribute to the New York firefighters saying: "Firefighters still feel the loss intensely.
"People I knew, people I counted as friends, were among those who died in the Twin Towers."
Meanwhile in Streatham on Wednesday evening Christians, Muslims and Jews stood shoulder to shoulder at a remembrance ceremony in a sign of unity one year on from the terror attacks.
Hundreds turned out for a moving service at Streatham's Immanuel Parish Church at the inter-faith ceremony focusing on remembrance, peace and community.
Rabbi James Baaden, of the South London Liberal Synagogue, said: "Streatham and Lambeth as a whole are unique in that Christians, Jews and Muslims live together in harmony, all in a very special community.
"In a world where religion is associated with conflict these happy community relations should be something to publicise and celebrate."
"What we have is rather special," he added.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2002.

Shouldering the cost
Sep 13 2002
By Oscar Mortali, South London Press
THE Kennington residents clobbered with a huge bill after unsuccessfully challenging congestion charges have seen their close-knit community rally round.
Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson - dubbed the 'Kennington Two' - were on the wrong end of a failed High Court legal battle last month when Ken Livingstone and his team of lawyers emerged victorious.
The pair had bravely put their names to the action and were landed with a whopping Ł20,000 bill for their troubles.
But out of adversity has emerged an even stronger sense of community spirit as Kennington residents join forces to help bail them out.
Around Ł9,000 has been raised, with a host of fundraising events to come.
And one prize donated for a grand prize draw is the use of an apartment in Minorca in February - so the winners can be away in the sun when congestion charges kick-in next year.
Cathy Preece said: "People have been so kind and I feel very supported by the whole community."
Originally from New Zealand, Miss Preece said: "I'd always heard that when the British were up against it they came up trumps. They certainly have on this occasion."
Mark Rogers, spokesman for the Kennington Association added: "We are really touched by the way people have rallied round.
"There was nothing forcing people to contribute and at one stage, it looked as if it were a lost cause.
"We would like to think we have won a moral victory."
Other prizes for the draw include tea for two at the House of Commons from Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey and lunch for two at Kennington's Lobster Pot restaurant.
Also on offer are tickets and a venue for a benefit event at Kennington's leading fringe theatre the White Bear Theatre Company.
*If you have any prizes to donate contact the Kennington Association at 335 Kennington Road, London SE11 4QE.
Alternatively you can send cheques to the same address or make a direct payment to the association's account at the Alliance and Leicester. Sort code: 72-00-03, account number: 51 34 54 85.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2002.

Wake up with onion-flavoured Amy...
Sep 13 2002
SELF-CONFESSED "broadcaster, writer, nightclub hostess extraordinaire and international supermodel" Amy Lamé says she has the best job in world. Among other things, she is a presenter on The Danny Baker Breakfast Show on BBC London 94.9 and a reporter on BBC1's Inside Out. Just don't mention Hula Hoops. KELLIE REDMOND caught up with the south London-based personality to find out more ...
South London Press

Q. Are you a born and bred south Londoner?
A. I was born in New Jersey and have been in Brixton for nearly 10 years. Back then it was cheap, there were lots of artists, just different people living there, and you felt as though you were living on the edge of something really exciting. I've changed homes but always lived in the same area.
Q. How has it changed?
A. It's changed immensely in the past 10 years, even the past two years. I think things like the regeneration of Brixton - with new people moving in and buying the big homes - has changed the tone, but not always for the better. I think it has divided the community in a lot of different ways. I also feel very angry about the whole relaxation of cannabis laws. I feel that's torn Brixton apart at a time when we need to come together when drug dealers are taking over the streets. There was a real feeling of Brixton being a true community, and I think that's on the way out now and I 'd like to recapture that. We need that sense of civic pride.
Q. What is you're favourite south London haunt and why?
A. It has to be The Royal Vauxhall Tavern. I've been running my club night [Duckie, a gay and lesbian club, which she also comperes] there for seven years. The moment I stepped into the place I felt like it was one of the most special places I'd been in. I think it's because of the history of the area, because the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens were on that very ground from 1661 to 1859. It was 16 acres of green space given over to performance. In its heyday people from all over the world went there.
Q. That sounds fascinating, tell me more.
A. It was a real place where the highest of society mixed with the lowest. There were prostitutes and pickpockets and princes and princesses. Handel worked there - he performed music for the royal fireworks there. The Vauxhall Tavern stands on the spot where the entrance to the original gardens was. My club is a rock'n'roll performance club and we really feel like we are carrying some kind of torch that has been passed along since 1661 on that very ground. And, of course, the Vauxhall Tavern was built in 1863, I think, as a pub for entertainment at a time when music hall was just becoming popular. So they would have had entertainment there. It's been a gay pub since the Fifties when they used to have drag-shows on.
Q. How did you get in to radio?
A. I began here when it was GLR but sitting in for a presenter on a show which ran once a week for an hour with a co-presenter. So it was just filling in when somebody else couldn't turn up. Then my co-presenter left and I got my own show. I got it through my club, through my performance and the TV work I had done. I was just totally bitten by the radio bug. I used to go around with a little radio glued to my ear as a kid, so working in radio now is a dream.
Q. What's it like working with Danny Baker?
A. It's fantastic, he is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. I still can't get over the fact that I'm working with him. At first I wasn't really sure how we'd get along as I didn't know that much about him before I started working with him. Just reading newspaper clippings and stuff I thought "Oh, he's such a bloke, he hangs out with so and so". And after about three weeks - I think it was when I found out he was a big fan of Danny La Rue - I thought, this guy's fantastic. He's the campest man I know.
Q. What's been one of the most memorable moments on the show?
A. On Danny's birthday I organised to get him Danny La Rue's shoes at a celebrity auction. I had to outbid a Sun journalist. They were then presented in a big silver box, with a purple ribbon and tissue paper with a big silver butterfly. He opened it up and it was the first time I have ever seen him speechless. It was such a wonderful moment, a kind of bonding moment for all of us. He took out the shoes - there were two pairs - and he put one of one pair on one foot and one of the other pair on the other foot, put the tissue paper in his pocket, took the big silver butterfly and clipped in what hair he has left, and continued to broadcast. He put his feet up on the desk and I thought "This is wonderful, I've got the best job in the whole world". That's the whole tone of what we do working together. We had Victor Spinetti in today and he said "I don't want to leave it's like a party in here". I jump out of bed at 5am and I never thought I would do that in my life.
Q. I understand you're a massive Morrissey fan - I read somewhere you moved to the UK to be nearer to him.
A. That makes me sound like I am a stalker which I am not! [she laughs]. I left the US for a lot of reasons. But I was a total Smiths fan, obviously there's that appeal, you walk around and everything is like a Smiths lyric, it's like the first time I went to Manchester. It's like a Beatles fan going to Liverpool. I just found out today that we had a bid in for Morrissey, but he can't make it. I'm still coping with that loss. If he did come in to be interviewed, all the guests sit right next to me on my left and I don't think I could cope. So I think it's best that we leave it that way.
Q. Is it true you appear in an Oasis video as a passenger on a bus?
A. Yes, it was for Go Let it Out. So yes, I did meet Liam and his three- in-one haircut. I do quite a lot of modelling work, and it's through Ugly Agency, but it's very tongue-in-cheek. A lot of the people on the books fall into that category of people who were made fun of at school, and then once you grow up and into your looks it's all right. The most recent thing I've done is a big ad campaign for Hula Hoops Shoks and there's three different flavours - and I'm on 'full on onion' [she laughs].
Q. It is true you ran the UK's first lesbian beauty contest?
A. It was in 1997 and it was the world's first lesbian beauty contest. It was in the Guinness Book of Records. It was held at the Cafe de Paris, then I did a secret one a couple of years later. But in the meantime these other people came in and stole my thunder and started running the alternative and that ran in Brixton. Ours was run in the style of a traditional beauty contest. The winner was from Bermondsey.
Q. What's this new programme for BBC1 about?
A. It's called Inside Out, and I've done one report on the smells of London, and that was great. We did everything from going to the oldest cheese shop in London to going to this woman's house, as she lives a quarter of a mile away from Europe's largest sewage treatment plant. I've done one on anger management. I'm a very calm person but this anger management course made me so angry. I came out of it raging.
Q. What are your plans for the future?
A. I never make any plans because life is so great I just go with what's happening. I work hard and I think if you work hard and have a real passion for what you do, things will just naturally be okay but you might see me down that dole office in Brixton high street yet.
*** The Danny Baker Breakfast Show, with Amy Lamé, weekdays 6am-9am. Saturday Breakfast with Amy Lamé and Bill Overton, Saturdays, 6am-8am, on BBC London 94.9FM.
*** Inside Out, Mondays, 7.30pm, BBC1.
*** Duckie, Saturdays, Royal Vauxhall Tavern, 372 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall, 9pm-2am, Ł5 entry.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2002.

The Times
September 13, 2002
Young in London

Where to go, what to buy
A truism about gay house-hunters is that generally they do not need to be near schools or the other facilities of family life. However, some locations that are increasingly popular with the gay community seem to undermine this theory.
Top of the list is Crystal Palace, as part of a broader discovery of South London. As gay bars close down in the Oval and Kennington, they are opening, along with saunas, further south in Streatham and East Dulwich. The most established of the South London areas, certainly for those on a bigger budget, is Clapham. This hotspot boasts not only bars such as the Two Brewers and Kudos but also a branch of the Soho Athletic gym. Clapham is top of the request list on the Outlet website (www.outlet.co.uk), along with Bloomsbury and Bethnal Green.
This indicates that falling rents have allowed tenants to move up the ladder but it also hints at the increasing importance of East London. Bethnal Green — and the area around the Columbia Road flower market — has become a huge draw, not just because it is central but also because of the number of ex-council properties for sale. The gay community has pioneered the trend of reclaiming once-threatening estates and, in the rush to buy something affordable, the stampede has taken them eastwards into Hackney and Stratford. For anyone looking to perform this trick in a more central area, the hot tip is Elephant and Castle, which is on the cusp of a huge regeneration.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2002.

This is the text of the first weekly newsletter from the http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/ website:
Thank you for joining this Yahoo Group. This is the first weekly news- sheet.
You might like to check out The Thames Festival http://www.thamesfestival.org/ website. The festival happens all this weekend. My favourite event is the Notting Hill-style Lantern Procession on Sunday evening which leaves Embankment Tube Station at around 1930 and crosses Blackfriars Bridge around 2015 before turning into Upper Ground.
HACAN - the group that is campaigning against early morning flights into Heathrow – are seeking funds to help them fight the Government’s appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. (HACAN won a ban in the British Courts but the Government is appealing to Strasbourg.) If you want to contribute, pls send a cheque made out to HACAN ClearSkies to PO Box 339, Twickenham TW1 2XF.
I have added a new restaurant to the website. The Kennington Tandoori http://www.kenningtontandoori.co.uk/ at 313 Kennington Road specialises in vegetarian and fish dishes and is apparently highly regarded by local residents.
That’s it for this week. Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested, and pls encourage them to join the Group. The larger the membership, the more I will be encouraged to continue to provide this free (and un- sponsored) service.
Martin Stanley
13 September 2002
To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to vauxhallandkennington- subscribe@yahoogroups.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 13, 2002.

Ł200-A-YEAR PARKING SPACE
Commuters who drive to work already know the nightmare of parking clamps and fines - and very soon will experience Ken Livingstone's congestion charge too.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=693627&in_review_text_id=666325
12 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 12, 2002.

Dual Theatre Company
with
The White Bear Theatre Club
present
An Elegant Madness
by Ron Hutchinson
with Sean Brosnan and Richard Latham
Directed by Peter Craze
'absorbing' - Daily Telegraph
'riveting' - Daily Mail
'brilliant' - Sunday Telegraph
'moving' - Sunday Times
An Elegant Madness, based on Ron Hutchinson's Beau Brummell is a wonderful example of modern new comedic writing. It pits an established English legend, Beau Brummell, against the common man, Austin, his revolutionary manservant.
Renowned for plays such as Rat in the Skull, here Hutchinson's writing creates a brilliant style developing a modern language, which resonates with the grandeur of the Georgian setting of the piece. The play is full of comedy, fast moving and at times a study in pathos. It flows seamlessly, contrasting philosphy with humour, laughter with sadness.
It challenges patronage, the English relationship with all things foreign and above all the nation's obsession with celebrity and its trappings.
"A tale of grandeur and dissolution"
"Brosnan and Latham - Theatre at its best"
"Overflowing with epigrammatic wit"
3rd-22nd September (NOT Friday 20th), Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm Sunday 4pm Tickets Ł8 Concessions Ł6
The White Bear Theatre Club
138 Kennington Park Road, SE11 4DJ
Box Office: 020 7793 9193

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 11, 2002.

You are invited to another evening of fun and frolics when The Live Ghost tent holds another fine meeting on Saturday September 14th 5.30pm until 11pm at The Pilgrim, 247 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QU where we will contemplate:
Laurel & Hardy Firsts!
The Live Ghost tent will be celebrating our 8th birthday at this meeting. As we're looking back and remembering our very first meeting in the Autumn of 1994 we will show films that were "firsts" for the boys. Included in the programme will be a showing of a new release on DVD of their first feature film and Dave Wyatt will present Stan Laurel's first film for the Hal Roach Studios and give a talk on the first ever film Stan and Ollie appeared in together.
5.30pm Meet and greet each other, take a cocktail or two or order some food at the bar
(WARNING Food should be ordered by 8pm), visit the sales stall; get your raffle tickets, etc.
6.00-8.00pm Film show Part One
8.00pm INTERVAL. Buy last minute raffle tickets, visit the Sales Stall, socialise, etc. We will have any competitions, announcements, the raffle prize draw, the loyal toasts, our International Anthem and any other tent business here.
9.15pm- 10.45-ish Film Show Part Two
10.25 Buy those last minute items from the sales stall; perhaps take one more cocktail for the desert......
10.30pm Sales stall closes.
11.00pm Bar closes and meeting ends.... Till the next time.
Entry is free for club members and Ł3.00 each for guests. Any questions on this? Phone our membership secretary Jim Hutchinson (01689 823420).

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 11, 2002.

AA: CHARGE IS A CON TRICK
The AA today branded Ken Livingstone's Ł5-a-day congestion charging scheme a con trick.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=692711&in_review_text_id=665634
11 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 11, 2002.

New books/videos at the Durning Library
We wanted to let you know that the library has received considerable funding for a batch of new books and videos.
The New Books shelves are quite full now. There are videos such as Moulin Rouge, the Beatles Story, The Object of My Affection, and Simon Schama's History of Britain.
The money has not all been spent, so if there is a book you would particularly like to see on the shelves, do please ask the librarian to order it for you.
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane
London SE11 4HF
T: 020 7926 8682
F: 020 7926 8684
E: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), September 10, 2002.

ROOTS AND SHOOTS are holding a fundraising event on Thursday 19th September at 6-8pm . There will be music and wine in our wildlife garden.
All are welcome. RSVP.
Best wishes
Jo
admin

-- Jo (admin@rootsandshoots.org.uk), September 10, 2002.

Lambeth

Notices of Motion
See in particular, #5, Councillor Dinti Wakefield's motion for a tube and bus zone review, on Page 3.
Released: September 10, 2002 10:00 AM
Filesize: 25kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0152 62.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2002.

Durning Library Reading Group: Ian McEwan's ATONEMENT
This month's Reading Group book is Ian McEwan's ATONEMENT which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize 2001. There are copies available at the Durning if you like to read it and join the Group when it meets to discuss it on the first Wednesday of each month, next being Wednesday evening, 7pm on 2nd October.
From the inside jacket cover: "On the hottest day of the summer of 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis sees her sister Cecilia strip off her clothes and plunge into the fountain in the garden of their country house. Watching her is Robbie Turner, her childhood friend who, like Cecilia, has recently come down from Cambridge.
"By the end of that day the lives of all three will have been changed for ever. Robbie and Cecilia will have crossed a boundary they had not even imagined at its start, and will have become victims of the younger girl's imagination. Briony will have witnessed mysteries, and committed a crime for which she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone.
"Atonement is Ian McEwan's finest achievement. Brilliant and utterly enthralling in its depiction of childhood, love and war, England and class, at is centre is a profound - and profoundly moving - exploration of shame and forgiveness, of atonement and the difficulty of absolution."
"Ian McEwan has written two collections of stories, First Love, Last Rites and In Between the Sheets, and eight novels, The Cement Garden, The Comfort of Strangers, The Child in Time, The Innocent, Black Dogs, The Day Dreamer, Enduring Love, and Amsterdam. He has also written several film scripts, including The Imitation Game, The Ploughman's Lunch, Sour Sweet, The Good Son and The Innocent. He won the Booker Prize for Amsterdam in 1998."
Please ask Stephen Fleming or the librarian on duty for a copy and we look forward to meeting up with you on Wednesday, 2nd October to discuss this book with food and wine that is supposed to be somehow connected to the book. (By way of example, last month's book was Alison Weir's Eleanor of Aquitaine and Jean managed to find a lovely wine called "Plantagenet"!)
Best regards
Cathy
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane
London SE11 4HF
T: 020 7926 8682
F: 020 7926 8684
E: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), September 10, 2002.

Independent Sport

England ready to gamble on Gough's fitness
10 September 2002
England 515 and 114-0 India 508 Match drawn
http://sport.independent.co.uk/cricket/story.jsp?story=331981

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2002.

From Evening Standard's Food & Drink:

Tantalising appetisers
by Marina O'Loughlin
The bonkers Lobster Pot in Kennington is celebrating its 11th birthday, and its equally out-to-lunch proprietor, Herve Regent, is organising another series of his legendary Gastronomic Dinners. This time, the theme is 'Opera Extravaganza', featuring what appears to be a humorous treatment of the hallowed music from The Graffiti Classic and Ian Jervis. The price for the evening is a steepish Ł69 a head ( without wine), but includes a staggering eight courses of lobster, seabass, fillet of beef, salads, sorbets and puddings. Phew. The dinners are on September 26, 27 and 28, and - due to size - places are limited.
The Lobster Pot,
3 Kennington Lane SE11.
Tel: 020 7582 5556.
Tube: Kennington
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 09 September 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 10, 2002.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF WANDSWORTH ROAD
Notice of temporary road closure of Wandsworth road and temporary one- way systems in Wyvil Road.
Released: September 9, 2002 10:37 AM
Filesize: 9kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01523 4.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2002.

LAUNCH OF ELEPHANT ANGELS
Tuesday 10 September
11am-5pm at the Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre
Clowns, magicians and face painters will be providing entertainment to celebrate the launch of Elephant Angels, a new project which gives residents access to opportunities and free advice. The Elephant Angels team will be on hand to offer advice and to give information about housing, childcare, money, jobs, training, education, benefits, decisions about the future, getting out of the house, and even making friends. This free service is only available to people who live in SE1, SE11 and SE17.
http://www.elephantangels.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2002.

I believe this relates to Glyn Street (so SE11 not SE1)

Save the Children refused permission for SE1 HQ after secret service intervention

Observer
http://www.observer.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,6903,788055,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 09, 2002.

Telegraph
Sunday 8 September 2002
Selectors forced to gamble on injured duo
By Simon Briggs (Filed: 02/09/2002)
England squad
England's never-ending injury list has forced them to call up two players who have yet to prove their full fitness.
The 14-man squad for Thursday's crucial final Test at the Oval features Marcus Trescothick, the Somerset opener who made an inconclusive return from a broken thumb in Saturday's C & G Trophy final, and Essex allrounder Ronnie Irani.
A fortnight after his right knee was "flushed out" in an exploratory operation, Irani played for Essex in a National League match at Old Trafford yesterday, dismissing both openers on the way to figures of two for 35 from nine overs.
The selectors will just have been relieved to see him out in the middle, as their decision was based largely on the fact that he came through net practices on Friday and Saturday.
Irani has played three Tests and made a successful international return during the NatWest triangular one-day series earlier this summer. He is felt to be the nearest thing to a like-for-like replacement for Andrew Flintoff, who misses the final Test after undergoing hernia surgery last Friday.
David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, said the panel had considered switching the team's balance to seven batsmen and four bowlers, but had decided against it, as "this policy did not work for us against Sri Lanka at Lord's earlier in the summer".
Having missed six weeks through a quadruple fracture of his left thumb, Trescothick will attempt to make further progress today in Somerset's National League match at the Riverside Stadium near Durham. He claimed to have felt no great reaction after his innings of 27 on Saturday, but Kent opener Robert Key will remain in the squad as cover.
Dominic Cork also keeps his place in the 14 despite a hairline fracture on his right little finger. He will test his fitness in another National League game today though he seems likely to be omitted from the final XI for the fifth time this summer.
England did consider picking a second spinner, especially as Yorkshire's Richard Dawson has emerged from a rocky patch with consecutive five-wicket hauls in the County Championship. But their most recent success at the Oval, against the West Indies two years ago, was based less on turn than on Craig White's reverse-swing and Andy Caddick's ability to make the ball burst through the top of a dry pitch.
After missing the Headingley Test, seamer Steve Harmison is likely to play in the hope of exploiting uneven bounce.
Only a month ago, after England's comprehensive win at Lord's, Hussain tried to lay down tough guidelines on players' fitness. He argued that anyone who was coming back from injury should have to play a four-day championship match to prove they could cut it.
But events have conspired against him. England have no choice but to gamble as they approach their most important Test showdown since Sept 4 2000, the day they overwhelmed the West Indies in front of a capacity crowd in Kennington.
England squad (4th Npower Test v India, the Oval, Thursday): N Hussain (Essex, capt) Age 34, Tests 74; M E Trescothick (Somerset) 26-25; M P Vaughan 27-22; M A Butcher (Surrey) 30 44, J P Crawley (Hampshire) 30 33, R W T Key (Kent) 23 2, A J Stewart (Surrey, wkt) 39 121, D G Cork (Derbyshire) 31 36, A J Tudor (Surrey) 24 8, R C Irani (Essex) 30 3, A F Giles (Warwickshire) 29 17, A R Caddick (Somerset) 33 56, M J Hoggard (Yorkshire) 25 14, S J Harmison (Durham) 23 1.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 08, 2002.

The Times
September 08, 2002
Simon Wilde: England face testing time
When England arrive in Australia for their winter tour they will find that their hosts are now even stronger
Nasser Hussain has a busy month coming up. Once he has fulfilled his duties in Kennington, which comprise not only completing the Oval Test but selecting an Ashes squad, the England captain jets off for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka for what could be two weeks of cricket but may well be three if India and Zimbabwe are overcome in the group stage.
When he gets back, he must settle into his new home, prepare for the birth of his second child, take part in a couple of spurious one-day games in Cardiff, and in all probability, take a call from the chairman of selectors, David Graveney, informing him that Darren Gough will not be fit to make the Ashes tour. Hussain will not request a replacement, because he and coach Duncan Fletcher are preparing for Gough’s expected absence by announcing five other specialist fast bowlers in a squad of 17 on Tuesday morning.
At some point, Hussain will settle down on his sofa in front of the television and either watch videos of the nine Tests that Australia have played since England met them last September, or watch coverage of the world champions playing three Tests against Pakistan in Colombo and Sharjah. Or both. For Hussain, this constitutes relaxation.
He may want to keep a cushion handy to cover his eyes, for what he will discover is that Australia are — deep breath, please — a better side now than they were when they mashed his team to a pulp at The Oval 12 months ago. Australia scored 2,300 for three. Actually, that may not be right. But that’s what it felt like.
Australia are stronger on several counts, although the main one was already in place at The Oval in the shape of the opening partnership of Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden. It was the first time they had opened together, and they shared a stand of 158 that set the tone for the match.
They have not looked back since, and a string of monumental partnerships against New Zealand and South Africa, scored at breathless pace, squeezed the life out of the opposition like an impatient python. Three of their four double- century stands were achieved on the opening days of matches that Australia went on to dominate.
England’s openers, Michael Vaughan and Marcus Trescothick, are no slouches, and it could be argued that the Ashes series which opens in Brisbane on November 7 will be won by the side whose openers score more heavily.
But good though Vaughan and Trescothick are, they would have to turn themselves into Batman and Robin to treat Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie with the kind of disdain that Langer and Hayden have been showing the world's new-ball bowlers.
Gillespie’s improved fitness is another reason for England anxiety. His impact on the series in England last year was relatively mute: he broke Hussain’s hand in the first Test and dismissed Trescothick five times, but his 19 wickets at 34 apiece were dwarfed by the carnage wreaked by McGrath and Shane Warne, and his influence subsided as the series went on. He promises to be an even greater threat now.
Warne, too, heaven help us, is leaner and meaner, and Stuart MacGill, who last faced England during the 1998-99 series in Australia, lurks in the wings, ready to link up with Warne in deadly partnership in Sydney.
Australia’s run-scoring potential in the middle order might be strengthened by Jimmy Maher and Simon Katich coming in for the Waugh twins, although nothing would give England a bigger lift than for Steve Waugh not to be glowering at them from close quarters. His mere presence would remind them of their past impotence.
The other thing Australia have in their favour is history. Beating them in their own back yard just does not look like a starter. They have won 12 series out of 14 at home since going down to West Indies nine years ago, and this sequence includes 15 wins in 18 matches since their last defeat — to England in Melbourne four years ago. England scraped home by 12 runs, one of only two wins achieved in Australia in three Ashes tours. The other, in Adelaide in 1994-95, was almost equally improbable.
Hussain is astute enough not to encumber himself with talk of winning the series. His plea for England to keep the series alive going into the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January is ambitious enough.
England have two pressing concerns. Gough’s fitness is the first. There is a growing fear that he is not even going to be able to join the tour with a view to working himself towards full fitness in time for, say, the third Test in Perth in late November. He will be given a date by which to prove his fitness, but nobody, other than Gough, seems optimistic that he can satisfy the medics that he is capable of withstanding a demanding tour.
Gough, of course, will say he can, but then he has been adamant about a lot this summer, and all he has to show for it is a handful of one-day games and newspaper pictures of him drinking beer at Trent Bridge.
If he does not make it, England should remain upbeat. They have coped, if not exactly thrived, without him (they have won four and lost three since he last played) and should not forget that Australia more or less broke his spirit with their calculated assaults last year; the punishment meted out by Hayden and Langer at The Oval was the final act in a sobering personal drama. His absence would create openings for Simon Jones and also Steve Harmison, one-cap wonders whom England are keen to get back into the side as soon as the opportunity arises. It may come down to a straight contest between the two for one place at venues where England seek to play all-pace attacks, notably Perth, but before that can happen, Hussain and Fletcher will want to work on them in the nets.
It would be fantasy to believe that either could inflict the kind of shock that Frank Tyson administered in 1954-55, but they could pose problems and help England to a consolation victory somewhere. Jones, who fancies himself, is the more exciting prospect than the self-effacing Harmison, but the competition will be good for both of them.
The other issue is the availability of Graham Thorpe. The selectors have spoken with him by phone but have yet to hold the face-to-face meeting that will surely decide whether he joins the tour, although they are sending out positive signals.
Taking him could prove a horrible mistake, but, unlike with Gough, the management is still taking Thorpe’s assurances at face value, and he believes he is over the worst in his domestic crisis. Not taking him would be the harder but perhaps safer course of action, though the vision of Thorpe punching boundaries either side of the wicket is as seductive as a distant oasis in a desert.
The selectors may also be keenly aware that they are set to select a middle-order quartet of Hussain, Mark Butcher, John Crawley and Alec Stewart, who all saw service on the last unsuccessful Ashes tour, and may be fearful of the defeatist vibes that reappointing them all might create. Hussain is a tougher campaigner, Butcher technically better, but Stewart has possibly lost 10% and Crawley has had less to say the more the temperature has risen in the current India series.
Thus, the presence of Thorpe, even though he is an experienced fighter, would inject an element of fresh blood. He was a member of the last Ashes tour but returned home with a back injury after the first Test and missed the three defeats that followed in the next four matches. He also played only once in last year’s series.
Oh, and one other thing. England should break with recent tradition and appoint a vice- captain for the tour in Vaughan and thereby anoint him as Hussain’s heir apparent.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 08, 2002.

Recommendations, please!
Is anyone able to recommend people do help with the following for the management company of our building?:

A painter and decorator to paint the outside of our listed Georgian block

A builder to re-point fence walls, gate and post knocked over and damaged by an expanding plane tree!

Someone to quote for the installation of a suitable communal TV aerial as ours is picking up interference from planes flying over...

Many thanks
Cathy

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 08, 2002.

The Times

Countryside march
07 Sep 2002
The Liberty and Livelihood March is about much more than hunting - it will be a demonstration by rural people demanding the right to live their lives responsibly in the way they choose http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-44-406090,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2002.

CAR CHARGE FEARS FOR SCHOOL RUN
Thousands of parents will be forced to abandon the traditional school run when congestion charging starts next year - jeopardising their children's safety.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=689132&in_review_text_id=661706
7 September 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2002.

Fri 6 Sep 2002

Aitken girl tells of mugging fears

London Evening Standard by Standard Reporter
The daughter of disgraced former Tory Minister Jonathan Aitken has been left feeling "vulnerable and n...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/top_story.html?in_review_id=689347&in_review_text_id=662038

Cricket commentary

The Times
Sir, Chris Campling (T2, September 3) suggests that Henry Blofeld should leave the Test Match Special team. | For thousands o...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-44-405395,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2002.

icSouthlondon articles:

Butcher aims to fulfil his Oval dream
Sep 6 2002
MARK Butcher has a chance to fulfil a lifelong dream when England do battle with India in the decisive ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0200sports/0400cricketlocal/page. cfm?objectid=12177642&method=full&siteid=50100

What's on in south London this week?
Sep 6 2002
WHETHER it's clubbing, comedy, dance, literature or music you're after check out our what's on listings...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/1000whatson/0200music/page.cfm? objectid=12175132&method=full&siteid=50100

Minuteman's moment
Sep 6 2002
IT'S A case of second time lucky for former Ultrasound keyboardist Matt Jones, whose new band Minuteman ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/1000whatson/0200music/page.cfm? objectid=12175138&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 07, 2002.

ArtsWeb - Visual arts, crafts and photography
Visual arts, photography, crafts. Exhibitions and events
Released: September 4, 2002 1:09 PM
Filesize: 48kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/00746 6.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2002.

ArtsWeb - Small ads
Released: September 4, 2002 1:08 PM
Filesize: 17kb
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/00745 6.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2002.

Tories highlight teacher vacancies
The teacher vacancy rate in London is three times the national average, according to a Conservative policy document.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=451514&in_review_text_id=401739
[News article 05/09/2002]

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2002.

Schools must get stricter - Tories
Inner city schools must become highly disciplined places if their exam results are to improve, the Tories say.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=687461&in_review_text_id=659982
[News article 05/09/2002]

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2002.

Tories talk tough on school discipline
Discipline in inner city schools is the only way to improve poor exam results - with parents playing a key role, the Tories say.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/education/2237729.stm

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 05, 2002.

MP helps to bust pirates
Sep 3 2002
A PIRATE radio station was busted by a Government minister yesterday...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm? objectid=12168653&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2002.

In memory of Charlie
Sep 3 2002
THREE cyclists climbed the highest mountain in the Pyrennees in memory of a husband, dad and friend ...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0500lewisham/page.cfm? objectid=12168655&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2002.

Cup a load of this
Sep 3 2002
MORE than 100 children took part in a football tournament near the Imperial War Museum...
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm? objectid=12168659&method=full&siteid=50100

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 04, 2002.

Hitting them for a five
Clare Dowdy
FT.com site; Sep 02, 2002
Channel 5, or five as we will come to think of it, is changing its look. Out go the brash colour palette and digit in a circle created by Wolff-Olins, in comes something rather more sophisticated. After all, the channel is as old as its number this year, and public perception, research shows, was lagging behind reality. Programming has got smarter, the channel claims, and this needs to be reflected in the image.
The rebranding (shown below), which goes to air on September 16, is the work of Spin, an agency that admits that broadcast design is only 25 per cent of its portfolio. Spin isn't based in Soho or Clerkenwell, but unglamorous Kennington in South London. And rather than having its founders' names over the door, it is named after a cricketing term.
Channel 5's director of marketing, David Pullan, deliberately went off piste for the rebranding appointment. Having reviewed the obvious contenders in London, the continent and the US, he dismissed them all, including London's Farrow Design and yU+co in Los Angeles.
Spin was set up by Tony Brook and his partner Patricia Finegan. In the past 10 years they've created a business with clients as varied as Nike and Deutsche Bank, and have a projected turnover of Ł3.6m for 2002.
There are now 25 staff enjoying the 8,000 sq ft studio space in Kennington, with two chefs to provide lunch every day. But despite all this, and a couple of D&AD awards, Spin is surprisingly low- profile. TV branding is generally regarded as a specialism - think of Lambie-Nairn (now part of Enterprise IG) and English & Pockett (now part of FutureBrand). In the past, these agencies would have been unlikely to attract anyone but broadcast clients.
Spin, however, has kept a balance between on-air, interactive and print design, which makes up the bulk of its work. It was behind Channel 4's vapour trail branding in 2000, created an identity for Whitechapel Art Gallery, and designed a book for fashion photographer Rankin.
Brook puts this variety down to his immersion in the music business. For 10 years all he designed was record sleeves - Wham!'s Club Tropicana cover is one of his - and the thrill of diversifying with Spin has stayed with him. Spin is now Nike's main UK design agency, creating in-store graphics and packaging, and it is working on the identity for a new 10,000 sq ft gallery space off Bond Street, called Haunch of Venison, which opens next month. Spin also provided the on-screen graphics and packaging for EA Games' FIFA 2003.
Despite the low profile so far, the odd award is making them better known. Brook is hoping that a good reaction to five will pitch Spin into the big league.
claredowdy@hotmail.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 03, 2002.

Where's the oomph in England's cricket?
Frank Keating

Guardian Unlimited
September 02 2002
Gloomy springtime forecasts that cricket would be drowned by a clamorous and headline-seeking surfeit of happenings in rival summer sports were wide of the mark. Cricket bravely managed to keep its head above water (just) during the successive midsummer ...
Go to:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4492822,00.html

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 03, 2002.

Save the Kennington Two
Dear Neighbours
As you may know, two residents of Kennington Lane went to court to try to stop the Mayor from designating Kennington Lane as the new perimeter route to avoid paying the congestion charge. Sadly, judgement went against them and costs of Ł20,000 have to be found.
So far, The Two and their neighbours and supporters have raised Ł8,000 and are now going to launch a series of exciting events to raise the rest.
The first of these is a grand prize draw, for which we are looking for further prizes.
So far, we can offer a holiday, including flights, in a luxury apartment on the Mediterranean island of Menorca. Another prize is three bottles of vintage champagne.
If you feel able to offer a prize that would entice people to buy prize draw tickets, we would be so grateful.
Tickets will cost only Ł2 each so we'll need to sell 6,000 tickets if we are to recover our outstanding legal costs.
In addition, we have in the pipeline, other exciting fund-raising events, such as a Noel Coward 1930s evening, an Edith Piaff evening of chansons, a boot sale (hang on to your jumble!) and separately, a sale of books.
For further information, please check out the Kennington Association website at http://www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk/
With kind regards
Cathy
for
Kennington Association
335 Kennington Road
North Lambeth
London SE11 4QE
E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com
W: http://www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk/

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), September 03, 2002.

Why not go down to the river on Saturday 7 September 2002 to see the Great River Race (http://www.greatriverrace.co.uk/) featuring 300 boats with crews from around the world including replica Greek galleys, Chinese dragonboats and Viking longboats? The first (and slowest) craft start leaving Ham at 1530 and should reach Vauxhall Bridge at around 1740. They finish at Greenwich.
http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 03, 2002.

The Times
September 01, 2002

England bank on champagne performance from Cork
Defeat for Nasser Hussain’s men at The Oval could seal the fate of the Ashes series before a ball has been bowled, writes Simon Wilde
IT seems traditional for the approach of an Ashes series to be greeted by an English firework display of snapping tendons, cracking digits and choking fits. England do not just tend to play badly against Australia, they tend to play badly simply at the prospect of playing them.
There is a case for saying that the past two Ashes campaigns were lost before they began, confidence fatally undermined by defeats to Sri Lanka at The Oval in 1998 and Pakistan at Old Trafford last year.
The importance of this week's deciding Test against India cannot be overstated. In three years together, the Nasser Hussain-Duncan Fletcher partnership has never lost successive Tests in the same series (injury kept Hussain out of two of last year's defeats to Australia), and back-to-back defeats would rock morale at the worst possible time.
Already tired, the England camp would find it hard to repair the damage in the eight weeks left before the Ashes opener in Brisbane on November 7. Channel 4’s highlights package for the tour might then have to be screened after the watershed to prevent shocking the under-aged.
India are on a roll and will be hard to beat in conditions that may suit them, and in front of capacity crowds largely populated by their own supporters.
The prospect of a first Test series win outside the subcontinent in 16 years will be less significant to the Indians, who will turn Kennington into a little Calcutta, than Sachin Tendulkar’s 100th Test appearance at the record age of 29.
It is going to be like an away game for England, which is why, with Craig White unfit to bowl, they will probably name Dominic Cork as replacement for the injured Andrew Flintoff in their squad this morning. He loves a scrap and will be unfazed by the atmosphere, as would Ronnie Irani, his chief rival for the position. Cork is likely to get the nod because as a bowler who bats, his presence will not fatally weaken an attack still licking its wounds after the mauling it received in Leeds. Even when England won at Lord’s, it took them 192 overs to dismiss India twice, and that is too much work for four men.
Much will depend on the pitch. England know better than to ask Paul Brind, The Oval's fiercely independent groundsman, to do them a favour, so they are keeping their fingers crossed that he does not prepare a pitch so dry that it takes early turn. In 1997 it turned from day one, and the main reason England lost to Sri Lanka the following year was because it favoured Muttiah Muralitharan. Last year Shane Warne walked off with 11 wickets. Anything similar would play straight into the hands of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Doubts about how the pitch might play may lead England to name a second spinner in a 14-man squad, in which case Richard Dawson, the Yorkshire off-spinner who performed creditably in India last winter, is favourite to play second string to Ashley Giles. This would be a remarkable revival for a man who, before claiming five-wicket hauls in his past two matches, was enduring a frustrating season.
England are more likely, though, to cast Giles as sole spinner in support of a pace attack that may also enjoy Brind’s bounty. Indeed, Steve Harmison could replace Alex Tudor, whose stamina remains in doubt, to exploit the pitch's pace and carry.
If England opt for a seventh batsman (counting wicketkeeper Alec Stewart among these) rather than a fifth bowler, then we will know that Hussain and Fletcher, who attends a meeting at Lord’s tomorrow to discuss an extension of his coaching contract beyond September 2003, have lost their nerve ahead of the bigger battle.
Although Cork at seven would be batting a place too high, England must rely on the top six making sufficient runs, as they have all summer. Even at Leeds, England’s totals of 273 and 309 were par scores; it was India’s 628 that was not.
Though the paint is starting to chip on John Crawley’s makeover, the hoped-for return of Marcus Trescothick in place of Robert Key should add power to the batting’s engine-room. England need to win the toss, bat first and get a good total. Batting last at The Oval is not for the faint- hearted.
Given the conditions, a draw is unlikely; given their injuries, a win for England improbable. But the consequences of failure are almost unthinkable.
With the Ashes squad expected to be announced on September 10, Hussain said yesterday that Graham Thorpe must convince the selectors he is mentally ready to tour Australia. Thorpe decided five weeks ago to take a break from cricket to sort out his domestic problems. It seemed unlikely he would go on tour, but he seems to have changed his mind.
Hussain said: “He is still going through a difficult time. He has said to me that he would like to go to Australia, but there are still problems he needs sorting out. Graham has to convince the selectors, and himself, he can get through a hard Ashes tour. It’s such a difficult thing for him when it’s been his career all of his life, and there’s no greater tour than the Ashes.”
Thorpe confirmed that he had spoken to Fletcher: “I told him that I want to be considered for Australia. He took on board what I had to say and, although he made no commitment to me, it was important for me to let him know where I stand. There would be no point in making myself available if I wasn't utterly convinced I would be able to cope with the situation.”
Additional reporting by John Stern

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), September 03, 2002.

An overseas student is looking for a bedsit for at least 6 months, Ł65-70 per week inclusive.

An au pair with references is looking for a new family.

Please contact Meral May @ meral@stevemay.plus.com

-- Meral (meral@stevemay.plus.com), August 29, 2002.

Not like father, nor like son
(Filed: 25/08/2002)

Kenneth Powell reviews An Architect of Promise by Gavin Stamp
Most Victorian architects used dividers for strictly legitimate purposes. George Gilbert Scott junior, by contrast, reportedly used them "to measure the width of ladies' bottoms". He prowled the streets armed with a carving knife and could turn an umbrella into a deadly weapon. He urinated on a fellow practitioner's doorstep. A chronic alcoholic, he was shunned by his family and largely forgotten by his peers. No wonder that he has gone down in history as a tragic figure - "Mad Scott".
The Scotts, a prolific architectural dynasty to rival the Wyatts, tend to generate confusion. "Gilbert Scott" is often cited as the man who built the Albert Memorial and the great hotel at St Pancras station in the 1860s - and somehow lived on to design Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral and what is now Tate Modern (completed early 1960s).
But Sir George Gilbert Scott (1811-78) and Sir Giles Gilbert Scott (1880-1960) were, of course, grandfather and grandson, both leaders of the architectural profession in their respective eras. George Gilbert Scott junior - Mad Scott - was the link between the two. Scott junior died in - ironically - his father's great red brick Midland Hotel, in 1897, aged 57.
Scott's parentage - Scott senior was the man who made the Gothic Revival both socially respectable and commercially profitable - gave him a head start in the business of architecture, but he was naturally talented and something of an intellectual. Jesus College, Cambridge, elected him to a fellowship at the age of 23.
Architecturally, Scott junior reacted against the glossy display and "go" of the High Victorians and favoured a sensitive Late Gothic manner for churches and a version of "Queen Anne" for secular commissions. Scott's father would have been appalled by his decision (in 1880) to convert to Rome, a move that led to a rupture with his brother John Oldrid (also an architect, though of a more pedestrian mould).
Stamp's portrait of Scott junior is less than endearing. For all his talents, he was pompous, opinionated and often wrong-headed: English working-class women were plain, he decided, because they were not Catholics. Women in general should be kept in their place. Bathrooms in houses encouraged self-indulgent ways. Homosexuality was a threat to the country.
Short of stature and markedly chinless, Scott junior cut an unimpressive figure. As an architect, however, he commanded enormous respect. His exquisite St Agnes, Kennington, in particular, was widely regarded as one of the finest of all late Victorian churches. In 1941 it was gutted by incendiary bombs and in 1953 the shell was pulled down (though the church was described as "the most important 19th century building to have been damaged in the late war"). All Hallows, Southwark, suffered a similar fate. The loss of his two finest works has unfairly diminished Scott's critical standing.
By 1880 Scott had taken to the bottle. In 1883 his wife and brothers succeeded in having him declared insane. He had taken to disappearing from his Hampstead home for days, was convinced that there were plots to murder him and attacked a complete stranger with a knife.
He had taken up with a "French lady" and visited brothels. In 1888, after a brief period of remission, he was arrested as a "wandering lunatic" - he had been seen, sitting in a bank, cutting his toenails.
Confined in an asylum, he tried to set the place alight. He was convinced that Mr Gladstone was dead and that the Americans had invaded Canada. His language was "disgusting" and he exhibited violent tendencies. Eventually Scott was judged to be cured and was set free. But his career was wrecked - he drank himself to death.
"My father was a genius," wrote Giles Scott, "a far better architect than my grandfather." Gavin Stamp's book, dense and scholarly but elegantly written, establishes once and for all the significance of Scott jr's work.

Kenneth Powell's books include 'New London Architecture' (Merrell).
Title: An Architect of Promise: George Gilbert Scott junior (1839- 1897) and the Late Gothic Revival
Author: Gavin Stamp Publisher: Shaun Tyas, Ł49.50, 427 pp
ISBN: 1900289512
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 27, 2002.

Mirror articles:

STAR DANE ARRESTED IN 4AM HOSPITAL BRAWL
Pop hard man Dane Bowers spends night in police cells after early morning hospital brawl...
Check out the following link.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm? objectid=12146182&method=full&siteid=50143

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 26, 2002.

Independent

Newman confirms promise with fine innings

Hampshire 190 Surrey 410-5
By David Llewellyn at The Oval
24 August 2002
An anxious telephone call to Lord's on Thursday alerting the authorities to the fact that the ball was turning "unduly" at The Oval brought Tony Brown, the Pitch Liaison Officer, rushing to south London.
But what he saw when he arrived in Kennington was Hampshire in a spin, as their ineffectual attack was taken apart in clinical fashion by the debutant Scott Newman, who shared a monumental stand of 198 with Ian Ward.
Newman is held in high regard by every aficionado at The Oval. He had scored 1,800 runs in all cricket for the Second XI – a total that included seven hundreds, two of them against a Hampshire side that included three members of the attack in this match.
The fact that Newman, 22, fell lbw not offering a stroke when he was on 99 was a passing disappointment, and the batsman, no doubt edgy on the brink of such a landmark in his debut first-class match, had only himself to blame.
He had dealt superbly with the previous 167 balls, but then decided on a change of tactic and suffered for his artlessness. Never mind. On this evidence there will be many centuries in this young man's career, and probably very few 99s. Although he certainly rode his luck, being dropped three times.
At the other end Ward was timing the ball immaculately and placing it perfectly. He was content to watch Newman's brutal, but beautiful, innings and pick off his own runs at leisure. But nine balls after Newman perished Ward prodded at a Shaun Udal off-spinner and was snapped up at slip.
Surrey then went through a panicky phase, with batsmen behaving as if they had a lot of runs to make and very little time in which to get them. Mark Ramprakash, Nadeem Shahid and Adam Hollioake all managed to establish themselves before holing out to some pretty poor shots.
As Surrey cleared the three hundred, Alistair Brown was joined at the crease by the wicketkeeper Jon Batty. This underrated batsman knuckled down to play solidly to help Surrey to maximum batting bonus points, while Brown savaged his way towards a fourth hundred of the season, his second in successive matches and the 31st of his career.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 24, 2002.

Independent
24 August 2002
Q I was interested in your reader's query (Questions of Cash, 10 August) about mortgages on local authority tower blocks. My experience is that none of your suggested lenders, or any others, is sympathetic. I have the "right to buy" a flat in a 20-storey block in Kennington in central London.
My mortgage would be substantially less than my rent. I need to borrow Ł24,500 on a property with a council valuation of Ł62,500. Local estate agents say on the open market it could sell to a cash buyer. I thought HSBC still gave loans on these properties, so I paid them Ł102 for a valuation in which the valuer recommended the bank not to lend because "the majority of lenders would not accept the property for mortgage purposes".
This is Catch-22. Lenders refuse to lend saying there is no market, because lenders refuse to lend. I bet buyers of the Ł490,000 three- bedroom apartments in the private 20-storey redeveloped office block 500 metres from mine will not have trouble getting a mortgage, nor buyers in the Barbican. I think HSBC and the valuer should have said immediately there was no chance and not taken my money.
RB, Kennington
A The key to getting a mortgage on a tower-block flat is the lenders' perception of resaleability in the event of borrower default. Although lenders themselves help determine resaleability, that does not change this. Ray Boulger, of mortgage broker Charcol, says: "Although your reader says, 'Its location is perfect', Kennington is not generally considered a prime location. He is correct that getting a mortgage on a Barbican flat is not a problem, despite the development not meeting any lender's stated criteria. I am also sure he would win his bet that buyers of the local Ł490,000 apartments won't have trouble getting a mortgage. This development could help him get a mortgage, because it will eventually enhance the overall desirability of his area and influence favourably a valuer's opinion about his flat's saleability."
Mr Boulger says a mortgage broker may have greater success obtaining a mortgage. HSBC says it has no general principle of not lending on a high-rise property and lending decisions are taken from the valuer's report, so it could not have rejected your application without seeing the valuer's report.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 24, 2002.

CHAPLIN AT THE DURNING LIBRARY
Monday 2nd September, 7.0 for 7.30
at the Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11

"FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF CHARLIE CHAPLIN"

Talk and Chaplin exhibition by TONY MERRICK
Hear local people's memories of "Our Charlie", in the beautiful old library where Chaplin himself was invited to tea as a youth of 20 around 1910.
Official guide for the Chaplin Society, local historian Tony Merrick is an excellent speaker from an old Vauxhall family, famous for his guided walks round the young Charlie Chaplin's haunts. He can trace his London roots back through seven generations.
His granddad was an entertainer's entertainer, singing in Kennington's theatrical pubs for the music hall stars. The music hall tradition is in his blood, giving him a unique insight into the subject. And he is bringing his exhibition of old photographs and theatrical memorabilia.
As Chaplin himself wrote: "They were hard streets and one wouldn't say they were paved with gold, nevertheless the people who live there are made of pretty good metal… God bless you Lambeth."
Open to all. Entry free. Drinks and nibbles available (suggested donation Ł2 in aid of the library). A Friends of the Durning Library event.
This talk replaces the "Memories of a Lambeth Childhood" of Stephen May, who unfortunately cannot make it this time.

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), August 23, 2002.

Times
August 23, 2002
Saqlain applies fresh spin to Surrey ambition
By Thrasy Petropoulos
THE OVAL (first day of four; Hampshire won toss): Hampshire have scored 190 runs against Surrey
IF PAKISTAN contributed to India’s film industry, the events of yesterday’s play would no doubt soon be the stuff of Bollywood. Out flew Mushtaq Ahmed, who had contributed eight wickets in Surrey’s victory at Grace Road, and in stepped Saqlain Mushtaq, with five on his first day back at the Oval. One international man of mystery had replaced another and, predictably, the changeover had been seamless.
When these teams next meet, in mid-September, their fate will probably have already been determined. The Championship pennant will almost certainly have returned to Kennington and Hampshire, recently promoted, will most probably have been relegated for the second time in three years.
The disparity between the abilities of these sides can scarcely have been more evident than yesterday. The absence of Alan Mullally, Chris Tremlett and Adrian Aymes will not have helped Hampshire, but it was a lack of belief that told against them. Clearly intimidated, they offered virtually nothing in the face of a calculated, professional display of bowling.
Eight wickets fell to leg-before decisions or close catches off the spinners with Saqlain, on his return from international duty for Pakistan in Morocco, claiming five for 59 from 34.2 overs. At the other end, Ian Salisbury, relishing a day on which batsmen were not interested in trying to break up his length, took three for 44.
It is probable that Hampshire would have disintegrated against either seam or spin — James Ormond had claimed two for 41 from 18 when he rested for the last time — but Adam Hollioake, the Surrey captain, had telegraphed his intentions by introducing Saqlain as early as the fourteenth over, by which time only 11 runs had been scored off the bat.
Twenty-eight overs later, Hampshire were a parlous 93 for six, a position from which they were unlikely to recover. Will Kendall’s 36, that ended with a bat-pad prod off Saqlain, highlighted their struggles.
Although he had scored five boundaries, his other 16 runs had consumed 83 balls.
That Hampshire went on to reach 190 was down, predominantly, to Nic Pothas with a 2˝-hour innings of 58 that was worth considerably more on a dry pitch that offered turn before lunch and that will become increasingly difficult for batsmen to negotiate.
To fight is in Pothas’s nature. Having been signed by Hampshire as a European Union passport-holder last winter, he initially found his path blocked by the ECB, who stated that he would have to serve a four-year qualification period after playing three one-day internationals for South Africa in 2000.
With David Ligertwood, the former Surrey wicketkeeper, acting as his agent, Pothas informed the ECB that he was willing to challenge the ruling in court as illegal restraint of trade. The ECB took counsel and changed the qualification period to one year, which Pothas served by playing for Gauteng, the province of his birth, as an overseas player.
It was not surprising, therefore, that Pothas should attempt the only stroke of dominance against Saqlain, a memorable sweep that cleared the deep square-leg boundary. Martin Bicknell’s return after tea was greeted with an exquisite straight drive for four.
However, having resisted for 155 balls, the second of which carried to Ian Ward at third slip off Ormond only to be put down, Pothas pushed forward against Saqlain and turned to short leg where Nadeem Shahid took a straightforward catch.
With Saqlain registering his best figures of the season, however, Hampshire are unlikely to escape further punishment. They have so far been outplayed by a side who carry themselves as if they are in a different league to these opponents — which, before long, they will most probably be.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 23, 2002.

Bus Station - Vauxhall Cross
I enclose copy of the planning details below and also copy of e mail I received on the matter from Street Management to give a little more background:
We have until Friday 30th to make comments on this monstrosity (my view alone), I spoke with planning officer yesterday, nice young lady, Haley Ellison - 020 7926 1252 if you have any queries. Plan are on show at the S.L. Tate Library
Planning application reads: Provision of a bus station including canopy, associated seating, bus station operations accommodation and public toilets together with other accommodation including retails kiosks, police pod, pissiore (my bold) .and refuse collection facilities.
Planning ref: 02/02069/FUL/DCHJE.
Below, previous e mails. Hope this is useful.
Regards
Rita...
To: Jeremycampbell@streetmanagement.org.uk
Dear Sir,
To print a leaflet in July 2002 that states under The Next Step "Construction of the bus station has started" and then to follow this on the back page "inviting the public to comment" seems a strange way of doing things to me.
What would be the purpose of the comments if they were not congratulatory?
NONE I WOULD SUGGEST.
I attended previous "consultations" at the Vauxhall Station, and must comment that of all the designs presented the one chosen and shown on your current leaflet WAS BY FAR THE WORST. I commented as such on more than one occasion. Whilst I acknowledge that beauty is in the eye of the beholder this goes beyond the look of this monstrosity.
Ugly, hideous design, concrete jungle, no better than an underpass, unfriendly to users, definitely NOT more people friendly, does not look as though it would weather well, nooks and crannies ideal for criminal activities, I could go on.
I will be discussing this more widely with local groups, including Vauxhall St. Peter's Heritage Trust mentioned on your leaflet.
I will write further when I have more time.
Rita Fitzgerald
Dear Rita,
I have finally got a definitive response on the various issues we have been discussing.
I will address this one first.
The public consultation process was intended to gauge public reaction to the various designs for the bus station, and to provide us with comments to pass on to the planning authority, in this case Lambeth.
It is a required part of the planning application process, and apart from the intended effects for TfL, Lambeth will not accept any planning application for a public building without a public consultation.
Those are the bare facts, but obviously there are further reasons for the consultation.
From TfL's point of view, it is important to gauge public reaction, to make sure that a design is not going to cause offence, and that it would have support from the public at large.
It is also used to find out how and why different views are polarised, and what the main issues are for anyone using (in this case) Vauxhall Cross.
There have been two significant public consultations for this design, and both have brought various reactions to the design, but the trend is towards support for the project.
I spent 7 days facing the public and discussing the issues with them, and I found that although those opposed to it were more vocal, there was a larger number of people who supported the project and the design.
The design is bold, and will definitely polarise opinion, but it is meant to be a landmark building, so it must be recognisable.
In the planning application there are a number of criteria to consider, of which public reaction is one.
I am sure you can understand the difficulty in leaving the final decision to the public, who may be informed but often will not have the knowledge of the issues (engineering considerations, maintenance, cost, etc) and the technical awareness to make reasonable judgements.
There are so many people who use Vauxhall that it would be difficult to have a definitive forum and a vote on such a thing.
The selection was made by a panel of stakeholders, and consultees from a shortlist of designs tendered by the country's leading firms.
The criteria by which the selection was made include:

Architectural Critique;
Financial Considerations;
Planning Considerations;
Programme and Construction;
Public Comment
The selection process also had to adhere to TfL's procurement strategy.
I hope this helps with the issue of selection.
All comments from the public have been included in the planning application,and will be considered by Lambeth planning authority, and I continue to pass them on as I receive them.
Many thanks
Jeremy

-- Rita Fitzgerald (RitKatFitz@aol.com), August 23, 2002.

Fifth Annual Jumble Sale

on Bank Holiday Monday August 26th
It opens at 2pm in the courtyard of The Old Courthouse in Renfrew Road. In addition to clothes, furniture, books, videos and an extraordinary range of miscellaneous household objects there will be cream teas, tarot readings and tours of the building to entertain you. All proceeds from the Jumble Sale will go towards roofing over the wooden deck in the courtyard to provide a dry "outdoor room" for patrons of the Courtyard Cafe and other people who use the building.
Extra jumble is very welcome: please drop in to The Old Courthouse any weekday daytime this week or on the morning of 26th August.
Thank you for your support.
Alison Murdoch

-- Alison Murdoch (alison@jamyang.co.uk), August 21, 2002.

BANKSIDE & SOUTH BANK GUIDED WALK
Sunday 25 August
Meet 2.30pm at Green Dragon Court; free
A Southwark Cathedral to Royal Festival hall walk with Lambeth Local History Forum.
Information 020 7926 6076

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 21, 2002.

SALSA AND FLAMENCO CLASSES
This Spanish tapas bar, has a space upstairs called Bar Tanit for private parties and salsa, flamenco and yoga lessons (call for times of classes).
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/jobs/career/top_story.ht ml?in_review_id=672962&in_review_text_id=645003
21 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 21, 2002.

Edinburgh reports: midsummer madness
(Filed: 20/08/2002)
Gyles Brandreth decided to do 'something extraordinary' with his life before it was too late: star in a West End musical. But first he had to suffer the trials of the Edinburgh Fringe. http://arts.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml? xml=/arts/2002/08/20/btgyles18.xml

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 20, 2002.

© 2002 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
20 August 2002 07:12 BDST
Independent

Woooooooooh!
Did Peter Sellers really talk to ghosts, as a new Channel 4 documentary suggests? It's all true, says his biographer Peter Evans, who recalls the haunting of a comic genius
19 August 2002
In 1966, two years after he suffered a massive heart attack in Hollywood – he had been clinically dead for two-and-a-half minutes before a vision of his mother beckoned him back from the grave – Peter Sellers asked me to write his official biography. He promised his complete cooperation: "Whatever you want, Pete, just ask. Anything. Anything. And write it your own way.'' What doubts I may have had about some aspects of the project were overcome by his enthusiasm, sincerity and complete trust in me. My agent negotiated an impressive American advance, and I embarked on what Sellers promised would be a "great adventure into the unknown.''
Well, it turned out he was right about that.
Shortly after I signed the contract, I got a call from the film producer Charles Feldman, who had resurrected Sellers' career after his heart attack by casting him as a screwball Viennese psychiatrist in What's New, Pussycat, having personally underwritten the liability because no insurance company would accept the risk. The gamble had paid off handsomely at the box- office for Feldman, who promptly re-engaged Sellers to star in his spectacularly misconceived James Bond spoof, Casino Royale. The production was not a happy one, and they had fallen out.
Since I was also writing a screenplay of Charles Morgan's Sparkenbroke for Feldman, I expected his call to be about the script, and was puzzled when he began the conversation by asking whether Sellers had mentioned Dan Leno to me. The only Dan Leno I knew was the 19th- century English music hall comic, and so far, I told him, his name hadn't come up. It will, said Feldman mordantly. He refused toelaborate, but since Leno had been dead since 1904, it did not seem to be a matter of any great urgency and I let the matter drop.
Sellers and I continued to work together through the spring and summer of 1966 on what he now liked to call The Life. He was honouring our agreement, he even seemed to be enjoying himself. I had shown him some early pages, which he professed to like, and all appeared to be going well.
But on 12 September, while I was on holiday with my family on Comino, he sent a letter to my London home informing me that he had "given a very great deal of thought to our proposed project on my life story, including dying and everything, and I have a strong feeling that this is not the time to do it ... I won't bore you with the whys and wherefores: enough that you know, in the words of Fred Kite [the militant shop steward he had played in the Boulting brothers' comedy I'm All Right Jack] that: 'I have withdrawn, meditated, consulted, convened and my decision has been democratically arrived at.'"
My secretary read it to me over the phone in tears. Nevertheless, I had by this time discovered enough about his betrayals and changes of heart not to be completely surprised by this abrupt volte-face. He'd had few relationships, either professional or personal, that hadn't come a cropper at some point. But I had spent nine months on The Life: I had a contractual commitment, had quit my job as show business editor and columnist on the Daily Express (then a broadsheet, at the peak of its popular success and paying powers), and wasn't prepared to be dumped with such casual condescension.
I flew to Rome, where he was preparing to shoot The Bobo. I arrived unannounced at his villa on the Appian Way. It was 10 o'clock in the evening; he was just sitting down to dinner with Britt Ekland – his co-star, and imminent ex-wife – in a vaulted, candle-lit dining room: he at one end of a refectory table long enough to land a small aircraft on, Britt at the other, like unhappy lovers in a Gothic romance. A place was set for me halfway down the table. Neither enquired why I had come.
Inexplicably, Sellers spoke with a Spanish accent, using a Castilian "th" for the "s" sound, as in "parth the thalt, pleath.'' I could only imagine that he was trying out a voice for Juan Bautista, the inept ex- bullfighter he was to play in the new film. But given his sensitivity about personal matters, and the unusual atmosphere that permeated the evening, I felt it wiser to ignore what might also have been a newly acquired, genuine speech impediment.
After Mrs Sellers had gone to bed, I brought up the letter and the purpose of my visit. He looked puzzled. "What letter? Oh, that letter. Well – you underthand...'' he said, oblivious of how profoundly the lisp deterred serious conversation.
I didn't understand at all, I told him. After a long discussion, the idea of the biography began to excite him all over again, and eventually The Life was back on track.
Before I left Rome the following day, we had lunch at the roof restaurant atop the Hassler Villa Medici. "I'm sorry I put you through that bithineth, Pete,'' he lisped when the coffee came. "It wathn't my idea. It wath Dan Leno'th.''
Thanks to Charlie Feldman, and Sellers's medium Estelle Roberts, whom I had interviewed, I was now on to Mr Leno, and able to handle this statement with some equanimity. Introduced to Leno by Mrs Roberts's spirit guide, a North American Indian called Red Cloud, Sellers had developed a touching trust in the old pantomime dame's professional judgement and only rarely argued with him. "Dan told me not to do that bloody film (Casino Royale) for Charlie and I didn't lithen to him,'' he said miserably, attesting to Leno's acumen.
Leno, who regretted writing his own autobiography when he was the age Sellers then was (42), had advised Sellers that my book should wait at least another eight or nine years. Leno didn't object to me per se, Sellers assured me, only to the timing of my book. Leno had had a mental breakdown and died, after a brief comeback, three years after the publication of his autobiography, Hys Booke, and was now very superstitious about things like that, Sellers explained.
Nevertheless, he promised to stand up to Leno on this occasion. "Dan'th going to make a futh, but I have to draw a line in the thand thumwhere,'' Sellers said with no indication that the lisp owed anything to his comedic sense.
Leno didn't take it lying down, of course, and the book was on and off again several times in the following months. When Sellers' mother, Peg, died during the making of The Bobo, she apparently intervened on my behalf. Alas, she was no match for Leno, who continued to be a figure of consequence in Sellers' life. Eventually, Sellers suggested that I should continue the book without his active participation. Dan, he said, couldn't object to that. This struck me as breathtakingly mistaken but agreed that it was the best way forward.
A few months after The Mask Behind the Mask was published to some acclaim in 1968, Sellers came to my house in London for lunch. He hadn't read the book himself, he said, but Peg had been in touch and told him that she liked it a lot. "She said I shouldn't listen to Dan so much,'' he admitted, the lisp now mercifully cured. It was then that I made the mistake of telling him that Leno had lived not far from where we were.
He wanted to go there at once. I had to attend a black-tie drinks party that evening, and agreed to take him there on my way.
It had been a hot day, and Sellers was dressed in a striped sailor top and a pair of baggy khaki shorts, cut a few inches below his knees, a fashion less seen on the streets of South London than it might be today. When we reached the house in Kennington – one man in a dinner jacket, the other wearing short pants, and dark glasses, both driving Mini Cooper S-types (Sellers's was mauve, with purdah-glass windows, and wickerwork doors) – we were greeted with understandable suspicion by the woman who came to the door.
Before I could begin to explain the reason for our visit, the psychic pull of Leno became too great for Sellers, who pushed passed the woman and rushed into the tiny hallway. "Dan. It's me, Pete,'' he called out, flinging open doors, rushing from room to room. "I know you're here. Talk to me, Dan.''
This was before the days when booze and dope sometimes caused him to hallucinate and his behaviour was as unnerving to me as it clearly was to the woman of the house.
"It's Peter Sellers, the actor,'' I explained, keeping it as brief and factual as I could. "He is a great admirer of a man who once lived here.''
The woman said she didn't care who he was, she lived here now, and he had no right to barge into her house, and if he didn't get out at once she'd call the police.
Eventually, I persuaded him to leave. But not before Leno had got in another dig at me. "Dan isn't at all happy with that book of yours,'' Sellers told me reproachfully.
"But Peg likes it. And she's told you not to pay attention to Dan," I reminded him.
"Peg's my mother. She likes anything I'm in,'' he said sharply.
At the beginning of 1980, he asked me to send him a copy of The Mask Behind the Mask. He had continued to insist that he would never read it and I expressed my curiosity.
"Dan Leno's read it again and says it's much better than he'd first thought,'' he explained, deadpan. Time magazine was writing a cover story on him, he added, and Leno had suggested that he should send the reporter a copy of my book to help her understand him better.
I sensed a rapprochement between Leno and me. Give my regards to Dan, I told Sellers the last time we said goodbye, after we'd had lunch at the old Empress restaurant in Berkeley Street, Mayfair.
"I will,'' he promised with sudden poignancy. "But I don't talk to him very much anymore.''
A few weeks later, on July 24, 1980, Peter Sellers died for the second and last time.
'The Paranormal Peter Sellers' is on Channel 4 later this year

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 20, 2002.

Independent

'What happened to Ben helped me step back and realise it's not all about me'
18 August 2002
Adam Hollioake Interview: When words fail, the Surrey captain can express himself in a way his brother would understand
http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=325344

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 18, 2002.

TRAFFIC WILL SOAR OUTSIDE ZONE
Mayor Ken Livingstone's congestion charge will trigger gridlock on vital London routes as commuters struggle to avoid the Ł5-a-day payment, a new survey shows.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=668915&in_review_text_id=640579
17 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 17, 2002.

CONGESTION CHARGE: THE LOWDOWN
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=669736&in_review_text_id=641565
16 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 16, 2002.

ROAD CHAOS 'NOW THE WORST EVER'
London is in the grip of its worst road congestion ever, with scores of vital routes reduced to chaos, motoring organisations said today.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/top_story.htm l?in_review_id=669657&in_review_text_id=641435
16 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 16, 2002.

Bid up for Cup ball
THIS historic football from the 1888 FA Cup Final is expected to fetch up to Ł18,000 at auction.
Check out the following link.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm? objectid=12115672&method=full

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 14, 2002.

Guardian

Fayed loses high court action against Met
Jamie Wilson
Guardian
Wednesday August 14, 2002
Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed yesterday lost a high court action against the Metropolitan police for wrongful arrest and false imprisonment on suspicion of theft and criminal damage to the contents of a safety deposit box, belonging to his arch rival, the late Tiny Rowland.
Mr Fayed and four others, including his head of security, John Macnamara, claimed they were wrongly arrested in March 1998 in connection with a break-in to the box kept at the Knightsbridge store.
Yesterday Mr Justice Cresswell dismissed the action against the Metropolitan police commissioner and four other officers, saying: "I find that a reasonable man would have been of the opinion that, having regard to the information which was in the mind of the arresting officer, there were reasonable grounds for suspecting Mr Al Fayed to be guilty of theft and criminal damage jointly with others." Mr Fayed, who was not in court for the ruling and did not give evidence during the hearing, said that he was "appalled" and described the judgment as a "travesty of justice".
"I have instructed my lawyers to launch an immediate appeal because the ruling strikes at the heart of civil liberties and undermines the fundamental principles of freedom which the law is supposed to uphold," he said.
Graham Small, the lawyer who acted for Jeffrey Rees, the now retired detective chief superintendent who led the investigation, said: "We are delighted that the decision to arrest Mohamed Al Fayed and his cohorts has been vindicated. We have always been confident of success in this case. There was an abundance of evidence that led my client to suspect Mr Al Fayed had been involved in several unauthorised openings of the safe deposit box in question.
"The greatest travesty is that the Met was taken from fighting crime to go into court to defend themselves."
In his judgment Mr Cresswell rehearsed the background to the police investigation, codenamed Operation Jagon, into alleged break-ins to a number of Harrods safety deposit boxes.
They included a box belonging to Mr Rowland, which he claimed contained documents, reels of film, and emeralds worth Ł250,000.
Mr Rowland claimed the contents had been tampered with and the emeralds had disappeared. "It's all been torn, they're just a lot of thieves," a detective recorded Mr Rowland as saying after the box was opened under controlled conditions in 1997.
Several witnesses, including Bob Loftus, a former Harrods employee, backed up Mr Rowland's version.
Mr Loftus described how a locksmith had been brought to Harrods one night in 1995 to open the box, the contents of which were taken to Mr Fayed's office on the fifth floor. Using plastic gloves from the Harrods food hall, the contents were inspected and shown to Mr Fayed.
On March 2 1998 Mr Fayed, Mr Macnamara, Paul Handley- Greaves, Colin Dalma, John Allen and a sixth man, Mark Griffiths, who was not part of the action against the Met, were arrested at Kennington police station. They were later released without charge and no charges were brought.
In March 2000 Mr Fayed told the high court he had "no personal responsibility" for the disappearance of the gems, but paid Mr Rowland's widow, Josephine, Ł1.4m in damages after accepting responsibility as the owner of the store for the opening of the box.
Mr Fayed and the other four claimants advanced their case against the police on the basis that the arresting officers did not have reasonable grounds to suspect arrestable offences had been carried out.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

London Underground
August 07 2002
More trains running on Northern Line
LU today unveiled a new train-every-two-minutes timetable for the southern end of the Northern Line during rush hours.
Customers are reaping the benefits of the Private Finance Initiative partnership between London Underground and private company ALSTOM with more trains running – increased from 28 trains to 30 trains per hour between Kennington and Morden, in the peak hour going towards London in the morning and towards Morden in the evening.
To mark the new timetable, a Heritage car, which has been expertly restored in the livery used between 1922 and 1927, and converted into a visitors’ centre and staff meeting room, were unveiled at ALSTOM’s Transport Sector Metro care Depot in Morden, Surrey.
Paul Kilius-Smith, Service Delivery Manager, Trains, JNP, said: "Like any good marriage there is something old – the Heritage train, which has been painstakingly restored and converted by two members of the ALSTOM maintenance team, Andy Beal and Tony Edmonds as a visitors’ centre and staff meeting room.
"Plus something new - an enhanced Northern Line timetable, which will help our customers travelling to and from work and in their leisure time in the evenings and at weekends.
"This will mean that commuters travelling between Kennington and Morden will only have to wait two minutes in the rush hour for their train.
“Northern line services in the 'shoulder' hours around the peak will also be enhanced in some cases by between one and four trains per hour. This equates to a waiting time reduction of half a minute.
"During the week, trains running between the rush hours and in the evenings, will rise by two to three trains per hour on most Northern line branches. This means customers will have their waiting time reduced by up to one and a half minutes.
"On Saturdays, there will be an increase of two to three trains per hour in the early morning and late evenings on most branches, which results in a waiting time reduction of one and a half minutes.
"On Sundays, there will be an increase of between one and four trains per hour on most branches throughout the day, with the greatest increases first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Passengers will have a waiting time reduction of about one and a half minutes.
"Although this may seem only a small increase in the timetable, a great deal of work, extra staff and trains are needed to achieve this substantial improvement in the service."
© Copyright 2002 London Underground Limited. All rights reserved

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

THE BIG BRAAI AT THE COIN STREET FESTIVAL

Sunday 18 August
2-7pm at Bernie Spain Gardens & Oxo Tower Wharf; free
The South Bank goes South African for a day with live music, food and entertainment.
http://www.coinstreetfestival.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

THE HERBAL SANCTUARY

Saturday 17 August
2.30pm at the Old Operating Theatre, 9a St Thomas' Street; Ł3.75 (conc Ł2.75)
A lecture exploring the 300 year old apothecary's Herb Garret of old St Thomas' Hospital. A chance to discover the medical; secrets of Snail water, Venetian Treacle, wormwood, comfrey and many other forgotten remedies of herbal physic. Also view the old operating theatre.
http://www.thegarret.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

LAUNCH OF SHARK WEEK

Saturday 17 August
River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge, starting County Hall 11am
Mariella Frostrup and a 30ft replica basking shark will be cruising the waters of the Thames to launch the aquariums first annual Shark Week.
http://www.londonaquarium.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

OPEN DAY AT THE YOUNG VIC THEATRE

Saturday 17 August
10am-4pm at the Young Vic, The Cut, Waterloo; free
Residents are invited to visit the theatre and inspect the redevelopment plans.
http://www.youngvic.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

RECENT ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES IN SOUTHWARK

Thursday 15 August
6.30pm at the Cuming Museum, Walworth Road, SE17; free
Southwark's Borough Archaeologist Sarah Gibson highlights the most recent archaeological material found in Southwark.
http://www.se1direct.co.uk/quicklink/go.php?id=156

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

JUBILEE LINE ARCHAEOLOGY

Tuesday 13 August
6.30pm at the Cuming Museum, Walworth Road, SE17; free
James Drummond Murray from the Museum of London Archaeology service talks about the significant discoveries found during the Jubilee Line construction.
http://www.se1direct.co.uk/quicklink/go.php?id=156

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

LOOP Walks - South London
Our next challenge for Sunday walks will be to complete the 8 linear walks totalling 54 miles along the London Outer Orbital Path (LOOP) South of the Thames from Erith Riverside to Kingston Upon Thames.
All walks are designed so you can reach the start and return at the end by public transport.
Comfortable footwear is essential.
LOOP 1 Erith Riverside to Old Bexley Village, 8.5 miles (13.5km)
LOOP 2 Old Bexley Village to Jubilee Country Park, 7.25 miles (11.5km)
LOOP 3 Jubilee Country Park to West Wickham Common, 9 miles (14.5km)
LOOP 4 West Wickham Common to Hamsey Green, 8.5 miles (13.5km)
LOOP 5 Hamsey Green to Coulsdon South, 6 miles (9.5km)
LOOP 6 Coulsdon South to Banstead Downs, 4.5 miles (7km)
LOOP 7 Banstead Downs to Bourne Hall Park, 3.5 miles (5.5km)
LOOP 8 Bourne Hall Park to Kingston upon Thames, 7.25 miles (11.5km)
"Looks like a long way? No worries - the walk's been carefully planned so you can do as much or as little as you want. If you feel you've done enough for the day a breakpoint with a bus stop [or railway station] is never far away.
"On the other hand, if you just need a break, there are lots of pubs and picnic places along the way."
"The Southern Group of LOOP sections starts at the banks of the broad River Thames. It soon strikes out over flat marshland. Tall reed beds and huge skies are all around you. Soon you'll meet the river Cray, which will be your companion for many miles before its delights give way to woods and parkland. Further on, real treasures unfold like the fascinating High Elms Country Park, with connections to Charles Darwin, and the historic West Wickham Common.
"East meets west, as you cross the Greenwich Meridian followed by a climb to the heights of Addington Hills, London's largest heathland, with views clear across the city.
"Now your walk leads you over chalky downs, whose grassy meadows are home to the chalkhill blue butterfly and the rare pyramidal orchid. Keep walking and you'll come to the Happy Valley and the ancient landscape of Farthing Downs.
"See Oaks Park, home of Lord Derby who gave his name to the famous horse race. Also see the remains of one of Henry VIII's palaces. You'll find that following the Hogsmill River on its picturesque journey is the perfect finale to the Blue section as we see it merge with Old Father Thames."
LOOP 1 Erith Riverside to Old Bexley Village - Easy Walking

Walking Conditions
Mostly level with a few short climbs
Paths alongside the River Darent and Cray can be muddy
The section is suitable for the less mobile and for pushchairs around Riverside Gardens and Erith Pier
Pick your Walk
The total walk:- Erith Riverside to Old Bexley Village is 13.5km, 8.5 miles, 5 hours
Erith Riverside to Slade Green Station is 6.5km, 4 miles, 2 hours 40 mins
Slade Green Station to Crayford Station is 5.5km, 3.5 miles, 2 hours 15 mins
Crayford Station to Bexley Station is 4.5km, 3 miles, 2 hours.
"The rivers and skies of this section have something for everyone; you'll see ships going up and down the Thames, as they have since way before the Romans. The local birds use the mudflats as a giant sushi bar, while on what were once landfill sites, you get your fill of wildlife encounters!"
Trains
London Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge frequency at least every 30 mins to and from Erith and Slade Green, and similar frequency to and from Bexley and Crayford Stations. Also, various buses.
OK, so if you're interested, be in touch and we'll set up a meeting time and place, say, 11am at Kennington tube on Sunday? We can get started and stop for lunch at one of the pubs en-route.
Cathy
cathyvpreece@aol.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 13, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 08.08.2002
Ref: 1392
Press contact: Isolda Mcneill
Tel: 020 7926 2949
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

Lambeth blitz on illegal advertisement hoardings
Time is up for unscrupulous advertising companies whose illegal hoardings blight Lambeth's streets and communities. The council's planning enforcement team is clearing the borough of these unwanted and unauthorised eyesores.
Two 'mega' advertisement hoardings, one on the side of The Cricketers pub at Newington Butts and the other at the junction of Thurlow Park and Avenue Road are the team's latest targets. Fresh from the removal of the pub board on August 1, the planning enforcement officers plan to get rid of the other giant structure today, August 6.
This follows successful actions against illegal hoardings at locations across Lambeth, ranging from the largest illegal advertisement display in London on Kennington Road to free-standing displays on the pavement disguised as 'street furniture'. Other advertisement hoardings recently removed include a 'mega' advertisement hoarding in Streatham High Road, a display around the Imax Cinema in Waterloo and another on the front elevation of the Fridge night-club in Brixton.
"Saying bye-bye to Illegal advertisement hoardings helps us in the move to a tidier and better environment for every-one, " said Councillor Andrew Sawdon, Lambeth executive member for community safety, regeneration and transport. "It can be a long-drawn legal process moving against some of the big players. Just as with action against other enviro-crimes, it can take a lot of effort.
"But we will not be deterred from putting in whatever time and effort is needed to deal with this and other envirocrime."
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 11, 2002.

Struck by lightning
Aug 9 2002
By Peter Harrison, South London Press
FORTY-ONE households were evacuated after lightning struck a block of flats in Wednesday night's storms, which saw 30mm of rain fall in 30 minutes.
Eye-witnesses say they saw a bolt of lightning strike Sheppards House on St Martin's Estate, Tulse Hill, at about 6pm.
John Haines, 57, of Abbots Park, said: "I was standing outside my house when I saw the bolt of lightning strike the building.
"Ten minutes later I could smell smoke and saw flames - that's when we called the fire brigade."
And Dilia Agosto, 33, of Abbots Park, said: "I was walking past the block when I heard and loud bang, I looked up and could see lightning had struck."
Remarkably no one was hurt in the incident which saw 45 adults and 15 children evacuated from the 41 homes, but 60 per cent of the roof was damaged - there was no lightning conductor.
By 10.40pm, all but one household had returned home, one flat was waterlogged and the residents stayed with family.
Lightning also struck St James' School, on Old Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, shortly before 6pm on Wednesday. However, the damage was limited to a hole about one inch wide, with a few burning embers.
Elsewhere, Kennington Tube station was closed at about 5.45pm for 45 minutes after the ticket hall was flooded, and at Surrey Quays on the East London Line, one platform was shut from 6.35pm for an hour through flooding.
And the Jubilee Line was closed after problems with the signals.
A London Fire Brigade spokesman confirmed the brigade received 1,407 calls within five hours.
He added: "Although it was our busiest night this year there were no major injuries."
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 10, 2002.

When money talks
Aug 9 2002
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali, South London Press
WHEN congestion charging was given the green light at the High Court last week there was the expected widespread condemnation in Kennington.
And when, only days later, it was revealed the scheme would be given a try out four months early and Kennington Park Road would be one of the guinea pigs, Mayor Ken must have heard the teeth gnashing all the way from his Southbank HQ.
But for Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson - the Kennington Two - it has all become part of a living nightmare.
The pair - who put their names on the unsuccessful legal challenge backed by the Kennington Association - were landed with a huge Ł11,500 bill when the Mayor's legal team emerged victorious.
Miss Preece, on income support, and Mr Adamson, a mature student, were given 56 days to pay the debt.
What's more, if the debt was not paid within a week, the names of around 60 other association members would be passed on to the Mayor - and they too would become liable for the debt. That deadline passed on Tuesday night.
Fortunately the Kennington Association managed to secure 11th-hour loans to cover the Ł11,500, and so protect the names of their members.
Speaking on Tuesday, Miss Preece told the South London Press: "This has snowballed into a nightmare."
And Mr Adamson added: "We have got caught up in a whirlwind."
With one deadline met, the Kennington Two must now raise Ł10,000 more to cover overall court costs.
If not, they may lose their homes - the very thing they wanted to protect.
And that figure could have been even higher if Mr Livingstone's lawyers succeeded in convincing Mr Justice Maurice Kay that they should be liable for costs totalling Ł100,000.
Kennington Association spokesman Mark Rogers said: "The good news is that we have been able to protect the names of our members."
We have been touched by the response from ordinary members of the public, but in terms of the money, there is still a long way to go."
Cash aside, Mr Rogers is extremely concerned that the High Court battle has left two individuals high and dry.
He said: "We feel that the order that individual members should be liable to pay costs for bringing an action, which the court itself acknowledged to be in the public interest, is a worrying precedent."
Because the congestion charging was challenged in the High Court on Human Rights issues, it meant individuals - rather than the organisation itself - had to put their names forward.
Lambeth council - heavily in debt - could not afford to take the case to court like neighbouring Westminster.
And while the Kennington Association has backed Miss Preece and Mr Adamson to the hilt, they have been placed in an unenviable position.
Mr Rogers said: "We find the whole issue of two individuals being found liable highly debatable. If we had the money to challenge this we would, but the funds are just not there.
"It means anyone communityminded who has something to say has to rely on a large body to do it for them.
"In a nutshell, it means the deeper your pockets are, the more likely you are to have your own way. It's a dangerous position for our society to be in."
Miss Preece said: "The implications of anybody joining a residents' association are very serious indeed."
And the wider implications of the case have not been lost across London. "We have had a number of cheques from people who read about this in the paper and who represent community groups," said Miss Preece.
On Wednesday, Mr Rogers received a call from a north London association expressing disbelief at the situation its Kennington counterpart found itself in.
Nevertheless, both Mr Rogers and Mr Adamson are keen to thank all those who have backed their cause.
Mr Adamson said: "While the court decision was disappointing and worrying, we are very grateful for the tremendous response we have had.
He added: "It doesn't seem fair that normal people who join an association should be forced to pay court costs."
And Mr Rogers said: "When we took this on, we hoped people would rally around when it came down to it. That doesn't mean it isn't still very nerve- wracking waiting - and there's still a long way to go."
* If you would like to help the Kennington Association and Miss Preece and Mr Adamson, send cheques to: The Treasurer, Kennington Association, 335 Kennington Road, London SE11 4QE.
Alternatively you can make a direct payment to The Kennington Association account at the Alliance and Leicester. Sort code: 72-00-03, Account Number 51 34 54 85.
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 10, 2002.

TIMES ONLINE

Court & Social
August 09, 2002
Forthcoming marriages
Mr B.D. Rhys Jones and Miss C.H. Dean
The engagement is announced between Barney, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Roderick Rhys Jones, of Kennington, London, and Katie, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Anthony Dean, of Walkington, Yorkshire.
Copyright 2002 Times Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2002.

Evening Standard

End this class war on motorists
by Steve Norris, Former Conservative Transport Minister
If there was an award for the city that was most hostile to motorists, London would win it hands down. Part of the problem is that there are far too many cooks spoiling the broth.
London drivers have to suffer 33 different borough parking regimes, not to mention Transport for London and the Highways Agency. One of the reasons I supported the idea of a directly elected Mayor is because we need a powerful voice who can pull all these players together and make some sense of it all. Sadly, that is yet another challenge Ken Livingstone has failed.
To be fair, it is not Ken who has produced the latest assault on drivers, which is the Association of London Boroughs' outrageous plan to increase the headline fine for overstaying at a parking meter to Ł120. We all know that means half as much if you pay in time, but Ł60 is still a huge amount of money to fork out for being five minutes late at the dentist.
The point of these fines is to make sure we all remember we are renting a bit of road rather than acquiring a freehold. But if my eyes water at the odd Ł40 hit, many people with rather less disposable income than an old Tory minister like me must be really hurting.
The only justification for an increase would be if there was any evidence that we were suffering dog-licence syndrome, in other words we had got to the point when nobody cared when they overstayed because the fine didn't matter.
If any borough leader thinks Ł40 is insignificant they truly have lost touch with reality. The truth is this is an outrageous and utterly cynical money grab by the boroughs, which just want to have their share of the plunder from drivers.
At the bottom of all this is the question of what road-charging in all its manifestations is actually for. It is certainly not just another excuse to insert a governmental hand into the motoring trouser pocket, although every Chancellor, Labour or Tory, appears to think otherwise. I have consistently argued that charging should be an aid to decongestion and improving air quality. But on that basis both the boroughs and Livingstone have lamentably failed to make their case.
In a crowded city we need to keep roads flowing as smoothly as possible, optimising space for people rather than any particular class of transport. That means walking and cycling instead of using the car for the 15 per cent of car journeys that are under a mile long.
It means riding a scooter or a motorbike to get to work fast and avoid the Ken tax if - and it's a big if - you can find a bike bay to park in. And of course it means using the bus, Tube or train if you possibly can, if only to avoid the sheer hassle of trying to find a parking space in the first place.
It is never a question of demonising car users. That approach is both stupid and politically undeliverable. The truth is very few people regard a car journey in London as a pleasure. For most it is a necessity, even before Ken's Ł5 a day hits those car drivers who can least afford to pay.
I used to irritate Ken when I was briefly on the Transport for London board by calling his plan "Roads for the Rich", but that is what it is. Those of us who can afford a fiver a day without too much pain might even be tempted back into our cars if congestion is genuinely reduced.
The people who are going to be forced off will not be those with the most obvious public transport alternative, assuming any exists, but those least able to pay.
Like the head waiter who parks his car outside my West End office at 5.30 in the evening because he's going home at 1.30 in the morning when the last punters have shuffled off in their cabs. Anyone who thinks there is public transport around at that time of night clearly has never tried it.
There are two preconditions for any road pricing scheme to be successful. One is that it ought to be possible to drop off the car and pick up public transport before entering the charging zone - the park-and-ride concept. The second is that there should be real public transport capacity to handle the new passengers.
Neither of these conditions exists in central London, unless Ken is suggesting we turn Regent's Park and Hyde Park over to concrete. And all this talk of extra buses is fine except I don't know a single Londoner who has actually noticed the difference.
Residents of Westminster and Kennington wanted a stay of execution at least while we had a serious look at these issues. At the very least, they argued, we ought to have had a public inquiry to confirm that the plan will actually work before we're all stuck with them. But Ken's unexpected win in the High Court last week now means he won't be able to blame someone else when it all goes wrong. He has been given enough rope to hang himself - and he has shown a remarkable propensity of late for tightening his own noose.
Only one type of driver will probably not worry too much about parking fines in London - the lucky few with an offstreet parking space. I have never understood why an old Trot like Ken did not see this extraordinarily privileged cohort as a far more logical target when it comes to reducing congestion.
Workplace parking charging would raise money far more efficiently, with no hard cases such as you inevitably get with Ken's scheme, and target the cars that actually cause peak-hour congestion - which are unsurprisingly the ones who have somewhere to park at journey's end.
Not for the first time my advice to Ken is to think harder about what will bring results, rather than indulging his gut instincts. We all want more ordered, safer, less choked streets.
Deliberately inconveniencing and irritating motorists on the grounds of fighting a class war against the car is not the way to get them.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 08 August 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 06.08.2002
Ref: 1390
Press contact: Andrea Lake
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: alake@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

Summer reading challenge for young people
Children tormented by boredom during the summer school holiday are being challenged to switch off the television, switch on their imagination and zoom into space.
Lambeth's nine libraries are inviting children aged from five to 13 years to read up to six books about space and space travel as part of the annual summer reading challenge which closes at the end of August.
Participants are asked to give their opinion of the stories and to get involved with special events at their local library. In return they could learn how to make a solar system, collect space-escape stickers, medals and certificates.
More than 1,000 local children got the reading bug last summer and took up the summer reading challenge.
To support the event, a special Reading Planet folder is available free of charge from local libraries. For more information on activities and membership to your local library visit the website at www.lambeth.gov.uk, or call your local library direct:
Brixton Library, Brixton Oval, (020 7926 1056)
Carnegie Library, 188 Herne Hill Road, ( 020 7926 6050)
Clapham Library, 1 Northside, Clapham Common, (020 7926 0717)
Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, ( 020 7926 8682)
more . . .
Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, (020 7926 6070)
South Lambeth Library, (020 7926 0705)
Streatham Library, (020 7926 6768), and
West Norwood Library, (020 7926 8092).
ENDS
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 09, 2002.

If you are a Voluntary Sector Organisation / Community Group Start-up Business / Small Business then you should know about

OFFERS

(OFFICE FURNITURE FITTINGS & EQUIPMENT RE-USE SCHEME
In the course of upgrading and for refurbishing their premises major companies often have furniture/equipment to dispose of, much of which still has a potentially useful life. OFFERS collects, stores and distributes donated office furniture/equipment for reuse by Voluntary sector groups and small start-up business. OFFERS also provides a rent-out service for stack tables/chairs for community events.
Furniture and equipment available includes a large selection of desks, filing cabinets, display cabinets, chairs, bookcases, storage cabinets, tables, mobile pedestals and stationary. Also available is computer equipment, printers and photocopiers on request.
If your are looking for office furniture or require further information about
OFFERS
please contact Armin (Project Co-ordinator)
OFFERS c/o CRISP
719 Brandon Street London SE17 1 NA
Tel. 020 7703 5222
Fax: 020 7252 7766
e-mail: CRISPEJ@aol.com
OFFERS is an Elephant Jobs project managed by CRISP

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 06, 2002.

Evening Standard Photo on Sunday 11th August @ 11.30am in the Park
I have just had a call from Laura Smith of the Evening Standard to say that they will be taking a photo of as many residents as possible who are opposed to the congestion charging scheme as it stands now.
If at all possible, please be by the cafe in Kennington Park at 11.30am on Sunday 11th August and let as many people know about this as possible.
With many thanks and kind regards
Cathy Preece
Kennington Association
335 Kennington Road
North Lambeth
London SE11 4QE
E: KenningtonAssn@aol.com
W: www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), August 05, 2002.

Desk Space I will be looking for desk space from mid September. I run a small Illustration Agency and need desk space and some storage, plus telephones etc. Reasonably priced or cheap, but secure desk space needed hopefully in the Kennington area from mid September onwards.
I am happy to share existing small business set up.

-- Frances McKay (frances@francesmckay.com), August 05, 2002.

KEN: I'LL SCRAP CAR TAX IF IT DOESN'T WORK
Ken Livingstone will give his controversial congestion charging scheme just two months to work, he promised today.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=659625&in_review_text_id=630682
5 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 05, 2002.

BACKSTAIRS BILLY FINALLY RETIRES
After half a century of loyal service, the Queen Mother's favourite servant has finally left Clarence House.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=659568&in_review_text_id=630625
5 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 05, 2002.

The Sunday Telegraph (United Kingdom):

London's car wars: Will the new congestion charge affect house prices? asks Ross Clark
Europe Intelligence Wire - August 4, 2002 6:03am
When our motorways have been reduced to shattered monuments along the lines of Stonehenge, the world may look back to last Wednesday as the day the tide first turned against the motor-car.
Ken Livingstone's congestion charging zone, which from February 17 next year will make London the first outsize city in the world to charge for its streets, was given the go-ahead in the High Court. Like the introduction of postcodes in 1968 and the coming of the 071 and 081 telephone dialling codes in 1990, the congestion charging zone will inevitably have a certain snob value and, ultimately, a lasting impact on property prices.
Over the next few months the question "are you in or out?" will be fired across dinner-party tables. Those inside will enjoy quieter streets, used, according to Mr Livingstone's estimates, by 15 per cent fewer vehicles. Those outside may see their neighbourhoods becoming rat-runs and will face having to pay pounds 5 every time they want to pop to the newsagents or drop their children off at school.
So far, property buyers have been slow to respond to the threat of congestion charging - or at least that is what estate agents are keen to tell us.
"A lot of people didn't really believe it was going to go ahead," says James Bailey of Douglas & Gordon, whose Pimlico office lies on the boundary. In any case, he says, pounds 5 a day is a pittance compared with the general costs of living in London. In spite of street protests in Kennington last week and a residents' association warning of "a huge degradation in the quality of life for people in this area", Alex Dawes of Barnard Marcus says that only two buyers in the past two months have enquired about whether particular properties lie inside or outside the congestion charging zone. One was a buyer who ran a business in Southwark and faced an extra annual motoring bill of pounds 1,500 if he lives on the wrong side of Kennington Lane.
The main effects, inevitably, will be on the perimeter. There are unfashionable areas which lie just within the zone and may enjoy a boost; and there are very fashionable areas which have been left outside. One of the most obvious beneficiaries will be dowdy Lambeth, where prices are currently 30 per cent lower than in Pimlico. Lambeth, however, lies inside the zone, and its residents will qualify for a 90 per cent discount on an annual pass to drive about Central London, while Pimlico lies outside. For the hardened motorist who insists on driving to work in the City every morning, Lambeth is now prime pied a terre-hunting territory. At the moment, a one-bedroom flat near Westminster school typically costs pounds 250,000. In Chelsea it is pounds 350,000. But after February 17, Westminster may well become a more attractive proposition: Belgravia, in particular, faces increased traffic as motorists are displaced from Constitution Hill and Victoria Street. Other areas to watch include Old Street and King's Cross, which will both lie within the zone. Islington, on the other hand, lies the wrong side of Pentonville Road.
"There are people concerned that congestion will build up just outside the zone, particularly at 6:30pm, just before the charging period ends," says Paul Williams of Holden Matthews in Islington, "though a lot of money is being spent on traffic calming in Barnsbury to prevent rat- running."
As always with new legislation, the devil is in the loopholes. Electric cars, under current proposals, will be exempt from the charge. Not only that, the City of Westminster has granted owners of electric cars free parking at meters. Whether such perks will last if too many people buy electric cars is another matter.
There is the possibility, too, that the congestion charging zone will turn out to be merely a pilot scheme for what remains a long- term aim of some Treasury mandarins: congestion charging on all British roads. Car commuters, you have been warned.
Copyright © 2002 The Sunday Telegraph. Source : Financial Times Information Limited - Europe Intelligence Wire

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 05, 2002.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-374720,00.html
Queen rewards her jubilee masterminds
Athletes and sports fans from around the world saluted the Queen at the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games last night

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 05, 2002.

The Times
August 04, 2002
Why I Moved: Our refuge in the city
When life in Surrey proved too dull, Stephen Hoare knew a return to the bright lights of London was the only option for his family
We moved from Wimbledon, in southwest London, to Farnham in Surrey in 1994, following the well-worn trail of jaded urbanites in search of a more relaxed pace of life, good state schools for our daughters and fresh air. And, of course, there was the attraction of trading up: we sold our three-bedroom Victorian terraced house for Ł120,000 and bought a detached house with a big garden and garage for Ł160,000.
To start with, life seemed like a holiday, particularly in those first summer weekends when we rode our bikes down sleepy country lanes, stopping to rest at quaint pubs. My wife, Pauline, started a new job as a head teacher and I gave up a long commuter journey to start freelancing.
But holiday romances are soon over. Boredom set in. The nearest theatre, cinemas and big shops were in Guildford, a 10-mile drive away. As Pauline and I found ourselves becoming an on-demand teenage taxi service for our daughters, we were also becoming disenchanted with what Farnham offered us. We might be middle-aged, but we hankered after noisy parties, crowded Tube trains, intellectual debate, art, culture, and dead sheep in formaldehyde — not green fields full of the real thing.
Life got worse when Pauline changed her job and started working as a university lecturer in Bloomsbury. But earlier this summer, we finally made it back to London. And right to the heart of London, too, a mile from Westminster. Capital-dwellers may joke that the streets of north London are distinguished by blue plaques while south of the river we have yellow police crime-scene placards, but Kennington is a community.
Our move to Kennington was the result of a long-term exit strategy, a result of how far apart London and provincial prices moved in the eight years we were away. In fact, we had to trade up within Farnham to be able to make the transition to a family home in London. The three-bedroom Victorian terraced house we had sold for Ł120,000 was now worth a cool half a million. The house we had bought for Ł160,000 in Surrey had risen to just Ł300,000. Three years ago, realising the market was moving against us, we took out an extra mortgage to fund a Farnham house that would keep pace with London prices — at least in the short term. We bought a neglected detached house with double garage for Ł295,000, thinking that by adding improvements we would get nearer to a London price. But we would be stuck there still had we not discovered a unique selling point: our driveway was the only access to a potential building plot — back land cut off by gardens.
After a determined campaign of informing local agents and talks with the owner of the plot, we got an offer from a developer and moved fast. On what must have been the wettest day on record, I went to Kennington to meet Sid Griffiths, our estate agent from Winkworths, who had some good news. He had just taken on a new instruction: there were no printed details but it was Georgian, it was big, and did we mind doing a spot of DIY? I walked through the door with Sid, met the owner, and within five minutes had offered the Ł435,000 asking price.
So what does everybody think now that the dust has settled? Well, the girls are certainly delighted, while Pauline is happy to have exchanged her fraught commuter journey for a 10-minute bus ride and a leisurely stroll across St James’s Park.
Farnham v Kennington
Farnham: Situated next to Alice Holt Forest in Holt Pound, this four-bedroom detached house is on sale for Ł465,000 with Andrew Lodge, 01252 717 705
Kennington: A three- bedroom, listed mid-terrace Georgian house in Hanover Gardens is on the market for Ł455,000 through Kinleigh, Folkard and Hayward, 020 7582 7773

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 04, 2002.

YOUTH ADMITS ROBBING AITKEN DAUGHTER
A 17-year-old youth has admitted mugging the daughter of disgraced former Tory minister Jonathan Aitken.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=451519&in_review_text_id=401744
3 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 03, 2002.

'Down but not out' pledge opponents of congestion fees
Aug 2 2002
THE Kennington Association is down but not out after a High Court judge this week gave Ken Livingsto
Go to:
http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/page.cfm? objectid=12085628&method=full

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

Fri 2 Aug 2002

Curt or curtsy, that is the question when the Queen drops by
(English)
Ham and High by Lynne Featherstone As the Queen moved down the line of assembly members towards me, meeting and greeting, I ...
Got to:
http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/archived/2002/0802/yourhamhigh/assembly.asp

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

ROAD CIRCLES ARE WARNING OF ROAD TOLL
At first glance they look like a series of archery targets or some bizarre product of Brit Art.
Full Story:
http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/news/top_story.html? in_review_id=657065&in_review_text_id=627984
2 August 2002
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

GO- AHEAD FOR Ł5 TO DRIVE IN LONDON
Aug 1 2002
Ken Livinsgstone beats off a court challenge to his plan to charge Ł5 a time to drive into Central L
Go to:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm? objectid=12081411&method=full

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

The Times
August 01, 2002
Court approves London Ł5 congestion toll
By Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent
A Ł5 DAILY toll for driving into Central London will be imposed from February, after the High Court ruled yesterday in favour of Ken Livingstone’s scheme to reduce the capital’s traffic congestion.
The Mayor of London was cleared of allegations that he had breached the human rights of people living on the edge of the charging zone by failing either to order a public inquiry into the scheme or a full assessment of its probable environmental impact.
Westminster Council and two members of the Kennington Association, representing residents living on the zone’s southern boundary, had said that thousands of home-owners would suffer more pollution and congestion.
Mr Livingstone has admitted there may be some rise in traffic around the edge of the zone as drivers find “rat runs” to avoid paying the charge, which will apply from 7am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
But Mr Justice Kay dismissed all the claims made against the scheme, including the Kennington residents’ evidence that their homes would fall in value by up to Ł30,000.
The 50 to 60 members of the Kennington Association are now liable for about Ł20,000 in legal costs and last night appealed for donations.
Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea, which had supported its fellow Conservative-controlled borough as an interested party, were ordered to pay Mr Livingstone’s Ł1 million legal costs.
In rejecting their application for permission to seek judicial review, the judge said: “Even on a ‘worst case scenario’ of a 25 per cent increase in traffic, the predicted increase in pollution would be small, and the most recent predictions of traffic increase are more in the region of 10 per cent.”
He added: “It may be that a more cautious mayor would have sought to underwrite his judgment by resort to, for example, a public inquiry. But this mayor has decided lawfully against that course.”
Mr Livingstone said: “We are happy that our entire approach to the introduction of congestion charging, which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation, has been vindicated.”
Sources close to the mayor indicated he was ready to make small changes to satisfy local concerns, including shifting Kennington Tube station from zone two to zone one, allowing a 30p discount on a journey to Central London.
Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster Council, said: “We still believe a major scheme of this nature should not be implemented without more effective scrutiny and we question whether Britain’s first congestion charge should be introduced in a complex city such as London.”
Gordon McDougall, chairman of the Kennington Association, said the two residents who had brought the case could not afford to pay the costs because one was a student and the other unemployed. “We will have to hold a fundraising exercise to pay the costs. This case shows that the Human Rights Act doesn’t give individuals the power to stop large authorities pushing through schemes without proper consultation.”
The AA, which had supported Westminster’s case, said: “This is potentially the biggest transport development to affect the South of England, yet there has been no examination to establish whether the assumptions of those promoting it make sense.”
London First, the business organisation, said: “We are pleased that congestion charging is not being delayed. We have to do something about congestion in London. The present situation threatens to bring it to a standstill.”

How it will work

Motorists will pay Ł5 a day to drive into Central London from February 17, 2003

The zone will operate 7am-6.30pm, Monday-Friday, except public holidays. Weekly, monthly and yearly passes will be available

Payments to be by phone internet, post or in shops

Numberplates will be read by cameras at entry and exit

For one day, the Ł5 toll allows unlimited zone entries

90 per cent discount for people living in the zone

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

The Times
August 01, 2002
Campaigners face Ł10,000 legal bill
By A Correspondent
FINANCIALLY strapped London residents were ordered to pay a Ł10,000 legal bill for their part in a High Court test case on the legality of the controversial Ł5 congestion charge for London motorists.
Cathy Preece, 50, and Gareth Adamson, 40, of Kennington, have 56 days to pay the bill, which does not include fees for their own solicitors, estimated at another Ł10,000.
Lawyers for Ken Livingstone and Transport for London wanted Ł100,000.
Indicating that they had taken on more than they had bargained but saying they could not expect a “free ride”, Mr Justice Kay, in London, said: “They came to this enormous case in a small family car and found themselves behind a juggernaut.” The costs order is seen as a warning to the public to reconsider before getting involved in high- profile disputes.
Ms Preece, on benefits and income support, and Mr Adamson, who lives on a student grant, had joined Westminster Council and Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council in fighting for a public inquiry and environmental impact assessment of the congestion charging project.
Rejecting their challenges, the judge ordered the councils to pay the Ł3 million in legal costs. Ms Preece and Mr Adamson, who joined the challenge as members of the Kennington Association, a community campaign group, were that told their share of the bill was Ł10,000. They were not insured against losing. After the hearing the pair said they would be “going round with the hat” to raise the Ł20,000.
The Mayor and Transport for London were obliged to apply for their costs under their duty to protect public funds and recover expenditure where possible. Mr Livingstone showed some sympathy and said they should not be “overburdened”. But he did not accept that they brought their case in the public interest but “in the private interests of themselves and members of the Kennington Association”. The judge said if they did not pay the Ł10,000 in 56 days, the order would be enforced against others who were members of the group on May 24, when the legal action was launched. He gave the association seven days to supply the names of the 60 people who were members on that date.
Ms Preece said: “I don’t know how we are going to get it. Our members are just local people; many are council tenants. What message is the judge giving to others who just want to join a community or residents’ association?"

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

Thu 1 Aug 2002

No way to pay Ł10,000 fine
(English)
London Evening Standard by Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent and Chris Millar | Two people face a Ł10,000 bill after losing their High Court b...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/story.html? in_review_id=655921&in_review_text_id=626838
Politicians determined to destroy London
(English)
London Evening Standard by Simon Jenkins | A tacky sign hangs limp over Trafalgar Square. Its meaningless message is, "The Mayor Welcomes". In front ...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/news/story.html? in_review_id=655890&in_review_text_id=626807

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 02, 2002.

Livingstone wins road-toll battle
31 Jul. 2002; 11:57 GMT LONDON (Reuters) - London mayor Ken Livingstone has warded off a court challenge to his controversial plans to charge motorists five pounds for entering the heart of the capital. The ... More...
http://www.reuters.co.uk/news_article.jhtml? type=search&StoryID=1273931

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 01, 2002.

Evening Standard

Ken must still listen to worries
by Ross Lydall, Local Government Correspondent
Councils affected by the congestion charging scheme were mixed in their reactions to the Mayor's court victory.
While Lib-Dem Islington and Labour Camden broadly welcome the principle of cutting traffic levels, Lambeth, run by a coalition of Lib-Dems and Tories, will be disappointed that its backing of the Kennington Association has not paid dividends.
Steve Hitchins, Lib-Dem leader of Islington council, which will see Clerkenwell and Finsbury included inside the zone as it runs along City Road and Pentonville Road, said: "We have always supported congestion charging so I'm delighted that it's going ahead without legal delay.
"But I think Ken Livingstone should take note that people are concerned, especially those living on the immediate boundary, that their interests are taken into full consideration.
"We are very concerned that traffic isn't increased around the edges of the boundary. We want to work closely with the Mayor and Transport for London to make sure there's a smooth implementation and achieve the objective of reducing traffic levels."
The RAC Foundation called on Mr Livingstone to postpone next February's planned introduction of the scheme until he had secured better public transport.
Spokesman Jonathan Simpson said: "If Ken had been able to invest so much more in terms of the Tube and have an attractive Tube, bus and rail system, then fine, go ahead. I think he's putting the whole future success of London's economy at stake."
He predicted many drivers would opt to pay the Ł5 daily charge, possibly passing it on to their companies, or try to find a new route to and from work outside the charging zone.
He said this was inevitable because bus journeys were now taking two to three times longer because of the rephasing of traffic lights.
Residential areas just outside the zone also faced being blighted with commuter traffic because Mr Livingstone had failed to introduce traffic calming measures. "This means that areas like Kennington and Islington will become rat runs," said Mr Simpson.
The AA said it was disappointed that the scheme could go ahead without a public inquiry. Policy director John Dawson said: "This is potentially the biggest transport development to affect drivers across the South, yet there has been no independent examination to establish whether the basic assumptions of those promoting it make sense. It is unacceptable that the very people promoting the scheme are the ones to decide whether it goes head."
Opposition Labour councillors on Westminster accused the ruling Tory administration of wasting at least Ł200,000 of taxpayers' money on a "futile" legal challenge.
Labour group leader Simon Stockill said: "Given that Westminster council still raises over Ł60million every year for charging motorists to park in central London, to complain about congestion charges now is pure hypocrisy.
"The money wasted on lawyers' fees in a politically motivated and pointless attack on Ken Livingstone could have paid for 10 extra teachers who are badly needed in our local schools."
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 31 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 01, 2002.

Scotsman: Edinburgh Evening News
Wed 31 Jul 2002

Court bid to rule out road tolls fails

Blow to protesters as London scheme set to go ahead
By TOM CURTIS City Council Reporter
A COURT challenge to Mayor Ken Livingstone’s scheme to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London was today thrown out by judges.
Westminster Council and the Kennington Association, with the backing of Kensington and Chelsea borough council, asked the High Court in London to block the congestion-charging project, which is set to be introduced in February.
But Mr Justice Maurice Kay told a packed court: "Westminster’s application for judicial review has been dismissed and the Kennington residents’ application for permission to apply for judicial review has been refused."
Today’s decision came as former transport minister Gavin Strang criticised proposals to force motorists to pay a toll to enter the outskirts of Edinburgh.
It will be a relief to Mr Livingstone, who a few days ago had to abandon his own High Court challenge to the Government’s part-privatisation of the Tube with a legal costs bill estimated at up to Ł4 million.
During a six-day hearing, thought to have cost about Ł3m, the congestion scheme was condemned by its opponents as unlawful and likely to increase air pollution and adversely affect the quality of city life.
Mr Livingstone said: "We are happy that our entire approach to the introduction of congestion charging, which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation, has been vindicated."
Councillor Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster Council, said: "We are deeply disappointed with this ruling. Congestion charging will have a substantial impact on our businesses and residents."
In Edinburgh, Mr Strang spoke out on the last day of the Capital’s own consultation process on congestion charges.
He opposed what is considered the council’s favoured option - cordons round the city centre and city bypass - saying residents on the edge of the city would suffer unfairly if an outer toll boundary was created.
Motorists could be charged Ł2 per day to drive into the city from 2006.
The Labour MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh has written to transport leader Councillor Andrew Burns, saying although tolls would help cut congestion and raise millions for public transport, "I would be concerned about the impact of an outer- boundary charge on communities on the outskirts of Edinburgh."
He said he supported the single city centre cordon option, but not the use of two charging boundaries, which the Labour administration favours.
His comments came as the city said it would not extend the survey period, which has been running for seven weeks, although it would accept questionnaires for about another week. Tory and Lib Dem councillors have claimed many people were unaware of the process despite the distribution of 250,000 questionnaires.
Although an online survey and a telephone hotline were set up as well as the leaflet distribution, there was no mailshot to city residents.
Tory transport spokesman Councillor Allan Jackson said: "The timescale is ludicrously short."
Lib Dem counterpart Fred Mackintosh said: "I think it was a major mistake not to put the questionnaire either in the council newspaper or into council tax bills."
Meanwhile, the Tories have been distributing their own "Stop the Tolls" leaflet, and said they had had about 3000 responses, "99 per cent-plus" against charges.
A council spokesman said everyone’s views would be taken into account. "There have been seven weeks to fill out a two-minute questionnaire, 250,000 of which were printed," he added.
Nationalists claimed today they found "overwhelming opposition" in West Lothian to tolls during a "day of action" on Saturday.
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=827302002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 01, 2002.

© 2002 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd
01 August 2002 09:17 BDST Home > News > UK > Transport

High Court backs Livingstone's Ł5 levy on drivers entering central London
By Dan Gledhill
01 August 2002
Motorists will have to pay Ł5 for driving into central London after Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, won a High Court battle to proceed with his plan for congestion charges in the capital.
Westminster City Council and the Kennington Association, with the backing of Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council, asked a judge to block the new charges, which are due to take effect in February. But yesterday, after a six-day hearing costing Ł3m, Mr Justice Maurice Kay refused their application for judicial review.
Welcoming the ruling, Mr Livingstone said: "We are happy that our approach to the introduction of congestion charging, which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation, has been vindicated.
"We look forward to being free to proceed with addressing the problems of congestion in London without the distraction of legal proceedings."
Green groups welcomed the decision, but Westminster Council said it was "deeply disappointed" with the outcome, while the Freight Transport Association vowed to fight on to get the scheme scrapped.
It marks a reversal of fortune for Mr Livingstone, who had to abandon his High Court challenge to the Government's part-privatisation of the Tube only a few days ago. Mr Livingstone's legal bill was estimated to be approximately Ł4m.
At the hearing, the congestion scheme was condemned by opponents as unlawful and likely to increase air pollution and adversely affect the quality of city life.
After the hearing, Kit Malthouse, Westminster council's deputy leader, said: "We are deeply disappointed with this ruling. We brought this case along with a number of other bodies based on good legal advice and because congestion charging will have a substantial impact on our businesses and residents."
Roger Henderson QC, appearing for Westminster council at a recent hearing, accused the Mayor of approving the multimillion-pound scheme without running a full and efficient consultation.
The Mayor's decision was flawed and breached human rights because he had also failed to order an environmental impact assessment, or hold a public inquiry, Mr Henderson told the judge. Those failures had prevented the opportunity to consider fully all relevant matters, including local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the effect the scheme would have on all those who lived and worked in the city.
But lawyers for the Mayor argued that Mr Livingstone had discharged his legal responsibilities in "a rigorous and conscientious manner".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 01, 2002.

Financial Times

Livingstone wins London road-charging case
By Juliette Jowit and Nikki Tait
Published: August 1 2002 5:00 | Last Updated: August 1 2002 5:00
Ken Livingstone's contentious road-charging plans for London were given the green light yesterday when a legal challenge failed in the High Court.
Mr Justice Maurice Kay rejected all claims by Westminster City Council and Kennington Association of residents that the London mayor had failed to consult properly and provided deficient information. "These applications must fail," he said. The judge granted permission to appeal on one limited point of law.
However, Transport for London, the mayor's transport executive, said there were no known remaining barriers to the scheme to charge motorists Ł5 a day to drive into the city centre from February.
TfL claims the scheme will reduce congestion by 20-30 per cent, and raise Ł130m a year for public transport. The project, which would use cameras linked to computer databases to record and check the number plates of all vehicles entering a central zone, is more complex than existing schemes in Singapore and Norway, and is being watched by cities across the UK and overseas.
Mr Livingstone said: "Our entire approach to the introduction of congestion charging, which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation, has been vindicated.
"We now look forward to being free to proceed with addressing the problems of congestion in London."
The main challenge raised by Westminster council during the six-day hearing centred on allegations that the mayor had failed fully to consider implications of the scheme for traffic, air quality and visual implications in terms of extra signage and cameras. The council also claimed that the information that it had been supplied, and on which it had to make its case, was deficient.
Councillor Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster council, said after the hearing: "We are deeply disappointed."
He added: "A major scheme of this nature should not be implemented without effective scrutiny, and we question whether Britain's first congestion charge should be introduced in a complex city such as London."
Motoring organisations also said they were disappointed. The Freight Transport Association, which wants commercial vehicles excluded, said: "The scheme will cost UK industry at least Ł200m per year in charges, plus all of the bureaucracy."
In a three-hour judgment, Mr Justice Kay ruled against the council on every point, finding that the mayor had consulted adequately and there had been no legal flaws in the information provided. The judge stressed that his decision was not influenced by, or reflected, the merits of the scheme.
Irving Yass, director of policy at the London First business group, said: "We are pleased congestion charging is not being delayed . . but this charge must be accompanied by other measures to keep traffic moving."
© Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 01, 2002.

Judge clears Ł5 charge on drivers
Tania Branigan
Thursday August 1, 2002

The Guardian
Drivers will pay Ł5 a day to enter the centre of London from February, after Ken Livingstone defeated opponents of his scheme in the high court yesterday.
Environmentalists and business leaders celebrated the failure of the attempt to block the scheme by a coalition led by Westminster city council.
The ruling was welcome news for the capital's mayor, who last week abandoned his challenge to the part privatisation of the underground, leaving Transport for London, the body overseeing strategy, with costs of up to Ł4m.
"We are happy our entire approach to the introduction of congestion charging, which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation, has been vindicated," Mr Livingstone said.
After a six day hearing Mr Justice Maurice Kay dismissed Westminster's application for judicial review and refused permission for residents in Kennington, south London, to apply for judicial review.
The council had accused the mayor of approving the scheme too hastily, because he had not held a public inquiry.
The Kennington claim was that it breached residents' rights because air quality would deteriorate and property values around the charging zone's boundary; the judge said their case relied on "unconvincing" evidence. He added: "It is not for me to be influenced in any way by whether I consider the scheme to be good or bad.
"I am satisfied the decision is a lawful one. It may be that a more cautious mayor would have sought to underwrite his judgment by resort to, for example, a public inquiry, but this mayor has decided lawfully against that course."
Mr Justice Kay ordered Westminster to pay the mayor's and Transport for London's Ł1m costs. He gave Westminster seven days to appeal, on the grounds Mr Livingstone had not ordered an environmental impact assessment, but added he was "less than convinced" it had a realistic chance of success. He refused the residents leave to appeal, but capped their liability for costs at Ł10,000.
Mr Livingstone's lawyers argued that he had acted in "a rigorous and conscientious manner", recruiting experts, contacting outside specialists on traffic and air pollution, and organising wide consultation including exhibitions and public meetings.
Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster, said the council was "deeply disappointed" by the ruling and was considering further action. Kensington and Chelsea borough council, which backed Westminster, called the ruling a defeat for common sense. The AA and the Freight Transport Association also criticised the scheme. David Davis, the shadow deputy prime minister, said: "People will not stop using their cars until there is a viable alternative."
Campaigners including Friends of the Earth, the London Cycling Campaign and the Commission for Integrated Transport welcomed the decision. Dirk Paterson, of the London Chamber of Commerce, attacked Westminster for wasting taxpayers' money when it should have been concentrating on tackling congestion, which he said cost business Ł4bn a year.
The CBI's London branch welcomed the ruling, but wanted the mayor to address the issue of traffic build-up at the edges of the zone.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), August 01, 2002.

The Evening Standard

Car charges get go-ahead
by Paul Cheston and Chris Millar
Ken Livingstone's plan to impose a Ł5-a-day charge to drive into central London was given the go-ahead today.
The Mayor's victory in the High Court means the congestion charge can be brought in from next February. It is claimed that the fee will reduce the number of vehicles on the roads which in turn will cut pollution and allow traffic to move more freely.
But the controversial move has been fiercely opposed by Westminster council and Kennington Association residents' group. They argued that the charge was a breach of their human rights, would turn routes on the edge of the charging zone into rat-runs and would do little to curb pollution.
Objectors also claimed there had been inadequate consultation over the plan, which was a cornerstone of the Mayor's election campaign.
But Mr Justice Maurice Kay today rejected their call for a public inquiry and a plea for a more detailed analysis of the likely environmental impact.
The breakthrough came days after Mr Livingstone was humiliated in the same courtroom where he was forced to admit defeat in his fight against the Government's plans for part privatisation of the Tube.
Moments after the judge announced his decision, Mr Livingstone said: "We are happy that our approach to the introduction of congestion charging which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation has been vindicated.
"We now look forward to being free to proceed with addressing the problems of congestion in London without the distraction of legal proceedings."
Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster council, said: "We are deeply disappointed by this ruling and still believe a major scheme of this nature should not be implemented without more scrutiny.
"We believe it was right to bring this case in the interests of London."
He said that it was too early to confirm whether the council will be lodging an appeal.
Mark Rogers, vice- chair of the Kennington Association, said: "We are very disappointed because we felt we had a strong case. We feel that the people of Kennington are going to pay disproportionately for this scheme which will lead to a huge degradation in the quality of life for people in this area."
Defeat today could have put back the 17 February start date for the new charge by at least 10 months.
Delay could have pushed the outcome of any public inquiry close to the mayoral election of 2004.
During the six-day hearing, lawyers representing the council had argued that people living just outside the charging zone would see their streets turned in to polluted rat runs as motorists searched for routes exempt from the fee.
Two Kennington residents, Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson, led the attempt to block the proposals, arguing that it would cause a vast traffic increase in their area prompting house prices to plummet.
The judge heard that the Mayor had failed to fully consider local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the impact of the scheme on those who lived and worked in London.
But Charles George, QC, representing the Mayor, insisted that Mr Livingstone had taken advice from all quarters by recruiting a team of experts and by going to outside specialists on traffic and air pollution.
He said there had been wide consultations-with exhibitions and public-meetings and the Mayor had received all objections to the scheme personally.
The judge was reading his 87-page judgment in open court and was ruling later today on who would foot the estimated Ł3 million legal bill.
The Mayor's team has set aside Ł2.5 million for the legal battle but last Friday he was ordered to pay Ł4 million in costs after the collapse of his objections for plans for the Tube.
Lynne Featherstone, the Lib-Dem transport spokesperson, said: "We urgently need to free up central London from the traffic congestion that is losing business millions. If the Mayor's scheme cuts traffic by 15 per cent, it's a winner."
Green London Assembly member Jenny Jones called on Westminster council to help make the scheme a success. She said: "We've had the indepth consultation, we've had the professional advice and now we've cleared the court case, we can get on with dealing with the congestion and pollution which are the downside of London life.
"What the Kennington residents and others living on the congestion charge boundary need is to see a successful scheme rolled out across the whole of London in a series of concentric zones."
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 31 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 31, 2002.

The Sun
Wed, Jul 31, 2002

BREAKING NEWS

Congestion charge is legal
By DAVE MASTERS
LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone was celebrating today after his controversial congestion charging scheme was given the green light by a judge.
Opponents of the daily Ł5 fee to drive into central London had taken the mayor to court in a bid to get it blocked.
But this morning their legal challenge - launched on the grounds it was against human rights - was thrown out at London's High Court.
Motorists are now expected to have to pay the toll from February.
During the six-day hearing, estimated to have cost around Ł3 million, Westminster Council and residents from the Kennington Association claimed the move would increase air pollution and affect the quality of city life.
But today Mr Justice Maurice Kay dismissed both claims at the packed court hearing.
Welcoming the ruling, Mr Livingstone said: "We are happy that our entire approach to the introduction of congestion charging, which has involved an unprecedented level of consultation, has been vindicated.
"We now look forward to being free to proceed with addressing the problems of congestion in London without the distraction of legal proceedings."
But a spokesman for the AA hit back saying: "We are disappointed at this decision. This is potentially the biggest transport development ever to affect drivers across the south of England, yet there has been no independent examination to establish whether the basic assumptions of those promoting it make sense.
"It is unacceptable that the very people promoting the scheme are the ones to decide whether it goes ahead."
Councillor Kit Malthouse, deputy leader of Westminster Council, added: "We still believe that a major scheme of this nature should not be implemented without more effective scrutiny and we question whether Britain's first congestion charge should be introduced in a complex city such as London."
At the recent hearing, Roger Henderson QC, appearing for Westminster, accused the mayor of failing to carry out a full and efficient consultation before giving the multi-million pound scheme the go- ahead.
He told the judge the decision breached human rights because he had also failed to order an environmental impact assessment or hold a public inquiry.
Those failures meant it had been impossible to consider matters fully by examing local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the effect the scheme would have on all those who lived and worked in the city.
But acting for the mayor, Charles George QC said Mr Livingstone had sought appropriate advice by recruiting a team of experts and by going to outside specialists on traffic and air pollution.
© 2002 News Group Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 31, 2002.

South London Press

Battle to stop Ken Livingstone's congestion scheme dismissed
Jul 31 2002
A bid to stop Ken Livingstone's scheme to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London has been dismissed in the High Court.
Westminster Council and the Kennington Association, with the backing of Kensington and Chelsea borough council, were asking a judge the High Court in London to block the congestion-charging project.
It is set to be introduced in February.
During a recent six-day hearing, the scheme was condemned as unlawful and likely to increase air pollution and adversely affect the quality of city life.
Mr Justice Maurice Kay told a packed court: "Westminster's application for a judicial review has been dismissed and the Kennington residents' application for permission to apply for a judicial review has been refused."
Mr Livingstone, has already had to abandon his High Court challenge to the Government's part privatisation of the Tube with a legal costs bill unofficially estimated at up to Ł4 million.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 31, 2002.

South London Press

Positive writing project is a big hit
Jul 31 2002
Beyond The Will Smith Challenge (BTWSC), a CEMVO Millennium Awards-funded project, has been motivating young people aged 11-17 years old in east and south London to develop their creative talents to uplift the human spirit.
Towards this end, BTWSC organised a competition, backed by a series of seminars and workshops beginning in March, in which the youth were required to write songs, articles, and poems with a proviso that it had to be positive and without profane language. The inspiring results, which dealt with various issues of concern, were announced at a prize giving ceremony at ELBWO Centre, Forest Gate, east London on Saturday July 27.
South London-based rap group 57th Dynasty, who helped with a workshop at the Oval House Theatre in May, entertained the audience with their current single Break Free. They reiterated the ethos of the song by encouraging the young people to break free of the cycle of negativity, concentrate on their studies and aim high.
All short listed entries will be published in a booklet produced by Kennington- based Anambra Marketing services, and the winning entries will be published in The Voice newspaper’s Young Voices magazine.
Guest of honour, Deputy Chair of Newham council Cllr. Joy Laguda, congratulated the participants and encouraged them to aim high.
In a stimulating address, she encouraged the youth to aspire after excellence and positive role models. “I think it is true to say that too often the lyrics young people listen to are negative and the artists are not always the best role models,” said Cllr. Laguda.
“Beyond The Will Smith Challenge raises awareness in young people to question what they read and hear - whether it affects them in their lives and whether they can do better themselves.”
She presented certificates to all the entrants, and prizes to the winners, including 13 year old Croydon resident Lil’ TK whose entry, Hold On, was the top song.
The master of ceremonies was Upper Tooting resident Fat Freddie M, the former Kiss FM and BBC Radio Live presenter, who is a local youth worker. He offered words of encouragement to bridge the communication gap between the youth and adults, including parents of the competition entrants.
The audience had the opportunity of hearing the participants explain how the competition had raised their horizons. Two of them, Lil’ TK and Hassan-Ali Javed, performed their respective song entries, Hold On and Nothing But Grief.
“I’m impressed by the quality of the entries. It was important to intellectually challenge the youth,” summed up BTWSC co-ordinator Ms. Serwah.
She added, “If they are interested in entering, say the music industry, they should strive to positively shape it and refuse to live up to the stereotype of profanity, drugs, guns and denigration of women.”
The next BTWSC project starting in October will provide pathways to further education or employment for London’s disadvantaged young adults.
For further details, please contact btwsc@hotmail.com 020 8450 5987

COMPETITION SHORTLIST

Articles section
1st prize Jiraye Dalphinis
2nd prize Damien Blackwood
3rd prize Dandee Jennings
Poetry section
1st prize Esther Kuforiji
2ndprize Hassan- Ali Javed
3rd prize Tamara Bello/Elizabeth Dosu

Songs section
1st prize Theo Kerlin
2nd prize Terrence Faruk
3rd prize Nathaniel Bode Ojuola
Lydia Wright, aged nine years old, won a special prize for attending several work shops in a determination to enter a work even though she was below the age limit.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 31, 2002.

Congestion charge 're-think' is backed
Jul 30 2002
South London Press
THE Kennington Association has been backed by GLA members in its bid to get Ken Livingstone to think again over his controversial congestion charge plans.
Traders and residents in and around Kennington are bitterly opposed to the plan to charge drivers Ł5 a day to enter central London as they insist the proposed Kennington Lane boundary will "divide the community in two".
There are fears that traffic along the narrow and largely residential boundary road could increase by up to 15 per cent.
Now some GLA members plan to write to transport commissioner Bob Kiley to express concerns about the charge, which could be introduced as early as February. While the majority of GLA members on the transport committee support the mayor's proposals in principle, they are concerned about a number of issues, including traffic management outside the zone in places like Kennington.
The controversy about the Kennington boundary culminated in a huge protest at Kennington Cross earlier this month when hundreds of banner-wielding protesters blocked off Kennington Cross. And the Kennington Association challenged the Mayor's plans in the High Court along with Westminster council. The result of the judicial review is expected later this summer. TfL says Kennington residents were consulted before the scheme was given the go-ahead and that changing the boundary would 'not be practical'.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 30, 2002.

Evening Standard

Red Caps to fight street crime
by Laura Burkin and David Taylor
In their distinctive red and black uniforms they may not represent the toughest face of law and order but they could become a familiar sight on Britain's high streets.
The distinctive private patrols known as the Red Caps are part of London's changing security scene and will today go on the beat around Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street seven days a week.
The initiative, costing Ł400,000, is financed by a consortium of stores and will be closely monitored by other shopping streets as it represents a departure from the system of shops employing their own in-store security guards.
The Red Caps do not replace police patrols and have no powers to catch criminals, beyond the universal right to make a citizen's arrest where an offence is seen being committed.
But the team of 25 uniformed security guards will be the "eyes and ears" of the police and will deal with situations on the spot, giving officers information when they arrive.
Their prime role is to identify any potential crime and deal with any situation with the public. They can deal with anti-social behaviour, provide information to shoppers and act as ambassadors for London's shopping streets.
The Red Caps will not be under direct operational police control but will remain in contact with local beat officers. They are trained by Chubb Security personnel but will be vetted by the Met to check if any has a criminal record.
In June there were 349 cases of theft from shops, 142 bag snatches and 768 cases of pickpocketing recorded by police in Westminster, which covers Oxford Street and Regent Street. The consortium of property owners and retailers in the West End paying for them believe the Red Caps will help the 30 million people a year who use Oxford Street feel safer.
Helen Robinson, chief executive of the New West End Company, the consortium set up to boost the area, said the patrols were part of a strategy modelled on the successful rejuvenationof Times Square in New York, where it is possible to count 50 police officers in the square mile around 42nd Street, supported by 52 private security guards paid for by local business. The blitz has driven away crack dealers, prostitutes and drunks.
Ms Robinson said: "The Red Caps will be a strong visual presence to reassure people and act as local experts. They are the next step in our vision to revitalise the West End."
The Red Caps are men and women aged from their early twenties to late fifties, most of whom have a background in security. Carol Wheeler, 55, from Beckenham, has brought with her 10 years' experience. She has previously worked at the Lewisham shopping centre as a security guard. She said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge. I hope that our presence will deter criminals and make the public feel safer."
Another Red Cap, Brian McRae, 45, from Kennington, said: "We're looking forward to making people feel safer and helping police cut down on street crime. With our experience we hope to deal with situations on the spot that will not only help the police but also give peace of mind to everyone."
Private patrols are already a feature of crime-plagued council estates and of upmarket developments where residents have retreated behind electric security gates.
Trafalgar Square, which is controlled by the Greater London Authority, already has 24- hour "heritage wardens" to deal with illegal traders and drunken yobs.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 30 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 30, 2002.

Documents on Lambeth's website:
Waterloo TCM Forum
Released: July 29, 2002 4:45 PM
Filesize: 30kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/faq/009318. pdf

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall TCM Forum
Released: July 29, 2002 4:17 PM
Filesize: 22kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/faq/009315. pdf

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall TCM Board
Released: July 29, 2002 1:26 PM
Filesize: 11kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/faq/009314. pdf
Council (17.07.02): minutes
Released: July 29, 2002 12:55 PM
Filesize: 234kb
See KA deputation Page 14, and Motions 11 (Page 44) and 23 (Page 55)
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/014 748.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 30, 2002.

With many thanks to Gareth Adamson and Jim Chapman, we now have our own website.
Go to:
KENNINGTON ASSOCIATION
at
http://www.kenningtonassociation.org.uk/

-- Cathy (kenningtonassn@aol.com), July 27, 2002.

Mirror

Aitken's girl mugs muggers
By Andy Rudd
THE daughter of disgraced Tory MP Jonathan Aitken told yesterday how she chased and fought four muggers after they attacked her in the street.
Alexandra Aitken, 22, had her bag and mobile snatched near her home.
But the brave socialite sped after the gang and caught one of them.
Passers-by joined in the pursuit and called police to the scene in Kennington, South East London.
Alex, who recovered her bag but not her phone, said: "I used to be quite a sprinter so I ran at them, screaming my head off.
"They must have thought 'Who is this chick?' They were definitely more scared of me than I was of them - and definitely more hurt than I was."
A 17-year-old was charged with robbery.
But wannabe film star Alex, whose ex-Cabinet minister father was jailed for 18 months for perjury in 1997, does not intend to repeat her heroine act.
She admitted: "It was a bit stupid of me to fight them. If they had knives, I'd have been toast."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 27, 2002.

Saturday 27 July 2002
Aitken girl hits back
(Filed: 27/07/2002)
Alexandra Aitken, the daughter of Jonathan Aitken, drew on her talent as a schoolgirl sprinting champion to chase a gang of teenage muggers.
She was robbed of her bag and mobile phone by four youths while near her home in Kennington, south London.
The 22-year-old actress daughter of the former Cabinet minister who was jailed for perjury ran after the teenagers, caught up with them and retrieved her bag but not the phone.
"They were definitely more hurt than I was and definitely more scared of me than I was of them. Still, it was a bit stupid of me."
A 17-year-old student was charged yesterday with robbing Miss Aitken of her mobile phone.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 27, 2002.

Adventures in motion pictures
Patrick McGrath thought his novel Spider, with its bizarre lead character, would never make a good film. But along came a star and a famous director - and soon he was on the red carpet at Cannes
Patrick McGrath
Guardian
Saturday July 27, 2002
The writer of prose fiction, when he first turns his hand to screenwriting, often does so with a condescending air. Surely this can't be so very difficult, he thinks; all that's required is to come up with the bare bones of a story. So he goes to work anticipating a quick job with easy money at the end of it, and possibly a bit of glory. He is soon disabused of these prideful assumptions. It becomes apparent that what he has at his disposal is merely an ordered succession of dramatic pictures. With these he must do the work he once did with all the infinite resources of the English language at his back.
My own adventure in the screen trade had been in progress for some years before I attempted to turn my novel, Spider, into a script. I had been to Hollywood a number of times. My adaptation of my first novel had been produced in Britain. I understood just how difficult it was to write a film, particularly a film in which the narrative is driven as much by psychic events as by external incidents. Stories with any depth of psychological complexity tend to throw up a problem of imagery - how to find the visual correlative of some complicated interior event, an act of misperception, say, with an associated flash of paranoia, concealed from the world but integrated into a developing pattern of skewed logic. I had attempted in my one produced script to pull this off with a neurotically repressed character called Sir Hugo, who may have murdered his prospective son-in-law in a fit of sexual panic, and then blamed it on the butler.
The film was called The Grotesque, with Alan Bates playing the cantankerous Sir Hugo, and Sting the predatory butler, Fledge. It bore in its essentials a strong resemblance to Joseph Losey's The Servant, although I wasn't consciously aware of the influence until later. I had tried to present a complicated idea I had come across in Freud, one that linked paranoia to homosexuality. A man is attracted to another man but out of shame is unable to admit it to himself. So he reverses the current: instead of saying, I love him, he says, I hate him. But this too is unacceptable. So he reverses the current again: he says, not, I hate him, but rather, he hates me! He then finds "evidence" of such hatred in the other man's behaviour. In just such devious movements of inversion and reversal, says Freud, does the unconscious mind operate.
A secondary dynamic involves Sir Hugo's wife, played in the movie by Theresa Russell. The confused man, unable to say of the object of desire, I love him, says, instead, she loves him! And so he compounds his paranoia with morbid jealousy. All this I had tried to work into the screenplay; the results had been disappointing. To try again with Spider seemed pure folly.
The difficulty lay in the fact that Spider, the character, was not, like Sir Hugo, merely neurotic; he was floridly psychotic - a schizophrenic man spiralling out of control after being prematurely discharged from a top-security mental hospital. His thinking, to put it mildly, is bizarre, and, at least in the novel, Spider's thinking is all we have - there is no way out of Spider's mind other than death. He is unable to edit reality, nor can he see that the edifice of delusion he has constructed to account for his traumatised childhood (a very shaky structure, upon which he has established his equally shaky identity) is liable at any moment to collapse. So this strange, fragile creature wanders the desolate places of the East End of London while his faltering mind attempts with growing desperation to cling to a few last shreds of coherence.
Again, it's hardly the stuff of cinema. Little happens in the present, and what seems to have happened in the past is actually a gross distortion. Cinematic imagery is loaded with authority: you see an event occur on the screen, you tend to accept it, to believe the story you are being told. How, then, to communicate the idea that what you are seeing on screen did not happen but that its significance lies in the fact that a given character believes it did, in order to conceal from himself what actually did happen?
I came up with various solutions, none of them satisfactory, none of them particularly elegant, including the extensive use of voice-over, which is not really good enough. Voice-over means that the writer has failed to solve his problem in purely cinematic terms - that is, through imagery.
My wife, Maria Aitken, had urged me to adapt Spider, not sharing my own scepticism about its filmic potential. I was between books, and I agreed to give it six weeks. It took six months. But then, to my astonishment, things happened fast. Maria gave the script to the independent producer Catherine Bailey, confident that Catherine, who wanted to expand from TV and radio into film production, would not compromise the austere character of the piece. Catherine was then producing a Shaw play for the BBC, with Ralph Fiennes. It is a risk to give a script to an actor before you have a director, but she thought Ralph would make a perfect Spider. So she gave him the script, he read it the same night and promptly committed to the role.
A novelist need never show his work to anyone, until he decides to hand his manuscript to the publisher. But we all have our special, trusted readers who see the book before it goes off; they even read it while it is work in progress, and their reactions we take extremely seriously. Screenwriters, by contrast, are inundated with other people's opinions almost from the start and have little control over who gives these opinions. Everybody in the producer's office can have a go - an interesting experience for the writer in Hollywood, where most of the producer's people are about 12 years old. They glance at a piece of work so intricately constructed that its internal mechanism resembles that of a Swiss watch and blithely suggest changes of seismic consequence. What if the guy's ex-wife shows up, they say, and she's dying of cancer? But the guy has no ex-wife, you gasp, incredulous, and do you even begin to realise what a dying cancer patient would do to this story? OK, they say, but what if you make him a pro football player instead of a psychiatrist?
Such things do not happen in London film production offices, at least not the ones I've been in. Nevertheless, the suggestions come thick and fast, and the more people who see the script, the more suggestions there are. The effect of this is eventually to blur the writer's ability to evaluate the quality of the script, as it changes in response to plausible ideas originating elsewhere.
The search for a director for Spider took several years, and by the end of that time I no longer had any clear notion whether the script was good or not. Various directors had at various times been "attached" to Spider, or had shown an interest. Stephen Frears drove across London one evening, out of the goodness of his heart, to sit at the kitchen table and discuss it with us in depth. I spent several days in LA, in a suite at the Chateau Marmont, working on it with Pat O'Connor. I learned that bringing in a good director is a tricky proposition, particularly if the budget is small. Movie directors often have large families to support. Timing is all.
And then one day in the summer of 2000 the script was given to David Cronenberg in Toronto. He called Catherine, who invited him to come to London to meet us and Ralph. Everybody got on famously, and by the time he left five days later we had our director. In fact, he was the very best director any of us could have imagined for this rather dark and complicated material. Cronenberg's handling of what I had seen as the problem of Spider's interiority is deft, perfect, inspired. The film is a masterpiece - a clear, slow, harrowing picture of a man's journey into psychic night.
On the other hand, the story of the financing of Spider is a baroquely twisted tale of gothic proportions, involving bad calculations, outrageous betrayal, brutal vindictiveness, scheming manipulation, dogged obsession, high moral courage, breathtaking brinksmanship, plus amazing feats of self- sacrifice, loyalty, recklessness and hard work. It would require at least a slim volume to tell that story, for it involves the arcane minutiae of film financing in volatile combination with much that is base in human nature, and much that is fine.
Suffice that a month before the start of principal photography, the financing was withdrawn and Catherine Bailey was faced with the task of finding $9.4m elsewhere. That she did so is little short of miraculous, but even so, like Spider's sanity, the entire edifice teetered on the verge of collapse throughout the production period.
On the artistic side, meanwhile, all went smoothly - the very reverse of the usual Hollywood situation, as Cronenberg wryly remarked, where the money's not a problem but the work is hell. His set was a calm, efficient workplace. The atmosphere was serious but jokey. One of the jokes was him saying, "Oh Christ, here comes the fucking writer again." In fact, he is far too assured and focused an artist ever to be disturbed, as some directors are, by the presence of the writer on the set. Many of his key people had been with him for years, including his cinematographer, Peter Suschitzky, and his sister Denise, the costume designer. Ralph Fiennes liked and trusted him, and so did Miranda Richardson, who co-stars with Ralph and plays not one but three women, including Spider's mother - a performance of such consummate skill that some viewers will be unaware of her multiple roles.
As regards the script, the changes David wanted took me a morning to complete. The voice-overs had to go, and strangely, nothing was lost. All that suffering, the hell seething in Spider's sick soul: it was there in Ralph's eyes. In the summer of 2001 the exteriors were shot over a three-week period in Hackney and Kennington, and then the company decamped to Toronto to shoot the interior scenes on a soundstage. The London crew had not yet been paid, but had continued showing up for work anyway. Catherine stayed behind in London for a week to reassure them that their money was on its way.
Then came Cannes. Cronenberg had spent the winter doing post-production work in Toronto. The film was cut together and edited. A score was composed by Howard Shore, who won an Oscar for Lord of the Rings and had been a Cronenberg pal since their teenage days. The score was performed by the Kronos Quartet, although when I tiptoed into a mixing studio on the west side of Manhattan to watch Shore and Cronenberg at work, David whispered to me that he thought we might have no music at all. As there was little enough dialogue in the film, and the voice-overs had been entirely excised, having no musical score was a fine, bold, formal gesture - very exciting. In the end, Howard's lovely, haunting music was used, but sparingly, and there are scenes in the film of great import or suspense which go forward in utter silence. The film was submitted to Cannes and accepted into competition, one of the 22 official entries out of the thousands that had applied.
The Cannes film festival is an extraordinary event, manic, grotesque, at times sublime. You walk along La Croisette, past the great hotels and the massive billboards advertising the American blockbusters, and the characters come at you in waves, all with their name tags and cellphones, wheeling and dealing, the spivs and the conmen, and the exquisitely beautiful boys and girls. You see major players - here is Juliette Binoche, all in black, leaning over me to murmur something into Stephen Frears' ear, and here is Sting, showing up at our pre-screening party to wish us well. And here is Homer Kaye Dyal III, a large, loud, hearty man from Georgia whose production company has just set up in Fort Lauderdale. They did Larry Clark's last film. Homer and I became firm friends over a bottle of champagne.
But when it comes time for the big screening, you realise that the essence of Cannes is not the business aspect - the networking, the distribution deals, the signing of the talent, the financing. It is not even celebrity. The essence of Cannes is a reverence for the art of cinema so profound that the chosen films are accorded a degree of pomp and circumstance one would expect for a visiting head of state.
It all begins at the pre- screening party, when at a certain point everyone except the red- carpet elite is kicked out and has to struggle down La Croisette to the Palais des Festivals et des Congrčs on foot. The elite, comprising the key production and creative people, plus spouses, is then assigned places in the fleet of silver Mercedes waiting on the street outside the party. Behind steel barriers stand shouting, cheering legions of paparazzi and fans. A scrupulous sense of hierarchy and protocol attaches to all these arrangements, and, of course, we are all splendid in black tie and evening gowns. We climb into the cars, which are then sent off at precise intervals, forming a convoy (with outriders) which purrs down La Croisette to arrive at the Palais just as the last of the audience have taken their seats. Then comes the red-carpet experience, and one tastes for a few seconds the beefy tang of public celebrity. It is not heady, or exhilarating, it is terrifying.
Four abreast, we advance along a broad swath of carpet: composer, star, director, writer. The photographers scream the names of star and director, desperate for the eye-contact shot. One lonely voice cried, "Patrick!" He won't work again, I thought. I could hear the astonished photo editor: "The writer? You got the writer?"
It all seems to last for ever. We wheel to left, to right, we are blinded by flashlights. We clutch one another as though drowning. We understand Norma Desmond's descent of the staircase at the end of Sunset Boulevard. She thinks they've come to pay homage; in fact, they've come to take her away. What if the crowd turns ugly?
And then up the steps and into the lobby, almost deserted except for the powerful young men with headsets, the enforcers of this extraordinary ritual, plus a few privileged photographers, including, bizarrely, my brother Simon, a software writer from Kew who has no business here except to root for me but who has somehow blarneyed his way into the exclusive zone. Then on, into the auditorium, where 2,000 people all in evening dress rise as one and applaud us as we make our way to the row of honour. It is not us they celebrate, it is Cinema. We are merely an instance of Cinema, we are not Cinema itself. Our moment will pass, others will take our place, Cinema is for ever.
We watch the film. The silent concentration of the audience is intense. The film is a masterpiece. The lights go up. The audience rises once more - the Cannes audience famously critical, an audience that will boo, or walk out, if the movie is bad - and for many minutes they applaud us. I am pushed toward Cronenberg. We fall into one another's arms. It is the most extraordinary hug I have ever experienced. Many faces are streaked with tears. Our departure from the Palais mirrors our arrival, but with this difference: the film has been shown, and the reaction to it has been positive in the extreme.
The motorcade pulls away from the kerb, and the lights of the Palais fade in the rear-view mirror. The crowds on La Croisette gaze curiously into the cars, wondering who we are.
Later that night, an Australian producer in dinner jacket and cummerbund tells me he was refused admittance to the screening because his shoelaces were the wrong colour.
© Patrick McGrath. Spider will be shown at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 22 and 24, and will be released in Britain in January 2003
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 27, 2002.

The Standard

Aitken girl: My clash with muggers
by Ed Harris
Alexandra Aitken, daughter of disgraced former Minister Jonathan Aitken, chased a gang of teenage muggers who stole her mobile phone and bag.
Miss Aitken, 19, who was on her way to an interview with the Evening Standard yesterday, was attacked by four youths, aged about 15, near her home in Kennington.
They fled with her bag and phone but she caught up with them and retrieved the bag, although she lost the phone.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 26 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 26, 2002.

24 July 2002
Visitors' Parking Permits
In November 2000 Lambeth Parking services confirmed to me that unused permits in the 1998-2000 series could be exchanged for 2000-2002 series permits at Lambeth's parking shops.
I wrote to Lambeth recently to ask if the same concession would be given for unused permits at the end of 2002. I have received a reply dated 22 July - from Anna Miller, tel 0207 926 0587 - confirming that any permits still unused on expiry in December 2002 may be exchanged for an equivalent number of visitors' permits valid from 2003.
The letter says, however that in future visitors' permits will only be valid for the years of issue, and there will be no exchange or refund for unused permits. I cannot see why the policy has been changed, and it may be worth taking this up through the KOV forum or direct with the new political administration; but at least people will know the position and make their purchases of visitors' permits accordingly.

-- GORDON JOHNSTON (johnston.methley@virgin.net), July 25, 2002.

Vauxhall Connections:- a new family-run Internet Cafe is opening at 2 Jonathan Street (off Vauxhall Street) SE11 on Monday 29 July 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 25, 2002.

Beaufoy Institute on English Heritage register of buildings at risk
Go to:
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/bar/asp/details.asp?barID=2775

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 25, 2002.

TV TODAY & FRIDAY
Lois Acton of Carlton TV 'Your Shout' called to say that the Congestion Charging 'Shouts' will be broadcast on Carlton/ITV:
Today, Wed 24/7 at 13.29 and Friday 26/7 at 14.08
So tune in for more shots of Kennington demo and shouts from Julie Glynn, Pat Scott, Dave 'Hester' Isaacs and I think there will also be some from fellow protestors in Waterloo and Southwark.
- all best - Celia.

-- Celia (celia.stothard@connectfree.co.uk), July 24, 2002.

The Scotsman
Wed 24 Jul 2002
It’s a Fringe tradition for companies to promote their shows direct to the public on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
Fortune and the fringe
Samantha Ellis
I first went to the Edinburgh Fringe six years ago with a company called Aardvark. We’d been hoping to come first in the programme but we hadn’t reckoned on AAAARGGGH Theatre. We took the coach up from London, swigging whisky and performing, extempore, the collected works of Dorothy Parker, and found ourselves on the smallest stage at the world’s biggest arts festival. One review was so bad that I burned it in an act of catharsis far more powerful than our show - that is, until the set went up in smoke. We made a profit of Ł50 and spent it on vodka.
When we got back home, we called all the producers who had given us their cards and none of them remembered who we were. But I still believe the Edinburgh Fringe is special; the only place in Britain where you can put on a show on a shoestring and make it.
It is this belief that keeps the Fringe going and most of the 619 companies performing there this year would subscribe to it. But a surprising number of people, including many in the London press, think that it is fantasy. They argue that an obsession with getting discovered has turned the once-carnivalesque Fringe into a grabby, grubby place, PR-driven and producer-led. They say it’s unwieldy, overblown and no fun anymore.
It is certainly not easy to cope with one-hour slots, 15-minute get- ins, limited storage space and inflexible lighting rigs. But limitations can be a spur to creativity, and theatre on a shoestring is sometimes theatre at its most vital. As technology advances, we are likely to want more, not less, of an entertainment form that relies on real people manifesting their presence in a shared space.
The Fringe is vast. There are 1,491 shows this year, which is testimony of the drive and imagination of a lot of people, not to mention the venue managers who requisition unconventional spaces and turn them into theatres. Where else can you see Czech black-light puppetry alongside Australian Puppetry of the Penis? Where else can you see ten shows a day? Quantity does not equal quality, of course, but the risk factor is part of the Fringe’s charm. Fringe director Paul Gudgin calls it the "weird Edinburgh osmosis" - word-of-mouth has a real impact. Punters accost each other in bars and queues demanding recommendations. It just wouldn’t happen in London.
In Edinburgh, audiences wield as much power as critics, who are as dependent on hot tips as anyone else. Some shows become cult hits before the critics get to them. The publicity industry has become bigger in Edinburgh, but the London fringe is equally divided into shows with press representation and shows without. The difference in Edinburgh is access. Every show is listed in the Fringe brochure and critics get a contact list for every company involved. In London, the only way critics will know a show is happening before it opens is if someone sends them a press release.
There are other festivals - notably the spring Brighton Festival, which has now spawned its own fringe, and London’s triumvirate of LIMF, Lift and Bite (the London International Mime Festival, the London International Festival of Theatre and Barbican International Theatre Events) - but these are smaller, swankier, more select and governed by the taste of their artistic directors. Edinburgh, which started in 1947 when eight companies calling themselves "Festival Adjuncts" gatecrashed the very first Edinburgh International Festival, is still a wild, unregulated place where anyone can put on a show.
British theatre is healthy enough, despite a rocky six months at the top in which artistic directorships at the Almeida, the Donmar Warehouse, the National Theatre, the Hampstead Theatre, the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the RSC, have all been changing hands. But for a young company hoping to showcase its work and make it, there is nothing to replace Edinburgh. The much-vaunted return of rep theatre might increase outlets for new work, except that, with notable exceptions (Hamish Glen’s permanent ensemble at the Dundee Rep and Trevor Nunn’s rep company at the National), it has not returned at all.
On the London fringe, around 80 shows play in any one week and, as in Edinburgh, anyone can put on a show. There are some unusual venues, too. Mehmet Ergen has carved the cavernous Arcola Theatre out of a disused Dalston clothing factory and tries to engage local people. The Lion & Unicorn, a pub theatre in Kentish Town, is a centre for physical theatre and puppetry. In Kennington, the White Bear continues to launch new writers in one of the smallest spaces in London. Then there’s the Battersea Arts Centre, the mothership of experimental theatre, run by Tom Morris, which has scratch nights where performers can "scratch" snippets of new work in front of a live audience.
In Edinburgh, some say, it is no longer possible to experiment. There is nostalgia for the 1980s - when Deborah Warner’s Kick Theatre and Simon McBurney’s Théatre de Complicité would turn up to try things out. It was certainly cheaper then. The cost of rentals continues to rise, as do Fringe office charges (Ł390 for an entry in this year’s Fringe programme). But London prices have risen, too. And the economics of the Edinburgh Fringe would not have changed unless a lot more people were willing to gamble on the possibility of a hit.
The comedy takeover at Edinburgh has been exaggerated (40 per cent of shows in 2001 were theatre and only 20 per cent were comedy) but it is the main reason that people gamble on the Fringe. The success of comics such as Eddie Izzard and Al Murray has made it a magnet for television executives - Gudgin calls it "the unofficial R&D wing of British comedy". Comedians go to Edinburgh hoping to win one of the many awards (So You Think You’re Funny, the Daily Telegraph Open Mic Award, the BBC New Comedy Award, and, best of all, the Perrier), or to get a television deal. But while there’s more cash at stake for the comics, there are plenty of opportunities for writers, directors, actors and dancers. Non-comedy awards include the Scotsman Fringe First, the Herald Angel Award and the Total Theatre Award. So many talent scouts go each year that the Fringe office now employs two promoter liaison managers.
Over the last few years, there has also been a rise in independent producers - such as Guy Masterson, an actor-producer who first came to the Fringe in 1991 and this year presents ten shows, and Martin Sutherland, who is taking seven shows to the Fringe and believes it is the best place to launch new companies. One of Sutherland’s biggest successes to date is Spymonkey, a Brighton-based outfit whose first show, Stiff, became a cult hit at Edinburgh and got picked up by the British Council’s showcase, which introduces carefully selected Fringe shows to 200-odd international promoters.
Promoters hang around London, too, but they can’t see 30 shows in a weekend. The same goes for audiences. Edinburgh audiences are, in part, holiday-makers looking for a theatrical thrill; London audiences are, by comparison, jaded and tired. Edinburgh is more open to the random and less confined to the cognoscenti. Shows which transfer south often do badly, and critics who have hyped them on the Fringe can end up reviewing them with bemused disappointment when they come to London. Perhaps critics get Fringe fever, too, but can’t sustain enthusiasm in London.
Transferring to London is still the holy grail for many Fringe shows, and performers often cite the example of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, which premiered at the Fringe in 1966, transferred to the National Theatre and became a modern classic. The new writing scene is more fluid than it was, and instead of novice playwrights having to jump through several hoops, putting on plays at successively better Fringe venues, the big theatres (such as Manchester’s Royal Exchange, Sheffield’s Crucible and London’s Royal Court) all have schemes aimed at finding unknowns. But the Edinburgh Fringe still has a role in incubating writers - Abi Morgan, David Harrower, David Greig and Zinnie Harris all broke through on the Fringe and last year Gregory Burke, a dishwasher-turned-playwright, did a Stoppard when his first play, Gagarin Way, was snapped up by the National after appearing at the Traverse Theatre. Another ex- Fringe show, Jesus Hopped the A Train, started at the Gilded Balloon and had a run at London’s Donmar Warehouse.
The Traverse is one of the Fringe’s top venues, while the Gilded Balloon, Pleasance and Assembly Rooms, form a "golden triangle" of venues that promote themselves as a sort of elite festival-within-the- festival. You have to push pretty hard to get into those venues. But in London the hierarchy of venues is immeasurably harder to break.
In Edinburgh, with imagination and hard work, any venue can create a buzz. Last year witnessed the launch of Komedia St Stephens, which produced a determinedly international programme called Aurora Nova. It was the most talked-about venue of 2001, and this year they’re back with an even more ambitious programme. Aurora Nova’s genesis describes all that is uplifting about Edinburgh.
First, the internationalism - Edinburgh has been a magnet for international theatre since the 1960s, when impresario Richard Demarco started bringing over eastern Europeans such as the visionary Polish director, Tadeusz Kantor. Second, the collaborations - Aurora Nova was comprised of the German expressionist ensemble Fabrik Potsdam and Tim Hawkins of Brighton-based Komedia, who met on the Fringe in one of those cross-fertilisations that only such a mongrel festival can throw up.
Theatre companies, particularly those producing devised or physical work, need showcases. In the past few years companies which refuse to compromise their methods, such as Frantic Assembly, Ridiculusmus, Unlimited Theatre and Spymonkey have premiered shows on the Fringe and transferred intact.
While researching this year’s festival, I have come across people who have told me that I was "optimistic" about the Fringe, as if that was a bad thing to be. But optimism is the point. Edinburgh is still about splashing "world premiere" across your poster, handing out soggy flyers in the rain, sharing a flat with 20 people and living on Pot Noodles. It’s about dreaming - not just for the performers but for the venue managers who turn broom cupboards into theatres, and the audience who take a risk on a show by a company of unknowns and who sometimes find it changes them. And that’s - to use a phrase that should never have become a cliché - the magic of theatre.
This article first appeared in Prospect magazine. Read the full version at www.prospect-magazine.co.uk
This article:
http://news.scotsman.com/features.cfm?id=792882002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 24, 2002.

South London Press
News
Judgment reserved in congestion charging challenge
Jul 23 2002
Judgment has been reserved in a High Court challenge to Ken Livingstone's scheme to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London.
During a six-day hearing, the scheme was condemned as unlawful and likely to increase air pollution and adversely affect the quality of city life.
Westminster Council and the Kennington Association, with the backing of Kensington and Chelsea borough council, asked a judge to block the congestion charge project, which is set to be introduced in February.
Roger Henderson, QC, appearing for Westminster, accused the mayor of failing to carry out a full and efficient consultation before giving the multi-million pound scheme the go-ahead. He told Mr Justice Maurice Kay that the mayor's decision was flawed and breached human rights because he had also failed to order an environmental impact assessment, or hold a public inquiry.
Those failures meant it had been impossible to consider fully all relevant matters, including local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the effect the scheme would have on all those who lived and worked in the city.
But lawyers for the mayor argued he had discharged his legal responsibilities in "a rigorous and conscientious manner".
Charles George, QC, said Mr Livingstone had sought appropriate advice by recruiting a team of experts and by going to outside specialists on traffic and air pollution.
At the end of the hearing, the judge indicated that he would accept further submissions in writing. He is expected to give his ruling in the near future.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 23, 2002.

SPORT: Stewart steps up to a new level
By Rob Steen
Financial Times; Jul 19, 2002
Before trading in liniment and jockstrap for laptop and press pass, Angus Fraser dispensed praise as he conceded runs: infrequently and grudgingly. Alec Stewart can thus take special satisfaction from the fact that Fraser considers that he has never played "with a more model professional" than the England all-rounder.
Barring the sort of mishap that befell others whenever his own future was in doubt, Stewart, 39, will embark on his 119th Test on Thursday when the first chapter of a four-Test series against India opens at Lord's. In so doing he will overtake Graham Gooch as England's most capped player.
Why does English cricket love Stewart? Let us count the reasons. Multi-faceted batsman, wicket-keeper par excellence, fitness fiend, tireless cheerleader, indestructible force, omnipresent inspiration. Not since another smart Alec (Guinness) played eight members of the D'Ascoyne clan in Kind Hearts and Coronets has an Englishman turned diversity into such an art form.
Yet the stage for Stewart's finest exposition of stiff-upper-lipped steel was neither the Kensington Oval - where his twin centuries in 1994 brought about the West Indies' first defeat in Barbados for 59 years - nor even his beloved Kennington Oval, but Southwark Cathedral.
Leading the illustrious array of mourners at Monday's memorial for Ben Hollioake, who died in March at the tender age of 24, was John Major, the former prime minister. The first to wipe eyes and clear throat, nevertheless, was Stewart, an opener by trade and spirit, a chap wholly averse to waste. "Death is nothing at all," he began, quoting Henry Scott Holland. "I have only slipped away into the next room."
To be a survivor means dicing with the odd precipice, and Stewart has recovered from many a seemingly fatal stumble. Indeed, rarely as he allows that immaculately sculpted public mask to slip, cast him back to India's last tour of England and a wry smile might prove tricky even for him to suppress.
In that summer of 1996 Stewart lost his place for the first Test, the legacy of two indifferent years, only to regain it immediately when Nick Knight broke a finger. Far from being over, his international career, it transpired, was not even halfway done. Even the captaincy came his way.
Then, this spring, the brink beckoned again. Having opted out of the winter tour of India, Stewart was replaced behind the stumps by James Foster. The Essex youth did enough to warrant a central contract at the older man's expense.
Foster, though, broke an arm before the series against Sri Lanka, Stewart won another reprieve, notched his 15th Test hundred at Old Trafford and made himself more indispensable than ever. Which leaves the selectors in something of a pickle.
Stewart's glovework remains superior to all rivals bar Gloucestershire's Jack Russell. In terms of batting, his total of 7,632 Test runs is exceeded by only four Englishmen.
By consistently justifying his presence in two disciplines, a luxury England have not enjoyed since Ian Botham went off the boil in the mid-1980s, Stewart's presence facilitates the inclusion of an extra bowler. With the attack short of teeth and an Ashes tour and a World Cup looming, this is more than a bonus.
Of the potential successors to Stewart's place, Foster, Glamorgan's Mark Wallace and the Sussex duo of Matt Prior and Tim Ambrose all follow the same pattern: solid strokes but wobbly hands. Of the young contenders targeted, only Durham's Andy Pratt, argues Adrian Aymes, Hampshire's veteran stumper, boasts the traditional skills in the requisite abundance.
Traditionally, excellence with the gloves has been overlooked in favour of batting ability. Forty years ago, Northants' Keith Andrew was repeatedly passed over in favour of quasi-keepers who could be relied on for a few more runs.
Which makes Stewart so special. Finding a replacement promises to be no less forlorn a task than uncovering a new Botham. Yet by continuing to defy time - and, given that fitness regime and general abstemiousness, another couple of years at the top cannot be ruled out - Stewart is performing yet another service for his country: buying time.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 19, 2002.

Independent
19 July 2002 08:32 BDST
Drivers. Unions. Residents. I'm going to sue the lot of them
Suddenly, congestion charges are violations of human rights, up there with arbitrary arrest, torture and state murder
By David Aaronovitch
19 July 2002
She reminded me of Charles Laughton as the hunchback of Notre Dame, did the young woman driving the yellow Beetle that came round the badly parked lorry at speed yesterday, turned the corner and nearly killed me. Her shoulder was raised grotesquely to her ear, thus trapping a minute mobile phone between the two, but rendering her right arm pretty useless. In her left hand – now forced to do all the work of changing gear, steering and making obscene gestures – was a lighted cigarette. Even more Quasi-esque were the two vowels, coated in glottal stops, that she threw back at me, careering across the road, after I remonstrated with her.
Bloody drivers. Bloody cars. There's no end to them. Now, after two years of our local traffic- calming scheme, they've worked out that no one polices the no-entry signs, and so they take them at speed, on their way back to leafy avenues in Edgware and Potters Bar. Soon we'll have to close the road altogether to give our children a fighting chance of surviving to puberty.
Further down the High Street a small queue of disconsolate travellers sat and stood around the number 46 bus stop. Their body language suggested that they had been there for hours. The presence of two policewomen argued a recent history of disputes between would- be passengers and bus drivers about how many people can ride in a 40- seat vehicle.
Bloody tubes, bloody RMT. This city depends upon its overpriced Underground trains running through their ancient tunnels on their antique rails. And now Bob Crow and his merry men, in an almost entirely concocted dispute about safety under a new Private Public Partnership regime, close down the network and pose, smiling for the cameras outside Leytonstone Tube. Next time he might like to put in an appearance at the number 46 bus stop.
I know many of you don't live in London and get fed up with metropolitan complaints about how the effects of economic growth are blighting our lives. But bear with me, because most of the issues raised by London's transport travails have some significance for other cities in the UK and for those who dwell in or travel to them.
At the moment all attempts to improve London's transport problems seem to be stuck with Jarndyce v Jarndyce in Chancery. There is a La Ronde of court cases going on. The PPP against which Bob Crow is cawing is stymied by the continuing series of court actions brought by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone. In June 2001 he lost to a ruling from Mr Justice Sullivan that, whatever the Mayor thought, the government, according to legislation, should "have the last word".
There were many who sympathised with the predicament of a directly elected Mayor of London who could not make a decision on transport in the city, but even they were rather hoping that this was the end of the matter. However expensive PPP may turn out to be, most Londoners simply wanted the work to start. But with the matter back in court since last month, just about nothing has happened.
The irony in this is that Ken is now facing similar delays as a result of legal challenges to his decision to press ahead with congestion charging on vehicles entering central London. Cities all over Britain have been watching the High Court since Monday, when Westminster Council and a group of citizens from Kennington brought their action for judicial review of the Mayor's decision. Under Ken's scheme, from next February motorists will be charged for driving into central London between 7am and 6.30pm from Monday to Friday. Cameras will snap number plates, which will then be checked against a database to see if the charge has been paid. There will be discounts for residents – and doctors, midwives and others will be exempt. The fine for not paying your charge will be Ł120. Ken says that charging will raise a Ł130m a year for public transport improvements, and cut traffic in central London by as much as 15 per cent.
It sounds pretty good to me, and I thought Ken was elected by Londoners to do it. But no; according to Westminster and the Kennington folk, Livingstone is not just wrong, but his plan is actually a "breach of residents' human rights". So it's up there with arbitrary arrest, torture, and state murder. One Kenningtonian told journalists that he was "very concerned about the effect the charges will have on residents and businesses. This boundary will split the community... the elderly are worried that people will not visit them if they have to pay to come into the zone." Westminster adds that many people will be cut off from doctors' surgeries, schools and shops.
Isn't that mad? The mayor is suggesting a road toll, like the one which you have to pay to get into New York over any of its bridges, and Westminster Council starts invoking the Berlin Wall. Communities cut off because occasionally someone might have to pay a fiver to travel by car? Do parking charges "cut" communities off? Or cul-de-sacs? Is the definition of connection anywhere that we can manoeuvre our motors?
But, of course, without any ideas of their own for how to deal with this car madness, the objectors claim that they are not opposed per se to charging. Kit Malthouse, Westminster Council's deputy leader, stresses that it's all about due process. "We need a proper debate," he says, "on the merits and practicalities of the scheme. Above all," he weasels, "we need to have a proper public transport infrastructure before a congestion charging scheme can be introduced."
Of course! Let's wait 25 years until we have one of those, and then take action. Meanwhile, the Kennington activists argue that their streets will be turned into rat-runs and illegal parking areas, which would infringe their human rights. Though they too are not actually against the idea as such. Two weeks ago a Mr Mark Rogers organised a road-blocking protest in Kennington, the main zonal area south of the Thames. Said Mr Rogers: "No, we are not against congestion charging – we think it's a good idea, but we think the zone boundary should be the river." So Mr Rogers either thought that it was fine for north Londoners to suffer what he could not stand, or believed that charging should only exist for those wanting to drive into the Thames itself.
Faced with this threat, Ken is quoted as having said, "Every one of my decisions has been looked at by barristers and subject to proper legal study. We have done everything possible to proceed lawfully and we hope that we will be allowed to proceed on this basis." Which is, of course, exactly what the government has said about the legality of PPP.
Well, if Westminster council believes that pollution and rat-running are contrary to peoples' human rights, perhaps all of us should now take to the courts. I have it in mind to sue the Kennington activists for capriciously ensuring that pollution and gridlock in central London will continue and get worse. And I might sue Bob Crow while I am about it. I could always argue that Quasimetta was only driving her yellow car because she couldn't get the Tube. Hell, hand the whole lot over to the judges.
David.Aaronovitch@btinternet.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 19, 2002.

Council makes u-turn on Ken's scheme
Jul 18 2002
South London Press
A COUNCIL has made a U-turn on its support for Ken Livingstone's congestion charging scheme.
At a meeting on Wednesday night, Lambeth councillors voted against the scheme which would see a Ł5-a- day toll on cars going into central London.
Part of the boundary of the charging zone runs through Kennington, and councillors are unhappy, claiming local people have not been properly consulted.
Councillors agreed not to co-operate with the development of the zone until they had the results of a full environmental and economic impact assessment. The new administration of Liberal and Conservative councillors has also thrown its weight behind Westminster council’s moves for a judicial review of the congestion charging scheme.
Executive member for housing Cllr Keith Fitchett added: “The local community is 100 per cent against these appalling proposals.”
A Kennington Association spokesman had earlier told the meeting a report by Transport for London had predicted a 25 per cent increase in traffic in Lambeth.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

BBC News
Wednesday, 17 July, 2002, 13:56 GMT 14:56 UK
Livingston's car policy 'flawed'
Plans to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London are "deeply flawed" because of Mayor Ken Livingston's "rushed, defective" traffic policy, a court has heard.
Westminster Council is arguing at the High Court that congestion charges are a breach of residents' human rights.
The scheme, which is due to be introduced next February, faces delays if public transport is not improved sufficiently to cope with the likely increased demand, said Roger Henderson QC.
"Otherwise people will be taken off the roads to nothing," he said.
Public inquiry
Backed by Kennington Association residents group, Westminster argues the scheme is unlawful and likely to increase air pollution and adversely affect the quality of city life.
Its lawyers have accused Mr Livingstone of wrongly failing to carry out a full and efficient consultation before giving the go- ahead to the multi-million pound scheme, which is aimed at making more people use public transport.
Westminster wants Mr Justice Maurice Kay to rule the mayor's decision was flawed and that he should have held a public inquiry.
'Defective'
On Wednesday, Mr Henderson rejected suggestions that it was now too late to hold any further inquiry.
He said the mayor was already committed to a review of the public transport situation in the capital later this year "which may cause the scheme not to go ahead at all by the intended date".
Any practical difficulties in the way of an inquiry flowed from the rushed, defective process which led to the scheme.
Mr Henderson argued that an inquiry could cure the flaws caused by that rush.
Fines
Mr Livingstone and Transport for London (TfL) believe they can defeat the legal challenge and have earmarked Ł2.3m to cover their fees.
They say the congestion charge will reduce traffic to "summer school holiday levels".
Under the scheme motorists will be charged for driving into central London between 0700 and 1830BST from Monday to Friday.
About 230 cameras will be used to take pictures of number plates, which will then be checked with a central database to see if the fee has been paid.
There will be discounts for residents and exemptions for certain professions.
Anyone who is caught not paying will be fined up to Ł120.
The case continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

Date: 17.07.02
Ref: 1381
Press contact: Charles Wright
Tel: 020 7926 2949
Email: cwright@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

Crime hits Lambeth libraries this summer
Prostitution, murder and intrigue are all set to hit Lambeth's libraries this summer - in a major promotion of the best crime fiction and fact set in London called "Capital Offences".
For 12 weeks from July a series of displays and events will be staged, with highlights including crime writers visiting libraries in person to talk about the true-life inspiration for their work. Brixton, Clapham, Streatham, South Lambeth, Durning and West Norwood libraries will all be participating.
Book lists, diary dates for related events around London and displays of new crime material are all available from participating libraries.
Events planned to date include:

29 August, Streatham Library (020 7926 6768): Talk by Lilian Pizzichini, author of Dead Man's Wages: secrets of a London conman and his family
5 September, Brixton Library (020 7926 1056): A panel of crime authors including Peter Gutteridge, Nicholas Blincoe and Sarah Diamond discuss the various merits of 'cosy' crime fiction versus the more graphic 'noir' genres.
12 September South Lambeth Library (020 7926 0705): Victorian melodrama evening, featuring local archivist Jon Newman, speaking on the subject of 'Prostitution in Victorian London', Bernard Davies on 'Infamous Crimes of Victorian and Edwardian London', and other guests.
For more information on these events, including times, please contact the library direct. Some events will be ticketed.
The events are supported by Read Routes, the first London-wide promotion actively supported by the 33 local councils, the London Libraries Development Agency and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
For general enquiries about Lambeth's libraries please call 020 7926 0750 or visit the website at www. lambeth.gov.uk.
Issued by the Communication Centre
London Borough of Lambeth
Lambeth Town Hall
Brixton Hill
London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000
Fax 020 7926 2835
www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

Evening Standard - Motoring

Human cost of congestion charge
by David Williams, Motoring Editor
Angry residents and traders in Kennington have brought key routes into London to a standstill in a dramatic demonstration against Ken Livingstone's congestion charge, which they say will devastate their neighbourhood.
Many other communities also fear the toll will impose an unfair cost on residents - seriously affecting house prices, crippling businesses and imposing the Ł5-a-day charge on those who need to drive across the zone boundary to visit friends, shops and churches.
We examined seven areas which will be worst affected by the scheme - due to start in February next year - and spoke to business people and residents to hear their fears:

Commercial Street, E1
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html? in_review_id=643064&in_review_text_id=613824
Vauxhall Bridge Road, SW1
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html? in_review_id=642976&in_review_text_id=613733
Kennington Lane, SW11
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html?in_review_id=643006&in_review_text_id=613763
Old Street, EC1
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html? in_review_id=642978&in_review_text_id=613735
Pentonville Road, N1
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html? in_review_id=643005&in_review_text_id=613762
Marylebone Road, NW1
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html? in_review_id=643003&in_review_text_id=613760
Edgeware Road, E2
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html? in_review_id=643002&in_review_text_id=613759

Congestion charge map
Go to:
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/lifestyle/londonlife/review.html?in_review_id=643036&in_review_text_id=613794
Many are pinning their hopes on Westminster council and Kennington Association's legal challenge against congestion charging in the High Court this week. They hope it will force the Mayor to re-think his scheme and call a public inquiry.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 17 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

Evening Standard

Modest change for backstairs Billy
by Wayne Veysey
After more than half a century of service to the Royal Family, he is more used to carrying the finest silver and china, but these days William " Backstairs Billy" Tallon has to fetch and carry his own laundry.
His former job as page to the Queen Mother is now a distant memory.
Bachelor Mr Tallon, 66, a well known figure as Page of the Backstairs, had to leave Gate Lodge at Clarence House, the grace and favour apartment granted to him by the Queen Mother, after Prince Charles said no alternative post could be found for him.
Mr Tallon, who worked for the Queen Mother since leaving school at 16, has moved to Kennington, where he has a tiny flat left to him by his long-term companion Reginald Wilcock, a Clarence House footman who died last year. The flat belongs to Prince Charles's Duchy of Cornwall and Mr Tallon has been told he can stay there rent free for the rest of his life.
The Royal Household has reportedly had strained relations with Mr Tallon since the Queen Mother's 101st birthday when, it was claimed by Palace officials, he took it upon himself to include wheelchair-bound Princess Margaret in the royal line-up
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 17 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

Evening Standard

Lambeth to snub road toll
by David Williams Motoring Editor
Ken Livingstone's congestion-charging scheme will suffer a fresh blow tomorrow when Lambeth council votes to withdraw all backing for it.
The council previously supported the Ł5-a-day toll due next year. But it is furious with the Mayor's transport department, claiming it has not listened to residents' views on how congestion charging will devastate communities in the borough.
It says Transport for London officials refused to attend public meetings called to let residents voice their fears.
Tomorrow councillors on the borough authority - controlled by a Liberal Democrat Conservatives alliance - are expected to vote to withdraw co-operation with Mr Livingstone immediately.
The vote coincides with Westminster council's attack on congestion charging at the High Court, where it is asking for a judicial review and public inquiry into the scheme in a joint action with the Kennington Association.
Tomorrow's motion of noncooperation, tabled by councillor Keith Fitchett, means Lambeth would refuse to distribute TfL literature promoting congestion charging and explaining how it will effect residents.
The council would also refuse to distribute Ł5 entry permits or help collect payments. It may also refuse planning permission for roadsigns connected with the scheme.
Mr Fitchett said: "The scheme the Mayor has come up with is going to make no big difference to congestion. It will, however, make a huge difference to people living on or near the boundary especially in Kennington, where the community is going to be split by the boundary road and where it will have to contend with a huge rise in traffic."
Andrew Sawdon, Lambeth executive member with responsibility for transport, said: "We are now backing Westminster in their legal challenge."
However, TfL insisted it had been liaising with boroughs, including Lambeth, for the last 18 months. A spokesman said: "We believe it is in the best interests of Lambeth's residents that they have as much information as possible. Only by continuing dialogue can TfL ensure that congestion charging benefits Lambeth."
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 16 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

Fiver-a-driver legal wrangle
Jul 16 2002

By Jon Ryder, South London Press
THE BATTLE raging over the controversial congestion charge plan has reached the High Court amid claims it will cause motoring chaos.
Westminster council and angry people likely to be affected have been fuming about the proposed scheme, believing it will pump pollution into residential streets and turn quiet neighbourhoods into rat runs.
The council and the Kennington Association (KA) yesterday mounted their challenge to the toll, hoping to force London Mayor Ken Livingstone to postpone the scheme until a public inquiry has been carried out.
Objectors claim people living just outside the charge boundary will find their streets clogged as commuters look for a way to avoid paying up for the privilege of driving into the capital.
Residents claim the plan will effectively fence them out of their own city, cutting them off from essential services like doctors' surgeries, schools and nurseries.
And the council claims all this means the Ł5-a-day scheme - due to be introduced in February - is in breach of motorists' human rights and wants a judicial review to challenge the fee scheme.
Mark Rogers, speaking for the KA, said: "Ideally we want Ken to go back to the drawing board.
"There has to be an environmental assessment, something which he should have done a long time ago.
"We are not opposed to the idea of congestion charging, but we do want a more sensitive approach."
The High Court hearing to decide if a judicial review can go ahead is expected to last most of the week.
A spokeswoman for the the Mayor's office said the scheme did not interfere with people's human rights and there had been wide-scale public consultation.
She added that Mr Livingstone was not obliged to carry out a public inquiry and that a Transport for London environmental survey found that there would not be a significant increase in pollution.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

NATIONAL NEWS: Westminster in court challenge to planned London traffic charges
By Nikki Tait, Law Courts Correspondent
Financial Times; Jul 16, 2002
Ken Livingstone, the London mayor, pushed ahead with a plan to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London without fully considering traffic and environmental implications, it was argued in the High Court yesterday.
Westminster City Council, along with the Kennington Association, is challenging the scheme - set to come in next February - claiming it was unlawful and likely to have a detrimental environmental and traffic impact.
The council, whose territory would be divided by the scheme, is asking the courts to block the project. Roger Henderson, QC, appearing for the council, argued that the mayor had failed to order an environmental impact assessment, or hold a public inquiry, and made it impossible to consider fully all the repercussions the scheme would have.
The scheme would lead to a "significant air quality deterioration" as motorists took short cuts on the fringes of the charging area, causing fresh problems, Mr Henderson argued. "The mayor says there will be no traffic jams. We say on the evidence [that] he cannot reach that conclusion."
Part of the legal challenge to the scheme cites human rights arguments. The scheme would create an eight-square mile zone in central London. Drivers would be charged Ł5 per vehicle per day between 7am and 6.30pm weekdays with fines for non- compliance.
It is anticipated that the scheme would cost Ł200m to set up but generate about Ł130m in revenue a year, ahead of any fines.
Westminster City Council disputes some of Mr Livingstone's figures. The mayor maintains that studies into the scheme have been conducted properly.
The judicial review hearing, before Mr Justice Maurice Kay, is expected to last five days.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

The Times
July 16, 2002
Traffic charges 'breach human rights'
By Christopher Walker
A LEGAL challenge to the attempt to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into Central London and fine them up to Ł120 for failing to comply began in the High Court yesterday.
Westminister Council and the Kennington Association demanded a judicial review of the plan by Ken Livingstone, the London Mayor, to introduce the congestion charge from next February.
With Mr Livingstone sitting in the well of the court, the judge, Mr Justice Maurice Kay, was told that he had failed to carry out a full and efficient consultation before he approved the multimillion-pound scheme.
Roger Henderson, QC, appearing for Westminster Council, said that the mayor’s decision was flawed and a breach of human rights because he had also failed to order an environmental impact assessment, or hold a public inquiry.
Mr Henderson said that failures in the way that the scheme had been introduced meant that it had been impossible to consider fully all relevant matters, including local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the effect it would have on all who lived in the city.
The hearing to determine whether a judicial review will be permitted is expected to last all this week. Transport for London, the mayor’s transport authority, has earmarked Ł2.3 million to cover legal fees.
The judge declared his own personal interest in the case, saying that he had lived in Kennington, South London for ten years. He said that the issues raised were of personal importance to every judge working at the High Courts situated near The Strand, as all either lived in, or had to travel into, the congestion charging area.
Mr Henderson said that he also had a personal interest, as he lived in Kensington, West London, which would also be affected by the proposal.
Mr Livingstone is due to start a separate legal case of his own next week, trying to halt plans for partly privatising the London Underground.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

Court told of pollution threat from traffic fee

Press Association
Tuesday July 16, 2002
The Guardian
A scheme to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London was condemned in the high court yesterday as unlawful and likely to increase air pollution and adversely affect the quality of city life.
Westminster council and the Kennington Association asked a judge to block the congestion charge project, which is set to be introduced in February.
Roger Henderson QC, appearing for Westminster, accused London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, of failing to carry out a full consultation before giving the multimillion pound scheme the go- ahead.
The QC told Mr Justice Maurice Kay that the mayor's decision was flawed and breached human rights because he had also failed to order an environmental impact assessment, or hold a public inquiry.
Those failures meant it had been impossible to consider fully all relevant matters, including local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the effect the scheme would have on all those who lived and worked in the city.
Opening an application for judicial review expected to last five days, Mr Henderson said a big fear was that Westminster's strategy for dealing with pollution would be seriously affected.
There would be a "significant air quality deterioration" as motorists used rat runs on the edge of the charging zone to escape the Ł5 fee and to avoid increased traffic.
The fee was expected to raise Ł130m in revenue every year to be spent on transport.
The hearing continues.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 18, 2002.

BBC News
Monday, 15 July, 2002, 13:43 GMT 14:43 UK
Congestion charge 'will split communities'
The Mayor of London's plans for congestion charging will divide communities, according to residents living near the zone's boundary.
Kennington Lane, Lambeth, south-east London will form part of the southern boundary of the proposed new charging zone.
Local residents and businesses are worried the boundary will create massive traffic problems on the southern side and force businesses on the northern side to close.
Westminster Council and the Kennington Association are leading a legal challenge against the plans claiming that they were not adequately consulted.
Francis Forest, town centre manager for Kennington, said: "I am very concerned about the effect the charges will have on residents and businesses.
"This boundary will split the community.
"People such as the elderly are worried that people will not visit them if they have to pay to come into the zone."
Nicholas Stylianou, from the Windmill Fish Bar, which is outside the zone, said: "Congestion charging will cause chaos
'Poll tax'
"It's going to affect the number of customers that come to the shop."
Antonio Luis, from the Maderia Patisserie, which is inside the zone, said: "We have the shop and a wholesale business and have customers in London and outside.
"These charges may force us to change the whole business - even relocate.
"It's just another poll tax - a lot of shops will go out of business."
Ł130m raised Kevin Phillips who has his own framing business in Waterloo said the plans could be detrimental for local street traders.
"This would cost traders Ł25 a week - this could mean the difference between traders intending to go to work or not."
He believes that the increased costs will simply be passed onto customers.
Transport for London believes the charge will reduce traffic by 10-15% and improve congestion to "summer school holiday levels".
Motorists will be charged if they want to drive into a central zone between 0700 BST to 1830 BST on Monday to Friday, raising up to Ł130m annually for public transport improvements.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 15, 2002.

Guardian
11.15am update
London congestion plan faces legal battle
Staff and agencies
Guardian Unlimited
Monday July 15, 2002
Ken Livingstone's plan for a Ł5 daily congestion charge for motorists driving into central London was today facing a high court challenge.
Conservative-controlled Westminster council and the Kennington Association were applying for a judicial review to try to stop the weekday fee, which is set to be introduced in February.
They argue the scheme is unlawful because the mayor of London has not carried out a full environmental impact assessment or held a public inquiry into its effects.
His decision to proceed breaches European directives and the 1998 Human Rights Act, they argue.
Westminster council believes it threatens the quality of life of residents because motorists will use rat runs on the edge of the charging zone to escape the fee.
They also state it could "create havoc" separating citizens outside the zone from services such as school, shops and medical services within - although there is nothing to stop Londoners using the tube, buses, taxis, motorbikes, bicycles or even walking across the boundary.
The council also alleged that Transport for London (TfL), the mayor's transport authority, had ignored its own study by Halcrow Fox, which identified potential significant adverse air quality impacts on the capital.
Kit Malthouse, the deputy leader of Westminster council, said: "We need a proper debate on the merits and practicalities of the scheme.
"Above all, we need to have a proper public transport infrastructure before a congestion charging scheme can be introduced".
Mr Livingstone believes he has a strong legal case to defeat the challenge.
He said: "Everyone of my decisions has been looked at by barristers and subject to proper legal study.
"We have done everything possible to proceed lawfully and we hope that we will be allowed to proceed on this basis."
TfL has earmarked Ł2.3m to cover legal fees. The charge will reduce traffic by 10-15% and improve congestion to "summer school holiday levels", it claims.
Motorists will be charged if they want to drive into a central zone between 7am to 6.30pm from Monday to Friday, raising up to Ł130m annually for public transport improvements.
Approximately 230 cameras are being installed to take pictures of licence plates which will be checked with a central database to see if the fee has been paid, based on the technology already used in the City of London's "ring of steel". Those who do not pay will be fined up to Ł120.
Tfl described Westminster's case as "misconceived".
A spokesman said: "We've had more than 18 months of public consultation and Westminster city council are raising no new issues.
"Everything has been carefully considered and thought through. Congestion is one of the most pressing transport problems facing the capital."
Mr Livingstone won a massive personal mandate for the scheme when he made that, and opposition to the government's plans for a partly privatised underground, his two major policy planks in the 2000 mayoral election.
The mayor is currently involved in a bitter battle to be readmitted to the Labour party ahead of the next mayoral contest in 2004.
What do you think?
Email us at: politics.editor@guardianunlimited.co.uk
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 15, 2002.

The Times
July 15, 2002
Q&A: the challenge to Livingstone's car charge
by pa news
A legal challenge to the road congestion charging scheme devised by Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, starts today. Ben Webster, Transport Correspondent, reports on the background and politics of the road battle.
Who are the groups challenging the road charge? How are they funding it?
Westminster City Council is making the main challenge. Two South London residents, Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson, who are members of the Kennington Association and live near the southern perimeter of the charging zone, are also challenging the charge. Other groups have been listed as "interested parties" which have put in written submissions and witness statements supporting all or part of Westminster's case. They are Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council, AA, Central London Synagogue, British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, and Covent Garden Markets Authority. Westminster council taxpayers are funding the council's challenge. The Kennington Association is believed to be meeting the residents' costs.
Why are they challenging it? Is this politics, or local action?
Westminster claims that Mr Livingstone should have carried out an environmental impact assessment and held a public inquiry into the charge. The residents claim that the charge will damage property prices along the zone boundary, specifically Kennington Lane, because drivers will "rat run" through their streets to avoid the charge. They also claim that their human rights have been breached because they were not fully consulted.
How long would the public inquiry that they demand take to report?
Several months at least, and certainly long enough to make it very likely that the charge could not start in February as planned.
Are they expected to succeed?
Mr Livingstone has a strong defence in that he stated in his election manifesto that he would introduce the charge in his first term and then held several public consultations. However, his officials did receive a consultants' report in April last year saying there were several issues for which an environmental impact assessment was very likely to be needed. The consultants advised against holding one, however, apparently on the grounds that to do so could undermine the scheme's chances of going ahead. In other words, an assessment might have given an answer which did not suit Mr Livingstone politically.
Is the scheme still on target to start in February? Why so quickly?
The mayor wants the scheme to start by then so it can have run for at least a year by the time he seeks re-election in May 2004. He needs to get the anticipated teething troubles dealt with before he begins his campaign. Also, he has little else to boast about from his first term. He loves to be controversial and to pioneer ideas, as he did with his Fares Fair cheap public transport fares policy for the GLC. London is the first major city in the world to attempt this kind of charging scheme – and the world is watching the fate of Ken's seven million guinea pigs in London with intense interest.
Copyright 2002 Times Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 15, 2002.

South London Press

Livingstone congestion charge 'unlawful and unhealthy'
Jul 15 2002 A scheme to charge motorists Ł5 to drive into central London has been condemned as unlawful in the High Court.
Westminster Council and the Kennington Association have asked a judge to block the "congestion charge" project, which is set to be introduced in February.
Roger Henderson, QC, appearing for Westminster, accused Ken Livingstone of failing to carry out a full and efficient consultation before giving the multi-million pound scheme the go- ahead.
As Mr Livingstone listened at the back of the court, the QC told Mr Justice Maurice Kay the mayor's decision was flawed and breached human rights because he had also failed to order an environmental impact assessment, or hold a public inquiry.
Those failures meant it had been impossible to consider fully all relevant matters, including local traffic management, parking, local air quality and the effect the scheme would have on all those who lived and worked in the city.
Opening an application for judicial review expected to last five days, Mr Henderson said a major fear was Westminster's strategy for dealing with pollution would be seriously affected.
There would be a "significant air quality deterioration" as motorists used rat runs on the edge of the charging zone to escape the Ł5 fee and to avoid increased traffic.
He said: "Everybody who drives a car in London is an expert in traffic management, in their own car at any rate. We all know ways of trying to deal with traffic jams."
It was "a fundamental plank" of Mr Livingstone's judgment that "there will be no significant traffic affects at all" from his scheme.
Mr Henderson said: "We suggest that on the evidence he could not reach that conclusion. It is no answer to say there will be winners and losers. One has to try and prevent pollution arising in the first place."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 15, 2002.

BBC News
Monday, 15 July, 2002, 05:27 GMT 06:27 UK
Congestion charges face legal challenge
Plans to charge motorists Ł5 a day to drive into central London are to be challenged in the High Court on Monday.
Westminster Council will argue that Mayor Ken Livingstone's decision to introduce the congestion charges from next February is in breach of residents' human rights.
They claim people living just outside the charging zone will see their streets turned into polluted rat-runs, as motorists search for routes exempt from the fee.
The council will also claim that many people will be cut off from essential services - including doctors' surgeries, schools and shops - and that there was inadequate consultation about the scheme.
'Proper debate'
Westminster Council, backed by the Kennington Association, will ask for a judicial review to stop the daily fee being imposed.
They will argue for a public inquiry into its effects and a more detailed analysis of its likely environmental impact.
The council will claim that Transport for London (TfL), which is responsible for the scheme, ignored evidence that congestion charges could have significant effects on air quality.
It says the details were published in a study commissioned by TfL from Halcrow Fox.
Kit Malthouse, the council's deputy leader, said: "We need a proper debate on the merits and practicalities of the scheme.
"Above all, we need to have a proper public transport infrastructure before a congestion charging scheme can be introduced".
Decisions
Mr Livingstone and TfL believe they can defeat the legal challenge and have earmarked Ł2.3m to cover their fees.
They believe the congestion charge will reduce traffic to "summer school holiday levels".
Mr Livingstone said: "Everyone of my decisions has been looked at by barristers and subject to proper legal study.
"We have done everything possible to proceed lawfully and we hope that we will be allowed to proceed on this basis."
Discounts
Under the scheme motorists will be charged for driving into central London between 7am and 6.30pm from Monday to Friday.
About 230 cameras will be used to take pictures of licence plates, which will then be checked with a central database to see if the fee has been paid.
There will be discounts for residents and exemptions for certain professions.
Anyone who is caught not paying will be fined up to Ł120.
Mr Livingstone and TfL argue the scheme will raise up to Ł130m a year for public transport improvements.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 15, 2002.

Comment

Pendennis: Tomb it may concern
Sunday July 14, 2002
The Observer
Mr William Hazlitt was not only one of our nation's most scintillating essayists. He despised aggrandisement. So he might be embarrassed to find that a committee of celebrities - including bouffant-haired TV host Mr Melvyn Bragg, razor-sharp politico Mr Michael Foot and frisky poet laureate Mr Andrew Motion - has successfully raised thousands of pounds to restore Hazlitt's tomb outside the famous St Anne's Church in London's Soho. A noble venture indeed. But what would Mr H have said if he also knew that the famous fundraisers' proposed design for his new tombstone includes all their names carved on the memorial too? 'Vanity, vanity, all is vanity!' shrieks one donor. 'Michael Foot will have his own tombstone quite soon enough.'
· How are Mr Iain Duncan Smith's plans for an 'inclusive' Conservative Party coming along? 'If a woman gets telephoned by someone claiming there's a safe seat up for grabs,' whispers the Tories' former spin doctor Miss Amanda Platell, 'she should assume it's a hoax caller.'
· Unkind detractors might have monickered animal-loving Mr Ken Livingstone Mayor Dolittle. But he's in no mood for compromise. 'In the past five weeks I've been taken aback by just how venomous and vindictive the press is in this country,' the London mayor tells Pendennis. 'I've even had former lovers saying they've been called up by the Telegraph. If I get any more lip from anyone, I'll throw them over a balcony.'
· 'What's transparent and lies in the gutter?' asked Mr Tim Culley, a participant in Channel 4's Big Brother, the other day. 'A Paki with the shit kicked out of him.' The once-progressive TV station has not troubled to remove the ghastly Mr Culley from the show, on which he also failed to identify the painter of the Sistine Chapel last week. But what a masterstroke of advertising for public school education. And in particular for Ł17,250-a-year Malvern College, of which Dim Tim is an old boy.
· Miss Ann Widdecombe, the terrifying disciplinarian currently celebrating publication of her unputdownable romantic novel An Act of Treachery, has not only dyed her hair a startling blond, she has also lost two stone in weight. 'Ann's been doing a lot of walking,' a devotee explains, quite breathless. 'And she's cut down her regular visits to the "All you can eat" buffet at her local Kennington Tandoori. She's turning into a bit of a stunner, you know.' Steady on!
· A knighthood for towering former Evening Standard editor Mr Max Hastings has no doubt cheered his delectable second wife Penny, soon to be Lady H. The former wife of TV mogul Michael Grade, Penny shared Max's lovely Wiltshire home for years while he awaited a divorce. 'Max is a stickler for the old-fashioned proprieties,' a regular weekend houseguest reminds us. 'He would always say to people "Do meet Mrs Grade" when they arrived. They thought she was the housekeeper.'
· God bless! A Football Association disciplinary committee has fined Mr Campbell Dempsey Ł30 and banned him for 10 weeks after spitting at an opponent and attempting to headbutt him. Mr Dempsey plays for Heworth Christian Fellowship in the North East Christian Fellowship league.
· The Queen's fiendishly clever accountant Sir Michael Peat has saved her thousands of pounds by introducing dishwashers - the automatic sort - at Buckingham Palace, and encouraging the Duke of Edinburgh to switch off lights. But is the distinguished beancounter going soft? 'We're getting paid Ł10 an hour,' confided a smiling footman when Pendennis popped into Windsor Castle the other evening. 'It's the best rate for temporary staff in London.' But if Sir Michael is splashing out Her Majesty's cash, at least it's only on the most discerning caterers. 'I always read Observer Food Monthly,' volunteers our man in the periwig. Isn't Prince Philip's charm infectious!
pendennis@observer.co.uk
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 14, 2002.

Lilian Baylis School PFI - Update

Released: 12 July, 2002 11:35 Filesize: 36kb Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0144 30.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 13, 2002.

Telegraph
Friday 12 July 2002

Light at the end of the jam
(Filed: 12/07/2002)
Stephen Robinson meets the man responsible for the capital's traffic
It was probably a mistake to mention to the taxi driver that I was running late for an appointment with Derek Turner, director of street management at Transport for London and the man who has his finger on the capital's 4,500 traffic lights.
As we sat stalled in the capital's permanent gridlock, the driver regaled me with tales of how motorists and cab riders are being cheated by Ken Livingstone's office.
By the time we reached Transport for London's headquarters, my ears were ringing and I had a firm invitation to join a forthcoming cab drivers' protest, a formation drive in north London where a new bus lane has made cabbies' lives a misery.
The charge sheet against those who are supposed to keep the capital's traffic moving is long and damning.
Seven months before the launch of the mayor's controversial road charging scheme, London streets are lined with cones as long-delayed road works are being hurried through with chaotic consequences for traffic.
A baffling new chicane in SW1 - more suitable for Silverstone than Pimlico - has just been completed, supposedly to ease the passage of buses but causing confused motorists to crash.
Traffic that once flowed freely from north London into the City has been snarled by a stop-start bus lane system which has served only to slow everything, including the buses. Sinister new posts are appearing on intersections where, from February, cameras will record the number of every vehicle entering the central charging zone.
South of the Thames, mothers and babies have been on Kennington's streets, protesting that the charging zone's southern boundary will slice through their community, cutting it in half and creating a noisy east-to-west rat run.
And then there are the traffic lights, a subject likely to send any London motorist into orbit. All over the capital, lights are being tampered with so that they stay red longer, causing infuriating back- ups.
Some changes are temporary and relate to the pedestrian scheme around Trafalgar Square but most are permanent and many more lights will be tweaked in the months ahead.
Average traffic speeds, which in 2001 dipped below 10mph for the first time, have fallen further this year. London is grinding to a virtual halt.
In most cities, the man responsible for traffic might see his role as making sure it actually flows but Mr Turner was anxious to put me right. His major concern, he claimed, is safety.
To justify rigging traffic lights against the motorist, he cites two fatalities in 1998 which were blamed by coroners on traffic lights giving inadequate time for pedestrians to cross. That apparently triggered a fundamental re- think of how long a Londoner should have to walk across the road once the green man flashes up.
Since then, Mr Turner's whole approach to traffic in London has been, as he puts it, "safety-based" and all traffic signals must conform to national standards.
He suggested that his hands were tied by central government diktat but the document his office subsequently provided on request was a simple "advice note" on how pedestrian crossings could be improved, with no obligation to proceed.
"If you get knocked over on a traffic signal, you would be distressed and try to get recompense," Mr Turner said. That might be so but what about the motorist and the importance of the traffic flow, the lifeblood of any heaving metropolis, as goods and people move around and make the city function?
What about mothers who will have to pay Ł5 to pick up their children from school and shopkeepers in north Kennington who are now separated by a road toll from their customers in the southern half of the district?
And why should "Red" Ken be presiding over a road tax system which offers no serious deterrent to a Bentley- driving investment banker but will cause terrible aggravation and cost to, say, a restaurant worker who heads home from central London long after public transport has stopped running?
Mr Turner is unmoved, reciting lists of statistics and noting nonchalantly that "very few Cs and Ds are driving into central London".
He means poor people but does not deny that it will be the low-paid who overwhelmingly will make up the predicted 10 to 15 per cent decline in road usage next year. Disconcertingly, he has the same flat, slightly nasal intonation of Livingstone as he lays out his gloomy vision of driving in London.
Mr Turner denies that he is philosophically opposed to private car usage - he owns a car and takes the bus to work - but Mr Turner's exposition of the case for taxing motorists reflects a dispiriting, government-knows-best mindset that permeates the Livingtone mayoralty.
He says an office worker driving from Kensington to Canary Wharf is guilty of an "inappropriate use of road space". He seems to think that he and the mayor own the capital's road network and that the motorist can only use it on their terms.
Road charging will fund a huge proliferation in the mayor's patronage. Already in the past 12 months, the number of staff employed by Transport for London has increased by nearly 50 per cent to more than 3,100. This will rise further when several hunded more are employed to man the call centres running the charging operation.
Mr Livingstone, who has complained that he has no real powers over key issues such as policing and the Tube, is making sure he at least has the trappings of a serious mayoralty.
In the meantime, Londoners face expensive and stress- inducing delays caused by traffic light changes based on the death of two pedestrians four years ago. Thus, as a matter of policy, traffic is being slowed.
If the Ł5 charge does reduce congestion by the 10 to 15 per cent claimed, traffic speeds might begin to increase again. And if that happens, Mr Taylor can be expected to step forward to announce bold new "safety-based" measures to slow it all down again
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2002.

Guardian

Comment

Get a grip on yourself
These days, thanks to the pensions crisis, everyone thinks they're a financial hypochondriac. Back off, says Lloyd Shepherd, and leave the fretting to the professionals.
Guardian Unlimited
Thursday July 11, 2002
As a financial hypochondriac, one gets used to being ignored at parties. Normally, people don't want to talk about savings rates or tax-efficient investments or even how easy it is to move your bank account these days. No-one ever scored with this kind of schtick. The only thing going for us hypochondriacs is that we know more about this stuff than you do, so that, all other things being equal, we will have more money to worry about than you will at some point in the future.
I may check my bank statement against my bank account. I may even go to the effort of understanding the difference between a maxi and a mini Isa. But at least I'm different. At least I'm not a run-of-the-mill, couldn't-care-less-about-money-too-busy-living thirtysomething who won't be able to afford an evening at the bingo in 2040.
How wrong can you be? Because suddenly, everybody, I mean everybody, is a financial hypochondriac. Even the weather is taking second place to concerns about people's fiscal future. A basic understanding of global capital is not yet the key to picking up beautiful strangers at parties, but it's getting there. The world, in short, has gone stark raving mad. What has done this to people?
Pensions.
Pensions. The very word makes you shiver, doesn't it?
Where were you when you first heard the words "final salary pension"? Did you care? Did it make you cross and frustrated? Or did you yawn and turn back to something more interesting, like Big Brother? My guess is that one of my brothers and sisters in hypochondria was probably trying to impress on you the importance of the fact that your final salary scheme was about to be abolished. But you didn't listen, did you? It was probably 1999, share prices were on the up, and you were just considering which dotcom to join and what to spend your stock options on. How things change. Final salary pensions are now a bigger issue than the NHS, education, transport and Big Brother rolled into one. Everyone knows the British like a good moan, and boy, are we proving it at the moment.
Not only is the weather appalling, but we're going to be destitute as well. Every man and woman in the country has nothing to look forward to but financial despair and the minimum state pension. Instead of swanning round the Costa del Sol on our high-specification yacht, we're all going to be queuing outside the post office in Kennington in the rain.
Our grandchildren will not be spoiled with expensive toys and visits to theme parks, but will have to put up with cheap plastic stuff from Poundstretcher. Two visits to cultural Italy each year will be replaced by a week in a caravan in Anglesey. If this all sounds a bit snobbish - after all, a lot of people do live like this - you've missed the point. This isn't general financial hypochondria; this is middle class financial hypochondria.
This flurry of sado- masochism has been sparked by something quite simple: a fall in share prices. A big, bad, nasty fall in share prices. And because share prices are statistical beasts, this has led to a batch of learned comparisons with history, in much the same way as we compare current weather conditions with those of the past. This is the wettest summer since 1960, and this is the worst bear market for shares since Wallace P. Threadneedle lost 50 quid when the South Sea Bubble exploded in 17-whenever-it-was.
The favourite comparison is with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 (you can tell it was bad, because of the capital C in Crash). Journalists and analysts have gleefully stoked our hypochondria by pointing out that it took more than two decades for the stock market to recover; they only climbed back to their pre-Crash levels in 1953. Now, hold on a minute. I did history O-level. Wasn't there the small matter of a world war and a major European reconstruction to deal with in that period? I know the last two decades have been kind of interesting, but in terms of fiscal effort even Norman Lamont couldn't drain reserves quicker than the Wehrmacht.
Bad news sells papers, of course - and not since mad cow disease have commentators delivered dark facts with such glee. When the mad cow panic was at its peak, I remember a Sunday newspaper not entirely unconnected with this website running a piece about how the Channel tunnel would be sealed up by the French if the worst case scenario for mad cow disease proved to be true. The forecasts for pensions have been equally apocalyptic. These days, if you want to get into the papers, just call yourself an "analyst" and tell the reporter who will eventually call that everyone's going to be poor.
So back off, OK? Leave us hypochondriacs alone. Go back to your blissful state of ignorance. You're not nearly as interested in stock market performance as you think you are. Renew your subscription to Heat magazine, discuss David Beckham's nail polish, vote on Big Brother evictions. And leave the worrying to the professionals.
Oh, and one more thing. All you public sector workers, you teachers and nurses and firemen. All you people with real final salary pension schemes. You know how badly you were treated in the 1980s, while the rest of us were snorting cocaine and having sex in sports cars? I bet all this panic feels really sweet.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2002.

Evening Standard

Lifestyle - Books
Exclusive: read a chapter
The Full Monty
Nigel Hamilton (Ł8.99, Penguin)
Penguin promotion
Buy this book at www.penguin.co.uk
St Mark's, Kennington
Bernard Law Montgomery was the third son and fourth child of the Reverend Henry Montgomery and his young wife Maud, née Farrar. Both Henry and Maud came from distinguished Victorian families: Sir Robert Montgomery, Henry Montgomery's father, had been knighted for his service as an administrator in India during the Mutiny, or First War of Indian Independence; Canon Frederick Farrar, Maud's father, was even more celebrated, having become one of the most famous headmasters and preachers in England, and rector of St Margaret's Church, Westminster, opposite the Houses of Parliament. He not only wrote a popular Life of Jesus, but penned a series of morally edifying Victorian novels of rites-of-passage, such as Eric, or Little by Little, Julian Home and St. Winifred's or The World of School, that were as popular in their time as Tom Brown's Schooldays.
Henry - who had been a young curate in Canon Farrar's parish - had met Maud when he was twenty-nine, balding and bearded, she flat-chested and only eleven. They had become engaged when Maud was fourteen, and were married when Maud was still only sixteen.
Though not uncommon in Victorian England, the age gap between bride and bridegroom was mirrored in the gap between their educations, indeed in the gulf separating the sexes. Henry Montgomery had gone to Harrow School - a 'dung-hill' where '[every] boy of good looks had a female name, and was recognized either as a public prostitute or as some bigger fellow's "bitch",' as J. A. Symonds recorded. 'Here and there one could not avoid seeing acts of onanism, mutual masturbation, the sports of naked boys in bed together. There was no refinement, no sentiment, no passion; nothing but animal lust in these occurrences.' Henry had then studied at Cambridge. 'God, who kept me from the temptations of school life, did not desert me at college', he claimed later. But Maud Farrar had never been to school at all.
The difference in their educations - sexual as well as scholarly - was thus marked. Henry had taken holy orders under instruction from the notorious Dr C. J. Vaughan. According to J. A. Symonds, Dr Vaughan had publicly announced he would switch, or birch, a certain boy for indulging in sodomy or 'spooning', but was then found to indulge in the practice himself with one of Symonds' fellow pupils - a practice his wife was well aware of, flinging herself at the knees of Symonds' father when he compelled Vaughan to resign with the plea that 'Her husband was subject to this weakness, but it had not interfered with his usefulness in the direction of the school at Harrow'. The disgraced headmaster of Harrow, who had been forced to turn down the offer of two bishoprics thereafter, had then become a simple teacher of divinity to young men such as Henry Montgomery.
Whether Henry himself was ever importuned by Vaughan is unknown, but Henry certainly attracted the passionate affection of the Dean of Westminster, Dean Stanley, whose secretary he had become, and who in 1879 got him his own living as vicar of St Mark's, Kennington: a large, sprawling parish in south London. It was as vicar of St Mark's that Henry was then able to marry his fiancée, whose engagement had been kept secret even from her sisters.
The wedding, in a chapel of Westminster Abbey, was marred by the sudden death of Dean Stanley, Henry's patron. Worse was to follow. Of their wedding nuptials in the Bull Hotel in Cambridge, in July 1881, Maud openly confided to her youngest son that 'she did not exactly enjoy that first night'. Thereafter, in the turmoil of a busy Victorian parish, dedicated to religious conversion and the saving of more souls, she confessed she was 'not very happy'.
It was hardly surprising. Maud had grown up as one of ten children -five boys and five girls. She missed them, and found the switch from the big, warm, affectionate Farrar family to the cold, formal Montgomerys as great a shock as sexual penetration. She hardly knew Henry; for two years before marriage, between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, she had been allowed to see her fiancé only twice per week, under strict supervision -and had no other suitors. At the Montgomery family estate in Northern Ireland, overlooking Lough Foyle in County Donegal, where she spent her honeymoon, she was escorted each night to her bed - by Lady Montgomery.
'The men always came to bed later,' Maud recalled - lamenting that her husband took her for granted, never told her that he loved her or indeed had any feelings for her, but simply imposed on her, as the vicar's new sixteen-year- old wife, sexual obedience and awesome responsibilities; a parish of 14,000 people, administered by her husband, three curates, 250 church workers and 12.5 Sunday school teachers indoctrinating 1,500 Sunday school children.
For this Maud would make her husband, and her children, pay.
© Penguin Books Limited 2002 © Associated Newspapers Ltd., 11 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2002.

Evening Standard

'Gaping hole' in car charging profits
by David Williams, Motoring Editor
Hidden costs have blown a "gaping hole" in the amount of money Ken Livingstone's controversial congestion charge will raise.
The Ł5-a-day scheme was expected to net Ł200million a year to fund vital public transport projects in London, according to the Mayor's own Transport Strategy.
But today it is predicted that profits will plunge by Ł117 million from the original figure to about Ł83 million a year.
An internal report by Transport for London's finance committee blames heavier than expected start-up costs of the scheme aimed at reducing the traffic entering central London.
These include expanding outlets selling the Ł5 "tickets" at newsagent and convenience stores and the placing of ticket terminals in car parks, hospitals and other local amenities. Other unexpected costs include changes to the design of the cameras that will detect evaders and extra traffic-management measures to smooth the introduction of the scheme next February.
The decision to shorten the charging threshold from 7am-7pm to 7am- 6.30pm has also lowered revenue predictions, and the report warns there may have to be even more expenditure to improve "customer service", including a campaign aimed at persuading drivers to shift to other means of transport, before charging starts.
Additional potential costs include incentives to encourage motorists to register their vehicles before the scheme starts, and the finalisation of "debt-recovery services" from motorists who fail to pay evasion fines.
Today Tories on the London Assembly warned that they expected further "sharp" falls in revenue as even more unforeseen costs emerge. Conservative congestion charge spokeswoman Angie Bray said they expected annual profits from the scheme would not now rise above Ł83million. "There's going to be hardly any money for improving public transport, despite hitting Londoners hard in their wallets."
Fears are growing that TfL may increase the Ł5 charge or even extend the road-fee area to make up the shortfall. The Ł200million a year that TfL intended to make from congestion charging has dwindled at an alarming rate. Last November, TfL officials admitted that projected annual profits would be about Ł130million. And on Monday, TfL will begin fighting Westminster council and the Kennington Association in a judicial review at the High Court that could result in big bills for both sides. Already the review has forced TfL to schedule Ł2.3 million to cover legal fees.
TfL did not return phone calls from the Standard about the revenue "hole".
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 11 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 12, 2002.

You are invited to another evening of fun and frolics when The Live Ghost tent holds another fine meeting on Saturday July 27th 5.30pm until 11.00pm at The Pilgrim, 247 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QU when we will contemplate:
Laurel & Hardy and the Automobile Part Two

WE WILL ALSO HAVE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT!
During our meeting on April 7th 2001, we showed L&H having trouble with cars in some of their films but there are so many that we could not show them all. This time we'll take another look at this subject with completely different films. And our live entertainment with a special Laurel & Hardy theme is not to be missed!
5.30pm Meet and greet each other, take a cocktail or two or order some food at the bar.
(WARNING Food should be ordered by 8pm), visit the sales stall; get your raffle tickets, etc.
6.00 - 8.00pm Film show Part One and Live entertainment.
8.00 INTERVAL - Buy last minute raffle tickets, visit the Sales Stall, socialise etc. We will have any competitions, announcements, the raffle prize draw, the loyal toast, our International Anthem and any other tent business here.
9.15 - 10.45-ish Film show Part Two and more entertainment.
10.25 Buy those last minute items from the sales stall; perhaps take one more cocktail for the desert...
10.30 Sales stall closes
11.00 Bar closes and meeting ends... Till the next time.
Entry is free for club members and Ł3 each for guests. Any questions on this? Phone our membership secretary Jim Hutchinson (01689 823420)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2002.

NEW KENNINGTON CROSS JUNCTION PLANS CONSULTATION
Detailed drawings of the new Kennington Cross junction plan are now on display UNTIL SATURDAY JULY 20th 5pm, in the
DURNING LIBRARY, 167 Kennington Lane, (020 7926 8682)
Monday 1 - 6pm Tuesday 10 - 1pm Wednesday 10am - 8pm Thursday - CLOSED Friday 10am - 6pm Saturday 9am - 5pm
Transport for London Street Management staff will be on hand to answer questions on
WEDNESDAY JULY 10th and WEDNESDAY JULY 17th
from 3pm to 7.30 pm.
There are forms for comments to Transport for London (too simplistic with yes/no/no opinion, check boxes and limited space for comment so you may want to write as well)
DEADLINE for RESPONSES to the scheme is FRIDAY JULY 26th
For all of us who care about Kennington, the Cross, traffic, safety and heritage, A VISIT TO THE LIBRARY EXHIBITION IS ESSENTIAL. The little, simple plan on the TfL leaflets distributed is in fact, completely misleading because of its lack of detail on the number and width of traffic lanes, pavements and paving detail etc.
The three display screens in the library are very interesting and very thorough. We have new pedestrian crossings and slip roads and TfL have commissioned landscape architects Burns and Nice to come up with designs and details for paving, barriers, bollards, signs, artworks etc., appropriate for our historic area.
Along with plaques set into the pavement showing the original names and dates of the pubs and notable buildings, we now have coloured glass designs set into paving outside Daniel Cobb's, images inspired by Chaplin movies and pink granite film strips with sprocket holes and inset glass uplighters, outside Regent Cinema (bingo hall) and the Dog House pub. There is york stone paving, granite setts and low stone carved 'gateways' into Kennington Cross which appear to be a blue stone.
Not sure about all the different colours, shapes, surfaces, images in this conservation area - but it is most heartening that Burns and Nice have put in such a lot of research and imaginative thought - and that TfL are prepared to invest in making this a landmark junction with quality materials and workmanship. Quite a change from a year ago when we were about to have 20 yards of extra carriageway and Victorian structures destroyed or removed. It seems from the plans that loos and structures are conserved, but original bollards are repositioned - and captions say the cattle trough may also move.
The Kennington, Oval, Vauxhall Board's detailed response to this plan (prior to B&N designs) is on the Lambeth web site and in the library if you want to see what the board said. www.lambeth.gov.uk
Some say the Burns & Nice designs are exciting and innovative - others that they are too fussy for Georgian Kennington - do please look and allow time for study, there's a lot to take in... and...
DO PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE EXHIBIT. TfL should have distributed their leaflets 3 weeks ago and many have not received copies. FOR NON E-MAIL NEIGHBOURS, Please print this out and post/display in your window - MANY THANKS FOR KEEPING THE COMMUNITY CONNECTED.
Best wishes, Celia Stothard.
Friends of Kennington Cross
19 Cleaver Street, Kennington, London SE11 4DP
Telephone: 020 7735 8525
Fax: 020 7820 8098

-- Celia (FoKenningtonX@aol.com), July 10, 2002.

I don't know why Bellamy's is listed under "south west" London...
Independent

Best of south west London
06 July 2002
The top places to eat, drink, shop and visit
Go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=313442

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2002.

Independent

The best of south east london
06 July 2002
The top places to eat, drink, shop and visit
Go to: http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=313440

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2002.

Evening Standard

Aitken turns porridge into Ł5,000
by Valentine Low
The disgraced former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken is a man whose chief claim to fame these days is the lies he has told. One might have thought, therefore, that no one in their right mind would pay the slightest heed to anything he has to say.
But apparently not. Not only are there people out there who are only too willing to listen to the wit and wisdom of one of the country's most high-profile perjurers, they are even prepared to pay several thousand pounds a time for the privilege.
Mr Aitken, 59, has signed on with the top after-dinner speaking agency, Speakers UK, and is charging up to Ł5,000 a go.
The topics offered by Mr Aitken - who was jailed for 18 months for perjury after his libel case against the Guardian and Granada TV's World In Action collapsed in 1997 - range from "Power to porridge: a journey through prison" to "The lighter side of politics and prison".
"Jonathan's PA approached us a couple of months ago, and shortly after that he joined us exclusively," a spokesman for Speakers UK told the Daily Telegraph. "We were delighted to accept him, as he's a posh version of Nick Leeson, who's one of our most popular clients.
"Of course, to start with he'll get far less than Leeson, as we're just trying to establish him at present."
It is not the first time that Mr Aitken, who was released at the beginning of 2000 after serving seven months, has turned his previous misfortunes into hard cash. After he came out he wrote a book about his experiences called Pride And Perjury, although the Ł65,000 he earned from the serialisation in the Sunday Times was used to pay off his creditors, who include The Guardian, Granada Television and the Inland Revenue.
Now a theology student at Oxford, Mr Aitken is also writing another book about his friend Charles Colson, the Nixon aide who was jailed for his part in Watergate and went on to set himself up as an evangelist and prison reformer.
Mr Aitken's love life has also improved. For four months he has been stepping out with Elizabeth Harris, the former wife of actors Rex Harrison and Richard Harris as well as his own cousin Peter Aitken.
He divides his time between a one-bedroom flat in the town and a basement flat belonging to his actress sister Maria in Kennington.
He has, however, a long way to go before he is in the top rank of after-dinner speakers. Sven-Goran Eriksson gets up to Ł25,000 a session, while John Cleese is said to earn up to Ł65,000.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 09 July 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2002.

Kennington is CROSS
Jul 9 2002
By Transport Reporter Oscar Mortali, South London Press
HUNDREDS of banner-wielding south Londoners linked hands to block off Kennington Cross in a symbolic gesture aimed at getting Ken Livingstone to rethink his controversial congestion charging plan.
Chanting "Don't kill Kennington - think again Ken", the crowd carried banners with slogans 'Hands Off Kennington', 'Public Inquiry Now' and "I Want to Breathe".
And thousands more beeped their horns in a show of support as they crawled along in yesterday morning's rush hour.
Protester Julie Glynn vowed: "I'm willing to come down here every Monday morning until this is sorted."
Narrow and largely residential Kennington Lane is one of the boundary roads controversially chosen by London's Mayor as part of his plans to charge drivers Ł5 per day to drive into central London from next February. But traders and residents insist it will "divide the community in two".
Those living just yards outside the boundary will have to fork out a fiver every day they drive across it, while those lucky enough to live inside get a 90 per cent discount.
Fears have also been voiced about increased pollution, with traffic along Kennington Lane expected to rise by up to 15 per cent, according to Transport for London figures.
Reverend Angus Aagaard, of St Anselm's Church, which lies just inside the boundary, said: "The turnout really shows the strength of feeling. The Mayor promised to listen to the people - this is his chance to do that."
Protest organiser Mark Rogers, of the Kennington Association, added: "People are very upset about this. They don't think congestion charging is a bad thing, but as it stands it has not been thought through. Everybody can understand somewhere like Park Lane being chosen as a boundary, but Kennington Lane is just too narrow."
Vauxhall MP Kate Hoey was roundly applauded when she vowed to keep up the pressure on Mr Livingstone.
And she told the South London Press: "This community wants to show Ken that this boundary is stupid."
A judicial review of the scheme - brought by Westminster council and the Kennington Association - is due to be heard at the High Court on Monday.
Derek Turner, Transport for London's street management director, is the man behind the congestion charging plans and called yesterday's protest 'disappointing'.
He said residents were largely consulted about the plans and added alternative boundaries were "not as practical and would have caused traffic problems throughout Lambeth".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 10, 2002.

WEST SQUARE SUMMER PARTY

Saturday 13 July

2-4.30pm in West Square Garden, off St George's Road; free
Music, refreshments, sideshows, stalls, children's entertainment and raffle.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 09, 2002.

Lambeth

Public Enertainment applications
Released: 8 July, 2002 12:44 Filesize: 41kb
See Application No. 4, Page 10
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0143 21.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 09, 2002.

Lambeth

Air Quality Action Plan - Consultation Draft May 2002
This final draft sets out Lambeth Councils proposals for the action it intends to take in pursuit of the Government's air quality objectives Released: 8 July, 2002 04:10 Filesize: 401kb Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0143 39.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 09, 2002.

The Times
July 09, 2002
Arundel experience delights children
Junior Cricket By Ivo Tennant
THE arboreal beauty and the visage of the castle is the most compelling of sights to the uninitiated upon reaching Arundel. Sussex played at the ground at the end of last month, but first-class matches constitute only a part of the cricket there. Last week, for example, boys and girls from Lambeth who had never had the chance to play on grass were learning the game on the outfield. The fifteenth Duke of Norfolk has started something, for sure.
This introduction was in the form of Kwik Cricket, which uses plastic equipment and puts the emphasis on fun for children aged between seven and ten. The 36 children, who were coached while the Sussex groundsman was tending the square, came from primary and secondary schools whose sports facilities amount to small playgrounds. Some relished the sight of grass to such an extent that before putting bat to ball they were revelling in rolling down the banks.
After they had finished, the children were shown around the castle. John Barclay, the former Sussex captain, reckons that around 170,000 children have benefited since he arrived to run the newly constituted Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Foundation in 1986. These have included Alex Tudor, the England fast bowler, who he thought had more talent as a batsman.
“The youngsters have a very elementary introduction to the game here. We involve children with special needs as well, since they can hit and throw the ball,” Barclay said. The boys and girls appeared to take to Kwik Cricket with enthusiasm. “I want to continue playing after I leave school,” Amy Lush, 10, who is at Jessop Primary, said.
Tony Moody, the Cricket Development Officer for Lambeth, who has played for Brixton West Indians since leaving school, has been taking children to Arundel since 1993. For 12 years, Moody tried to develop a ground in Lambeth for the benefit of young cricketers who had nowhere else to play. With assistance from Surrey and Channel 4, this has finally been achieved at Kennington Park. “We are trying to involve schools, but the game can be expensive to play,” he said.
“We shall have to try to build a pavilion. I believe we shall see the benefits, but I intend to continue bringing children down to this wonderful ground at Arundel.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 09, 2002.

BBC News
Monday, 8 July, 2002, 11:50 GMT 12:50 UK
Residents protest at road charges
Hundreds of demonstrators blocked rush-hour traffic on Monday to protest at plans to introduce congestion charging in central London.
Kennington Cross in south London was brought to a standstill by residents angered at the siting of the boundary for the charges.
The protesters are upset that the Ł5 charging plans could seriously damage the quality of life of residents on the borders of the scheme.
The new charges are due to be introduced in February 2003.
Click here http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/features/charging_map.html to see the congestion charges boundary map
Around 400 people took part in the demonstration, which was held on part of the newly- appointed inner London ring road.
They say there will be an increase in traffic in the area as drivers seek alternative routes to avoid paying the charges.
Mark Rodgers, one of the protest organisers, said: We are not against congestion charging in itself but we don't think Ken Livingstone has really thought this through properly.
"The way the scheme has been planned will throw a lot of extra traffic on to certain areas, such as Kennington.
"Mothers taking young children to school will be obliged to pay Ł5 while others in the area will have to contend with many more cars as people try to avoid the congestion-charging areas."
Legal fight
Pensioner Doreen Holsworth, who lives on one of the roads which make up the border, said: "We already have lorries day and night.
"I can't open any doors or windows for fresh air due to the existing pollution and the boundary will only make things worse."
But Derek Turner, Transport for London's street management managing director, criticised the demonstration.
He said: "Blocking the road in this way will do nothing to reduce congestion and will only cause unnecessary delay for drivers."
The protest comes just a week before Westminster Council's judicial review against charges is heard.
The Kennington Association has also launched a legal challenge to the plans.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 09, 2002.

South London Press

Protesters rally against Ł5 congestion charge
Jul 8 2002
Hundreds of demonstrators have blocked traffic to protest at congestion charging in London.
The protesters are upset that the Ł5 charging plans - to be introduced next year - could seriously hit the quality of life of residents on the borders of the scheme.
The protest has taken place at Kennington Cross with 400 people taking part.
"We are not against congestion charging in itself but we don't think (London Mayor) Ken Livingstone has really thought this through properly," said Mark Rodgers, 40, one of the protest organisers.
"The way the scheme has been planned will throw a lot of extra traffic on to certain areas such as Kennington.
"Mothers taking young children to school will be obliged to pay Ł5 while others in the area will have to contend with many more cars as people try to avoid the congestion-charging areas."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

Lambeth
Transport and Highways

Vauxhall traffic calming scheme

Proposal
We are proposing, in association with Transport for London, (http://www.londontransport.co.uk/index.shtml) a range of traffic calming measures in Vauxhall. This includes the area bordered by the roads: Kennington Lane, Kennington Road, Lambeth Road and Albert Embankment.
Aim of the scheme
The aims of the proposals are to reduce traffic speeds, and the volume of traffic travelling through the area, or diverting through the area as a result of the congestion charging scheme.
The overall aim is to improve road safety and the general environment in the area.
Have your Say - Fill out a Questionnaire
A questionnaire has now been produced to ask for your views about the traffic calming proposals. If you live or work in the area and haven't received a questionnaire through your door, or you use the roads in the area and want to give us your views, download a copy of the questionnaire here
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/form/014302 .pdf
and send it back freepost to: Transport and Highways, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd Floor, Blue Star House, 234-244 Stockwell Road, Freepost LON17644, London SW9 9SP.
Viewing the proposals
You can download the questionnaire here,
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/form/014302 .pdf
with the plans for the traffic calming, or see larger versions of the plans at Durning Library on Kennington Lane, until 13 September.
Contact Environment's consultation officer, Iain Killingbeck, on 020 7926 0145, e-mail ikillingbeck@lambeth.gov.uk for more information on the consultation.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

Improving road safety in Vauxhall
Questionnaire on traffic calming proposals in Vauxhall. Deadline date 13 September 2002. For more information contact t&hcallcentre@lambeth.gov.uk. Released: 8 July, 2002 09:58 Filesize: 240kb Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/form/014302 .pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

The Star Online
Business
Monday, July 8, 2002

Sentul West slated to be Malaysia’s first private gated park

On Property: A weekly column by Lim Lay Ying
KLites often address problems long before other states, sometimes getting it right – and sometimes not. For example, Kuala Lumpur was the first city to build a highway, yet also the first to seriously deal with inner-city congestion and parking woes. Over past decades, its mayor has had to resort to creative efforts to increase the amount of land available for leisure and recreation to keep pace with rising population numbers due to migration.
Until recently, most developers made only a token attempt to provide open public space and houses were often either lined up like soldiers with minuscule unturfed garden plots or in high-rise buildings where recreational amenities are far from adequate. Well-conceived landscaping, be it in the form of an imaginatively designed garden, a communal courtyard, a riverside piazza or an attractive parkland, was unheard of – at least not until KLCC Park came into being.
KLCC Park satisfied homebuyers’ longing for outside space – somewhere to relax and stroll. From recent market research, people put off by the hustle and bustle of the city, are searching for a better quality of life in a convenient, semi-urban setting. Being able to enjoy parks and landscaped gardens throughout the year is a definite bonus, besides safe play areas for their children.
Main draw for homebuyers: Sentul Raya Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of YTL Land & Development Sdn Bhd (formerly Taiping Consolidated Bhd), is answering this call with its plan to develop Sentul Park at Sentul West into a park filled with indigenous forest species.
Equivalent to the size of St James Park in London, the park’s landscape, inspired by the 18th century English gardens, is characterized by circuitous walks framed by views of tall avenues or tree plantations, gentle slopes, ponds in the form of lakes and borrowed views from surrounding landscapes utilizing sunken fences known as “ha-has”.
Beyond that rich natural splendour, this 35-acre urban park that is to become Malaysia’s first private gated park, accessible exclusively to Sentul West’s residents only, is themed to project different degrees of recreational activities. The themes have been presented along the following lines:
* South Gardens, the area closest to the residential precincts of Sentul West, consists largely of long narrow tracts of open spaces allowing mainly passive leisure activities to keep noise levels as low as possible.
* West Fields that is discretely exposed to the public on the north-western end, will be mostly larger open spaces.
* Central Lake’s amenities include a forest walk, a bird island and campground, a boat house (see picture), and an entertainment lawn and pavilion.
* East Fields, the most active spot in Sentul Park, provides for adrenalin-charged sports activities such as football, hockey, kite flying and cricket, besides outdoor entertainment.
* Festival Plaza will rekindle the ex-Sentul workshop and its surrounds with outdoor cafes and dining, bookshops, weekend art & craft markets, and other retail outlets.
As many buyers now view gardens as an extension of their homes, to be used for entertaining as well as relaxation, the secure, green environment of Sentul Park can be expected to be one of the main draws for buyers of homes in Sentul West.
After all, well- conceived open space has been proven to add value to the properties surrounding it. And these days, this by no means implies golf courses alone but more so parklands that are accessible to more segments of people.
Exclusive privilege adds value: In Britain and the US, wealthy buyers are continually drawn to housing projects built around a private park for several reasons. A primary factor is the exclusive privilege that allows access to the park to residents only. Other benefits that are increasingly appreciated include the advantage of enjoying a garden without upkeep, and the assurance that the park is safe for their children.
Among the smartest, most prestigious and expensive addresses are Notting Hill in west London and Gramercy Park in New York City, where access is not possible unless one has got the very special key. In Kennington, southeast London, there is a 20% premium on houses in St Mary’s Garden and West Square because of the private park factor. Mayfair and Kensington Gardens respectively, are more than wealthy residential areas – they are a metaphor of luxury.
Most of us will have to stick to Monopoly if we want to buy property in Mayfair or along Park Lane in London. But it need not be just a game for KLites any more with the brilliant creation of Sentul Park at Sentul West – they’ll probably get it right this time.
* Lim Lay Ying is the managing director of Research Inc (Asia) – a marketing research and consultancy firm affiliated to Brooke International (HK). Tel: 03-2092 4966, website: http://researchinc.icfox.com
© 1995-2002 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

Car zone homes may fall by 16%
by David Williams Motoring Editor
Homes along the boundary of Ken Livingstone's congestion-charging zone could plunge in value by 20 per cent, an authoritative report says.
A flat examined by a leading chartered surveyor is expected to fall in value by 16 per cent, from Ł160,000 to just Ł124,000, when the road in which it stands becomes part of the perimeter route encircling the scheme.
Houses on Kennington Lane in south London will experience even sharper falls as traffic begins to pound the residential road, the report from chartered surveyor Cluttons warns. It says house values will drop by 20 per cent as buyers are put off by the rise in traffic, noise and pollution.
Congestion charging is expected to force thousands of extra vehicles onto the perimeter road as drivers divert away from the centre to avoid the Ł5-a-day charge.
According to an official report by chartered surveyor David MacLean-Watt, this will see the value of a typical two-or three- bedroom house on Kennington Lane fall from around Ł277,500 to just Ł222,000, leaving homeowners seriously out of pocket.
He says there will be similar effects in other areas near the perimeter zone.
The report was commissioned by the Kennington Association which is fighting congestion-charging plans through a judicial review at the High Court.
Members are bitterly opposed to the scheme which, they say, will cut their community in half with a "virtual motorway".
They say Kennington Lane is unsuitable as a boundary road, being largely residential with a single lane in each direction.
Campaigners, who are today holding a demonstration at Kennington Cross, say they will be forced to pay the Ł5 charge to get to nurseries, schools and shops - even to visit friends and neighbours. Protesters aimed to close part of the road to traffic.
They say the closure will give motorists a foretaste of congestion charging, by blocking entry into what will become the charging zone. They want the boundary road moved or the scheme scrapped.
In a High Court hearing last week, barristers for the Mayor's office applied to have the Cluttons report ruled inadmissable - on the grounds that it became part of the association's legal attack too late and was based on opinion not fact.
However, the judge ruled that the association should be able to refer to the report in the next High Court hearing.
Kennington Association spokesman, Gordon McDougall, said: "We knew that house values on the boundary route would fall, but not by that much. Everyone with a home on the road will suffer financially."
He said Kennington Lane was the most residential section of the proposed congestion-charging boundary - but that other areas would suffer similar falls in value.
Mr David MacLean-Watt said: "In my opinion properties on Kennington Lane will fall in value by between 16 per cent and 20 per cent. It will also be harder for people in this area to cross the river unless they pay the Ł5 charge."
Transport for London said that if the Kennington Association used the Cluttons report as evidence it would produce its own evidence to refute the claims.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 08 July 2002

-- Cathy (kenningtonassn@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

STOP PRESS: EVENTS THIS WEEK AT THE DURNING

EVENTS THIS WEEK AT THE DURNING LIBRARY
No less than 3 events this week, what with the regular summer social and 2 contributions to the Vauxhall Festival. Entry is free, refreshments available.
Monday 8th, 7.0 for 7.30
THE SUMMER SOCIAL
A quiz on captains, Brians, sisters, sevens and such. And drinks, snacks and the traditional raffle.
Wednesday 10th, from 3.0 to 4.0:
TONY MERRICK REMEMBERS
Tea and reminiscence. Local historian Tony Merrick, famed for his guided walks round the young Charlie Chaplin's haunts, is an excellent speaker from an old Vauxhall family. A Vauxhall Festival event.
Friday 12th, 7.0 for 7.30:
SONGS FOR EVERYONE
Free concert by Morley College choir, directed by Mary Mogil. A mixed programme. Refreshments provided. Further information from Mary Mogil on 020 7834 2344. A Vauxhall Festival event.
Friends of Durning Library
167 Kennington Lane London SE11 4HF T: 020 7926 8682 F: 020 7926 8684 E: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), July 08, 2002.

The Times
July 07, 2002
Can Oliver’s army defeat the forces of disorder?
Stuart Wavell
Oliver Letwin has a dream. The shadow home secretary’s prescription for reversing the ascendancy of drug dealers and street gangs draws on the lessons of 19th-century Dickensian Britain and, to a lesser extent, on his days at Eton.
Letwin’s vision of young thugs singing hymns in Sunday school emerges at our meeting in his offices at the House of Commons. But first he is keen to rubbish the notion that the Brixton experiment of not arresting people for the possession of cannabis had been a success and should be extended elsewhere. “The drug dealers have moved in,” he says.
Last Tuesday, Brian Paddick, the Metropolitan police commander who introduced the “softly, softly” approach, claimed the policy had been vindicated by a halving of street crime and a drop in burglaries in Lambeth, south London.
“He’s absolutely right,” Letwin says. This sounds odd, especially from someone who in January admitted two burglars into his house in Kennington before they fled, clutching their booty. Then he supplies the punch line: the cause of this drop in crime is the government’s “safer streets” initiative, supported by the Conservatives, which has released up to 300 police from other duties to target robbers and muggers in Lambeth.
“That has nothing to do with relaxing the attention to cannabis, which is a completely separate policy,” he says. “According to Metropolitan police figures, the total release of resources that occurred as a result of the cannabis policy is 2.5 officers per year.”
In his opinion, the real effect of turning a blind eye to cannabis is that Brixton has become a “hot spot” for hard drugs. “When you go round Brixton and talk to people about what life is like, what you hear is that everyone knows who runs the estates. They mean it’s like the Krays: the people in charge are not the local bobbies but the local drug dealers.”
He believes Paddick’s experiment has exacerbated the drug problem that was already present in Brixton and a few other places. Which is why he will be opposing David Blunkett when the home secretary makes his expected announcement this month reclassifying cannabis from a class B to a class C drug.
Letwin’s ambitious solution manages to combine the liberal social values he espouses and the “boot camp” threat so beloved of Tory annual conferences. “The last time we had an equivalent social crisis of young people and family breakdown in Britain was in the 1850s,” he begins.
At the time, many of today’s problems were described by Dickens, but written on a larger scale as society struggled to cope with the “vast dislocations” of populations pitched from rural life into the urban horrors of the industrial revolution, he says. Society was not policed and there were no schools for millions of children.
Indeed, Letwin’s account of visiting the Kids Company in Peckham sounds like something from Oliver Twist. “There you see children of four or five walking in without their parents in search of a hot meal, bedclothes or simply someone who could bother to take them to school. There were also children of between eight and 12 who have led lives that to many of us are unimaginable. Cannabis is offered to them as a way out.”
Letwin believes these young children and their families have to be “rescued” before a drug habit takes hold. Regular cannabis use, he claims, leads to dependency, mental impairment and exclusion from society and the workplace.
The Victorians provide his inspiration. “What happened was that between the 1850s and the 1880s a vast army of volunteers, assisted and sustained by the state, moved in,” he says. “By the 1880s there were 8m children in Sunday schools.”
Sunday schools? “If the worst result we were to produce is that every young person now mugging an old lady were instead to be found chanting hymns, I’d go for this solution every day of the week.” His remedy is not limited to Sunday schools or volunteers but is, rather, a modernised idiom in which non-statutory bodies intervene in and nurture failing families to “put the pieces back together”.
For young people already on drugs, he is looking for solutions in other countries. He is very taken with the Swedish model of rehabilitation, which does not involve locking people up or giving them criminal records that make them unemployable.
Is there a stick to make them toe the line? “With young offenders, yes by golly there is a stick, because you cannot capture their attention unless there is a stick,” he says.
He talks wistfully of a Turkish reformatory in Ankara that has a 3% recidivism rate — “70% better than us,” he says. Pre-empting my next thought, he asks: “Is it a hellhole with people on racks being flogged and tortured? Not at all. You can come and go. But there are almost no cases of absconding because for the first few days of their sentence they are in an adult jail, which they see as a sword of Damocles hanging over them.”
To him this is plain common sense, redolent of his time at Eton. “I went to a school that was very tough on discipline but it was almost never used,” he says. “I had the sense that our teachers cared about the kind of person I became. I also knew that if I did things they didn’t approve of, wham!” Did such conditioning explain his reaction at university when he discovered friends had spiked his pipe with cannabis? “Yes, I was very angry. My reaction was to say, ‘I don’t want this’.”
Had his burglars — one of whom inveigled his way into Letwin’s house on the pretext that he was desperate to use the loo — been on drugs? “Not as far as I know. Although I rather regret the loss of my possessions and found myself profoundly embarrassed by my naivety, in other ways it was slightly reassuring.”
In what way? “They didn’t knife me, they didn’t shoot me, they didn’t try to sell me drugs. They were, I suspect, good old-fashioned con men.”
Ah, happy days.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 07, 2002.

Museum of Garden History

Released: 5 July, 2002 02:14 Filesize: 21kb Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01428 6.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Species of Spaces

An exhibition at Danielle Arnaud gallery.
Released: 5 July, 2002 02:10 Filesize: 48kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01428 4.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Planning Applications Committee Minutes 25/06/2002
Minutes of the Planning Applications Committee meeting which took place on Tuesday, 25th June 2002
Released: 5 July, 2002 01:18
Filesize: 38kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/014283.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Funding opportunities

Black History Month events
Released: 5 July, 2002 02:19 Filesize: 16kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01429 0.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Jobs and commissions
Regularly updated list of jobs and commissions Released: 5 July, 2002 03:41 Filesize: 216kb Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/00746 1.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

ArtsWeb - News
Regularly updated news about the arts in Lambeth Released: 5 July, 2002 03:43 Filesize: 191kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/00745 9.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Maiden call for Surrey CCC
Jul 5 2002
South London Press
AUSTRALIAN international cricketer Melanie Jones has teamed up with Surrey CCC to coach girls aged between eight and 14 from inner London.
Six-week courses are already underway at Kennington Park (Tuesdays 6pm-8pm)and Burgess Park (Mondays 6pm-8pm), where Lam- beth and Southwark primary and secondary schools have teamed up for this opportunity.
Jones, an ACB qualified coach, will run the courses on behalf of Surrey CCC and will get a helping hand from England and Surrey star Sarah Clarke, and Surrey and England youth player Ebony Rainford-Brent.
Jones said: "For the last three years I have been helping to develop the women's game by coaching young girls in South Africa. "After these courses in inner London I will be travelling to Kenya and Uganda to introduce similar programmes that I hope will help strengthen the sport worldwide."
Sharon Eyres, SCCC Women and Girls Development Manager added: 'This is a fantastic opportunity for Surrey County Cricket Club to focus on the development of young female cricketers in inner London."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Streatham Guardian

Batting for cricket in the inner-city
The sound of leather upon willow will soon be heard more frequently in Lambeth thanks to a partnership aimed at bringing cricket to inner city areas.
The first new community cricket ground in London opened at Kennington recently, with the aim of providing local residents with an accessible venue to experience the joys of the game.
Until now, the only cricket pitch in Lambeth was the world-famous Oval ground.
The Kennington Community Cricket Ground is the result of a partnership between Lambeth Council, Channel 4, Surrey County Cricket Club, The Lord's Taverners and the United Cricket Association.
It was launched with a match between Channel 4 and the Lord's Taverner's, and will provide a home to the newly-formed Lambeth United Cricket Club.
Junior cricket is due to begin at the ground this summer, with senior games starting next year. Planning for the project began 18 months ago, and fundraising will continue to meet the estimated Ł1.4 million needed to fund the project.
Vince McBea, of the United Cricket Association, told the Guardian: "This is the first major step in providing a clear pathway into cricket for our community.
"The UCA is here to provide the umbrella organisation needed to sustain and develop cricket for local people by local people."
July 4, 2002 10:30
© Copyright 2002 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 06, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 20.03.2002 Ref: 1373 Press contact: Charles Wright Tel: 020 7926 2949 Email: cwright@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

New money for pothole backlog
Lambeth Council is to spend an extra Ł500,000 to tackle potholes - and Councillor Andrew Sawdon, executive member for environment, joined a pothole repair gang in Streatham Wells last week to kick off the new drive.
"This is just a start," he said. "There is a tremendous backlog and we know that a great deal more work is needed to get to grips with a long legacy of disrepair. But I hope that residents, businesses and visitors will now begin to see a difference in the state of our roads and pavements."
Councillor Sawdon was joined by Brendan Bradley, manager for the council's contractors T. E. Beach.
In the longer term the council will be looking at additional programmed investment for resurfacing and planned maintenance across the whole of the borough's 322 kilometre road and footway network.
Residents can report pothole and pavement problems on 020 7926 9000 or by emailing streetcarecallcentre@lambeth.gov.uk.
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 03.07.2002 Ref: 1374 Press contact: Charles Wright Tel: 020 7926 2949 Email: cwright@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

Council backs clampdown on crack cocaine
Lambeth Council today welcomed the outcome of a Home Office meeting held to discuss the impact of crack cocaine dealing. The meeting agreed a delivery plan to tackle the problems associated with the drug and experienced by communities in Lambeth and elsewhere.
"These problems, while sadly all to well known to us in Lambeth, also effect people elsewhere in the country. We therefore support the delivery plan, which will be decided on urgently as the result of the meeting, " said Lambeth council leader Peter Truesdale.
"Other areas suffering the scourge of crack cocaine will undoubtedly also welcome the news that the fight against crack cocaine will be rolled out wherever necessary across the country."
Councillor Charles Anglin, Lambeth Council executive lead on crime and community safety, added: "Local community backing is essential in order to ensure the success of operations aimed at smashing crack cocaine dealing. It is therefore vital that we get people working together in partnership on the ground."
The meeting focussed on how best to encourage partnership on this issue and acknowledged that this could not be managed from outside the communities whom it affect. Because it is not simply a localised issue, the Home Office will act as facilitator and offer help to the police and local partners.
"Partners are determined to confront and take on these issues, We will produce a delivery plan by the end of the month with the object of addressing these problems and seeking to turn them round," stated Councillor Anglin.
He cited the recent combined police and council operation at Loughborough Junction in Brixton as an example of successful joint working. A police swoop on the notorious "hotspot" inundated with crack dealers, with an integrated back up from council services, cleared the area.
The meeting recognised the progress being made in Lambeth, with figures for the six months from January to June 20002 showing that robbery in the borough has fallen by 50% and burglary by 5% compared to the same period in 2001. It welcomed the contribution now being made by the council leadership.
Home secretary David Blunkett chaired the meeting, which included Lambeth council leader Peter Truesdale, Lambeth chief executive Faith Boardman, Home Office Minister for Drugs Bob Ainsworth and Lambeth MPs Kate Hoey and Keith Hill.
Also in attendance were Acting Lambeth Police Commander Brian Moore, Deputy Commissioner Metropolitan Police Service Ian Blair and Lee Jasper, chair of Lambeth community police consultative group.
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2002.

The Times
July 04, 2002
Challenge to London congestion charge
By Frances Gibb, Legal Editor
TWO people are to challenge in the High Court the plan by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to charge motorists in Central London Ł5 a day.
Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson, acting for themselves and the Kennington Association, won permission yesterday to join Westminster Council in its bid to block the project. Ms Preece lives in Kennington Lane, Lambeth, southeast London, and Mr Adamson just off Kennington Lane. They argue that the congestion charges will increase traffic near their homes, which are on the boundary within which congestion charges will apply, and that this will adversely affect the local environment, its amenities and property values, breaching their human rights.
Westminster’s legal team is asking the court to overrule the mayor’s decision to approve the scheme without an environmental impact assessment, or a public inquiry.
Mr Justice Scott Baker ordered yesterday that their application for judicial review should be heard together with the five-day Westminster case, which is due to start on July 15.
* Ken Livingstone has declared that he will stand again for Mayor of London whether or not he is readmitted to the Labour Party. Mr Livingstone was banned from the party for five years when he fought as an independent in 2000.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2002.

UTV Internet
WEDNESDAY 03/07/02 13:37:01
Livingstone challenged over charges
Two people have launched High Court human rights challenges against London Mayor Ken Livingstone's controversial congestion charging scheme.
Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson, acting for themselves and the Kennington Association, today won permission to join Westminster Council in its bid to block the project, which involves charging motorists Ł5 a day to travel within central London.
Ms Preece lives in a basement flat in Kennington Lane, Lambeth, south east London, and Mr Adamson at Cricketers Court, which runs off Kennington Lane.
Today Mr Justice Scott Baker ordered that their application for judicial review should be heard together with the five-day Westminster case, which is due to start on July 15.
Kennington Lane forms part of London's inner ring road between Elephant and Castle and Vauxhall Bridge Road. The inner ring road forms the boundary within which congestion charges will apply.
Lawyers for the Kennington residents are expected to argue that the scheme will lead to a traffic increase on the inner ring road, which will not itself be affected by charges.
This, they say, will adversely affect the local environment and its amenities and local property values, causing a wide-scale breach of human rights.
Residents particularly fear the ill effects on health and wellbeing from a rise in air and noise pollution.
In the connected action, Westminster's legal team is asking the court to overrule the Mayor's decision to give the congestion charging scheme the go-ahead without first causing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be produced, or holding a public inquiry into how charging will be introduced and operated.
Mr Livingstone hopes the charge, which is due to be implemented in February next year, will cut congestion by up to 15% and raise at least Ł130 million a year.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa May has branded the scheme as a "sort of stealth tax, trying to price the motorist off the road" by using untried technology.
Under the scheme, drivers will be charged Ł5 on weekdays to enter central London between 7am and 6.30pm. Motorists can leave and enter the zone as often as they like for the one-off daily charge.
The area will be policed by 230 cameras which read car registration plates, which will be automatically checked with a central database to see if the daily fee has been paid.
Tickets can be bought up to 10pm on the day of travel, and in advance for chosen dates.
Those who do not pay will be fined up to Ł120.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2002.

BBC News
Wednesday, 3 July, 2002, 14:30 GMT 15:30 UK
Residents challenge congestion charges
Two people have launched a human rights challenge against London Mayor Ken Livingstone and his plans for congestion charges in the city.
Cathy Preece and Gareth Adamson have been granted permission to join Westminster Council in its attempt to block the proposals.
From February motorists will be charged Ł5 per day to travel within central London.
Ms Preece lives in Kennington Lane, Lambeth, south-east London, and Mr Adamson at Cricketers Court, which runs off Kennington Lane.
Health concerns
Kennington Lane forms part of London's inner ring road between Elephant and Castle and Vauxhall Bridge Road.
The inner ring road forms the boundary within which congestion charges will apply.
Lawyers for Ms Preece and Mr Adamson are expected to argue the scheme will lead to a traffic increase on the inner ring road, which will not itself be affected by charges.
This, they say, will adversely affect the local environment and local property values, causing a wide-scale breach of human rights.
Residents particularly fear the ill-effects on health and well- being from a rise in air and noise pollution.
In the connected action, Westminster's legal team is asking the court to overrule the Mayor's plan without first causing an environmental impact assessment (EIA) to be produced, or holding a public inquiry into how charging will be introduced and operated.
230 cameras
Mr Livingstone hopes the charge will cut congestion by up to 15% and raise at least Ł130m per year.
Shadow transport secretary Theresa May said the scheme was a "sort of stealth tax, trying to price the motorist off the road."
Under the scheme, drivers will be charged Ł5 on weekdays to enter central London between 0700 and 1830.
Motorists can leave and enter the zone as often as they like for the one-off daily charge.
The area will be policed by 230 cameras which read car registration plates, which will be automatically checked with a central database to see if the daily fee has been paid.
Tickets can be bought up to 2200 on the day of travel, and in advance for chosen dates. Those who do not pay will be fined up to Ł120.
The joint application for judicial review is due to start on 15 July.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 04, 2002.

Metroplitan Police

PLEASE BE AWARE OF BOGUS CALLERS AT THE DOOR
There is a bogus caller working in this area asking for money to pay for a wheel clamp. He is a professional con man and has had a large amount of money from residents living in the Kennington area.
Please do not give him money as it encourages him to come back and prey on your more vulnerable neighbours!
If you have any queries, please ring your local Ward officer at Kennington Police Station. 0208 649 2462 (this is not an emergency number)
In emergency ring 999

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 03, 2002.

Reports on Lambeth's website:

Planning Applications Cttee Consultation Report 090702
Released: 2 July, 2002 02:42 Filesize: 470kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0142 19.pdf

Planning Application Committee Reports 090702
Released: 2 July, 2002 02:41 Filesize: 1366kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/report/0142 18.pdf
Planning Applications Committee agenda 090702
Released: 2 July, 2002 02:38 Filesize: 40kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/agenda/0142 17.pdf
Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall TCM Board Minutes 10 June 2002
Released: 2 July, 2002 12:44 Filesize: 31kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/minutes/014 215.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 03, 2002.

Campaigners plan a block to the system
Jul 2 2002
By Oscar Mortali, South London Press
TRADERS and residents will form a human roadblock at one of south London's busiest junctions in possibly the biggest public protest against Ken Livingstone's congestion charging plans.
Next Monday morning's rush hour will see the close-knit Kennington community converge on Kennington Cross at 7am to voice its fury about the scheme which people say will divide the community in two. It comes a week before Westminster council's judicial review against the plan is heard.
A similar legal challenge by The Kennington Association - to be funded by residents and shopkeepers - is to be heard later.
The focus of controversy is Kennington Lane, chosen by London's Mayor to form a boundary road.
Margaret Smith, owner of Barn-paul's haberdashers in Kennington Lane, is now planning to close the shop's shutters for good.
She said: "I am sick of this. I have been here for more than 30 years but this is the last straw."
Pensioner Doreen Holsworth, of Kennington Lane, added: "We already have lorries day and night. The proposed boundary will only make things worse."
Mark Rogers, of The Kennington Association, said: "We are going to show the Mayor how strong feelings are running and that we are not just going to roll over and let them split our community in two."
The blockade - expected to be attended by 100 businesses and most of the tenants' associations - is designed to "get Ken to think again" about his boundary lines.
Kennington Lane is a narrow, residential, single-track road lined with heavily populated housing estates. Residents insist the increased traffic will cause long-term damage to people's health.
The Kennington Association is one of 23 residents' groups across North Lambeth which are organising a petition to the Mayor which they plan to present to him when he moves into his new Tower Bridge offices on July 22.
Derek Turner, street management managing director at Transport for London, said they were disappointed by the proposed action.
He added: "Blocking the road in this way will do nothing to reduce congestion and will only cause unnecessary delay for drivers."
Mr Turner said Kennington residents were consulted on congestion charging, meeting with Mr Livingstone face to face.
He added alternative boundaries were "not as practical and would have caused traffic problems throughout Lambeth for drivers and residents alike".

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 02, 2002.

CAR FOR SALE
CITROEN XANTIA ESTATE P Reg Turbo-Diesel 1.9. 60 000 miles. MOT till March 2003. Dark red with grey velour interior. Perfect condition. Ł3500 o.n.o. Available end August. 020 7793 8984

-- Gordon McDougall (gordon@newstages.plus.com), July 02, 2002.

From Goddard Veterinary Group newsletter, Issue 1 Spring/Summer 2002:
from marion chapman, Editor's letter:
"In this issue, we feature Juliette Riddall from the Kennington surgery who has been to Thailand, helping to stem the flow of unwanted kittens who are treated like vermin by the local people and cruelly poisoned."
international news
SOS THAILAND

GVG vet Juliette Riddall is making a difference
Juliette Riddall recently returned from a trip to sunny Phuket, in Thailand, where she neutered around 30-40 dogs and cats every day, for four weeks. That's over 1000 operations. Not much of a holiday, really.
"I went out there as a volunteer with The Atigaro Project," Juliette explains. "We're trying to cut down the number of stray cats and dogs." Thailand is not a wealthy country, and people can't afford to look after cats and dogs, and so these animals become strays, roaming the streets and beaches. Of course the strays breed, and generations of unwanted animals are born. Some of the creatures find refuge in the Buddhist monasteries where the monks feed them, but the majority live a sad life raiding bins and constantly fighting for territory.
They also carry some nasty diseased. "They might look healthy enough, but they're not," according to Juliette. "They've got parasites - internal and external - as well as bacterial and viral diseases. Most worrying is the fact that they carry diseases which can be transferred to humans - rabies, for example."
In their desperation to cull the growing population of strays the local community has been driven to some extreme measures. "They often use baited meats which means a grisly death for the cat or dog, as well as any other creature who takes in the poison - wildlife for example," says Juliette.
The Atigaro Project has established a capture-neuter-release programme, working with the local community and local vets. "While I was there, my operating theatre was usually a simple table on the beach, or under a tree in the temple."
Since Juliette left Thailand, more than seven vets have volunteered their time, and more are on the way. "This has been a great opportunity to spread the word about animal care and welfare - and I hope people will keep supporting the project."
www.thaiwave.com/atigaro

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 02, 2002.

Job vacancy

Learning Mentor - Primary Pupil Referral Unit
Details of where to obtain further information is outined in the advert. Released: 1 July, 2002 11:13 Filesize: 14kb
Go to: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a- default/014195.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), July 02, 2002.

EXTERNAL HOUSE DECORATOR - RECOMMENDATION
We recently had the outside of our house re-painted by Daniel Cook. He arrived on time and completed the painting within the fortnight he had estimated, despite frequent rain. He and his associates were pleasant and unobtrusive, thoughtful about security, and minimised the stress of the redecoration. Not only were they charming and professional, but also significantly less expensive than several other quotations we received. We would happily recommend them. They also do interior decorating.
Contact: Daniel Cook, 60 Chester Way, Kennington. 020 7207 4467

-- Frances McDougall (frances@newstages.plus.com), July 01, 2002.

DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A GOOD CARPENTER?
We are looking for a carpenter to build several small cupboards, repair a window frame and finish off various small jobs. It would be good to find someone who made doors of equal sizes, centred things, etc. Recommendations appreciated.

-- Frances McDougall (frances@newstages.plus.com), July 01, 2002.

CELIA SINGING
Dear all,
Haven't had a chance to advertise these, so if you know people (from very young to very mature) who like music, song, France, Spain, theatre, poetry, passion and fun - with even a sing along - please pass it on... and look forward to seeing you - if you have time and inclination - all very best - Celia.

IN JULY, CELIA IS SINGING as follows...

FOR THE VAUXHALL FESTIVAL:
All events free and free (donations requested) glass of wine/refreshments. St Peter's Church and heritage Centre, 310 Kennington Lane, SE11 (or side entrance in Tyers Street), 3 mins down Kennington Lane from Vauxhall tube.
Tuesday July 2nd at 7pm
CELIA CHANTE... CELIA SINGS...
Chansons and Jazz - Paris and Passion, Piaf and Billie and peers. Relentlessly romantic and dramatic songs of the 30s and 40s in French and English with pianist David Harrod. Including youngies and oldies sing along. Call 020 7735 8525 for further information.
Sunday July 7th at 7pm
LORCA (He also played jazz piano) AND THE DUENDE
An entertainment inspired by the life and work of Spanish poet, painter and musician, Federico Lorca. Devised by film writer and director Joe McGrath. Musical Director Kenny Clayton plus actors and singers: Kenneth Haigh, Charles Hodgson, Kim Ismay (or Pauline Yates) and Celia Stothard. Call 020 7735 8525 for further information.

FOR THE CLERKENWELL FESTIVAL:
with pianist David Harrod
LORCA (He also played jazz piano) AND THE DUENDE
at 7.30pm Tuesday July 9th and Tuesday July 16th at the Karl Marx Library Clerkenwell Green London EC1 Ł7.50 call 7251 6311 to book.
AND
CELIA CHANTE... CELIA SINGS... Chansons and Jazz
Thursday July 18th at St James Churchyard Gardens. Clerkenwell Close, EC1
Part of a French evening, with Boules and Absinthe Bus ! from 6 to 9pm Celia hopes to be on at 7pm for 40 mins.
MORE INFO FROM - CELIA 020 7735 8525 - THANK YOU/MERCI/GRACIAS

-- Celia (celia.stothard@connectfree.co.uk), July 01, 2002.

KENNINGTON TRAFFIC &

CONGESTION CHARGING
DEMONSTRATION

GET KEN TO
THINK AGAIN
Join Kennington residents and businesses, your MP Kate Hoey, local Councillors, Lambeth Council Leader Cllr Peter Truesdale,
Executive Members: Cllr Clare Whelan (Environment), Cllr Andrew Sawdon (Regeneration & Transport)

AT KENNINGTON CROSS SE11 AT

8am Monday July 8th
from 7am at St Anselm's Church, Kennington Cross for banners and leafleting.
Do bring your own banner - Local Cafes will be open - And do mind the road!

SHOW KEN YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY
Some participating groups, businesses and supporters: Angus Aagaard Team Rector North Lambeth Parish, Barnpaul's, B Leung Chemist, Bellamy's Cafe, Bird of Paradise Florists, Brook Drive Residents' Association, Caffe Italia, Cafe in the Park, Colombian Refugee Association (CORAS), Cornwall Court Residents, Cottington Close Tenants' Management Coop, Courtyard Cafe Ltd, Design & Care Cleaning Services Ltd, Dolland House Tenants' Association, Don Abacka Hair, Flowershop, Frank's Fish Bar, Friends of Durning Library, Friends of Kennington Cross, Friends of Kennington Park, Gasworks, Golder's News, Hatton Opticians, Hanover Gardens RA, Hester's Butcher, Imperial Court Residents, Joy's Mini Market, Kennington Association, Kennington Park Estate TRA, Kennington Property, Kennington Tandoori, Kennington Wines (Dimestore Ltd), Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward, Lambeth Walk Off Licence Ltd, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Ma Baker's, Madeira Star, Maharvi Food Store, Mallarkey Ltd, Manning Photographers, Manor of Kennington Residents' Association, Michael Oliver Hairdressers, Oval Projects Ltd, Ozzie Cafe & Restaurant, P J Frankland Butchers, Paterson Heath & Co Ltd, Photostatic Print Services Ltd, Richborne Terrace, Dorset Rd & Fentiman Rd RA, Rits Dry Cleaners, Smiffs, Spar Primetime Store, Taste of India, Trevanna Nails, Typography Workshop, Vauxhall Neighbourhood Housing Forum, Vauxhall St Peter's Heritage Centre, Vauxhall Society, Vauxhall Wines, Walcot Estate RA, White Bear Theatre Club, Windmill Fish Bar, Winkworth, Wordworkshop & Showroom, Yogi Newsagents
please also sign the petition in local shops (closing Saturday July 20th)
WE WANT THE MAYOR OF LONDON, KEN LIVINGSTONE, TO

HOLD A PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO THE CONGESTION CHARGING SCHEME IN LAMBETH. CARRY OUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND A LOCAL BUSINESS IMPACT ASSESSMENT.

MOVE THE PROPOSED ZONE BOUNDARY to North of the Thames in Westminster.

ENFORCE THE NIGHT TIME LORRY BAN in Kennington Lane.

INSTALL SPEED CAMERAS and measures to enforce the speed limit and calm the traffic on Kennington's major roads.

LIFT THE RED ROUTE PARKING RESTRICTIONS ON SATURDAYS and install a 'tidal flow' on weekdays to aid small business deliveries and customer parking at local shops.
Demonstration and petition organised by residents, businesses and local organisations of Kennington and supported by Kennington Oval & Vauxhall Town Centre Partnership Board, all local Councillors and Kate Hoey MP.
Enquiries: KenningtonAssn@aol.com Friends of Kennington Cross: Tel: 020 7735 8525 For publicity or petition materials call above and: in Oval & Vauxhall area: 7735 3193 OR Hesters Butchers, 344 Kennington Lane, Vauxhall SE11

-- Cathy (KenningtonAssn@aol.com), June 30, 2002.

DO YOU NEED AN AU PAIR FOR THE SUMMER?
Are you a nice, welcoming family who might be interested in having a Czech university student as an au pair for the summer? Karolina is 20 years old, and would like to come to London as an au pair from July to September.
I do not know her personally, but she is a close friend of two other extremely nice, responsible au pairs whom I have known for the last two summers. One of her friends is returning for a third summer in Stockwell, so Karolina would like to be in this area. Having known her friends, I anticipate that Karolina will be friendly, reliable, and a pleasant and helpful addition to any family – especially with young children – during the summer holidays. From her emails her English is good. My current au pair is staying till autumn so we are unfortunately unable to offer Karolina a place.
If you would like to know more, please contact me at frances@newstages.plus.com or, as time is pressing, email Karolina directly on Karolina.hejs@volny.cz .
Frances McDougall

-- Frances McDougall (frances@newstages.plus.com), June 29, 2002.

KOV Traffic Working Party response to TfL 30/4/02
Released: 28 June, 2002 03:55
Filesize: 21kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01419 2.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 29, 2002.

To die for

Common or garden
Caroline Roux
Saturday June 29, 2002
The Guardian
I thought I'd got the hang of gardens. You know, grass, plants, trees, pebbles, the odd bit of statuary. I know that hostas and bamboo were in last year, but this year look as tired as a re-run of Sex And The City, and that what we're into right now is that unkempt meadow look, which goes beautifully with a Chloé peasant top and a fringed bag. Even in the most inner city garden, your patch should have that delightfully rustic "it just happened that way" appearance, as though it is perfectly normal to see poppies thrusting through the (fashionably unshaven) ragged grasses of Kennington. But as in all matters of fashion, it is so easy to have one's confidence shaken.
Someone had clearly missed out the prefix "sub" from the Urban Gardens show, which I visited last month. The hall at London's Olympia was filled with the splish splash of hot-tub salesmen hard at work. A stand flourishing like untouched rainforest, with an abundance of perfect plants, turned out to be that of Fake Landscapes - the artificial plant company. Close by, a fresh tidy lawn (a little too closely cropped for my current tastes) turned out to have both the look and feel of raffia. Still, it's hard to fault NoMow: its polythene fibres give a perfect surface that will not graze the skin and - just imagine - it does not fade.
To say the show was far away from the fashionable urban garden is the understatement of the year. Here, instead, was a world where decking was painted an Yves Klein blue, furniture was more important than plants and even topiary had been superseded by a bastardisation that involves filling a metal frame with moss and letting it grow so the whole thing turns a vicious bright green. The only justification for which seems to be that it's nigh-on impossible to create a poisonous green roaring lion centrepiece in any other way.
If nothing else, this unseemly display did serve to put what could seem like the ludicrousness of meadow fashion in its place. Pass the poppy seed, please. At least it's real.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 29, 2002.

Cops on tracks of the robbers
Jun 28 2002
By Local Historian Brian Mcconnell, South London Press
ONE of the great secrets of the Great Train robbery nearly 40 years ago was that policemen solved the mystery largely with a south London pub and club trawl.
Few other people knew that the crime was dreamed up and organised in south London.
On the night of August 7/8, 1963, the robbers rigged the railway signals at Sears Crossing, Cheddington, Bucks, to stop the Glasgow to London overnight mail train, uncoupled the carriages and stole Ł2,631,784 in cash.
The money was being taken out of circulation and therefore virtually untraceable.
They then shared out the money 20 miles away at Letherslade Farm. But only Ł400,000 was ever recovered.
Two years earlier, while in prison on a different matter, Bruce Reynolds had discussed the idea of the robbery with fellow inmate Ronald Biggs of Brixton (more recently Australia, Brazil and now Belmarsh high- security prison in Woolwich).
When they began to look for recruits, most accomplished criminals shied from the idea.
The raid had to be re-planned on licensed premises south of the River Thames.
When it was all over, it seemed strange that some tour or travel company did not organise trips and drinks to show how it worked.
Try for a start the Walk-In Club in Lambeth Walk, where the great snatch was originally planned.
Frank Williams, who became a detective chief superintendent in the Flying Squad, had been stationed at Kennington and remembered a call to the club, which had been wrecked.
The damage was so severe it was put down to gang rivalry.
The club was run by two people unconnected with the robbery and Buster Edwards, who lived in Faunce Street, Kennington.
Buster arrived at the police station with his head in bandages, but said he was at a loss to understand the damage.
Thomas Wisbey, another of the robbers, used to drink in the Duke of Clarence in New Church Road, Camberwell, and the Newington Arms in King and Queen Street, Walworth.
Robert Welsh, another member of the gang, used to run the Crown, in Crown Street, Walworth.
Eventually, two separate criminal teams - one from Walworth and Bermondsey and the other from Sutton and Wimbledon - banded together to plan and carry out the robbery.
The raid on Letherslade Farm, where the money had been shared, was delayed for tactical reasons.
While police kept watch at the drinking haunts of the robbers, they were tipped that Welsh was meeting someone for a drink at London Bridge Station.
When he walked towards a car, police pounced.
Welsh, like several of the others, was sentenced to 30 years' imprisonment.
Some escaped, to Europe and the US. Biggs fled to Australia, then Brazil, and was later returned to prison in Britain.
But Mr Williams, in his memoirs No Fixed Address (W.H. Allen), demolishes the idea that there was a Mr Big. "There were too many generals," he said.
And Ronald Biggs, the master escaper, who was hired to buy a drink and enrol a driver at Waterloo Station who could handle the train, failed.
The man he introduced could not understand the controls.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 29, 2002.

CCTV wasn't on as woman attacked
Jun 28 2002
By Vicky Wilks, South London Press
A COMMUNITY activist who was attacked by a thug at a cash machine has discovered the security camera which should have recorded her ordeal was not working.
The 30-year-old woman, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, was using the cashpoint at the Tesco supermarket in Kennington Lane when the man, who was wearing an England football shirt, attacked her.
Just before the attack the community activist and health manager was having trouble with the machine.
The football fan was standing behind her and began swearing and shouting.
His victim tried to explain the machine was not working properly, but was floored by blows to the back of her neck and top of her head before being repeatedly kicked.
The woman suffered severe bruising to her back, a swollen jaw and bumps on her head.
She said: "I just remember falling, and the next thing I knew I was on the floor and holding my face as he kicked me in the back."
Her attacker, who did not steal the woman's bag or mobile phone, ran off into a nearby estate and was unsuccessfully chased by a Big Issue seller.
Days later she learned from police that the CCTV camera, owned and operated by Tesco and fixed to the wall above the cashpoint, had not been working.
She told the South London Press: "The cashpoint is on their property so the onus should be on them to ensure that it is a safe place for people to withdraw cash. They are going to provide a service so they should at least make sure it's safe."
A Tesco spokesman said: "Customers' safety is of paramount concern to us."
But he added: "We cannot go into the details of the workings of our CCTV system."
The victim, who wants her attacker to be caught, said: "I am worried for myself as he is local and I knock on people's doors for my voluntary work, but I am also worried he might do the same to someone else."
Police confirmed details of the attack, which happened at about 11.30am on Sunday, June 16, and are investigating an allegation of actual bodily harm.
The attacker is described as a white man in his late 20s or early 30s, about 5ft 3ins tall, overweight, unshaven and wearing an England football shirt.
Anyone with information should contact Kennington Police Station: 020-8649 2414.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 29, 2002.

PLAYERS & Co. PRESENTS

Life's a Dream
by Calderon de la Barca
25 JUNE TO 14 JULY

WHITE BEAR THEATRE
TimeOut: BEST FRINGE VENUE 2001
BOX OFFICE 020 7793 9193
Life's a Dream
Directed by Christiane Hill
Designed by Zoe Diderich
Incarcerated since birth. four walls, bars, chains. One day, Sigismund wakes - silk sheets, sun on his face, servants who call him 'highness'. A dream, or a cruel joke? Vengeance, rape, war, love triangles, and our perception of reality are brilliantly explored in Calderon's masterpiece of the Spanish Age.
"Life's a Dream is one of the finest metaphysical fruits of the 17th century Golden Age of Spanish drama. An ever pertinent pre- Freudian revery about the power of free will." New York Times
Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm, Sunday 4pm
Ł8 (Ł6 concessions)
sponsored by RVH (Royal Victoria Hall Foundation)
The White Bear Theatre Club
138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ
Box Office: 020 7793 9193

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 28, 2002.

DID YOU KNOW THAT KENNINGTON PARK WAS...

A site of public execution

Surrounded by the best Victorian music halls

Where Charlie Chaplin met his first girlfriend
Come to the park on Sunday 7th July between 12-6pm to see park arts, site-specific works specially created for this historic site.
For a free guided tour of the park, meet local historian Stefan Szczelkun at Oval Tube station at 2pm.
park arts is part of the Vauxhall Festival 2002 and is supported by the Friends of Kennington Park.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 28, 2002.

TIMES ONLINE

Letters to the Editor
June 28, 2002
New Archbishop and Church's future
From the General Director of the Evangelical Alliance
Sir, Mr Gordon Craig’s analysis of the current state of evangelicalism in the Church of England (letter, June 25) is fascinating but flawed.
Those close to what is really going on would note the first-class achievements of the last decade. These would include the outstanding theological scholarship evident at Ridley Hall in Cambridge, and other places, and the fact that evangelical bishops such as John Sentamu and James Jones are such excellent ambassadors for the Church.
The Evangelical Alliance, which represents a million Christians in the UK, is proud that a third of its members are Anglican. This group represents some of our strongest thinkers, but they go beyond the merely academic to embrace a large group of people who try to bring a vibrant Christian faith to all they are achieving in politics, business, the media and the caring professions.
Yours etc,
JOEL EDWARDS, General Director, Evangelical Alliance, 186 Kennington Park Road, SE11 4BT.
June 25.
From the Reverend Angus MacLeay
Sir, In response to Professor Oliver O’Donovan (letter, June 25) it is clearly important to deal with any issue of church discipline with pastoral sensitivity. However, responsible pastoral care should not override clear doctrinal guidelines given to the Church in the New Testament. No Church or archbishop is invested with the authority to dispense with God’s word whether on doctrinal, moral or ethical issues.
In connection with the letter from Mr Gordon Craig it needs to be seen that there is a world of difference between “happy clappy” evangelicals and those evangelicals like myself who signed the open letter to the Prime Minister (report, June 21) and wished to act with conviction on this and many other important matters to our Church and nation.
Yours faithfully,
ANGUS MacLEAY, St Nicholas Sevenoaks, Rectory Lane, Sevenoaks TN13 1JA.
June 25.
From Bishop Henry Richmond
Sir, Many readers will agree with William Rees-Mogg (Comment, June 24) that the new Archbishop of Canterbury “will share no lesser task than the reconversion of England”. Many will agree also that “Christianity is a religion of love” and that “the world is starving for love”.
It is not enough, however, simply to say that the “social failures” he enumerates — terror, crime, drugs, broken marriages, neglected children and fragmented human relationships — “all run contrary to Christian teaching”. For it was “social failures” whom Jesus sought to embrace with God’s love.
It was this embrace, unacceptable to the religious Establishment of His day, that led to His crucifixion. Even in death, the arms of Jesus reached out to criminals.
If the reconversion of England depends on living out the sacrificial love of God seen in Jesus then the new Archbishop must have no illusions as to what lies ahead of him.
Yours faithfully,
HENRY RICHMOND, 39 Hodges Court, Marlborough Road, Oxford OX1 4NZ.
June 24.
Times Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 28, 2002.

Open Studios Day at Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre this Saturday 29th
Dear Friends
OPEN STUDIOS DAY!

SATURDAY 29 JUNE
12:00-18:00
THE SPRING, 100 VAUXHALL WALK, LONDON SE11 5EL
REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED...
This Saturday is an Open Studios Day at The Spring, Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre. Artists in the building will be showing work including photographs, sound installation, painting, costume design, gilding and framing.
We will also be running a stall at the 'Party in the Park' event very close by in Pedlers Park. People will be able to sign up for membership as well as enrol for our new subsidised Yoga classes (running at the Centre in association with Morley College - only Ł1.50 to Lambeth residents).
We hope to see you there.
Nearest Tube and British Rail: Vauxhall.
Buses 2,3,12,36,77 (get off at Vauxhall and walk across Spring Gardens)

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), June 26, 2002.

Vendor Steps In

The Big Issue
June 24-30 2002
A woman who was attacked outside a supermarket was rescued by a Big Issue vendor. Diana Braithwaite was assaulted by a man outside a branch of Tesco in London. "The cash machine wasn't working and this guy seemed to be getting impatient. Then I felt two blows to my head and fell to the floor and he started kicking me. A Big Issue vendor came and chased the guy. I didn't find out his name before I was taken to hospital. I'd like to thank him." Police are investigating the attack.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 26, 2002.

Two loving cats in need of a loving home
The male is 8 years old, ginger and white. The female is 7 years, long-haired tortoiseshell.
They need a new loving home due to the owner's career.
Both enjoy indoor and outdoor life.
Please call 020 7642 9313

-- Vin (ladydriveruk@yahoo.co.uk), June 25, 2002.

WEEKLY MEDITATION AND RELAXATION CLASS AND CHI KUNG ON MONDAYS AT JAMYANG BUDDHIST CENTRE
Chi Kung Every Monday until July 15th 6pm Ł3 (Ł1.50 concs.) Suggested Donation Chi Kung is an ancient form of Chinese exercise dating back some 3000 years. In these classes the simple but subtle exercises of the Zhan Zhuang or 'Standing like a Tree' form of Chi Kung are taught in a way that encourages inner harmony, health and stamina. The teacher, William Walker, is a senior student of Master Lam Kam Chuen, author of 'The Way of Healing'.
Meditation and Relaxation Every Monday until July 15th 7.30pm Ł4 (Ł2 concs.) Suggested Donation Learn to beat the stress and frustration of everyday life with a practical introduction to meditation. In this class, the basic meditation techniques of concentration, observation and visualisation are presented in a way that is accessible for beginners and experienced meditators alike.
Jamyang Buddhist Centre is a registered charity (No. 285975) which welcomes everyone of any faith or none. In addition to its well established teaching and study programme, Jamyang is developing a range of services for people in the local community. If you would like more information please phone from Monday - Thursday between 2pm and 6pm.
Jamyang Buddhist Centre The Old Courthouse 43 Renfrew Road London SE11 4NA
Phone: (020) 7820 8787 Fax: (020) 7820 8605 Email: admin@jamyang.co.uk Web: www.jamyang.co.uk

-- Jon Underwood (jon@jamyang.co.uk), June 25, 2002.

HOMELESS: FIGURES FROM THE STREETS
until Saturday 6 July
St George's RC Cathedral
Sculptures by Alex Worster depicting the plight of homeless people, positioned in various parts of the Cathedral nave and chapels. The exhibition is being organised by the St Martins in the Fields Social Care Unit, and will also be touring to the Public Records Office in Kew, and St Bride's Church, Fleet Street.
The sculptures vary in size, and produce a powerful effect in their portrayal of people and social conditions, which it is all too easy to take for granted and simply walk past.
http://www.southwark-rc-cathedral.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2002.

LAMBETH PARISH FETE
Saturday 29 June
2-5pm at Lambeth Palace, Lambeth Palace Road; Ł2 (child 50p)
Refreshments, sideshows, stalls, childrens entertainment, raffle and a chance to see the palace garden.
http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2002.

Independent

Woman who bit columnist during break-in goes free
By Chris Gray
25 June 2002
A habitual burglar who broke into the home of the novelist Will Self and assaulted his wife, Deborah Orr, a columnist for The Independent, walked free from court yesterday.
Tania Chaves had been warned that she faced jail for the burglary, but Judge Peter Grobel sentenced her instead to a 12-month drug treatment programme. He said her crimes were closely related to her heroin addiction and treatment would be more likely to stop her re-offending than a prison sentence.
Chaves, 29, had denied breaking in to the couple's home in Stockwell, south London, last December, saying she was trying to get their attention after finding their four-year-old son outside.
However, she was convicted after Inner London Crown Court heard Ms Orr describe how she was told by her son that a strange woman was upstairs in the house. Ms Orr grabbed Chaves as she came down the stairs but was bitten five times on her hand as they struggled.
Mr Self heard his wife's screams and rushed down to see the two women grappling by the front gate. Helped by a passer-by, he managed to restrain Chaves while Ms Orr called the police.
Chaves, who had not taken anything in the raid, was taken to Kennington Police Station. She later claimed she was attacked by Mr Self, Ms Orr, and the passer-by.
The court was told Chaves had 14 previous burglary convictions since 1998, including several counts of impersonating cleaners to get into wealthy householders.
Sentencing her yesterday, Judge Grobel said: "If I send you back to prison now it is likely after your release you will again burgle." He also commended Ms Orr's bravery, saying: "When she chased Chaves from the home and caught the fleeing hooded figure, she had every reason to think she was dealing with a male burglar."
Ms Orr, whose hand is still scarred, said after the sentencing that it would have been better for Chaves to get treatment while she was being held on remand.
She called for a new system where an independent person could advise drug addicts caught red- handed to plead guilty in return for treatment, saving the innocent parties from the trauma of a trial.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 25, 2002.

Job vacancy

School Support Assistant
For further information please refer to advert
Released: 24 June, 2002 09:28
Filesize: 13kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/a- default/013996.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 24, 2002.

Holiday Let Flat Sought for 6th july - 18th/20th July
We have Italian friends coming over for our baby's christening who would like to stay over for a bit and have a holiday as well. We have no room at home and, as they have two children, they are looking to rent a two bed roomed flat in the area for a couple of weeks, July 6th - 18th, 19th or 20th July. Please let us know if you have anything available or have any leads.
Many thanks.

-- Michael Bellamy (michael.bellamy1@virgin.net), June 23, 2002.

Kennington Park History
Released: 21 June, 2002 12:47
Filesize: 29kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/01399 3.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 23, 2002.

Vauxhall Festival 2002
Programme for Vauxhall Festival 2002
Released: 21 June, 2002 12:40
Filesize: 555kb
Go to:
http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/intradoc/groups/public/documents/notes/013990.pdf

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 23, 2002.

BBC News
Friday, 21 June, 2002, 14:49 GMT 15:49 UK
Burglar jailed for 'sickening' attack
A "wicked and sadistic" burglar who stabbed a disabled woman while her husband was tortured has been jailed for 12 years.
Stuart Dodson, from Brixton, south-west London, used a carving knife to stab 72-year-old Alice Israel after she refused to reveal where she kept her money.
Her husband, retired solicitor William Israel, 73, was hit repeatedly with a belt and kicked several times in the back despite pleading that he had cancer of the spine.
Judge Roger Sanders said: "You demonstrated by your behaviour that you have a thoroughly wicked propensity for sadism from which the public needs to be protected for a very long time."
Drugs habit
Dodson escaped from the couple's home in Kennington, south London, in October 2001 with a few possessions.
One of his accomplices, Christopher Flynn, of Woking Close, Barnes, south-west London, was jailed for three years for his role as a look-out.
Dodson, 28, of Stockwell Garden Estate, who has previous convictions for assault, burglary and possessing a bladed article, admitted one charge of aggravated burglary.
Judge Sanders said the couple Dodson had targeted had lived happily in their home for 22 years.
'Thoroughly wicked'
"You and your companion broke into those premises intending to steal in order to feed your drugs habit.
"What did you do? Encouraged by your accomplice, you stabbed that frail innocent lady through the thigh with her own kitchen knife while she was lying in bed unable to move.
"The other man took her husband's belt and struck him with it in order to discover his supposed hidden valuables.
"The facts I have related amount to one of the most sickening and monstrous forms of aggravated burglary I have ever heard."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 22, 2002.

Touch of Jean-ius
Jun 21 2002
By Vicky Wilks, South London Press
JEAN HALEY works harder voluntarily for her community than most people do at their paid jobs.
Seven days a week, the devoted 65- year-old strives to improve life for the people of Gipsy Hill, West Norwood and Upper Norwood.
In the early 1970s, Jean and her family were among hundreds from tower blocks across Lambeth who were rehoused on the newly-built Central Hill estate.
After a few years, they began to have housing troubles which Jean got involved in helping to sort out. Then in 1984, she became chairwoman of Central Hill Tenants' and Residents' Association - a post she still holds today.
She also became a tenants' representative on the Lambeth Housing Committee and a member of the Tenants' council. But while she worked to improve housing, Jean realised the estate was deteriorating in other ways - crime was becoming a problem.
In a bid to bring cops and community closer together, the determined mum-of-two started the Sector Four Policing Working Party which fought to keep Gipsy Hill police station open.
Jean explained: "We wanted to do things for the area because we felt we were being left out. All the funding was going to Brixton and Kennington. Now they have discovered this is a deprived area."
In 1998, Jean's contribution to her community was recognised by Lambeth council, which gave her a civic award. But she didn't stop there - the following year she opened a resource centre on Hawke Road where people could get together for coffee mornings, mums and toddlers groups, go to an advice surgery and IT centre and get child- care.
Football
Soon afterwards, Jean was instrumental in setting up a partnership with Fulham Football Club which saw local youngsters get coaching during the holidays.
Her latest achievement was the opening of a second resource centre in a row of empty shops on Berridge Road. Cathy Butler, who nominated Jean for an Inspirational Voluntary Worker Award, said: "How she manages to deal with all the various issues and problems and can still find time for friends and family, I can't say.
"But manage she does. Anyone that knows of her will vouch for the effort she puts into trying to help people of all ages living in Upper Norwood."
* Do YOU know a hero who deserves to be nominated for an award? If so, get the SLP and on pg 6 you'll find the categories on the bottom right of the page, fill out the form below and send it to us.
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 22, 2002.

Muggers snatched schoolboys' cycles

Richmond Guardian
FOUR youths from Kennington stole bicycles from two school boys as they rode along Teddington Park Road on their way home from school.
The incident occurred at 3.45pm last Friday.
The school boys, both from Teddington School and both aged 15, were approached by the gang of four who informed them they were from Kennington.
The gang demanded that they hand over their bicycles, one was a silver mountain bike called a Terrago valued at Ł370 and the other mountain bike was called Emelle and valued at Ł200.
The school boys were intimidated sufficiently enough to hand over their bikes and the gang went off with them.
Descriptions were given for two of the four thieves.
The first was described as male, white, 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build and around 15 years of age.
He was wearing a black and red hooded sweat shirt.
The second was described as male, white, 5ft 8ins tall, slim and around 15 years of age as well.
He was wearing a green hooded sweat shirt.
Anyone who can assist police with their investigation call Twickenham CID on 8247 7032.
June 20, 2002 17:00
Privacy Policy © Copyright 2002 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 21, 2002.

Blitz on minicab cowboy drivers
Jun 18 2002
ONE DRINK-DRIVING, ANOTHER USING BANNED CAR
By Peter Harrison, South London Press
A MAJOR police blitz to target unlicensed minicab drivers led to seven arrests.
One driver was using a vehicle already banned, another was found to be over the drink-drive limit in the roadblock in Kennington Park Road, Kennington, on Friday evening.
Plain clothes officers arrested and charged a further three minicab drivers for illegally touting for business.
Also a further 22 cars were deemed unfit to be on the road - some were discovered with faulty brakes, faulty steering or bald tyres.
The swoop was part of the Met's Operation Conduit which is aiming to track down unlicensed minicab drivers.
Borough Inspector Stuart Trayler said he was 'amazed' at what he and his officers saw on the roads.
He said: "Friday's operation was a major success.
"We made a number of arrests and took even more cars off the road because they were unfit to be driven.
"I have worked in the police service for 20 years, but what I saw on Friday night was certainly an eye- opener."
Fifty drivers will receive a summons for non-payment of road tax.
As well as driving offences, DSS benefit fraud officers found up to 12 minicab drivers were working while claiming benefits for unemployment - they volunteered to sign off on the spot or face threat of prosecution.
Tony Ellis, of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, said: "We back this campaign all the way.
"This is about improving the quality of people's lives on the streets."
He added: "There are so many attacks on people who use unlicensed cabs, especially women."
He said people should avoid using drivers who simply tout for business at the roadside but did not carry a licence.
And Mr Ellis warned further road blocks were planned in the crackdown against these people in areas across south London renowned for touts.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 19, 2002.

Stay Safe, Live Healthy
Talk and Debate led by
Chris Steele
Corporate Health and Safety Manager, London Borough of Lambeth
Tuesday 18th June
7pm - 9pm
Materials from the Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, London SE11 4HF
Tel: 020 7926 8682
e-mail: elevic@lambeth.gov.uk
Lambeth Libraries

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), June 17, 2002.

Telegraph

Heartbreak but Irish hold their heads high
By Sean O'Neill
(Filed: 17/06/2002)
The cruelty of the first penalty shoot-out of this World Cup led to Ireland being knocked out of the tournament yesterday after an epic contest against Spain.
Irish pubs across the country were packed as Mick McCarthy's team took its fans on an emotional rollercoaster involving more than two hours of anguish, elation, anxiety and, finally, despair.
After a first half in which Spain outclassed the "boys in green", Ireland fought back in the second half - missing one penalty then equalising with another in the last minute.
Then came extra-time, a nail biting 30 minutes during which Ireland outplayed Spain but could not score the vital golden goal, which earlier in the day had earned Senegal a place in the quarter-finals at the expense of Sweden.
The matter was eventually settled with the drama of penalties. Ireland scored two and missed three; Spain scored three and missed two.
Spain are still in the cup, but Ireland will be packing their bags and preparing to fly to Dublin, where they can expect a tumultuous reception.
Despite the defeat, the team has surpassed all expectations. Few had expected Ireland to reach Japan/Korea 2002 from a qualifying group that included Holland and Portugal. Even fewer had expected them to reach the second phase, especially after the acrimonious exit of Roy Keane, the team's captain and best player.
Some 10,000 Irish fans attended the game in Suwon, Korea, and carried on singing even after their defeat.
"We are feeling proud," said Sean Corbey, 47, from Naas, Co Kildare. "They were the best team but were unlucky. We cannot win them all. We came out just for this match and it was worth the journey, without a shadow of a doubt. It was priceless."
The streets of Dublin and every other town and village in Ireland were deserted during the game, while the country's pubs and bars were heaving with football fans.
The same was true in many parts of Britain, especially those towns and cities with large Irish communities.Brian O'Neill, watching the game in The Greyhound pub in Kennington, south London, was philosophical in defeat.
"I was expecting us to be hammered and after the first half I was relieved we were only 1-0 down," said Mr O'Neill, 39, a barrister.
"But we were great in the second half and extra-time. To go out on penalties was disappointing but I suppose now we know how if feels to be English.
"Still, how you react to defeat is important. We've had a great World Cup and there's nothing I fancy more right now than some tapas and a bottle of Rioja."
Andrew Connor, manager of Father Ted's Bar in Willesden, north London, said: "The atmosphere has been excellent the whole way through, with cheers and groans, but spirits are high. I have no doubt that the Irish will now go on to support the English."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 17, 2002.

Please make a note in your diaries for the following event in the Durning Library:
"Our Woman in Icy Mongolia"
Monday, 24th June
7pm for 7.30pm
Ł2 inc drinks and snacks
Kay Coombs, recently returned from the steppes, will share memories of her time as our Ambassador in the land of Genghis Khan! (A little glimpse into a diplomat's life.)

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), June 15, 2002.

The Times
June 15, 2002
Anniversaries
TODAY
EVENTS: in 1215 King John set his seal on the Magna Carta at Runnymede, near Windsor; in 1825 the Duke of York laid the foundation stone of the new London Bridge; in 1844 Charles Goodyear patented vulcanised rubber; in 1896 a Tsunami 110ft high struck Sanriku, Japan, sweeping across 170 miles of coastline and taking 27,000 lives.
BIRTHS: Edward, the Black Prince, eldest son of Edward III who won a reputation for courage during the 100 Years War, born in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, 1330; Hablot K. Browne (Phiz), illustrator of ten of Dickens’s novels, notably Martin Chuzzlewit and David Copperfield, born in Kennington, 1815; Ion Antonescu, Romanian military leader and fascist dictator whose participation in the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union resulted in the fall of his regime, born in Pitesti, 1882.
DEATHS: Wat Tyler, leader of the Peasants’ Revolt, killed in London, 1381; James Polk, 11th American President (1845-49) whose term was marked by the establishment of the 49th parallel as the country’s northern border, died in Nashville, Tennessee, 1849; Carl Wernicke, German neurologist who related nerve diseases to specific areas of the brain, known for his descriptions of the aphasias (disorders interfering with speech or writing), died in Thüringer Wald, Germany, 1905.
TOMORROW
EVENTS: In 1586, Mary Queen of Scots announced that King Philip II of Spain would be her heir — she was executed the following year; in 1917 the first Congress of the Soviets was held; in 1961 Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West while in Paris with the Leningrad Kirov Ballet; in 1963 Valentina Tereshkova of the Soviet Union became the first woman to orbit the Earth.
BIRTHS: Sir John Cheke, English writer, scholar, and supporter of the Protestant Reformation who, in the words of poet John Milton: “taught Cambridge and King Edward Greek”, and was later imprisoned by Mary I, born in Cambridge 1514; Stan Laurel, comedian who had made 76 feature films before the first with Oliver Hardy, born in Ulverston, Lancashire, 1890; Barbara McClintock, American scientist whose discovery of mobile genetic elements, or “jumping genes”, won her the 1983 Nobel Prize, born in Hartford, Connecticut, 1902.
DEATHS: John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, general who together with Prince Eugene of Savoy won such battles as Blenheim (1704), Oudenaarde (1708), and Malplaquet (1709), and alone is credited with Ramillies (1706), died at Windsor, 1722; Imre Nagy, Prime Minister of Hungary 1953-55 and 1956, led the revolutionary government of 1956 promising reforms such as an end to agricultural collectivisation and the closure of labour camps, executed in Budapest, 1958; John Reith (1st Baron Reith), first Director-General of the BBC (1927-38), whose principles were to “inform, educate and entertain”, died in Edinburgh, 1971.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 15, 2002.

Back to playground for Ground Force's Charlie
Jun 14 2002
South London Press
FLAME-HAIRED TV gardener Charlie Dimmock re-opened a children's playground after it was transformed by a team of bankers.
The Ground Force presenter joined hardworking volunteers from Barclays Bank, who swapped paper-pushing for digging and building at Kennington's Charlie Chaplin playground on Monday afternoon.
The playground is one of six across London run by Kidsactive - an organisation that provides services for disabled and other children.
Kidsactive has recently raised Ł70,000 to improve buildings at the Bolton Crescent playground but desperately needed help to improve the grounds.
Barclays Bank sent 81 members of staff to transform the playground for more than 200 children who regularly use it.
In one afternoon, the determined volunteers cut down overgrown grass, built a swing, a stage for the children and planted a sensory garden.
The Charlie Chaplin playground runs playschemes through the holidays and is staffed by trained playworkers, child psychologists and teachers during the day and at weekends.
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 14, 2002.

Sport - Telegraph
Friday 14 June 2002
Kent go from one jam to another
By D J Rutnagur at the Oval (Filed: 13/06/2002)
Kent (153 & 79-1) trail Surrey (361) by 129 runs
A burst water main in the vicinity of Hyde Park Corner and the broad bat of Ally Brown subjected Kent to intense agony yesterday. Brown, unbeaten with 49 overnight, had boosted Surrey to a commanding lead of 208 when he was last out for 188, his 29th first-class century.
So widespread and extensive was the gridlock created by the ruptured water main, with another blockage on the Vauxhall Bridge Road adding to the chaos, that it took the Kent party, travelling in five cars, the best part of four hours to complete the seven-mile journey from their hotel in Bayswater to Kennington.
The only two members of their team who were present at the Oval for the start of play were the captain, David Fulton, who had stayed the night in his own home in Blackheath, and Ed Smith, who got out of one of the marooned cars and took the tube.
Barry Dudleston and John Steele, the umpires, who are house guests in north London, had begun their respective journeys early and heard the traffic news on their car radios in time to seek alternative routes.
When Matthew Fleming conveyed to them by mobile phone that it had taken him two hours covering two miles, the umpires were left in no doubt that the players would not make it in time and, there being no provision in the regulations for the inevitable situation, they sought briefing from Alan Fordham, the ECB's cricket operations manager.
They were told to treat Kent's plight as an extenuating circumstance, rearrange the hours of play for the day and make up lost time by extending the remaining two days. The recommended starting time was half an hour after the arrival of the last players.
Kent will now have to bat with much resolve if they are to escape unscathed. Rob Key made an early exit, playing across the line, but Fulton and Ed Smith held the fort until bad light stopped play with 29 balls remaining.
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002. Terms & Conditions of reading. Commercial information. Privacy Policy.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 14, 2002.

WILLING SUSPENSION PRODUCTIONS, in association with Ed's Easy Diner, PRESENTS
A PLAY ABOUT BYRON
Of Bright and Dark
By Christopher Lawrence

The White Bear Theatre Club
138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4RB
(2 minutes from Kennington tube)
4-23 June
8pm Tues - Sat
4pm Sun
Tickets Ł8 (Ł6)
Don Giovanni was living it up in Spain and Casanova was living it down in Italy. The Marquis de Valmont was sleeping around for France. But in the art of secution one Englishman outdid them all... George Gordon, Lord Byron.
Playing at the White Bear in June, Of Bright and Dark is a savage new comedy of wit, games and sexual intrigue.
Call The White Bear Box Office on 020 7793 9193

-- Mike (mkwb@hotmail.com), June 12, 2002.

JUBILEE PAINTING COMPETITION
Please encourage local children to enter this competition at the Durning Library.
Arthur Butler set out his model Coronation coach and parades at the children's party on Saturday and the children were told about them, then offered the competition.
The models are now in the display case in the Library and we want more children to make a painting or drawing of them.
Here are the details:

JUBILEE PAINTING COMPETITION

A PRIZE OF Ł10 IN EACH OF THREE CLASSES
AGE 3 TO 5 AGE 6 TO 8 AGE 9 TO 11
ANY CORONATION PARADE SUBJECT
Closing date 22nd June 2002
Entries to be handed into Library reception
Put your name, address and date of birth on the back of your entry
Thank you.
Friends of Durning Library 167 Kennington Lane London SE11 4HF T: 020 7926 8682 F: 020 7926 8684 E: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), June 12, 2002.

Daily Record
News
TRAGEDY OF SCOTS ARTIST
Jun 12 2002
THE body of an artist was found in his flat two weeks after he suffered a fatal asthma attack.
Police were called to Glasgow-born Raymond Wilson's flat in Kennington, south-east London, on February 8 by worried neighbours.
The 43-year-old had a high level of speed in his blood, an inquest heard yesterday.
Pathologist Dr Vesna Djurovic said the drug may have triggered the attack.
Southwark coroner Dr Selena Lynch recorded a verdict of natural causes.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 12, 2002.

Stars line-up for cricket ground opening
Jun 11 2002
By Michael Brown, South London Press
THE line-up reads more like an international fixture, rather than a knock-around for the opening of Lambeth's second ever cricket ground.
Former England captain Michael Atherton, former Australian international Michael Slater, former England players Dermot Reeve and Gladstone Small, former South African great Barry Richards and TV cricket presenter Mark Nicholas.
They all gathered for the official opening of the Kennington Community Cricket Ground, the first of its kind in London - even the Channel 4 Cricket Road-show was there bringing live coverage.
Lambeth council, Surrey CCC, Channel 4, The Lord's Taverners and the United Cricket Association had got together to help build the ground in the hope of bringing cricket into the community and developing the game at grass roots level.
After 18 months of piecing it all together, and Ł100,000 later, 150 local children were there to get expert tips from all 24 Surrey first team players including Mark Ramprakash, Alex Tudor and Ali Brown.
Ed Giddins and Tudor were on hand to oversee games of Kwik Cricket for juniors, and also to pass on some handy tips. Surrey's overseas player Saqlain Mushtaq also held a coaching session for spin bowlers showing a number of promising bowlers all his bowling variations, while Surrey coach Keith Medlycott held a batting session.
On Saturday the best 22 academy players were chosen to play the first game on the new pitch, while on Sunday it was a who's who of English and over-seas cricket with a celebrity game.
Slater, who has played 74 tests for Australia and who boasts a test batting average of 42.83, was stunned to see a bold stroke off the second ball of the match spectacularly caught by a Lambeth academy teenager.
He went over to the youngster, shook his hand and walked back to the pavilion shaking his head.
Despite the inclement weather over the weekend, the games were played throughout the rain and it was deemed a huge success.
Tudor, who was in the official opening party, said: "It was great to see so many kids playing cricket and having such a good time."
Coaching sessions for juniors will be held three times a week starting today, on Tuesdays and Thursdays (4pm-6pm) and Saturday's (10.20am-12.30pm). All equipment will be provided and children need a consent form signed by their parents. For more information phone Lambeth Sports on 020 7926 0754.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 12, 2002.

Yesterday evening I attended the opening, by Charlie Dimmock, of the
Charlie Chaplin Adventure Playground
Bolton Crescent, Kennington Park, London SE5 0SE t/f/minicom: 020 7735 1819
Charlie Chaplin is a Kidsactive adventure playground. Kidsactive (registered charity no 284935) is the only UK national charity promoting play for disabled children.
Charlie Chaplin Adventure Playground serves disabled children throughout Lambeth, their siblings and children from the local community. It functions as an inclusive, accessible project, where the facilities and staffing levels are designed to support the right of all children to play in a safe, appropriate environment.
Charlie Chaplin has a large, landscaped, outdoor area with wooden adventure play structures, a sand pit and paddling pool as well as opportunities to explore and enjoy the natural environment. There is also a tarmac playground for ball games and riding bikes. Inside, the play area includes a soft play, ball pool and a wide range of play equipment, as well as a kitchen where children can do cooking activities.
School groups come to Charlie Chaplin during the day, and the programme is developed with teachers to offer a combination of structured activities and free play. Our out of school provision supports children to develop their own play and aims to provide a range of opportunities in a context of non-directed play.
They are happy to accommodate visiting groups to extend the playground's facilities to more children. Individual referrals can be made by parents or carers, schools, social workers and health professionals.
They have a minibus and can offer a limited number of transport places for children who would otherwise be unable to attend.
Opening hours
Term time
After-schools club Tuesday - Friday 3.30-5.45
Saturday 10.00-4.00
School Holiday playscheme Mon - Fri (except bank holidays) 10.00-4.00
Charlie Chaplin (supported by voluntary donations and by the London Borough of Lambeth) is one of six playgrounds in London run by Kidsactive. For details of other playgrounds or the Kidsactive Training & Information Service please contact Kidsactive, Pryor's Bank, Bishop's Park, London SW6 3LA t: 020 7731 1435 f: 020 7731 4426 minicom: 020 7384 2596 e: ktis@kidsactive.org.uk, website: www.kidsactive.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 11, 2002.

The Times - Law
June 11, 2002
Beware when a judge's power goes to his head
by David Pannick QC
Like a Big Brother contestant who complains about bad taste, or England football fans who believe their team will win the World Cup, a judge who tells others what to wear on their head makes himself ridiculous. Two weeks ago Judge Robert Orme failed to appreciate that if you are balancing a lump of horsehair on your bald spot, you are in no position to lecture a Rastafarian on his headgear.
Terence Lynch was sitting in the public gallery in Birmingham Crown Court. Judge Orme ordered him to remove his cap or remove himself. Mr Lynch replied that he is a Rastafarian and that it was against his religion to take off his hat (or “tam”). Judge Orme ordered Mr Lynch to be arrested for contempt of court. He was detained in the cells for two hours. The next day Judge Orme made a statement in court, emphasising that “if what occurred has been misunderstood or interpreted as disparaging Rastafarianism, that is a matter that I very much regret and was not my intention”.
Judge Orme missed the point, both when ordering Mr Lynch’s detention and when making his statement. Judges have enough to occupy their minds directing juries on the law, keeping barristers in order and deciding how long convicted criminals should spend in prison, without also taking on sartorial responsibilities for those who visit their courtrooms. If someone in the public gallery is disrupting the proceedings by using a mobile phone, shouting abuse, or eating a mushroom pizza, judges will need to leap into action. But if the cap fits, judges have no business trying to stop the owner from wearing it.
There are many mysteries of the legal universe. Why do solicitors brief that barrister? How did this judge get appointed to the Court of Appeal? Where shall we go for lunch? But not even the Oxford Professor of Jurisprudence could explain why so many judges over the years have concerned themselves more with couture than with the common law. In 1926 a magistrate fined a borough councillor for failing to remove his hat on entering the courtroom. In 1970 a woman was rebuked by a judge for wearing a trouser suit when attending court. In 1992 a magistrate ordered a defence solicitor out of court because his shoelaces were undone. In 1993 another magistrate told a defence advocate to leave the courtroom because he was wearing a tweed sports jacket. In 1990 a judge in Arkansas found a woman in contempt of court because her breasts were “obviously showing” through her blouse.
No doubt the judge was justified in fining a man Ł50 for wearing a horror mask as he was about to be sworn in as a juror at Croydon Crown Court in 1979. Remarkable judicial self-restraint was displayed at the Falkirk Sheriff Court in 1994 when a lawyer was unable to prevent his musical socks (a Christmas present) from disrupting proceedings. The Chief Justice of Borneo may well have been right when ruling in 1964 that it was improper for a barrister to have another job as a travelling salesman in ladies’ underwear and dresses. But too often, the appropriate reaction to judicial directions about the attire of others is that of John Mortimer’s Rumpole when the barrister was told by Mr Justice Prestcold that his collar-stud was visible: “What was this, a murder trial or a bloody fashion parade?” A tip for Judge Orme, and any other members of Her Majesty’s judiciary, who fancy themselves as fashion critics. If you insist on telling other people what they should wear, do try to bear in mind that their hats, dresses and safetypins may be the result not of slavish adherence to the dictates of Paris or Milan, but the consequence of their religious beliefs. Judges in other jurisdictions have better understood the rights of Rastafarians. In 1988 in the United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, Judge Posner ruled that the prison authorities could not compel a Rastafarian to cut his hair in breach of his religious beliefs. In 1995 in the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe, Chief Justice Gubbay allowed an appeal by a Rastafarian who had been refused registration as a lawyer because a lower court judge had found his dreadlocks to be “unkempt”.
Last October the Court of Appeal correctly recognised that there are limits to the rights of religious minorities. It rejected the claim by a Rastafarian that it was a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights for him to be convicted of possessing 90 grammes of cannabis with intent to supply because he had been preparing for a “regular act of worship” in a Rastafarian temple in Kennington. But wearing a hat in court is as much a religious right for a Rastafarian as for an Orthodox Jew.
Even if Mr Lynch had no religious beliefs, he should, if he wishes, be allowed to sit quietly in court wearing a beret, a fez, or a stetson. Judge Orme made a very unfashionable decision. Appearances do matter. And he now looks very foolish.
The author is a barrister at Blackstone Chambers in the Temple, and a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 11, 2002.

We would like to recommend the "Dream Team" who are doing a great job on completely re-doing our bathroom and kitchen.
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-- Meral and Steve (meral@stevemay.plus.com), June 08, 2002.

Lambeth
Date: 05.06.2002
Ref: 1361
Press contact: Andrea Lake
Tel: 020 7926 2739
Email: alake@lambeth.gov.uk

Press Release

New cricket ground developed to boost grassroots game
The first new community cricket ground in London is to open in Lambeth on June 8 as part of a major initiative to give local people the chance to play the game.
The Kennington Community Cricket Ground is a unique public private collaboration between Lambeth Council, Channel 4, Surrey County Cricket Club, The Lord's Taverners and the United Cricket Association. This new partnership will bring cricket to inner city areas. It is hoped to be the first of many such ventures across the country.
The new ground is the only cricket pitch in the borough apart from the AMP Oval. Until now local residents have had to travel outside the area to play. The development is the result of 18 months of work and will see junior cricket played this summer, with senior games starting next year.
The opening weekend of June 8 and 9 will feature a celebrity match between a Channel 4 Lambeth XI and The Lord's Taverners Lambeth XI on the Saturday, with local school children participating in the day. Channel 4's Cricket Roadshow, the weekly cricket programme, will be broadcasting live from the ground.
Sunday will be a chance for games and coaching for all local residents who wish to become involved with the newly formed Lambeth United Cricket Club. It will also offer the opportunity to meet members of the Surrey cricket team.
Lambeth Councillor Clare Whelan comments: "This a great new resource for young people and the whole community in Lambeth. Cricket really can bring people together, and everyone involved should be congratulated for the way they have worked in partnership with the council to make this project a reality."
David Brook, Channel 4 said: "The new ground is part of Channel 4's major commitment to inner-city and grassroots development as part of our overall strategy to rejuvenate the domestic game. Kennington Park is the first part of the brown sites to green scheme which aims to create new inner city cricket grounds across the country to encourage and build the game from grass-roots level."
Paul Sheldon, Surrey CCC says: "Surrey CCC are delighted that we are yet again in the position to support and participate in such a worthwhile and exciting community project. It will strengthen our links with the local community as well as furthering our development of cricket in London."
Vince McBea, United Cricket Association (UCA) comments: "This is the first major step in providing a clear pathway into cricket for our community. We still need the financial and human resources to build a facility that will enable local cricketers to progress into the cricket pyramid system. The UCA is here to provide the umbrella organisation needed to sustain and develop cricket for local people by local people. The new cricket facility will cost Ł1.4m to build, the fund-raising now begins."
Mark Williams, The Lord's Taverners: "We are delighted to have given Ł25,000 towards the Kennington ground. Increasing the opportunities for young people to play cricket is at the heart of our mission to give young people a sporting chance".
ENDS
For further further information contact:
Kennington Park Cricket Ground Sinead McCann Lambeth Council 020 7926 0759
Cricket Development in Lambeth Tony Moody United Cricket Association 020 8653 8000 Johnny Grave Surrey CCC 020 7820 5763
Lambeth United Cricket Club Janet Rainford 020 8653 8000
Matthew Robinson Channel 4 020 7306 3747
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 08, 2002.

Property
Telegraph
Saturday 8 June 2002
Taking the temperature: Exmouth, Lytham St Anne's, Kennington
(Filed: 05/06/2002)
How is the property market bearing up? This week, we take pulse readings from Devon, Lancashire, and London
Exmouth, Devon
Agent: Fulfords
Number of properties on books: 295
How long is average sale? Six to eight weeks, five to six viewings.
Quickest sale this month? Purpose- built, two-bedroom flat in The Avenues. Sold for Ł132,000 within six hours in response to full-price offer.
What won't budge? A large, detached bungalow with three bedrooms in The Avenues. On for Ł265,000 since November 2001. Gardens too big for retired couples who are the key buyers looking for this type of property.
What are most buyers looking for? Three-bedroom family house, terraced or semi-detached for between Ł100,000 and Ł170,000.
Most expensive property? A barn conversion in the village of Lympstone, three miles from Exmouth. There is a two-bedroom cottage in the grounds of the house with beautiful rural views. Offers invited around Ł650,000.
Cheapest property? A one-bedroom flat in Exmouth town centre for Ł54,950.
Lytham St Anne's, Lancashire
Agent: Bradford and Bingley Entwistle Green
Number of properties on book? 76
How long is average sale? Six weeks, about nine viewings.
Quickest sale this month? A two-bedroom, terraced house in Linden Mews which sold on the same day it went on the market for the asking price of Ł64,000.
What won't budge? An ex-council, three-bed semi in St Anne's. Been on the market since February for Ł64,950.
What are most buyers looking for? Three-bedroom properties in St Anne's for between Ł80,000 and Ł120,000.
Most expensive property? A detached house on the promenade. It has sea views, a sauna, three bedrooms and a double garage. On the market for Ł400,000.
Cheapest property? A bedsit in Jubilee cottages, sheltered accommodation for the elderly. On for Ł22,000.
Kennington, London
Agent: Daniel Cobb
Number of properties on books? 40
How long is average sale? Six weeks, 12 viewings.
Quickest sale this month? A three-bedroom house on Lambeth Road on the market for Ł450,000. It sold in three days to the first person who saw the "For Sale" board go up.
What won't budge? A nicely done-up, two-bedroom flat on a less-than-lovely Kennington street. Been on the market for three months for Ł325,000.
What are most buyers looking for? Two-bedroom flats with well proportioned rooms close to the Tube for Ł200,000 to Ł250,000
Most expensive property? A large, detached, Victorian house with a good-sized garden in Myatt's Fields. On the market for Ł675,000.
Cheapest property: A one-bedroom, two reception-room flat on Amelia Street for Ł165,000.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 08, 2002.

The Times
June 07, 2002
England stars to open other Oval
By Matthew Pryor
IMAGINE what potential cricket talent lies dormant in inner-city state schools. Now picture the Kennington Community Cricket Ground — the People’s Oval — the result of Ł70,000 and 18 months of cutting through red tape to create a pitch in one of the more deprived areas of Lambeth.
The United Cricket Association is running the project with Lambeth Council and will start a junior programme this summer, with senior teams next season.
Alec Stewart and Alex Tudor will officially open the ground tomorrow when a celebrity charity match will be broadcast on the Cricket Roadshow. Channel 4 has contributed Ł50,000.
Ground security could come for free. The Rastafarian International commune is located on the boundary. “This is my Oval and we’ll be watching it 24/7,” Rasbingi, the elder statesman, said.

-- Cathy (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), June 08, 2002.

Bandit hits two bookies on same day
Jun 4 2002
By Vicky Wilks, South London Press
AN ARMED robber struck at two south London betting shops on the same day.
The raider struck first at Coral betting shop in Clapham Road, where a brave witness chased and confronted him.
He went into the bookies with an object in a carrier bag that he suggested was a gun, but did not take it out.
The terrified cashier handed over the money and the raider started to leave the shop but stopped to pick up a waste bin and throw it through a glass screen.
When he got outside after the raid last Sunday, the robber tried to pull a bike from some railings but failed because it was chained up.
Then he started to run but someone from the shop chased and challenged him, so he surrendered the money and ran off.
Just 40 minutes later, the raider, who police believe had changed his clothes, struck at the nearby William Hill shop in Kennington Road.
This time, he pulled out a gun straight away and demanded money from the cashier before walking out more calmly than in the previous heist.
The robber is described as aged 35, white, about 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build, with blond hair, stubble and a goatee beard.
In the first raid on Clapham Road, he was wearing dark sunglasses, a three-quarter-length jacket, a dark woolly hat, dirty white trousers and surgical gloves.
By the time he got to Kennington Road, he had changed into a white Panama hat, and a brown chequered shirt with a grey vest over it.
Anyone with information should contact Barnes Flying Squad: 020- 8247 7931.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 06, 2002.

The Times
June 05, 2002
How to explain war without glorifying it
By Simon Tait
THREE of the most offputting words in the English language are “imperial”, “war” and “museum”, said Alan Borg once when he was director-general of the museum in Kennington. “Imperial” is redolent of a former age; “war” evokes death or triumphalism; and a “museum” is a dull and static place with a negative public image.
None of those preconceptions, however, fits the Imperial War Museum’s newest manifestation, opening in Manchester on July 5, and designed by the unorthodox architect Daniel Libeskind.
Dr Borg and his successor at the Imperial War Museum, Robert Crawford, have made it their mission to change the perception of the name. Founded in 1920 to preserve the archaeology and archives of the 20th-century wars in which Britain or the Commonwealth have been involved, its emphasis has now shifted from what was first little more than a glorification of the Empire’s feats of arms to an objective analysis of conflicts from the points of view of individuals involved.
The praxis of using history to interpret modern wars has been extended to its branch museums, HMS Belfast near Tower Bridge, and the Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall and at Duxford (the former USAF and RAF air station in Cambridgeshire). Now there is to be a further extension when the Imperial War Museum North opens on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal at Trafford Park.
The building itself is startling, the first to be built in this country by the deconstructivist architect who designed the controversial Jewish Museum that opened in Berlin in 1998, and the even-more-talked-about Spiral building planned to be a key part of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s ten-year development scheme.
“The title is a problem but it’s what we’re called and we have decided to live with it,” said the new museum’s director Jim Forrester. “We think that when people see the building and are drawn into the content, the name will be no more than that. This museum is about the social impact of war, it’s about the kind of people who will come here, who find themselves caught in conflicts.”
Cutting the Trafford Park skyline with slashing sweeps of gleaming aluminium, echoing the stainless steel Lowry Centre across the canal at Salford Quays, Libeskind’s lat- est museum is a series of crazy, angled walls and incomplete curves. The main entrance is in a tower where there might be all kinds of conventional welcomes, such as shops, leaflet dispensers, computer guides, but instead there is only a chilling void, the tower soaring above and scaffolding seeming to tumble down from the blackness above.
The architect has devised the building in a series of jagged structures so that shiny aluminium cuts through whitewashed walls, and floors curve almost imperceptibly as if the world itself has exploded.
The main exhibition hall takes visitors along a time-line of objects, photographs and film conflicts stretching from the Boer at the start of the last century to Afghanistan in the present.
Material is drawn from the biggest collection of eye-witness accounts of its kind in the world, as well as local archives — Trafford Park was a major industrial centre 60 years ago which the German High Command considered to be the bread basket of the economy, and it was heavily bombed. Among the quotations along the wall is one from the days leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War: “Close your hearts to pity, act brutally,” Adolf Hitler told his troops as they marched in August 1939.
The design of the main gallery was partly inspired by the strange and wonderful atmosphere of an underground cathedral in France, where a light show plays on the whitewashed walls.
Large objects include the kind of military material one might expect — a T34 Russian tank and an AV8a Harrier jump jet — but there is also a Trabant car from East Germany, produced in the postwar austerity that gripped communities behind the Iron Curtain, and a fire pump used in the Manchester Blitz.
On the hour, the lights go down for a 360-degree presentation from 60 projectors showing 1,900 images in ten minutes with sound archive recordings. Two programmes concentrate on children in war and why wars happen, and a third, “Weapons of War”, looks not just at the horrendous means of killing man has devised but at the people who manufactured and used them.
Alongside the main exhibition area are six “silos” — separate display areas which take particular aspects of 20th-century conflict, such as scientific development, women’s experiences and propaganda.
Visitors can also go to TimeStacks, storage retrieval systems from which themed trays with objects they can handle with the help of interpreters can be drawn.
“This museum is about education at all levels,” said Mr Forrester “but it’s also about emotion and what conflict does to each life it touches.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 05, 2002.

Kennington residents might like to take a look at their local website - http://www.vauxhallandkennington.org.uk - which contains a good deal of useful and interesting information about the area, things to do etc.
Please contact the webmaster (at martin@civilservant.org.uk) if you have any information which you would like added to the site

-- Martin Stanley (martin@civilservant.org.uk), June 04, 2002.

Jubilee tree planting There is an official tree planting in Kennington Park at *3pm on Monday 3rd June* by June Fewtrell, the Mayor of Lambeth to commemorate the Jubilee. She will plant an oak over by the tennis courts.
The Friends of Kennington Park aim to be represented, so if you are around that day, do come along. Afterwards we could head over to the St. Agnes Place street party! We are meeting by the café at 2.45pm.
Friends of Kennington Park
c/o 155 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4JJ t: 020 7582 2849

-- Mark (FoKenningtonPark@aol.com), June 02, 2002.

Coming Up on Richard and Judy:

WEDNESDAY 5th JUNE
RICHARD GERE
We chat to legendary actor Richard Gere on Wednesday.
MONDAY 10th JUNE
LINFORD CHRISTIE
World champion athlete Linford Christie gives us the inside track.
PRUNELLA SCALES
Probably best known for her role as Sybil Fawlty, Prunella reveals more about her latest theatre role.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 02, 2002.

BBC News
Friday, 31 May, 2002, 15:44 GMT 16:44 UK
Race charge man saved from jail
A recruitment consultant who attacked a Muslim taxi driver has escaped jail.
Joshua Pegg's Jewish employer assured London's Southwark Crown Court that, despite his behaviour when he attacked the taxi driver and called him a "bin Laden", he was not racist.
Pegg, 26, from Kennington, south London, was ordered to do 150 hours of community service.
He attacked Mustapha Chartaoui in October last year after the taxi driver had explained he had finished his work for the evening and refused to give him a lift.
The court heard that the drunken recruitment consultant had followed his victim as he tried to escape, shouting abuse, spitting and throwing punches through an open window.
But Pegg's employer, Russell White, said the incident was a "spur of the moment" affair.
"He would not work with us if he were racist. We are Jewish," Mr White said.
Pegg was also ordered to pay his victim Ł500.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 02, 2002.

The Times
June 02, 2002
Focus: And for his next trick...
With Britain’s transport system in chaos, Alistair Darling will need deft hands to juggle the urgent problems facing roads, railways and runways. Can he pull it off? Richard Woods and Jonathon Carr- Brown report
Travelling from Alistair Darling’s home in Kennington, just south of the Thames, to the headquarters of the Department of Transport, just north of the river, took only a few minutes by chauffeured car last Thursday. In the early morning the traffic was light, the roads were clear.
However, from his sixth-floor office the new transport secretary looked out over a multiple pile-up of policies that have strewn debris across the country. The scene was shocking: crumbling roads, cracking railways and overcrowded airports.
Railtrack had thundered through the buffers and come to rest amid a thicket of lawyers. On the adjoining Underground line lay a tangle of private finance initiatives.
Not far away the smouldering remains of a new runway policy poked out of the ground. Nearby the emergency services were desperately trying to resuscitate an air traffic control computer that had suffered multiple injuries.
Queues of traffic tailed back miles, engines steaming, drivers fuming, with passengers stranded and business delayed. The air was thick with the complaints of people trying to go about their daily lives.
How long it would take to clear the mess of Britain’s transport systems was anybody’s guess. Amid the wreckage Darling glimpsed five former Labour transport secretaries meandering around looking bloodied, confused and defeated.
Among them was Stephen Byers, wondering what had hit him, Gavin Strang, going nowhere, and John Prescott, old Two Jags, still searching for a proper job. Could Darling succeed where all the others had failed and get Britain moving again? The omens were not encouraging.
WHEN Prescott was transport supremo he announced a 10- year plan (TYP) to unclog Gridlock Britain and declared it to be the boldest strategy for a generation. Over the course of a decade Ł180 billion of public and private money would be invested in roads and railways, buses and bikes, and the whole network made to run like clockwork.
The blueprint for integrated transport, he said, would “deliver radical improvements for passengers, motorists and business — and all of us as citizens concerned about congestion, safety and a better environment”. That was in the summer of 2000.
True, turning round transport policy takes time. But two years on and Prescott’s vision is still stuck in the slow lane. Even the government’s own advisers admit it.
In a report last month the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT), which Prescott had asked to provide independent scrutiny, identified numerous failings. Measures to improve bus services and combat local traffic congestion are slipping, it said, and “there are worrying signs that the government and local authorities are soft-pedalling” on measures to curb car use.
While the investment programme is a welcome boost after decades of underfunding, the report concludes, the plan is by no means set to solve Britain’s transport problems.
The immediate mess that Darling has to clear up is Railtrack, which is in the hands of accountants after near financial collapse in October. A new body to run the rail network must be created and installed if the improvements envisaged are to go ahead.
The debacle over Railtrack also needs resolving if the government is to mend fences with the City and secure the private funding it is relying on to improve services. Of the Ł180 billion, the government is putting up only part of the money. For rail it envisages private investment of Ł34 billion, for strategic roads Ł2.5 billion, for local transport Ł9 billion, for transport in London Ł10 billion.
In fact, a lot more money may be needed since much of the existing infrastructure seems to be in an even worse state than was first thought. Last week an academic report concluded that an extra Ł10 billion at least will be needed to keep the rail network operating for the next nine years. The study, by the University of Sheffield and Oxford Economic Research Associates, says the government will either have to reduce its target for expanding rail services or double the annual subsidy of Ł3 billion it provides.
Last week, too, the government published its latest survey of the state of the nation’s roads. In overall terms it reported a slight improvement after years of deterioration during which, in 2000, our roads hit their worst state for 25 years.
Buried in the optimistic figures was a serious concern: the number of principal roads requiring close monitoring because of structural problems jumped to 16%.
According to the AA, successive governments have skimped on maintaining the infrastructure. Half as much is now spent on roads and local transport as was spent 25 years ago. And this at a time when road use continues to rise. For no amount of asphalt repair jobs can cover up the fundamental problem with Britain’s road network: our umbilical attachment to the car.
IN 50 years the British have tripled their travelling. The days of quiet country lanes with the occasional passing charabanc have been replaced by the constant swish of rubber on tarmac. Some 80% to 85% of all travel in Britain is now by car.
If all the 24m motor vehicles in the UK were parked end to end, they would stretch twice round the world. Road transport accounts for half of most pollutant emissions and one fifth of carbon dioxide.
Surely the rise of the motor car has reached saturation point? Not a bit, says the RAC. Demand for travel increases with prosperity and the method of transport that people prefer is the car. By 2031 people will be making 50% more journeys by car than now, even if the previous heady rates of increase slow down.
One reason is demographics: as the population ages, a higher proportion will have driving licences and the car offers many benefits to the elderly.
According to the RAC study, even if road capacity is increased by the amount suggested in the TYP, traffic congestion will still “increase considerably”.
The government line to date has been that it will make public transport so good that it will lure people out of their cars and on to buses and trains. But experts of different hues are now coming together to agree on one thing: the government is talking nonsense.
Public transport will never be able to compete everywhere with the car. Even David Begg, chairman of the CfIT, said: “We can’t build our way out of the problem and good public transport, while an essential prerequisite, is not enough.”
How much we love the car is reflected in our toleration of an annual massacre on the roads that would be utterly unacceptable in other spheres: 3,400 deaths, 38,000 serious injuries and 279,000 minor injuries in 2000.
In the face of such obsession, the government has backed away from previous measures to curb traffic. And only last Sunday Byers repeated the politically expedient line that he “was not in the business of punishing motorists”.
NOW that Byers is no longer running the nation’s transport policy, will Darling follow the same line or will he be bolder? Experts believe he should be radical. Transport specialists Stephen Glaister, of Imperial College, and John Adams, of University College London, come from opposite sides of the tracks. Glaister, an economist, believes in road building, Adams, a geographer, believes that building more roads will lead to an environmental disaster.
However, both agree that no amount of money will create a public transport system that induces motorists out of their cars (except in the big conurbations). “Eighty per cent of people travel by car,” said Glaister, “and almost none of that traffic has competition or ever will have competition from public transport.”
Adams concurred: “All the evidence is that government will never be able to offer choice to most car owners. And while they continue to be nice to car owners, fewer people use public transport. That means higher fares, fewer services or greater subsidies.” Is there another answer? Adams and Glaister believe that the only real medium-term solution is to change the way people view the roads.
“Look at southern California,” said Glaister. “They have learnt you simply cannot build enough roads to prevent congestion.” The two experts — and even motoring organisations — now advocate some form of charging so drivers no longer take road use for granted.
So far the government has shied away from increasing the financial burden on motorists, fearful of the popular backlash it would provoke. But this weekend Darling indicated that he is willing to rethink this approach. “It’s simply not possible to have more and more traffic on streets designed hundreds of years ago,” he said. “Car drivers accept there has to be some constraint simply because we can’t all drive down one road at the same time”.
Could congestion charging be viable? The necessary technology is not far down the road. Steve Hounsham of Transport 2000 envisages a smart card on the dashboard that would relay information to satellites, tracking where cars have travelled.
This would doubtless cause an outcry over invasions of freedom and privacy. But we are already tracked by our mobile phone calls and have accepted breathalysers, seatbelts and speed cameras as part of everyday life. As Begg spoints out: “The only true anti-motorist policy is allowing congestion to grow.”
Darling insists that he is not out to punish drivers and maintains that his first priority is to improve public transport. But however he sets out to achieve that, it is bound to provoke controversy.
As he pondered his new position yesterday, he observed drily that “this is one of a number of jobs in government (where) if you like adulation you’ll be bitterly disappointed”. Only time will tell whether Darling has it in him to be daring.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 02, 2002.

'Help us pay to fight Ken'
May 31 2002
By Oscar Mortali, South London Press
A DETERMINED group of Kennington residents are bravely standing toe to toe with London Mayor Ken Livingstone over his controversial congestion charging plans.
The Kennington Association last week lodged an appeal to the High Court for a judicial review of the plan which they insist will "divide the community in two".
And the cost of the action - which could run into tens of thousands - is to be met by the residents themselves.
Last Friday saw the Kennington Association - featured in the South London Press last year - lodge their appeal with just half-an-hour to spare before the final deadline.
They are calling on the High Court to block the scheme which will see one of the proposed boundaries run along the mainly residential Kennington Lane.
Residents fear increased, noise, pollution and a drop in property prices as motorists drive around the boundary striving to avoid the Ł5 charge.
Association spokesman Professor Gordon McDougall said: "We have been pushing for the Mayor to change his mind without success since last year. The only avenue left open to us was to take legal action.
"The group is basing its appeal on Article Eight of the European Rights Convention, which stresses the citizens right to the 'peaceful enjoyment of his home'.
Westminster council has also lodged an appeal which has been fast-tracked to be dealt with before congestion charging is due to begin in February next year.
The Kennington Association is hoping for a similar speedy decision.
But the cost of the action remains a real concern and Professor McDougall added: "We do not know if we are going to be able to raise the funds but we are going to have to ask Kennington residents to dig as deep as they can."
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002 icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), June 01, 2002.

Betty would like to hire a small machine to steam clean carpets and would like to hear from anyone who knows where she can get one.
Please call Betty on 7587 1391.
Thank you

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 31, 2002.

Date: 30.05.2002 Ref: 1357 Press contact: Charles Wright Tel: 020 7926 2949 Email: cwright@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

No space for graffiti in Lambeth
Lambeth Council leaders are pledging "zero tolerance" of all forms of graffiti in the borough.
"Graffiti is a blight on the borough which we are determined to tackle," said Councillor Clare Whelan, executive member for the environment.
"We are sending a clear message - that graffiti is vandalism and is against the law. It will not be tolerated in Lambeth in any form.
"In future the zero tolerance approach will also cover public graffiti or aerosol 'art' shows or demonstrations in any council-run, sponsored or authorised events. We do not believe that these sort of events help our drive to clean up Lambeth."
The new get-tough approach will not extend to the aerosol art exhibition forming part of the Urban Games on Clapham Common from 26th to 28th July this year, which got council go-ahead before the change of administration at the town hall. The show is a demonstration by professionals with no materials available for use or purchase.
But similar shows would be unlikely to get council backing in future, said Councillor Whelan.
Graffiti is tackled in Lambeth by the Grimebusters team, and by neighbourhood housing offices on estates. To report a problem call Lambeth Street Care on 020 7926 9000, or email graffiti@lambeth.gov.uk.
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 31, 2002.

Date: 30.05.2002 Ref: 1358 Press contact: Charles Wright Tel: 020 7926 2949 Email: cwright@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

Beware clamping scam, says Lambeth Council
Drivers in Lambeth are being warned to steer clear of clamping scammers offering to get clamped vehicles released for cash.
Fraudsters are leaving notes on clamped cars offering their "services", taking the cash and then settling release fees by phone using stolen credit cards. Police are aware of the rip-off and the council is working closely with them to tackle it.
"Drivers need to be aware that they are getting mixed up in serious crime if they get involved with these people," said Councillor Andrew Sawdon, executive member for environment.
"There is only one legitimate way to get your car unclamped, which is by calling 0870 241 3262 for card payments or paying over the counter as specified on the ticket. And payments in person are not legitimate unless you get a Lambeth receipt. Anything else is helping the criminal."
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 31, 2002.

Art In The Park is a community based project which aims to bring to life the history and stories of Kennington Park. Using the attached text as a starting point, we invite writers, artists, and performers to create site specific pieces for a day-long event to be held on Sunday 7th July 2002, under the umbrella of the Vauxhall Festival.
For further details or to speak to us about your initial ideas, call us for a chat by the 9th June, with a view to meeting in the park on Sunday 16th June. You can also visit the park yourself, situated between Kennington and Oval tube stations on Kennington Park Road.
Thanks
Shehani – 07815 042 148
Zoe – zoegray200@hotmail.com

KENNINGTON PARK: The Birthplace of People's Democracy
Abbreviated from a pamphlet by Stefan Szczelkun. © 9-9-97.
To read the full text, go to www.bak.spc.org/kenningtonpark
A short one hundred and fifty years ago Kennington Common, later to be renamed Kennington Park, was host to a historic gathering which can now be seen as the birth of modern British democracy. In reaction to this gathering, the great Chartist rally of 10th April 1848, the common was forcibly enclosed and the Victorian Park was built to occupy the site.
The significance of Kennington Park goes back to its origins as a common. What is important about this site is not the physical aspects of its layout but the traditions of its usage, a usage which arises from its unique position in South London. It is here that the road from Buckingham Palace to Dover crosses the older road from the City of London to Portsmouth. It was the last common before the centres of power to the north of the river, particularly Parliament. It was first recorded as a common on Rocque's 1746 map of London, but it must have been crucial as a public meeting place long before that. The southbound highways date from pre-Roman times when a fork in a major road was considered to have magical significance.
Executions
From the 17th century, if not before, the south western corner of the common was selected as the South London site of public execution. In the 18th century the country was still dominated by an aristocracy who had ruled by the sword. History has painted a picture of the elegance and chivalry of the old ruling aristocracy but the term gangster would be more appropriate. But by the 17th century the unifying monarchical state had transformed this naked violence into ordered spectacles of horror - public executions.
The first execution recorded is of Sarah Elston, who was burnt alive for murdering her husband in 1678.
On the day of execution Sarah Elston was dressed all in white, with a vast multitude of people attending her. And after very solemn prayers offered on the said occasion, the fire was kindled, and giving two or three lamentable shrieks, she was deprived of both voice and life, and so burnt to ashes." H.H. Montgomery, 'The History of Kennington', 1889 p.32
The most infamous of those terrible spectacles was the execution for treason of nine Catholic members of the Manchester Regiment, Jacobites, who were hung, drawn and quartered on Wednesday July 30th 1746. Now that Scottish devolution has finally been achieved with somewhat less bloodshed, we might dedicate the fountain, which stands on the site, to their memory. (The fountain is outside the park perimeter railings to the south west, opposite Oval tube station). It continued as a place of execution until the last years of the 18th century. The last person to be executed was a fraudster from Camberwell Green by the name of Badger, hanged in 1799.
The enclosure of Kennington Common marks a point at which class oppression changed gear replacing external violence with more cultural and psychological mechanisms of social control.
The Common on the site of the current park had been a meeting place since the 18th century if not earlier. It belonged to people communally and it was the South London speakers corner. It seems as if there was a mound at this time, perhaps an ancient tumulus, from which the orators could air their thoughts. What were the issues of the day that were broadcast from this site?
Earlier times: Methodism
Large crowds were attracted to many brilliant radical orators. The most famous of these may have been John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, who addressed as many as 50,000 people on Kennington Common around 1739. Whilst he was preaching the congregation would have seen the silhouettes of hanged corpses against the skyline. This was a church with a stern morality which stood firmly against slavery. Inevitably anti-establishment and without hierarchy, almost anyone could become a preacher. Methodist preachers could interpret scripture in ways which linked plebian magical beliefs with primitive Christian egalitarianism.
Robert Wedderburn was one such preacher who operated in this area. He was born to Rosanna, an African born house slave in Kingston, Jamaica, who was sold by her owner, Roberts father, before he was born. He arrived in England aged 17 in 1778 and was in the Gordon Riots of 1780. In 1786 he fell under the thrall of a Methodist street preacher and experienced an instantaneous conversion. Intoxicated on the power of grace and inspired by Wesley's stance against slavery, he soon obtained a dissenting preacher's licence. At the same time he stayed firmly a part of the underclass and its vulgar culture. By 1813 he had become a follower of Thomas Spence who linked opposition to slavery with opposition to the enclosures of the commons in England. This talismanic interpretation of scripture led to millenarianism, freethought and political radicalism. Spence was a prolific publisher and distributor of handbills, broadsheets, songs, tracts, pamphlets and periodicals. He also issued token coinage to publicise his views. The somewhat less radical Evangelical Alliance now inhabit a 'house' overlooking the park named after Wesley's prime colleague, George Whitefield.
Within the park the tradition of religious radicalism is upheld by the Rastafarian temple which was established in a converted terrace of four houses in the 1970's. Here the modern faithful come to partake of the sacramental ganga. Recently the Rastas organised a lively youth football tournament on the astro-turf pitch accompanied by a loud sound system.
Radicalism
This was a period of intense popular political discourse and self- education amongst the new urban classes. Radical debating organisations became active but were then made illegal and had to operate covertly or on a smaller scale. One of the most famous was the London Corresponding Society, formed by Thomas Hardy, a shoemaker, in January 1792.
Free 'n' Easies were one form of social in which radical toasting contests and political sing-songs would alternate with heated debates. The Green Man and Horns, on the corner of Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road, was a likely venue. It was later to become known simply as The Horns. More of this later...
Chartism: The World's first national labour movement
From these feverish debates came an agreement on the need for republicanism and universal suffrage - for an all inclusive democracy. In 1832 a voting Reform Act gave the middle class the vote but left the working class, who had agitated in favour of the bill, still entirely disenfranchised. The basic political demands, which had been the elements of radical discourse for some time, were then drawn up as a six point 'Charter'. Presented as a new Magna Carta, by 1838 it was supported by almost every working class group across Britain and rapidly became the basis of the world's first national labour movement.
The people who supported it were Chartists. Not a small active party with a large passive membership but a movement which deeply affected every aspect of people's lives. It was an inclusive organisation with popular leaders who included Catholics, Protestants and Freethinkers: Irish, West Indian and Asian people were also prominent. There were women's groups. Chartist meetings had a carnival like atmosphere, probably sometimes like a contemporary free festival at others with a neo-religious ceremonial being preceded by hymn singing and processions. There was a Chartist culture which had its own christening and funeral rituals and its own songs. It was a counter cultural experience that changed people's perception of themselves... they became consciousness of a unifying class identity.
The main political strategies of Chartism became the petition and the monster rally. The petition also grew to be a monster and assumed the status of an unofficial referendum. The monster rallies were a show of strength which also gave the participants a direct sense of community. By 1848 Chartism had built up a head of steam. The petition for The Charter had grown huge, by then it had between three and six million signatures depending on which side you choose to believe. A carriage, bedecked with garlands, was needed to transport it. Parliament was to be presented with this petition, for the third time, after a monster rally on Kennington Common on the 10th April 1848.
There is still no authoritative history of Chartism published: This is partly because it was such a collective network of groups that it is difficult to reduce to conventional narrative history, partly because the fieldwork is still being done and partly due to the class bias of historians.
An Icon of Modernity
This moment in the struggle for democracy was recorded in a historic photograph. William Kilburn, an early portrait photographer, took daguerreotype plates of the rally from a vantage point from the top of The Horns. These were the first ever photographic representation of a large crowd. Considering the cultural importance that photography was to assume in next 100 years it is perhaps not surprising that the negatives of this iconic image are held in the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle which retains a strict copyright control.
The stand-off on Kennington Common that day had shaken the arrogant complacency of the British ruling classes. From then on a unique alliance, between the waning aristocracy and the burgeoning capitalist middle class, was forged. This newly united ruling block determined to crush or commercialise urban popular culture. From then on there was an uneven but constant pressure to undermine and destroy the unity, vigour and autonomy of the new urban lower class.
Enclosure of the common
The first step was to symbolically annihilate the common land that had become such a focus of the Chartist struggle. The Commons have symbolic roots going back to before the Norman conquest. They stand for the right of every human to have access to the fruits of our earth: in stark contrast to the predatory individualism promoted by the 'enlightened' imperialist. This individualism was insensitive to the buzz of communality, unfeeling of the humanity and intelligence of the crowd, and incapable of a non-exploitative relation to the earth.
The ruling class united in the face of this new threat to their power and the cultural diversity of the working classes was erased and replaced with a bland and ugly concept of 'the masses'. The image of the masses as an irrational and potentially savage mob can be traced through Carlyle and Dickens to Hollywood - It is a manufactured falsehood.
Soon after the great Chartist rally a committee of local worthies was set up and found ready support from the Prince of Wales. By 1852 they had already got the requisite bill through Parliament and Kennington Common was 'enclosed' - its status as an ancient commons was reduced to that of a Royal Park. The planting and construction of the park which forms the familiar pattern we know today was largely completed by 1854. This was a colonisation of working class political space which carried a prophetic symbolism.
The Common was occupied, fenced and closely guarded. Not only was the perimeter fenced but so was the grass and the shrubberies. The remaining paths were patrolled by guards administered by H.M.Royal Commissioners. It stayed under direct control of the Royals until it was taken over by the Metropolitan Board of Works (soon to become the London County Council) in 1887.
During the early period of occupation the use of the park was limited to an annual meeting of The Temperance Societies of South London starting in the summer of 1861. It was also used for local schools sports. It is not clear what other sorts of public meetings may have been allowed nor what may have occurred unofficially. Park Superintendents filed six monthly reports from 1893 to 1911 but they may have omitted to report on meetings which were spontaneous or political. Certainly we know the park was used during the General Strike of 1926.
Music Hall Culture
In the late 19th century this area of South London was vibrant with popular culture. It had many theatres, assembly rooms, dancehalls and music halls. In 1889 the London County Council (LCC), later to become the GLC, provided the park with an elegant bandstand and between 1900 and 1950 there were concerts of military bands for a paying seated audience on Sundays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays. These 'rational recreations' were seen to offer a civilising alternative to the 'vulgar' musichall culture which hemmed in on all sides.
The beautiful Kennington Theatre, facing the northwest corner of the park, opened in 1898 as the Princess of Wales Theatre. It was one of the most sumptuous in London. In 1921 it was showing 'cine-variety'. It closed in 1934, failing to get its licence renewed for the 1935 season - perhaps a victim of the depression. It was finally demolished in the 1950s to make way for Kennington Park House, a block of flats built by the LCC. It is now run by a Tenants Co-op.
World Wars
Local people say that the first bomb to drop of London was dropped from a Zeppelin onto the south end of Kennington Park. For many years a white stone marked the spot but has since disappeared.
In the early C20th the Horns Tavern had become a major social centre with a large assembly rooms to the rear and further back along Kennington road at least one brothel. (The house 'of ill repute' still stands now dwarfed by the adjacent Red Devil Storage Co.) The Horns was said to be the favourite haunt of Charlie Chaplin's profligate father. At one time the young Charlie lived in poor lodgings overlooking the north of the park in Kennington Park Place. The park may have been where he and his friends would imitate their musichall heroes and practice their silly walks. In his autobiography he tells us that he met his first girlfriend in the park.
The Horns, a key social centre whose life would have flowed naturally into the park and energised it, was partly destroyed by a bomb in World War 2. The remains were demolished in the 1960s and replaced with the formidable dark concrete of the Social Security block designed by Colonel Siefert, architect-in-the pocket of many notorious Sixties developers. Since the original tavern was destroyed, the bawdy spirit of the Horns seems to have migrated north to the White Bear with its theatre club and bohemian/crusty reputation.
The people of Lambeth suffered terribly in the Second World War - Over two thousand five hundred bombs decimated the borough. The park was the site of communal shallow trench-style air- raid shelters. On 15th October 1941 these suffered a direct hit and at least 46 bodies were recovered. The chaos of war along with the need to keep up morale meant that no official toll of those dead and missing was taken. From the flimsy evidence in the Lambeth Archives it seems as if the remains of between seven and 17 or more bodies may have been left unrecovered when the site was levelled around the 19th of October. Many people must have been blown to pieces and the south field of the park is their unmarked grave to this day.

The Return of the Commons Spirit
By 1981 the park was again being used for political gatherings. The demonstrators in the Lambeth Fightback Campaign used the park as an assembly point in that year. In subsequent years the park has hosted many important political gatherings including; the Anti Apartheid Rally (1984), Gay Pride (starting 1986), National Union of Students (1986), Irish Solidarity Movement (1986), Vietnamese Community event (1989), Anti Poll Tax March (1990), Kurdistan Rally (1991), Integration Alliance (1993), TUC (1993), Nigerian Rallies (1993), Campaign Against Militarism (1993) and Reclaim the Streets (1997). Lambeth Parks Dept. records.

State of Disrepair
The Victorian monuments that survive in the park do not seem to symbolise or commemorate anything - other than Victoriana. They do not deserve or receive any great respect and have been progressively wrecked and vandalised. The War Memorial, however, dating from 1924, has an important function, is regularly honoured with wreathes and poppies and rarely defaced. In April 2002, a new association, 'Friends of Kennington Park' had their inaugural meeting and plans have been put in place to regenerate the park. Though these initiatives are hindered by the lack of funds, several projects are in place:
The Cricket Pitch opened 8/9 June, sponsored by Channel 4

New Toilets - problem of cottaging / vandalism

Use of the Café - might be used in an installation for Vauxhall Festival.

Recent arts projects

Sports facilities

Multicultural residents - volleyball?

Henry Moore statue on Brandon Estate

Disused greenhouses.

-- Zoe (zoegray200@hotmail.com), May 30, 2002.

Mayor approves tramroute via Kennington
http://www.transportforlondon.gov.uk/press_409.shtml
One of these routes goes via Camberwell New Road, Kennington Park Road and the Kennington Road
See map:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/news/may/280502/tram_map2.html

-- Mark (rmfr@btinternet.com), May 30, 2002.

Evening Standard

Darling runs into road-charge row
by David Williams, Motoring Editor
Alistair Darling has been embroiled in a row over Ken Livingstone's congestion charge on his first day as Transport Secretary.
Mr Darling's home is just inside the central London zone, which drivers will have to pay Ł5 to enter when the charge starts next February.
While he will pay only 50p to travel inside the zone, his neighbours on the other side of his road, which marks the boundary, will have to pay Ł5 to make the same journey.
Hundreds of them have now launched a legal challenge in the High Court to have the "unfair" scheme scrapped or redrawn.
Members of the Kennington Association say it will result in gridlock over much of their neighbourhood and turn the road into a "virtual motorway" as drivers divert to avoid the charge.
They say that those on the "wrong" side of the boundary will have to pay more than Ł1,200 a year to visit friends, schools, hospitals and facilities inside the zone.
Meanwhile, Mr Darling, whose flat is a few hundreds yards inside the zone, will get a 90 per cent discount.
"He will be able to waft in and out almost at will. But he should know his neighbours will be suffering," said Professor Gordon McDougall, spokesman for the Kennington Association. "Apart from the payments, the whole area will be deluged with 20 per cent more traffic and pollution and that certainly will affect Mr Darling.
"We shall be writing to him immediately to request his support over this vital issue. He must be aware of the regeneration that is now going to be irreversibly damaged."
The association fears that parts of Kennington will become impassable with the weight of traffic diverting away from the centre, making it difficult for families to reach their homes or travel to school.
It fears the sheer volume of traffic swirling around the area will damage health and raise noise levels. "It is not just cars and lorries but trucks too and the Transport Secretary will not be immune from the wider effects," said Professor McDougall. "We shall be saying to Mr Darling, You live here too, so you should support your neighbours who are going to suffer and whose homes will fall in value."
However, government officials say that, unless Mr Livingstone submits significantly revised spending plans to the Department of Transport, Mr Darling has no powers to intervene in the scheme.
But residents say he can still press the Mayor to redraw or scrap it.
Today Kate Hoey, MP for Vauxhall, said she would also write to Mr Darling, asking him to intervene.
"I shall ask Mr Darling to look at the plans with a view to asking the Mayor to delay them, until the environmental effects and other factors have been looked at.
"This should give the Kennington Association fresh impetus. His neighbours are, after all, the very ones who will be having to cross this boundary road day after day and pay for the privilege.
"Some won't even be able to drive to see friends or to school without having to pay Ł5 each time. He is part of that community."
A Department of Transport spokesman said: "It is now just a matter between the Mayor, the courts and the objectors."
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 30 May 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 30, 2002.

Evening Standard

Community's new divide
by Colin Freeman
With its high-rise council estates and Georgian squares, Kennington has always been a split community.
It is set for further division when Ken Livingstone's congestion charge scheme comes into being, for the charging boundary cuts straight through the community's heart.
Residents to the north of the boundary - like Alistair Darling, who lives in a quiet residential street - will be able to travel to central London virtually free because they come within the congestion charge zone and get a 90 per cent discount on the Ł5-a-day charge.
Less fortunate neighbours to the south will have to pay the charge in full when they make a similar journey.
They also fear a massive build-up of traffic along the road which they claim is far too small to act as the main boundary conduit for the area.
In Cleaver Square, which is home to MPs, High Court judges and a select few others who can afford the Ł1 million-plus houses, calls were growing today for Mr Darling to use his new-found status as Transport Secretary to make Mr Livingstone reconsider his plans. It would, they say, be an act of "neighbourliness".
Designer Stephen Pardy, 53, said: "The boundary road should be along Kennington Park Road; that would include Cleaver Square within the congestion charge zone, so you might expect us to say that, but it would seem like a much more sensible choice as it is a much bigger road. Mr Darling should at least encourage Ken [Livingstone] to have a public consultation on it."
Photographer David Chambers, 44, who lives in nearby Ravensdon Street - also outside the boundary - added: "All this is going to do at the moment is cut a divide right through Kennington and turn it into separate communities. Ken needs to be told to listen on this one. Hopefully Mr Darling will have to take notice if he lives round the corner."
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 30 May 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 30, 2002.

Yoga Classes at Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre
Yoga classes for adults start shortly at Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre.
They will be on Monday evenings from 6pm-7.30 and Tuesday mornings from 9.15am-10.45.
The emphasis is on simple and effective yoga practises, gentle stretching and breathwork - finishing with short relaxation.
The first class is on the 10th of June.
For more details speak to Debra on 0207 7937536 or email the Community Centre: thespringvgcc@yahoo.com

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002.

Objections to the 1 Glyn Street planning application
Just to remind people that objections to the 1 Glyn St revised planning proposals need to be in by 30th of May.
The Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre view is that we fully support the Friends of Spring Gardens in their objections ie. that this ugly building is completely out of scale and character with nearby buildings, that it will be an eyesore, and that a strategic decision needs to be taken that tall buildings on the edge of the park are unacceptable.
It will be interesting to see how our new councillors react to this first test of their commitment to the importance of public open space.
Tim Boxall
Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), May 29, 2002.

Local London - Sutton Guardian and Sutton Comet

Party time in Lambeth
by Nino Williams
Fingers will be crossed for golden sun this bank holiday weekend for the host of events being held across London to commemorate Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee.
Residents in both Lambeth and Southwark have got into the swing things by organising a number of street parties, alongside a series of events planned by the councils or other organisations.
On Saturday, June 1, in Lambeth there are street parties planned in Leigh Orchard Drive, Streatham, and Torrens Road in Brixton. In Herne Hill, the Three Hills Community Festival will be taking place. This includes a children's carnival, live music and a community picnic at St Faith's Church and community centre.
Brockwell Park on Sunday will host a road show event organised by Purple Radio, while Monday sees the community streets parties kicking off in earnest.
Streatham will see festivities in Killieser Avenue, Leigh Orchard Close, and in Scholars, Stanthorpe, Sunnyhill and Glenfield Roads. In Brixton and Herne Hill, Milkwood Road and St Matthews Estate will be hosting their own parties, with residents of The Chase in Clapham doing likewise, as in Chatsworth Way and Rockhampton Close in West Norwood.
Southwark residents will also be digging out their bunting in Carson Road in West Dulwich and in Desenfans and Druce Road in Dulwich Village.
For fans of gospel music, Peckham will resound to the Big Voice event, which incorporates BBC Music Live, and Kennington Park will also be staging gospel music.
The only thing that hasn't been planned for the weekend is the weather, but with an extra day's holiday on the Tuesday, people will have no excuse not celebrate the Jubilee in style.
May 27, 2002 10:30
Privacy Policy © Copyright 2002 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 29, 2002.

We are looking for a loving home for two adorable kittens.
Kittens - Persian cross - brother and sister
They were born on Easter Sunday and are both gorgeous and we would like them to stay together. The female is black and the male white and ginger. The female seems to be the most adventurous of the pair and the male the most affectionate. Both lap cats and loving. For Persians, their coats are really quite short but fluffy. They are having their first booster shots on Friday at Goddards, paid for.
Thanks
Cathy
The kittens have now been re-homed. Thank you.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 28, 2002.

Evening Standard

New legal challenge to car charge
by David Williams, Motoring Editor
A second top-level legal challenge that could torpedo Ken Livingstone's congestion charging scheme has been launched by a group of residents.
The Kennington Association has formally called on the High Court to order a judicial review of the scheme which will see thousands of motorists forced to pay Ł5 a day to enter central London.
Like Westminster council, which has also applied for a judicial review, the association hopes a hearing will force the Mayor to delay or scrap his scheme.
Alternatively, the association's 300 members hope it will force the Mayor to redraw the zone so that their community is not cut in half by a boundary road that they fear will turn Kennington Lane into a "virtual motorway".
The association is claiming that if the scheme proceeds, residents in roads that are deluged with extra traffic should be eligible for compensation from the Mayor. They are challenging the scheme under the European Convention of Human Rights which states that residents have a right to enjoy their homes.
The association claims residents' lives will be severely affected when Kennington Lane attracts thousands of extra vehicles attempting to avoid the Ł5 charge, scheduled for launch in February next year.
They say property prices will be hit, air pollution and noise levels will soar and that it will become impossible to cross the road.
"This community has been regenerated over recent years and is finally on the up but this scheme will kill it off," claimed association spokesman, Professor Gordon McDougall. "The Mayor says traffic levels on the boundary will rise by around 10 per cent - we believe it will be more like 20 per cent. We have fought this all along through the consultation process but to no avail. It has been a nail-biting schedule but we have no choice."
The association says the huge cost of the legal challenge will have to be met by residents. "This is a David and Goliath battle with us against the Mayor's Transport for London department - but it has to be done," said Professor McDougall.
Last week Mr Justice Scott Baker ordered Westminster's hearing to start on 15 July. It will seek a review on the grounds the Mayor gave it the go-ahead without ordering an environmental impact assessment and a public inquiry. Mr Livingstone hopes the charge will cut congestion by up to 15 per cent.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 28, 2002.

The Cabotin Company presents:
Machinal
by Sophie Treadwell
She wore rubber gloves at night. Then she stopped caring for her hands. She picked up her soul and squeezed it dry. How would you survive if your emotional privacy was invaded? How would you carry on living once you had abandoned your dreams? When would your mutilated mind retaliate?
This wicked, frank and anarchic production of Machinal is a vivid mix of the pure and the grotesque. Take a ride on its visceral thrills and camp devilry. Swim in the exhilaration of delights spinning through hell.

The White Bear Theatre Club
21 May - 1 June 2002
Tues - Sat 9.15pm
Tickets Ł8 (Ł6 cons)
Getting there: 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4RB (Two minutes from Kennington Tube) Bus: 133, 159, 59, 3
Box Office: 020 7793 9193
The Cabotin Company are: Andy Woodmeade, Arnau Marin, Blanca Rosales, Catherine Willmore, Elina Manni, Ewan Watson, Kaja Lund, Madalena Lua Magalhaes, Mark Jackson, Markus Hoft, Montse Triola, Tina Hofman, Victoria Kempton
This production is support by the Estonian House in London

-- Michael (mkwbear@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

Following on from the success of the two previous talks at the White Bear, and due to popular demand, we have arranged another for this Monday evening about
Michel Foucault
One of the leading French intellectuals of the century
Talk/Discussion
on

The Nature of Power
Speaker: Geoff Digguenes
Place: The White Bear Theatre Club, 138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11
Time: 8pm, Monday 27th May
Tickets: Ł5
To book ring The White Bear box office on 020 7793 9193 or 07985 500 677.
Michael (mkwbear@hotmail.com)

-- Michael (mkwbear@hotmail.com), May 25, 2002.

The Times
May 25, 2002
Anti-monarchist's survival guide
Can’t get into the spirit of all things Royal? Here are some republican distractions.
Top Ten Republican Songs
1. God Save the Queen The Sex Pistols 2. The Queen is Dead The Smiths 3. Elizabeth My Dear Stone Roses 4. Flag Day The Housemartins 5. Storm The Palace Catatonia 6. Repeat The Manic Street Preachers 7. Farewell to the Crown Chumbawumba 8. I Think The Answer’s Yes The Beautiful South 9. We’ll Deal with You Later The Beautiful South 10. Take Down the Union Jack Billy Bragg
Top Ten Republican Reads
1. The Rights of Man by Thomas Paine 2. Republic of Britain 1760 to 2000 by Frank Prochaska 3. The Queen and I by Sue Townsend 4. Das Kapital by Karl Marx 5. My Queen and I by Willie Hamilton 6. Free-Born John: The Biography of John Lilburne by Pauline Gregg 7. Wat Tyler: A Dramatic Poem 1817 (Revolution and Romanticism, 1789-1834) by Robert Southey 8. The End of the House of Windsor: Birth of a British Republic by Stephen Haseler 9. The English Republic 1649-1660 (Seminar Studies in History) by Toby Barnard 10. Winstanley and the Diggers, 1649-1999 by Andrew Bradstock
Events around the country
If you’re looking for company, consider the MA’M (Movement Against the Monarchy) which is organising several get-togethers during the Jubilee.
London
There is an Anti-Jubilee/Anti-Royal street party in Kennington Oval on June 1. MA’M is meeting at Brixton Ritzy cinema with a Guillotine to take to the party. All welcome, bring a bottle and a happy atmosphere. Contact 07946 687192/Guillotine66@hotmail.com .
Wales
Local committees have been formed in some areas to organise alternative activities, eg, a social club in Pontypridd has been hired for the entire Bank Holiday as a haven for republicans. The idea is to have plenty of music, debate, videos, drinking and poetry. If this sounds like your kind of street party, contact stuffthemonarchy@yahoo.co.uk for more details.
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
The Queen is coming to Bury St Edmunds on July 17. If anyone is interested in coming along for a bit of shouting, get in touch with shauneroo@leftie.freeserve.co.uk.
Hull, Humberside
There is a Royal visit here on July 11-12. Anti-monarchists can hook up with Bob Silby, who is co-ordinating a protest. Contact Bobsilby@aol.com.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 25, 2002.

Local London | Wandsworth | News | www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/local_london/wandsworth/news/
Conservationist loses cancer fight
Battersea lost one of its most energetic and knowledgeable conservationists on May 8.
Brian Charles Frank Mist, "an old fashioned, amateur naturalist", died at the age of 65 from lung cancer.
In his later years Brian would spend four hours a day in Battersea Park, arriving at dawn with his wife and childhood sweetheart, Rosie, and creating exhaustive records of flora and fauna.
His passion for nature was sparked during World War II at the age of seven, when he stumbled on a deserted moorhen's nest during evacuation to Worpleston in Surrey.
He met Rosie Gale at the age of 15 but he added a couple of years to his age as Rosie was 17.
They married in St Mark's Church, Kennington, in 1957 and enjoyed a 44-year marriage. Brian, who died at Trinity Hospice, also leaves a son, Bradley.
Entirely self-taught, the conservationist could recognise all birds simply by their song.
In 1988 he was the driving force behind a campaign to preserve the trees and bushes on Heron Island, Battersea Park.
The authorities were finally persuaded to leave the trees alone and this year the island was home to more than 20 heron nests - a living testament to Brian's commitment.
As a founder member of the London Wildlife Trust, he shared his knowledge through group tours and lectures. Brian also conducted surveys of common land in Bexley, Crystal Palace and Battersea.
May 24, 2002 13:30
© Copyright 2002 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 25, 2002.

What's on - clubbing in south London
May 24 2002
South London Press
Fancy going clubbing this week? If you do all you need to know is here...
Clubbing
SOUTH LONDON PACIFIC, Kennington Road, 020- 7820 9189: House of Bamboo, with Jay Strongman (tonight 8pm-2am) free before 10pm, Ł5 after. Palladium (tomorrow) free before 10pm, Ł4 after. Sunday Lei-In (Sun 5pm-11pm) free.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

What' on - music in south London
May 24 2002
South London Press
Fancy going to a music gig this week? If you do all you need to know is here!
Rock/Pop
ST PETER'S CHURCH, Kennington Lane, Vauxhall: The Electric Church of Simian (tonight 7.30pm-2am) Ł8.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

What's on - performance in south London
May 24 2002
South London Press
Fancy going to the theatre this week? If you do all you need to know is here!
Theatre

WHITE BEAR THEATRE CLUB
Kennington Park Road, 020-7793 9193: One Night Stand/Una Aventura (tonight, tomorrow 7.30pm, Sun 4pm, Tue-Thu 7.30pm). Ring for prices.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Blaze sparks terror
May 24 2002
By Vicky Wilks, South London Press
NEIGHBOURS told how they fled from their block of flats in terror when a huge blaze started on the roof where contractors were busy working.
Dara Aniss, who lives in a first-floor flat of the five-storey Hayles Building in Elliotts Row, Elephant and Castle, said residents could feel the heat from the fire as they ran for safety at about 11am on Wednesday.
She said: "The roof went up and the flames were sky-high - it was frightening.
"The wind was blowing them and the netting attached to the scaffolding on the sides of the building was catching fire. We could feel the intense heat."
Ray Fuller, of nearby St Mary's Gardens, watched the fire take hold.
He said: "There was lots of thick, black smoke that had a toxic smell."
Another resident of Elliotts Row, who didn't want to be named, said he couldn't see from one end of the short road to the other because it was filled with black smoke.
In all, about 50 people escaped from the Hayles building before fire crews arrived on the scene.
At least 30 firefighters battled for nearly two hours to put the blaze out. Traffic in Kennington and the Elephant and Castle was brought to a standstill as busy St George's Road was closed by cops.
No residents were hurt but a workman suffered minor burns to his hand and arms. Three others were treated for smoke inhalation and shock.
The roof was the only part of the building which was damaged.
As the South London Press went to press, the cause of the fire was still being investigated but fire- fighters didn't think it was suspicious.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Going bump in the night
May 24 2002
By Local Historian Brian Mcconnell, South London Press
SO YOU don't believe in ghosts. But it was not always like that in south London.
In 1820 a famous story of a purposeful ghost was published as a pamphlet. It read: "The history of the mysterious house and alarming appearances at the corner of Stamford Street, Blackfriars Road, well known to have been occupied for many years and called The Skeleton's Corner, also the particulars of the female spectre which appeared at the window; and an account of who are the victims of seduction and murder, the wonder and excitement caused by the appearance of the house and also by the curious and extraordinary disappearance of the inmates. Alarming noises and strange shadows; the curiosity excited on passing the house and an account of what has reported to have been seen of the skeleton and apparitions.
The report of the butcher, baker and the pieman and other interesting particulars. Spectre visit of that strange female in black and the fate of the young lady supposed to be a tenant many years ago...''
And so the pamphlet went on. Christina Hole, the folklorist, devoted a whole chapter on the subject in her book, Haunted England (1940).
But belief in ghosts was very common and the telling of ghost stories was very popular before and after that date.
William Blake (1757-1827) painter, engraver, poet and mystic, who lived in Hercules Road, Kennington, said that he was often visited by the ghost of his dead brother.The ghost first came to him, he said, clapping its hands with joy, almost immediately after his brother's death.
Poet Lord Byron (1788-1824) who went to Dr Glennies private school on the site of The Plough, where the South Circular meets Lordship Lane in East Dulwich, was deeply interested in the supernatural and claimed to have seen the phantom monk, also known as the goblin friar. He said it always appeared just before any calamity happened to his family and that he saw it just before his ill-fated marriage to heiress Anne Millbanke in 1815.
Byron described it in verse: "A monk arrived in cowl and beads, and dusky garb appeared. "Now in the moonlight, and now lapsed in shade, "With steps that trod as heavy, yet unheard." Charles Dickens (1812-1870), of Lant Street, Southwark, who embodied the age in which he lived, particularly in south London, wrote the most famous ghost story of all in A Christmas Carol, in which the ghosts of Christmas past, present and yet to come show Scrooge how to mend his ways.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930), who set his early Sherlock Holmes adventures in Brixton, Camberwell and Streatham, and himself retired to Tennyson Road, Norwood, claimed leadership of the spiritualist movement, attended numerous seances, claimed to have been in touch with the ghost of his dead mother, and heard the voice of his son, killed in the First World War.
In this Royal Jubilee year, it should be remembered that The Queen's House at Greenwich, at the Royal Maritime Museum, built for Anne of Denmark, wife of James I, is still said to be haunted by two figures dressed in the cowls and cloaks of monks.
The Rev R W Hardy, a Canadian, photographed the spiral tulip-decorated staircase in 1966 only to find the shadowy figures of the monks climbing the stairs on the prints.
Others, unconnected with the clergyman, claim to have heard ghostly footsteps on the stairs, mutterings and other inexplicable noises.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Grand Opening of Lambeth Walk Open Space 'Community Garden'
Saturday 8th June 2002 @ 1.00pm by Kate Hoey MP with Cllr Peter Truesdale, Leader of Lambeth Council
Lambeth Walk Open Space, Fitzalan Street SE11 (North)

Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space deliver new community fence and gate!
Through the voluntary efforts of its members the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space (FoLWOS) have pulled together the resources to install new perimeter fencing and a 'self-closing' gate on our 'Community Garden'. This was achieved despite unfulfilled promises made by the former council administration to repair our fence and install a new gate. Indeed such was the lack of interest shown by the council that funds allocated for this project were lost.
In order to facilitate the much needed repair work to our community garden the FoLWOS made a grant application to the Kennington, Oval & Vauxhall Town Centre Forum. This application was successful, and Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space were duly awarded the necessary funding.
The repairs and improvements are a part of an ongoing management plan devised by the Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space in partnership with community groups. This has been made possible by a number of small grants awarded to the FoLWOS from the Cross River Partnership Greening Fund and the Lambeth Council Community Chest Fund.
FoLWOS have been responsible for the new installations in our 'community garden'. These include:
Dedicated FoLWOS 'Arch Bench'
Summer meadow planted by local children and residents of Fitzalan Street
New sign
Himalayan Birch Tree planted by our MP Kate Hoey
There is a dedicated FoLWOS annual planting bed. So if there are particular plants you would like to see or if you would like to help in the planting and maintenance of our annual bed - we would welcome your help.
GET INVOLVED - Help us to continue to improve YOUR open space
Contact Diana Braithwaite, Chair, FoLWOS on 07813 758 959 or e-mail Diana@braithwaite32.fsnet.co.uk

-- Diana (Diana@braithwaite32.fsnet.co.uk), May 24, 2002.

Date: 15.05.2002 Ref: 1347 Press contact: Isolda Mcneill Tel: 020 7926 2841 Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

Prestigious awards for Lambeth landmarks
Lambeth council has welcomed the news that three outstanding architectural projects in the borough have received the prestigious Civic trust award. The three successes were among only 50 awards conferred by the Trust.
The 50 were chosen from an exceptionally large number-over 500-of entries covering a diverse range of schemes in urban areas across the country. The judges reported that the standard was very high.
Major London landmark, the British Airways London Eye on Lambeth's south Bank, got one of the awards. Designed by Clapham-based architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, it was opened to the public in 2000 and attracts millions of visitors to the borough.
A commendation also went to the Lambeth Palace Courtyard Project. This skilful adaptation inside the ancient palace has created an elegant visitor space and access to the fine 13th century crypt, once hidden away from public view. Working closely with Lambeth's conservation officer, architects Richard Griffiths ingeniously wove the best of contemporary architecture into the historic fabric of the medieval and Tudor edifice.
A third award was bestowed on a bold contemporary addition to a regency style early 19th century villa in the Stockwell Park conservation area. Well known architect David Mikhail produced a striking minimalist design, transforming the garden elevation of a Grade 11 listed property, which until three years ago was a derelict shell.
Liasing with Lambeth's conservation officer and English heritage, the architects have restored the graceful white stuccoed façade and introduced imaginative modern features such as a glass and steel staircase, 4 meter high sliding garden door and split-level family spaces.
Other award contenders in Lambeth included Rush Common Mews-the restoration of a derelict mid Victorian former Sunday school near Brixton Hill, which unfortunately was not quite finished in time to qualify for consideration.
"These award winning projects demonstrate how imaginative new design of the highest merit can enhance the visual quality of our local communities, " said Lambeth council leader Councillor Peter Truesdale.
"The two public projects also show the importance of accessibility for all, proving that mobility problems need not be a barrier to the enjoyment of our leading visitor attractions. " he declared.
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW
Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

Mirror

CARING FOR FAMILY IS DEPRESSING ME
May 22 2002
Dear Miriam
MY husband has a disabling condition, cerebellar ataxia, and both my children have inherited it.
None of them is considered ill enough for me to get a care allowance, yet I spend all my time caring for them. Most days, one or another is confined to bed.
I'm the only breadwinner and I feel so stressed trying to cope with everything. I had a nervous breakdown three years ago and still take tablets for depression.
Sometimes I really feel like giving up.
Nobody understands this curse our family is under. Can you explain the disorder more to me?
Miriam says
UNSTEADINESS when walking or moving is called ataxia and the main centre in the brain for preventing it is the cerebellum.
Damage to the cerebellum can therefore cause jerky, uncoordinated movement. In children, the damage is often the result of an acute viral infection or the inherited form, Friedreich's ataxia. Symptoms depend on the site of damage within the cerebellar system, although an awkward gait is common to most forms.
The typical ataxic gait is lurching and unsteady, like that of a drunk person, with feet widely placed. Damage to the cerebellum itself also causes slurred speech. Mental abilities are usually unaffected.
If your family are relying on you to meet all their practical needs, it's no wonder you're physically and emotionally worn out. I suspect you also feel isolated and this is where Ataxia UK could be your lifeline.
Not only do they raise money for research, they provide information, advice and practical support to sufferers and their families. Call their helpline on 020-7820 3900 or write to Ataxia UK, 10 Winchester House, Kennington Park, Cranmer Road, London SW9 6EJ.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 24, 2002.

I have found a plumber!
Oliver Rebellato
Corgi Registered, plumbing and heating
Flat 2, 235 Kennington Lane, London SE11 5QU
T: 07748 986 519 F: 020 8458 6965
My combi boiler was continually overflowing, so I paid Pimlico Plumbers Ł120 to service the boiler and replace the pressure-release valve, which made absolutely no difference. Oliver released water from the system and it's fixed!

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 22, 2002.

"The Bill" star makes it happen at the Old Vic

From Lambeth Council
Date: 15.05.2002
Ref: 1348
Press contact: Isolda Mcneill
Tel: 020 7926 2841
Email: imcneill@lambeth.gov.uk
Press Release

"The Bill" star makes it happen at the Old Vic
Lambeth actor Trudie Goodwin, who stars in popular television series "The Bill", is to take centre stage at an exciting event hosted by the council at the Old Vic theatre in Waterloo.
Called "Making it happen", the day will focus on the achievements of people with learning disabilities, providing an opportunity for them to demonstrate their skills and for local businesses to give their support.
Trudie Goodwin, Sergeant June Ackland in "The Bill", will play a leading role in the centrepiece of the event, the section which encourages companies and traders to get involved in the council's drive to inclusion.
She will call for pledges of assistance from the business representatives present, who it is hoped will offer training, jobs, voluntary work or any imaginative initiatives which could result in people with learning disabilities being able to take up their place in the community.
The Old Vic will see music, dance and drama performances by college students with learning disabilities. There will be displays from organisations working in this field, including L'Arche, Roots and Shoots and the Cafe Nova trust.
Lambeth College students with learning disabilities will perform a play based on the poem "Still I rise " by American author Maya Angelou. The event will be held on Tuesday 25 June from 11am-3pm.
"It will be an interesting and worthwhile day in its own right, but we are particularly anxious to gain some practical, concrete results, "said Councillor Peter Truesdale, leader of the new administration at Lambeth council.
"We are therefore specially keen to hear from employers and companies who would like to attend, or who feel that they might have something to contribute. " he continued. "As ward representative for Bishop's Ward in which the event will take place, I am taking a particularly keen interest in the day.
"The Old Vic has set the ball rolling by providing the building for the event without charge.
For further information, or for an invitation, please contact Bernie Ward, project manager at the adult learning disability team, 0207 926 4660.
Note to Editors: A photograph of Trudie Goodwin is available on request from the press office.
Issued by the Communication Centre, London Borough of Lambeth, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, London SW2 1RW Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 21, 2002.

The Times
May 18, 2002
Fanaticism and Christian faith
From the Reverend Hywel Roberts
Sir, Joan Smith (T2, May 15) wishes to have a debate on the role of religion in the modern world. She is frightened not just by the militant followers of Islam but also by 40 million American Christians, many of whom believe in the literal truth of the Bible.
One needs to define what one means by “literal truth”, because it is possible to believe in the divine inspiration of Holy Scripture without viewing the events of September 11 as the first stage in the battle of Armageddon.
There is a real difference between fundamentalism and fanaticism, and one does not necessarily lead to the other. To adhere to the fundamentals of the faith is perfectly laudable, even in a multifaith society. But fanaticism is to be abhorred.
Yours faithfully, HYWEL ROBERTS, 3 Castle Road, Penzance, Cornwall TR18 2AX. May 16.
From the Executive Director of the Evangelical Alliance
Sir, Joan Smith was spot on when she suggested that the antics of some Christian conservatives in the US are as disturbing as militant expressions of Islam, Judaism and Hinduism, for example.
However, she claims “equality, democracy and freedom of expression” as secular values. The Evangelical Alliance, which represents over a million mainstream Christians from every major denomination, would argue that these are fundamentally Christian values that modern secular institutions, particularly in Britain, have come to accommodate.
Further, traditional beliefs and practices of the Christian Church are now under such serious, sustained threat from the more politically correct that I would turn her final question on its head: are those with mild faith or no belief at all prepared to live harmoniously alongside those with strongly held religious views?
Yours etc, COLIN SAUNDERS, Executive Director, Evangelical Alliance, 186 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4BT. info@eauk.org May 15.
From Mr Jack Carter
Sir, Joan Smith says: “There are good reasons for being phobic about all religions in their militant phase . . . ” She specifically mentions Christianity as well as Islam and Hinduism.
To me this seems to imply that their threats are comparable. She acknowledges the intolerance of radical Muslims and Hindus.
I know of no recent evidence of Christian fundamentalists acting as suicide hijackers, or carrying out amputations or stoning adulterers. Instead of being urged by their faith to kill infidels, fundamentalist Christians try to follow Christ’s command to turn the other cheek. Much more than a subtle difference.
Yours faithfully, JACK CARTER, 216 High Street, Burbage, Wiltshire SN8 3AR. illston@onetel.net.uk May 16.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 18, 2002.

Was he strange or just acting?
May 17 2002
South London Press
CHARLIE Chaplin (1889-1977) was probably the most famous comic actor of all time, but has left us with the question of whether he was very strange or was this just part of the act.
Born Charles Spencer Chaplin in Lambeth, the son of Charles and Hannah Chaplin, music hall performers, he first appeared with them on the stage at the age of five and at seven as one of a team of urchins billed as The Eight Lancashire Lads. Because his father died and his mother was in and out of mental institutions, he spent his life in a succession of children's homes, then the Lambeth Workhouse which became the hospital in Brook Drive, Kennington, behind the Imperial War Museum. At some time he had lived in a garret at 3 Pownall Terrace, Kennington Road, then 287 Kennington Road, where there is a plaque remembering him, and on Brixton Road, nearer the police station.
He made his reputation dressed as a tramp, with smudge moustache, frock coat, bowler hat, cane and outsized shoes in silent films from the mid-1910s, mixing buffoonery with pathos and eventually combining dialogue with music.
"A gentleman, a poet, a dreamer - always hopeful of romance" was how he described himself.
His film career started in the USA with Fred Karno and the Keystone Cops at less than Ł1 a week, a fact which the money conscious, publicity seeking actor never revealed.
But then his birth and upbringing in abysmal poverty made him extremely mercenary and assured him of amazing wealth. His film career spanned more than 70 years and included The Rink (1916), The Kid (1921), The Gold Rush (1926), The Great Dictator (1940) and Limelight (1962). Personal relationships for him were difficult. WC Fields, a lesser, more vulgar comedian, urged to sit through a Chaplin film, said of him: "The son of a bitch is a ballet dancer and if I have a good chance I will strangle him with my bare hands." Close women friends of Charlie were appalled to learn that he publicly and tastelessly described their physical attributes in detail. While he never attracted crowds in public like stars do in this celebrity age, he remained popular in the cinema.
Douglas Fairbanks, the famous actor, described him as "one unfortunate man struggling against the forces of nature". But writer-producer Billy Wilder said: "When Charlie wants to say something serious he is like a child writing lyrics for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony." Chaplin's political pronouncements caused outrage.
During the Second World War, he followed the Communist propaganda line calling for a second front in the East against Germany which led to later allegations that he was pro-Red.
In the 1962 witch-hunt conducted by Senator McCarthy and the American Legion - the much more powerful political US counterpart of the British Legion here - Chaplin fled to Switzerland announcing that he was "a citizen of the world".
And "I have no further use for America. I would not go back there even if Jesus Christ was the president".
But this also produced the revelation that he had always been British and had never become an American citizen.
Chaplin married four times, his third wife was actress Paulette Goddard, his fourth Oona, daughter of playwright Eugene O'Neil, author of The Iceman Cometh (1946) and Mourning Becomes Electra (1932).
His first two divorces produced sensational newspaper headlines as did allegations of taking a minor across state boundaries for the purposes of sex, and a paternity suit in 1944. For his films he received two special Oscars, in 1928 and 1972, and was knighted in 1975.
Curiously, if you watch Chaplin on film today you will probably smile or even laugh as if it were just a normal child acting naturally in front of you.
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice
© owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002
icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 18, 2002.

OLDER PERSONS AFTERNOON
Where were you on 2nd June 1953?
Do you still have a souvenir or anything that reminds you of the coronation?
Why not bring it along to our
Jubilee Party
at
Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane SE11 4HF
on
Wednesday, 29th May 2002
3-4pm

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), May 17, 2002.

Psychological thriller from Canada at The White Bear Theatre Club:
The Exclusively Canadian Theatre Company
The Essential Players
are proud to present the London Premiere of
One Night Stand/Una Aventura
by Carol Bolt
Directed by: Siona Ankrah Cameron
Featuring: Stephanie Jones & Paul Nolan
Wednesday May 15 - June 2
Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm Sundays 4pm
Tickets Ł10 (Ł6 conc.)
The White Bear Theatre Club
138 Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4DJ
Box Office: 020 7793 9193
"Jones is a multi-petalled Daisy, sexy, shy, gawky and graceful all at once. She lets us see her passion burning unashamedly."
"The newly written scenes that Carol Bolt provided pack a real punch, combining social conscience with theatrical craft. They make us realize how much she will be missed."
The Toronto Star, March 2001, Richard Ouzounian
"She is as attractive and sexy as a girl can get and it doesn't take long for her to pick up an equally attractive young person, in the form of Rafe, a psychotically inclined musician. Daisy's skimpy but stylish outfit would invite any red-blooded man to want to see what's hidden underneath."
Tandem Magazine, March 2001, Bruce Raymond

-- Michael (mkwbear@hotmail.com), May 17, 2002.

The Times
May 16, 2002
Why vitiligo is worse during summer
If the latest forecast is to be believed, there will be a return of sunny weather this weekend. One group of people who may mourn the loss of recently leaden skies are those with vitiligo. They are more likely to look apprehensively out of their window in summer in case they are greeted by the sight of sun and blue skies. Vitiligo is the skin condition in which the patient suffers from white patches of depigmented skin.
These may be found anywhere on the body but have a predilection for areas around the eyes, on the hands, face and neck and the groin. The troubles that vitiligo may cause are too frequently overlooked by those who have not come across it, and the skin disease is little understood by patients suffering from it.
When it is sunny, the depigmented white areas on the skin of a patient with vitiligo are likely to burn, whereas the normal pigmented areas, by becoming tanned, emphasise the patchy nature of the patient’s skin. The 1 per cent of the population who suffer from vitiligo need to use a powerful sun block to protect the white patches and to avoid enhancing the contrast between pigmented and depigmented skin.
A new edition of the handbook of the Vitiligo Society is in an advanced state of production. It will not only be essential reading for all those who have vitiligo but also for doctors. Reading the proofs provided a good lesson that knowledge in medicine is always advancing, and that advances in the less life- threatening conditions may easily be overlooked. The new edition of this handbook, for instance, contains information that will have passed by all those who are not specialist dermatologists.
Vitiligo is not damaging to a patient’s health, it is not infectious, and it is not associated with autoimmune diseases, as was hitherto supposed. However, the amount of embarrassment it causes, especially in summery weather when it is more difficult to conceal, is underestimated. People with vitiligo deserve the best treatment available.
The Vitiligo Society: 125 Kennington Road, London SE11 6SF (020-7840 0855). www.vitiligosociety.org.uk e-mail: all@vitiligosociety.org.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 16, 2002.

Please make a note in your diaries for the following events at Durning Library:
The Duchy of Cornwall and its Manor of Kennington

Monday, 27th May - 7.15pm for 7.30pm
Elisabeth Stuart, Archivist and Records Manager of the Duchy of Cornwall, will speak to us on the history of the Duchy and its Manor of Kennington, one of the manors of a huge scattered estate. Elisabeth writes: "I'll be talking about the Duchy generally so that my audience can understand where Kennington fits in, then I'll spend more time concentrating on Kennington itself. My talk will be historical, because after all I am the Archivist and the Duchy has been going for nearly 700 years!"
Here too, advance warning of another forthcoming event:
"Our Woman in Icy Mongolia"

Monday, 24th June - 6.45pm for 7.15pm
Kay Coombs, recently returned from the steppes, will share memories of her time as our Ambassador in the land of Genghis Khan! (A little glimpse into a diplomat's life.)
Friends of Durning Library 167 Kennington Lane London SE11 4HF T: 020 7926 8682 F: 020 7926 8684 E: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), May 15, 2002.

Streatham Guardian

Ł5,000 reward for info on murdered Jacqueline
by Liam Allen
Police have offered Ł5,000 for information to help catch the killers of Brixton woman Jacqueline Nyeko.
The partially-clothed body of 24-year-old Jacqueline was found by two shoolboys in a storage area under Beckham House, on the Ethelred Estate, Black Prince Road, Kennington at 4pm on Sunday, January 13 of this year. A subsequent post mortem found the cause of death to be head injuries.
Ugandan national Jacqueline, also known as Jacqueline Atim, had been living in the Brixton area for a number of years.
Now police are again appealing for sightings of Jacqueline who was last seen in St John's Crescent, off Brixton Road, Stockwell, at 10pm on Thursday, January 10. Police believe she had been in the McDonalds restaurant, Brixton Road, at about 4pm on the same day but are keen to find out where she went after this.
They would like to know her movements in the days leading up to her disappearance.
When she went missing she was wearing a two-tone beige woollen hat, a long beige puffa jacket, a black zip-up jumper, beige trousers and black boots.
Three men, arrested in February in connection with the inquiry, have been bailed to return to a south London police station later this month.
Head of the investigation Det Chief Insp Keith Eldridge said: "I cannot stress enough that even the smallest piece of information, that people may thing is not important, may be vital to police.
"Someone out there knows where Jacqueline was between the evening of Thursday 10th January and the afternoon of Sunday 13th January when her body was discovered.
"A reward of Ł5000 is available to anyone that provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of Jacqueline's killer.
"Jacqueline's family has been devastated by her death and they just want to know what happened to her".
Anyone with any information or who may have known Jacqueline should call 020 8217 6453 or Crimestoppers anonymously.
May 13, 2002 15:30

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 14, 2002.

TABLE SALE AT ST JUDE'S COMMUNITY CENTRE

Saturday 18 May
1pm-3pm at St Jude's Community Centre, The Crypt, St George's Road SE1; 20p
It's just like a boot sale but inside and warmer! Who knows what you might find? Refreshments available.
If you have items to sell and want to book a table it costs Ł5 in advance or Ł7 on the day. To book a table ("what you make you keep") call 020 7928 9840

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 14, 2002.

Join the club
Duckie began as a group of drag artists and their drunken admirers. Now this 'post-gay' phenomenon is going national
Rupert Smith
Guardian
Tuesday May 14, 2002
Once upon a time, in a dog-rough gay pub nestling against some railway arches in south London, middle-aged gentlemen used to dress up as ladies and lip-synch to Shirley Bassey records. Out of this scene came one genuine star (Lily Savage, who didn't mime and actually had talent) and a lot of endearing grotesques (Tilly, a four-feet-tall drag queen who mimed to Dusty Springfield while attacking the audience with a dildo).
Then the audiences grew up and moved on, and a new generation started propping up the bar at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, for whom I Am What I Am no longer seemed to be cutting edge. While the rest of the gay world migrated to the chi-chi bars of the newly gay Soho, the Vauxhall crowd remained resolutely lowlife, preferring lager to ketamine and demanding entertainment.
Into this vacuum stepped Duckie, a club night that added a new twist to the old beer-and-drag formula. The average turn at Duckie was absurd, confrontational, piss-taking - a mutant hybrid of pub drag and performance art. Duckie's biggest star, the Divine David, looked like Liza Minnelli after a car crash and delivered streams of obscenities intermixed with insane conceptual riffs. The two DJs, the Readers' Wives, played anything from Slade to the Stooges - anything, that is, except house and techno. And the crowd were refugees from the muscle-and-tan monoculture of the mainstream gay clubs. For "homosexual refuseniks", as the Duckie organisers call them, the Vauxhall Tavern became an oasis of abnormality from an increasingly homogenous world.
Six years on, Duckie has become an institution in its own right. Those early, drunken experiments in "anti-gay" entertainment have been recognised by the Arts Council to the tune of Ł60,000 a year over the next three years. Duckie is branching out from its Vauxhall home into other London venues; it is even undertaking a national tour. Its sights are set on the heart of high culture. It has even started working in the ICA.
"I was bored of skating about on broken glass with a load of drunks every single night of the week," says Simon Casson, Duckie's promoter and full-time conceptualist. "We've always had ideas above our station; we were putting performance art into a gay pub, for God's sake. This new season is really nothing to do with sexuality at all. We spent six years putting men on stage in a dress, or women on stage wearing a big dildo, so for us it's completely exhausted. Our new work isn't about queer stuff - apart from the fact that all the artists are homosexualists, so it's informed by that. We only say we're gay when we put in for the funding, just so we can tick the right boxes."
Duckie's new London season, Nightbird, comprises eight diverse performances that show every sign of having been born out of frustration with available styles of entertainment. The opening event, One and a Half, put posh contemporary dancers in the filthy, crumbling Vauxhall Theatre, where beer flew, drunks heckled and the performance received a screaming, standing ovation. Future events include Lullaby (an audience sleepover), The Old School (six hours of sitting in a classroom, with teachers), Fragrant (doing the flowers in a south London church) and The Crystal Ball, a fortune- telling event at the ICA. None of it is particularly gay, but it's all very queer - in any sense of the word.
"I'd say there's a gay sensibility behind these performances only insofar as we're blurring boundaries and looking at existing things from an oblique point of view," says Casson. "Duckie has always mixed the pretentious with the lowlife, the arthouse with the doss-house. I don't know whether that's particularly a gay thing. Certainly for most of the commercial gay scene, like Mardi Gras and all that rubbish, it's about bringing everything down to the same bland level. We're nothing to do with that."
This is where the Duckie ethos gets a little confusing, at least on paper. They're gay, but they're not gay; they're steeped in theatre up to their necks, but profess to despise theatre. They cling to a working-class identity, but are quite at home in the ICA.
The Duckie experience, however, is a lot more convincing than the rhetoric. At the Vauxhall Tavern on the opening night of the new season, contemporary dance group The Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs presented two pieces, with nine dancers crammed on a tiny stage and a two-piece band playing to a pub full of eager drunks. For the first piece they were made up as grinning, rotting corpses, and twitched in elegant death throes for 20 minutes. This inspired one keen punter to start bellowing Michael Jackson's Thriller loud enough to beat the band. For the second piece, all the dancers, male and female, were dressed in exaggerated Weimar drag - five-inch heels, corsets, riding crops. As each androgynous creature began its erotic contortions around the stage, the audience screamed louder. Then the DJs played Roxy Music while one over-refreshed regular attempted to lure people into the bogs. It really was a grand night out.
"Dance looks a lot better when you're drunk," says Joshua Sofaer, one of the artists working under the Nightbird umbrella. "If you go to a regular dance venue, you sit in the dark and applaud politely at the end. If you see it in a pub, with a pint in one hand and a fag in the other, you're allowed to scream and shout, you're allowed to look at the dancers in a more sexual way. Clubs are erotic spaces; people go there to feel sexy, and dance makes a lot more sense in that context."
In order to spread the word, Duckie is promoting a short national tour of One and a Half, with all the performances taking place in dingy gigs in large cities. "I've got no idea who will come to any of this stuff," says Casson. "In a way, it's commercial death, because we're putting things into the 'wrong' venues, quite deliberately. If people go because they think it's a gay night, they're going to be disappointed, and if the traditional arty audiences go, they're going to be horrified." He doesn't sound the least bit unhappy about this.
"I'd call what we do 'post-gay'," he says."'Gay' was a cultural movement that started in the 1960s, and one day it will be finished. People will still have same-sex partners, of course, but as far as the cultural side of it goes, 'gay' will just fade away. We're the future."
· Duckie is at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, Kennington Lane, London SE11 every Saturday night. The Nightbird season continues with Lullaby on 17 and 18 May at The Circus Space, Coronet Street, London EC2. One and a Half, featuring the Cholmondeleys and the Featherstonehaughs, plays at The Irish Club, 14-20 High Street, Deritend, Birmingham, on 31 May, and then tours. Details: 020-7737 4043.
Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 14, 2002.

The Times
May 11, 2002
Barbara Newman
Diminutive variety performer who found fame in pantomime as 'the best goose in the business'
THE variety artiste Barbara Newman was known for most of her career as “the best goose in the business”. A diminutive figure, she specialised in playing the part of Priscilla, the goose who plays a central role in the pantomime Mother Goose.
She made the part her own, slipping easily into the lower part of the 6ft feathered costume, and with her quirky, bird-like movements created a totally believable character. Her first entrance, as she peered round the stage curtains, drew rounds of applause from the audience.
The costume itself was extremely heavy, and she had no option but to waddle around the stage — evoking either sympathy or laughter, depending on the scene. The bird’s eyes (controlled from inside) were particularly expressive and she managed to upstage many a fellow artiste.
She was paired in her career with some of the great pantomime dames of the era, notably John Inman (best known as Mr Humphries in Are You Being Served?), with whom she worked in 12 shows. Newman always took the role seriously and even at the finale refused to remove the costume, insisting that Priscilla walk on in a glittering cloak with a crown on her head. “I would never break the spell,” she once remarked.
Born in Cardiff, Barbara Newman made her first appearance in the chorus of a pantomime at the County Theatre, Reading, in 1932. In 1936 she was understudying the title role of Cinderella at the Kennington Theatre in London and she went on to work as a soubrette in concert parties and revues around the country.
She regarded pantomime as her forte and every year would take any one of a variety of classic roles, such as the Principal Girl, Dandini or even an Ugly Sister in Cinderella.
During the Second World War she was a light comedienne in Tommy Trinder’s Concert Party in Devon and she later played in Germany for ENSA. By the late 1940s she was appearing in celebrity concerts, notably at the Kingsway Hall in London (1947).
She had by then also begun to play the role of Priscilla the Goose in pantomime. She had soon made the role her own, and in the process built up a considerable reputation, appearing at leading theatres throughout the country, including Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Hanley.
By the 1970s she was widely acclaimed as “the best goose in the business” (the phrase often being used in her billing material) and was appearing in productions of Mother Goose opposite comedians such as Ken Dodd, Billy Whitaker, Billy Dainty and Roy Hudd.
It was, however, her teaming with John Inman in 1976 that proved to be the most felicitous of her career. The two had a natural empathy on stage, and their comic repartee was superbly timed. Inman commented: “When you saw the costume in the dressing room it was simply a dead object. When Barbara wore it she made it come to life.” Offstage the two became close friends.
By the late 1980s, years of performing as Priscilla had taken their toll on Newman and she was suffering ill-health. She retired from the stage, but she was a familiar figure and cheery face at many showbusiness functions, where she was affectionately called “The Goose Lady.”
Her last years were spent in a nursing home in Surrey, where she was often visited by fellow pantomime performers, and every year on her birthday she was taken by friends to a luncheon in a hotel on the Strand. Bent over almost double, beady-eyed and with a mischievous sense of humour, she was, as her many admirers remarked, rather like Priscilla.
She is survived by her brother Peter.
Barbara Newman, variety artiste, was born on April 11, 1914. She died on May 4, 2002, aged 88.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 11, 2002.

South London Press

Teen arrested in connection with AOL girl
May 11 2002
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of robbing the actress who plays Connie in TV adverts for the Internet service provider AOL.
Miss Willis, whose father is Harrogate MP and Liberal Democrat education spokesman Phil Willis, was attacked yards from the flat they share in Kennington, south London at 6.30pm on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old was talking to her mother on the phone when she had the device stolen.
A 16-year old youth was arrested and is in custody at a south London police station, police said.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 11, 2002.

Go slow on the mayor's campaign

Guardian
Thursday May 9, 2002
I don't agree that Labour should embrace Ken Livingstone (Comment, May 7). The one major result of Livingstone's regime is scheduled to be the introduction of congestion charging. The siting of the resulting inner ring road is one of the prime factors in Labour's losing control of Lambeth and Southwark.
Livingstone has shown a contempt for consultation - two public meetings were held on congestion charging, neither of them south of the river, and requests for public consultation were turned down. The effects of the ring road will counter many of the mayor's other obligations, such as regeneration of zones of deprivation and the requirement to reduce noise and air pollution in areas which are already above WHO levels. So much for joined-up government. If Labour wants to win London, it should put up a candidate popular with Londoners - such as Kate Hoey.
Prof Gordon McDougall
London
gordon@newstages.plus.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 10, 2002.

Table tennis star's wish
May 10 2002
South London Press
A TABLE tennis player has come out of retirement to take part in the disabled world championship in Taiwan.
Dzaier Neil, 44, from Kennington, became world number two in her disability class at her peak.
Now, eight years after quitting, she has got to world number 11 in four months since taking up the sport again.
The championship is usually open only to the world’s top 10 in her disability class, but she has been drafted in after another player pulled out.
Despite taking part in the Olympics and the world championships in the past, she had to start from scratch to get her world ranking back.
Dzaier, who has a long-term spine injury, found out she was selected only last month and, without Lottery funding, is desperately trying to get up to Ł10,000 funding before the start of the tournament in August.
Dzaier – who also plays in able-bodied competitions – has to pay for everything, even down to her Great Britain tracksuit.
If she does not raise the cash, she will not be able to go to the tournament.
She said: “Lambeth gets a really bad press and a lot of us are good people doing lots of good things.
“Not only is it an honour for me to be representing Great Britain, but I am also representing a positive side of Lambeth.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring Dzaier can contact the South London Press on 020-8710 6443.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 10, 2002.

BBC News
Wednesday, 8 May, 2002
Court hears of pensioners' ordeal
An elderly couple were attacked and robbed in their home by a gang who demanding money for drugs, the Old Bailey has heard.
Alice and William Israel were in bed at their home in Kennington, south London, when the three- strong gang struck.
Prosecutor Timothy Cray said Mr Israel, who has since died, was beaten with a belt across the back while his wife was forced at knifepoint to stay in bed.
Mr Cray said that the men involved in the robbery attacked the couple to get money for heroin.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 09, 2002.

The Sun

Giggsy: Gunners to crack
By NEIL CUSTIS
RYAN GIGGS believes Arsenal will crack under pressure and hand Manchester United the Premiership title.
Arsene Wenger's side go to Old Trafford tonight knowing that defeat will leave them needing to beat Everton to be certain of landing United's crown.
While everyone inside Highbury believes the title is theirs, United wing star Giggs is convinced the Gunners are about to shoot themselves in the foot.
Giggs said: "Some people seem to believe they already have the title in the bag but that's not the way I see it.
"If we beat them, they will have to get three points against Everton at Highbury on Saturday and, if this season has taught us anything, it's that any side is capable of beating any other.
"Of course, Arsenal would be the favourites, but I genuinely believe Everton are more than capable of upsetting the form book.
"The pressure would all be on Arsenal and I know from experience that funny things can happen when you get to the final day of the season with the Premiership trophy within touching distance.
"If they can handle that kind of pressure, then they'd be worthy champions, but we absolutely have to ensure we take it to the last game.
"Then we'll see what they're really made of."
Giggs has first-hand knowledge of how things get tough when you are in touching distance of the title.
The Wales star said: "I remember in 1999 when we played Tottenham on the last day of the season, we went 1-0 down and there were a lot of nerves.
"If you know you have to win, anything can happen."
Ideally Giggs would like to ram Arsenal's triumphant predictions back down their throats with a copycat victory from last season at Old Trafford.
Giggs said: "We've got a good record against them at home and, in the ideal world, I'd settle for a repeat of last year's 6-1 win.
"That would definitely give them something to think about for next season, whether or not they win the title."
Giggs' boss Alex Ferguson said: "The only thing we can do is win our game. If we do that it will keep the whole thing going and at least we'll have drama in the last game.
"It would also put the question in the Arsenal players' minds: 'Are we going to blow it?'"
UNITED boss Sir Alex Ferguson has a formidable Old Trafford record against Arsenal - losing just two of 15 league clashes while he has been in charge.
Ironically, both times, in 1997-98 and 1990-91, Arsenal went on to win the title.
Arsene Wenger's side were mauled 6-1 on their last visit to United in February 2001.
It was their heaviest defeat at Old Trafford since they were thrashed by a similar scoreline in April 1952.
The overall league record between the teams reads: Manchester United 67 wins, Arsenal 62 wins and 37 draws.
ARSENAL are out to become the first top-flight team since Preston North End in 1888-89 not to lose an away game all season, writes VICKI ORVICE.
The Lancashire club also won the Double that season - in the first year the league was formed.
Preston pipped Aston Villa and Wolves to the league crown, then beat Wolves 3-0 in the FA Cup final at Kennington Oval. The team included Bob Holmes, whose Cup winner's medal fetched Ł3,450 at auction eight years ago.
But Arsenal, who must avoid defeat tonight to equal the record, still have the edge on Preston.
North End played only 22 league games IN TOTAL that season. Arsene Wenger's men have already notched up 18 AWAY games unbeaten.
© 2002 News Group Newspapers Ltd.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 08, 2002.

News
A spliffing day out in the big smoke ...

May 8 2002
South London Press
REVELLERS gathered for the fourth annual Cannabis March and Festival in Brixton's Brockwell Park on Saturday. It was one of a series of events throughout the world on the same day.
It started at midday in Kennington Park for a carnival-style march to Brockwell Park's free festival.
The crowds got to listen to music, hear speakers and get drugs information. Johnny Void, from the Cannabis Coalition, said: "In the four years we have been putting on this event, cannabis has moved to the very top of the agenda in this country.
"This isn't just a protest, it's a celebration of cannabis and everything associated with it." A police spokesman said: "It went off very peacefully and there were no arrests."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 08, 2002.

The Evening Standard

AOL woman punched in the face
by Justin Davenport Crime Correspondent
The actress who plays the AOL computer girl in the TV advertisements has been attacked and mugged while on her way home in south London.
Model Rachel Willis, 26, the daughter of Liberal Democrat MP Phil Willis, was punched in the face in a frightening assault by a youth who ran off with her mobile phone.
The actress, who plays the AOL character Connie in the TV ads, managed to hold on to her handbag before the thief ran off into a nearby estate.
She was walking home to the flat she shares with her father in Kennington at the time.
Mr Willis, the Lib-Dems education spokesman, immediately returned home to be with his daughter, who was said to be very shaken but not seriously hurt.
He said: "You hear daily of assaults and muggings but never think it will happen to someone in your own family.
"Rachel was clearly upset by the incident but recognises that she could have been seriously injured in the attack."
The actress immediately called the police who were on the scene within minutes.
Mr Willis said officers recognised "a local gang leader" who was in the area at the time of the attack.
Scotland Yard confirmed that the model was attacked in Tyers Street at around 6.30pm last night.
Kennington is within the borough of Lambeth, one of Scotland Yard's priority street crime areas. Recent figures showed street crime had risen in every London borough, with increases of more than 70 per cent in parts of the capital.
Headline figures published last month showed that mugging increased by 38 per cent across the whole of London, fuelling an increase of six per cent in overall crime.
On street crime, every borough saw mugging go up, with rises ranging from 19 per cent in Enfield to more than 70 per cent in three outlying boroughs - Richmond, Waltham Forest and Greenwich.
Lambeth is renowned as the mugging capital of Britain with an increase of more than 38 per cent for the second successive year.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 08 May 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 08, 2002.

Making it happen

Tuesday 25 June 11.00am - 3.00pm

The Old Vic Theatre, The Cut, London SE1
Please find below, details for the "Making it happen" event which I have been asked to circulate. The event will take place on Tuesday 25 June 2002 11.00am - 3.00pm at The Old Vic Theatre The Cut London SE1.
In Lambeth, around 1000 people have a learning disability. At present, many of them do not get the chance to take part in the activities that other people take for granted. They want an opportunity to play a full role in the life of the borough.
Can you help make it happen?
We have arranged this event so that local businesses and communities can suggest what they can do to help build a borough that is inclusive and supportive of people with learning disabilities.
You could:
offer employment, either paid work or voluntary work

truly welcome people with learning disabilities to your business

provide special ticket prices once a week

develop friendships with people in your local area
This event - the first of its kind - is at London's Old Vic theatre, a high profile venue with a long history of working with the local community. You'll meet with other businesses and community groups in the borough, find out about current projects and developments, and help celebrate achievements.
And it won't be all talk. Lambeth College students with learning disabilities will use the stage of the Old Vic to entertain you; actor Trudie Goodwin, who plays Sgt June Ackland in The Bill, will be compere for the day; and you'll get the chance to relax over lunch prepared by Brixton Social Education Centre.
For more information, or for an invitation, please contact Bernie Ward, event co-ordinator:
Bernie Ward, Making it happen Co-ordinator, Lambeth Social Services Tel: 020 7926 4660 e-mail: bward@lambeth.gov.uk
We look forward to hearing from you
Making it happen
Please tick boxes and include your contact details
I'd like to come along to Making it happen
I'd like more information about Making it happen
I'd like to do something to help in Making it happen
Name:
Address:
Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:
Nature of your business:
What can you offer to do to help in Making it happen?
Thank you for your help
Gerald Gohler, Area Information Officer, North Lambeth North Lambeth Town Centre Office, London Borough of Lambeth, Community Renewal Unit, Chief Executive's Department phone: 020 7926 8295 fax: 020 7926 8244 e-mail: ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk website: http://www.lambeth.gov.uk 1st Floor 91 Kennington Lane London SE11 4HQ

-- Gerald Gohler (GGohler@lambeth.gov.uk), May 07, 2002.

Southwark Cathedral memorial service for Ben Hollioake

http://www.se1direct.co.uk/quicklink/go.php?id=54

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

SOUTH BANK AND WATERLOO TRAVELLING EXHIBITION
Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 May 10am-6pm (Thu 8pm); The Old Vic, The Cut
Information on more than 40 proposed projects in the area are available in this exhibition organised by the South Bank Employers' Group and the Waterloo Project Board.
http://www.se1direct.co.uk/quicklink/go.php?id=51

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

HOWARD BARKER AT THE CALDER BOOKSHOP
Thursday 9 May 6.30pm at the Calder Bookshop, 51 The Cut; Ł3 (conc Ł1)
One of this country’s foremost contemporary playwrights leads a discussion on the nature and meaning of his work, with actors and directors who have worked on his plays, and readings by Ian McDiarmid and Julia Tarnoky. http://www.calderpublications.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

RESIDENTS' TOURS AT MUSEUM OF GARDEN HISTORY
Tuesday 7 to Thursday 9 May 11.30am at Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Road; free Free tour of museum for local residents as part of Local History Week. http://www.museumgardenhistory.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

A CELEBRATION OF LOCAL HISTORY
Tuesday 7, Thursday 9 & Saturday 11 May - 2-5pm at Florence Nightingale Museum, 2 Lambeth Palace Road; Mon-Fri 10am-5pm (Sat & Sun 11.30am-4.30pm); Ł4.80 (conc Ł3.60)
A close look at nursing at St Thomas’ Hospital and in the local community through film footage. St Thomas’ Hospital was moved to its current site and opened in 1871, Florence Nightingale was involved in planning the design of the new building.
http://www.florence-nightingale.co.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 07, 2002.

Kennington: the service no go area?

The NTL matter (see my post re. broadband) plus recent & previous events has led me to wonder - is it just me, or has anyone else found that Kennington seems to be a "no go" area for many businesses? Even though they claim to serve this area?
The worst of it is, they raise false hopes unnecessarily. Businesses pay distributors to stuff Kennington mailboxes with leaflets, then when I ring up or email, they say they don't do Kennington/SE11. So why do they waste their money and our time inflicting those leaflets on us? Is it due to their distributors willy nilly just getting rid of leaflets in the nearest available streets, on the basis they'll get paid irrespective of whether the recipients fall within the payer's catchment area (and if so, do the businesses paying them know this is happening)? It can't be the businesses doing this deliberately, unless they actively want to go out of business by unnecessarily enriching leafletters and annoying potential customers.
It's not just NTL. I've (just on Friday) had this experience with Basilico (meant to be really good organic pizza according to a lucky friend of mine in Kensington who often gets them delivered), and previously Room Service (delivery from good restaurants) and others whose names I can't recall off the top of my head. When I asked Basilico why they leafletted me, they said it was a mistake... one leaflet by mistake may be an accident, but several? I wonder if they all use the same distribution firm?
Or is the SE11 postcode jinxed? Often businesses simply operate by postcode regardless of distance. They don't say they will service customers within (say) a 3-mile radius; that would be too sensible and furthermore, if they did, some of them (eg the ones based in Lavender Hill, the main culprits I've found) might have to muddy their tyres (ooh shudder) and venture into darkest declasse SE11. Lest you think me paranoid, some years when I was trying to find a cleaner, I interviewed one sent by a firm who (they volunteered to me) clean for Andrew Lloyd-Webber, don't you know. I suspected she wasn't going to be the hardest working of cleaners and asked the firm to send me another, whereupon they went very sniffy and said they weren't going to make another person go to a, and I quote, "slightly slimy area". I was too flabbergasted to respond otherwise I'd have pointed out that the then Home Secretary lived next door and a couple of peers in the same street, if that sort of thing was a precondition to having a cleaner deign to drop by and half-heartedly brandish a duster over a desk for a couple of seconds before making a cup of tea last the rest of the day (while listening to highly sophisticated Lloyd-Webber tunes, no doubt). And I'm afraid I can't recall the name of the cleaning firm to warn you off them...
Well if you've read this far, thanks for listening to my rant. But I really don't get it. Why does this keep happening? If you have had the same experiences, do let me know and at least I'll have the reassurance that I'm not alone in my frustration! I've lived in Kennington for years and I love it here, but even though it's so close to Central London it often seems nigh on impossible to get any really good products or services here. I hope things will change if property price rises in this area are any indication, but with the leafletting debacles continuing, it doesn't seem to bode well for us... I think there's a lot of money waiting to be made by businesses canny enough to realise there are tons of people in Kennington desperate for decent services, and willing and able to provide it - it just won't be made by any of this shower...

-- Kuan (ka@soprano.mailshell.com), May 05, 2002.

SPRING & SUMMER HERITAGE WALKS IN SOUTH LONDON

May - October 2002
Lambeth Local History Forum
These walks are organised by member organisations of the Lambeth Local History Forum which promotes an interest in the heritage of Lambeth. The walks are mostly free, but voluntary donations are always welcome. They usually last about two hours. Details may be subject to change through circumstances beyond our control.
June
Thursday, 13th: 6.45pm - The Pleasures of the Southbank Meet: Morley College, Westminster Bridge Road Led by Brian Bloice Morley College Fee: Ł5
Thursday, 20th: 6.45pm - Lambeth Marsh Meet: Morley College, Westminster Bridge Road Led by Graham Gibberd Morley College Fee: Ł5
July
Thursday, 4th: 6.45pm - In the Footsteps of Charlie Chaplin Meet: Morley College, Westminster Bridge Road Led by Tony Merrick Morley College Fee: Ł5
Thursday, 11th: 6.45pm - The Blitz on London in WWII Meet: Morley College, Westminster Bridge Road Led by Jon Mills Morley College Fee: Ł5
For a full list of walks across Lambeth, please contact Lambeth Archives Department, 52 Knatchbull Road, London SE5 9QY tel: 020 7926 6076 or there may still be copies of the list available in Durning Library.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 05, 2002.

The Sunday Times

May 05, 2002

Time & Place: Bare boards and high hopes

She couldn’t afford carpets, but Penny Vincenzi has a soft spot for the flat where her writing dreams took off
Our home in Abercorn Place, St John’s Wood, was a seminal place for us to have lived in the Sixties. I moved into the top-floor flat with my husband, Paul, in 1963, and it was our first grown-up home. I was 23 and had our first baby, Polly, there, so it was all very exciting.
I was working as a secretary for Marje Proops on the Daily Mirror, and Paul was working part-time as a photographer. The rent was Ł9 a week, which we couldn’t really afford. We each earned about Ł14 a week and knew things would be tight.
We had one big sitting room, a tiny kitchen and bathroom, and two bedrooms at the front — one for us and one for the baby. It seemed like a palace and felt really splendid and grand. The flat was unfurnished and it stayed that way for quite a while before we got luxuries such as curtains and carpets. Paul’s mother was incredibly kind and gave us four beautiful Georgian chairs as a wedding present, so we had this empty flat and these four unbelievably expensive chairs.
I remember one night we had Marje and her husband, Proopsy, to dinner and they sat on the Georgian chairs and ate off their knees.
Working for Marje was the best thing I ever did. I was her secretary to start with and she got me promoted to editorial assistant. I was pregnant when I started working for her and she was very kind. She lived two streets away in Hamilton Terrace and she’d often drive me back or send me home early and say I was doing research. I had always wanted to be a journalist, but to be a journalist you had to be in the National Union of Journalists. Marje was Mother of the Chapel. One day she rang me at about midnight and said: “Darling, you are in.”
While we lived there I became fashion editor of Nova magazine. Paul was doing very well as a photographer. He used the big room as a studio for some of his shoots. On the landing was a storage room, which we turned into a fantastic darkroom. We found this magical pair of plumbers who fitted the plumbing for us one night. It was quite illicit and we’d have been thrown out if anybody found out.
The contrast in my working life and home life was really funny. When I was at Nova I had a secretary and didn’t have to make my own coffee, and then I’d come home and wash the floors. I’d cook every night — 1960s wives looked after their men.
We had lived in a horrible place in Kennington before, so it was great to be able to ask people around for a civilised thing like drinks. At dinner parties I used to be told by other mothers that they loved their children and wouldn’t want to go out to work and leave them with au pairs as I did. I felt guilty all the time and I do have terrible remorse, but we didn’t have a choice because we needed both our monies.
We stayed in a lot because money was tight so I always say I missed out on the swinging London scene. But we lived just 100 yards away from the Abbey Road studios. The Beatles were at the peak of their fame and there were often crowds of screaming girls. I was supposed to be a respectable, grown-up mother and I just stood there praying I’d see them. It was very exciting when they arrived; they all waved and ran in as you’d expect.
We started to get rather squashed when I had Sophie, 2˝ years after Polly was born. We decided we absolutely had to move, but we kept putting it off because we loved it so much. In 1967, we moved right out to East Molesey, where we bought our first house, for Ł5,000. It was very hard to leave the flat and I cried all the way down the road.
About five years ago, I returned to the street and all of a sudden I felt 23 again. I went back to the little parade of shops and was most put out that they weren’t the same. It was very odd because I thought any minute I’d see Polly and Sophie run down the street in their red macs. I felt very nostalgic because they were such lovely days.
Something Dangerous by Penny Vincenzi is published by Orion at Ł6.99. Interview by Louise Johncox

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 05, 2002.

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Town Centre Forum - AGM

Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Town Centre Forum - Annual General Meeting
The North Lambeth Town Centre is one of five Town Centres covering the whole of Lambeth and is part of Lambeth Council's Town Centre Management initiative. It is currently subdivided into three Town Centre Forum Areas. The Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall ("KOV") TCM Forum includes all of Princes and Oval wards, and Bishop's ward south of Lambeth Road.
The KOV Forum aims to give a voice to residents, community organisations and businesses and to empower all to become actively involved in what is going on in the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall area, making their local priorities known to the Council.
The KOV Board is accountable to the Forum and will be elected at the AGM on 21 May. Only registered Forum members are entitled to vote or stand for the Board. Although you can join at any time, your organisation will only be able to vote or put up a candidate for the Board, if you have registered by noon on 10 May 2002. Please note that those of you who had registered for the year 2001/2002, will be required to re-register for 2002/2003 until noon on 10 May 2002, as well.
Businesses, public sector groups, tenants' and residents' associations and community groups, which have a connection with the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall area, as well as a written constitution and a democratically-elected governing body, are eligible to send representatives to represent them in the Forum session. The maximum number of representatives each business, organisation or group can send to the Forum is as follows:
* A maximum of 2 representatives each for residents' and tenants' associations, and other membership-based organisations
* A maximum of 1 representative each for public bodies (other than Lambeth Council)
* 2 individuals from each area where no TRAs or similar organisations are present
* Local businesses are invited to register with the Forum and will be eligible to register with one Forum member.
To be a voting member of the Forum for the year 2002/2003, please nominate your representative/s by filling in the necessary form obtainable from the North Lambeth Town Centre Office, 1st Floor, 91 Kennington Lane, London SE11 4HQ t: 020 7926 2662 f: 020 7926 8244 e: fforrest@lambeth.gov.uk and returning it to the above office by noon on 10 May 2002.
Please indicate also whether your representatives would like to stand for the board, which is the executive body of the Forum and will meet at least six times a year. Candidates for the board will be required to submit a 75-word statement, which will be printed next to their name on the ballot paper, by noon on 14 May 2002.
Voting by post will be possible for those Forum members who cannot attend the AGM and who have registered by noon on 10 May 2002. To receive a postal voting form, please contact Gerald Gohler, North Lambeth Area Information Officer on 020 7926 8295 ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk or by letter to North Lambeth Town Centre Office, 1st Floor, 91 Kennington Lane, London SE11 4HQ
The forms will be sent out starting 14 May 2002 and must be returned by 20 May 2002.
Organisations whose registered members are unable to attend the AGM on 21 May 2002 will also be able to send a proxy to vote in their place, provided they inform the Chair of this in advance of the meeting.
For further information, please refer to the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Forum constitution, copies of which are available from the Town Centre Office or on-line at www.lambeth.gov.uk (search word: "Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall").
We are keen to have a wide range of organisations present to reflect the local community. Therefore, we warmly invite your organisation to send representatives to the Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Town Centre Forum meeting which will be held on
Tuesday, 21 May 2002 at 6.30pm in the Kennington Park Community Centre, 8 Harleyford Street London SE11 5SY
Frances Forrest, North Lambeth Town Centre Manager t: 020 7926 2662 e: fforrest@lambeth.gov.uk
KOV Town Centre Forum includes:
4th London Boys Brigade & Girls Association, All Nations Centre (The Apostolic Church), AMBO Architects, Archbishops Tenison's School, Ashmole Estate TRA, Bellamy's Dining Room, Black Roof Community Housing Association Ltd, Cotton Gardens Estate TA, Ethelred TRA, Fegan's Child and Family Care, Fentiman Road, Richbourne Terrace and Dorset Road Residents' Association, Friends of Durning Library, Friends of Lambeth Walk Open Space, Friends of the Oval, Friends of Vauxhall Park, Friends of Vauxhall Spring Gardens, H Morrell and Sons, Harleyford Rd Community Gardens, Heart of Kennington Residents' Association, Hesters Butchers, Hurley Clinic, Kennington Cross Neighbourhood Association, Kennington Gardens Society, Kennington Park Estate TRA, Lambeth Community Care Centre, Lambeth Environment Group, Lambeth Pensioners Forum, Lambeth Walk School, Lighthouse Education Service, Lilian Baylis School, London and Quadrant Housing Trust, Lycee Management Co Ltd, Manning Photographers, Manor of Kennington Residents Association, Mawbey Brough Community Network Tenants and Residents Association, Oval Neighbourhood Housing Office, Organisation of Blind African Caribbeans, Oval Partnership, Penwith Manor EMB, Pop In Hair Salon, Save Ethelred Homes, St Anselm's Church, St Marks Vicarage, Stothard Design & Arts Direction, The Typography Workshop Studio, Vauxhall City Farm, Vauxhall Employers Group, Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre, Vauxhall Neighbourhood Housing Forum, Vauxhall Society, Vauxhall St Peter's Heritage Centre, Walcot Estate Residents' Association, Waterloo & Kennington Neighbourhood Housing Office, Wyvil TRA

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

North Lambeth TCM Event Diary
Kennington, Oval and Vauxhall Town Centre Forum Meeting Annual General Meeting Tuesday, 21st May 6.30pm at Kennington Park Estate Community Centre Kennington Park Estate 8 Harleyford Street SE11 5SY
For further information, please contact Gerald Gohler Area Information Officer for North Lambeth on 020 7926 8295 or at ggohler@lambeth.gov.uk North Lambeth Town Centre Office 1st Floor 91 Kennington Lane London SE11 4HQ
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Friends of Kennington Park meeting Monday, 29th July 7.00pm at St Agnes Church St Agnes Place SE11
For further information, please contact Mark Rogers Friends of Kennington Park c/o 155 Kennington Park Road London SE11 4JJ t: 020 7582 2849 e: rmfr@btinternet.com

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

South London Press News
Thousands to mark 'Cannabis liberation day'
May 4 2002
Thousands of people are marching in cities across the UK to mark Cannabis Liberation Day.
The Million Marijuana March is a worldwide event involving people taking to the streets in nearly 200 cities across the globe.
According to the organisation's website, marches are taking place in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Hull, Sheffield and Stafford.
In London the march, entitled Dance on the Grave of Cannabis Prohibition, will go from Kennington Park to Brockwell Park, in south London, where a festival is being held featuring live music, a speakers tent and food stalls.
Across the world marches are taking place in more than 30 countries including the US, New Zealand, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and France.
Scotland Yard said this was the fourth time the march had taken place in London.
A spokesman said: "Police have been in close consultation with the organisers and they have ensured police that participants will remain within the law during the march.
"If participants are found smoking cannabis they will be asked to stop. In previous years the event has been peaceful and good natured."
Last year, around 15,000 people took part in the march, according to police.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

Broadband internet in Kennington

Very belatedly, here is a summary of the responses I received, for those interested - thanks to all who kindly replied to my initial query.
BTOpenworld: mixed experiences
- 1 person decided after research not to use it & went for Pipex instead. - another doesn't have ADSL but had "endless problems" with BTOpenworld Anytime continually being cut off. ISP suggested exchange fault, BT denied it and said there were no problems with the line; so they installed Home Highway with ISDN and brand new PC. Three days into the new supposedly better service - cut off after approx 10 mins three times, again ISP thought it's the exchange. - another who is on Business 500+ has been OK since connection a few months ago, "Occasionally I get the message saying no connection - usually at peak times - but it's not blocked for long" - another has no problems with BT apart from cost - you know all about my problems!! I have now had some limited compensation but only after much chasing. Verdict: you decide!
NTL: THEY don't even know if they're here! A mess
- 1 person has heard from others that apparently their services are bad so chose not to use them them - see below - another person had a "disaster" - no service when they connected it, lost computer, TV and telephone for 3 months, ruined the cabling so much so that BT charged to renew it, lost tel no in the process etc, compensation took 70 tel. calls and 9 months several letters and trading standards. - another has been receiving mail from NTL advertising services for nearly 6 years - but whenever ringing to get their service, are told the area has not been cabled! And the last time (about 2 years ago) NTL said they had no plans to cable this area - despite a promise that the cables would be in within 6 months when the enquirer originally moved here in 1996. - another was informed by NTL that the postcode isn't cabled up. But that doesn't stop NTL stuffing letterboxes with waste paper... - my own experiences: I've lived in Kennington since 1989, and I REMEMBER NTL's predecessor digging up the roads to lay cable, AND a period when reps constantly at the door trying to sell me cable (plus I still get their leaflets occasionally through the door). But whenever I enter my postcode on their site, each time it says the only service available is mobile (or nothing)! In desperation after the closure of ITV Digital I rang them yesterday (0800 183 1234) and they then said that it WAS available here! But the person who answered, although friendly and taking the point I made about their website contradicting their internal info, didn't know anything about the packages, pricing, installation etc, and although she promised a sales rep would call me this afternoon - no surprises, they didn't... (By the by, post-ITV Digital dying, if any generous person with cable or satellite could lend me videos of Buffy, Angel, Enterprise & Dark Angel until I get Sky installed, I'll supply the videotapes!) Verdict: do they know what they're doing? Why the mess about availability after all these years, don't they want customers? I won't be signing up with them except as a last resort
Demon: who knows
- Just one person had Demon and hasn't noticed such problems. There are occasional outages, "but these are always the result of Demon's routers being down, and their service announcements generally own up to that quite promptly." - I used to have dialup service with Demon (and was with them for years when I just had an Atari), and their helpline always seemed to be constantly engaged then, plus when I terminated their service different staff gave conflicting info about when that took effect, with the result that I had to pay for a month of no usage (with not even the courtesy of a reply to my complaint), so I will never use them again. Verdict: not much of a sample, mixed!
Pipex: maybe?
- One person - no problems whatsoever, reliable and consistent. - I've had other friends (not in Kennington) use Pipex with no difficulties and Pipex have been around and well known for years. As & when I figure out how to switch from BT without interruption in service, my own intention is to go for Pipex (their ADSL service is now cheaper than BTOpenworld by about a fiver a month). I've just suggested a Kennington friend who wants broadband should consider Pipex rather than BT.

-- Kuan (ka@soprano.mailshell.com), May 03, 2002.

News Puck goes punk May 3 2002 South London Press
DOMINIC Cooper's debut role with the Royal Shakespeare Company has plunged him in at the deep end.
The Lewisham-based actor, 23, takes the key part of Puck in the current production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, which has been at the centre of a critical onslaught on the RSC. But Dominic says: "Kids' reactions to the show have been great - they have really gone for it.
"The people who have seen the play a lot of times and seen one production that they love are the ones who seem to be a bit stuffy.
"I am painted with this black paint and the fairies have jet blue hair and dark clothes. It's quite punky - everyone does look like a lot of rock stars with long hair and a bit of stubble."
The production is directed by Richard Jones, the award-winning KENNINGTON-based director whose drastic updating of opera - which includes scratch 'n' sniff cards for the audience and even a cookery demonstration - has outraged traditionalists.
Dominic says: "Visually it's wonderful - there is so much going on.
"But it's a very dark production which I think A Midsummer Night's Dream is.
"I always saw Puck as like a sprite - jumping and being lively like a naughty child. But Richard Jones wanted him to be dark and grounded - Puck is quite evil in a lot of the things he does like causing all the mix-up in love."
Dominic says he wishes there had been more shows around like the RSC production when he was a schoolkid, 'unbelievably bored' with some of the stage offerings he was forced to sit through.
But he gives top marks to his old school Thomas Tallis in Kidbrooke for encouraging his yen for acting.
He trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and landed numerous small parts in TV and film before getting his first stage- break at the National Theatre.
Performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream run at the Barbican Theatre until May 11 as part of a national tour. The RSC has been strongly criticised for its decision to quit the Barbican as its regular London base - Waterloo's Old Vic has been mentioned as a possible replacement - while the company's boss Adrian Noble has now announced his resignation following an outcry over his radical plans to redevelop the Stratford-on-Avon theatre site as a 'Shakespeare village'.
But as in A Midsummer Night's Dream itself, things may be better than they seem - after all, when Dominic heard a remark accidentally broadcast over the theatre public address system that his Puck was `a bit scary', he knew he could take it as a compliment.
****** Tickets for A Midsummer Night's Dream cost Ł8-Ł32. Box office 020-7638 8891.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

Another piece of good news on the restaurant front: I'm totally addicted to Tom Yam King Prawn (hot and sour) soup at Mercury Noodle Bar
240/242 Kennington Park Road SE11 4DA t: 020 7793 9393 Opening times: Lunch - Noon till. 2.30pm Monday -Friday Evening - 6pm till 11pm Monday to Saturday They seem to do a mixture of oriental food: Thai, Cantonese, Malaysian, Japanese... The chef is 'Sunny' and the waiter is 'Jamie'. Both very nice. Oh, payment is by cash or cheque only - no cards.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

Anti-monarchy group plans Jubilee protests
01 May. 2002; 10:25 GMT
LONDON (Reuters) - An anti-monarchy group is planning protests to coincide with events to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.
The Movement Against the Monarchy (MAM) says it will demonstrate ... More...
http://www.reuters.co.uk/news_article.jhtml?type=search&StoryID=904351

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

AGA KHAN IN ROW WITH ST THOMAS' HOSPITAL
Consultants at St Thomas' are preparing to chain themselves to railings if the southern end of the hospital site is sold to the Aga Khan.
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view.php?ArtID=184

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

FRIENDS OF DURNING LIBRARY - CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER
The Friends' committee would very much like to organise a children's function in the library for the Jubilee and would be grateful to receive any information regarding children's entertainers who might be suitable for such an event.
Please contact Elizabeth Barrott t: 020 7793 7703
Friends of Durning Library 167 Kennington Lane London SE11 4HF T: 020 7926 8682 F: 020 7926 8684 E: FoDurningLibrary@aol.com

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

Lambeth election results Election results and details of new councillors.
More..... Lambeth Election Results http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/Web_magazine/front.htm#lambeth

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

Election Results 2002
Local Election results 2 May 2002
Elected councillors are in bold.
Newington Ward
Name and Description Votes Andrew Edmund Christian Briant - The Conservative Party Candidate 136
Joseph Edem-Hotah - The Labour Party Candidate 741
James Paul Gillespie - The Labour Party Candidate 745
Leah Godwin - Green Party 142
James Christopher Gurling - Liberal Democrat Focus Team 1310
Clive William Jones - The Conservative Party Candidate 121
Surjit Kaur - The Labour Party Candidate 622
Jelil Idowu Ladipo - Liberal Democrat Focus Team 1252
Mark Mason - Green Party 127
Kenneth Michael James Norris - The Conservative Party Candidate 119
Graham Parton - Green Party 110
Caroline Valerie Pidgeon - Liberal Democrat Focus Team 1329
Contact us at: Electoral Services Southwark Town Hall Central House Peckham Road SE5 8UB
Tel: 020 7525 7374 (Minicom for the heard of hearing: 020 7525 3194)

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 03, 2002.

Please note an additional vacancy below plus slightly amended details for the two previous vacancies listed:
Recruitment
Vauxhall City Farm
Requires
COMPANY MANAGER
Experience of staff management, budgeting, fundraising and excellent communication skills. Responsible for developing and implementing a diverse range of projects.
Salary Ł24,000 pa
Closing date 17th May
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FARM YARD CO-ORDINATOR
Self-motivated people person with experience and knowledge of horses and farm animals. (BHSAI or equivalent desireable)
Salary Ł19,800
Closing date 17th May
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR
To develop links with individuals and organisations, recruit, select and supervise trainees, volunteers and work experience placements.
3 days/wk, pro rata Ł19,800
Closing date 10th May
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For application forms send A4 SAE to:
V.C.F., 24 St Oswalds Place, London SE11 5JE
T: 020 7582 4204

-- Sam Harpur (vauxhallcityfarm@ukonline.co.uk), May 03, 2002.

Children's Embroidery Project
Local Embroidery Designer, Leon Conrad is one of a small group of embroidery designers keen to encourage youngsters to stitch. The group of four professional designers, based around the country is currently seeking to work closely with children on a series of projects - aimed at 5-7 year olds, 7-9 year olds and 9-11 year olds. The designers are aiming to publish the project ideas in book format next year.
Leon is keen to work with interested groups such as local home- education groups, or local schools, guides/brownies who would like to be involved.
5-7 year olds are under-represented amongst the group at the moment.
If you are interested in taking part, or finding out more details please contact Leon Conrad via email at info@lcdesigns.org

-- Leon Conrad (info@lcdesigns.org), May 02, 2002.

Queen embarks on jubilee tour
Jack Durrell Guardian Unlimited
Wednesday May 1, 2002
Two thousand people turned out to greet the Queen as she began her national jubilee tour at Falmouth in Cornwall today.
The 15-week tour, which will take in regions throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will enable the Queen to thank the nation for its loyalty, Buckingham Palace said.
During a breezy tour around Falmouth harbour, the Queen held onto her hat as she stood at the helm of a new lifeboat she had just named.
The crew of HMS Cornwall stood to attention as her boat passed and children aboard the training ship Prince William, named after her grandson, stood on the rigging and cheered.
Pleasure boats followed in the Queen's wake as she docked at the Prince of Wales pier where a crowd had gathered to greet her.
The Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, will travel to Truro later today where she will mark the 125th anniversary of the diocese at the cathedral. The day will conclude with a reception held by Devon county council, after which the royal couple will return to Taunton.
Today's celebrations also include the opening of an exhibition at Kensington Palace displaying dresses worn by the Queen, the Queen Mother and Queen Victoria.
However, the tour has been overshadowed by reports that groups opposed to the monarchy plan to disrupt this summer's events, and the findings of an ICM survey for the Daily Mirror newspaper and GMTV, which claimed that 53% of those surveyed thought the Queen should abdicate within the next five years.
The Movement Against the Monarchy (MAM) plan to start their protests with an anti-jubilee street party in KENNINGTON in south London on June 1, and a "warm welcome" for the Queen when she visits Wales on June 11, where there will be "plenty of music, debate, videos, drinking and poetry," according to the group's website.
The jubilee tour continues with a two-day visit to the north east, starting on May 7. It will conclude on August 5 in Lancashire. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

Date: 30.04.2002 Ref: 1338 Press contact: John Harrison Tel: 020 7926 2440 Email: jharrison@lambeth.gov.uk Press Release Talented pupils supported well at Lilian Baylis
The teaching of 'gifted and talented' pupils at Lilian Baylis School in KENNINGTON has been singled out for praise by Ofsted inspectors as part of a national inspection of inner city schools.
Inspectors fed back to teachers and governors after a visit that concentrated on the support that the school offered to more able pupils.
The results in drama at Lilian Baylis are impressive. At any one time, twenty students outside of Year 11 are studying for a GCSE and can expect to get an GCSE A*-C.
Excellence in Cities, which is a government initiative aimed at raising achievement in inner city schools, funds an ambitious programme at Lilian Baylis, and other schools in Lambeth, to support 'gifted and talented' pupils. It was this programme at Lilian Baylis that Ofsted inspected.
Inspectors told governors they were impressed by the early entry to maths and drama GCSEs and the tutoring arrangements.
The school has developed a policy of using outside mentors to help pupils focus on achievement. These mentors are drawn from South Bank University and local businesses.
Lilian Baylis has fostered a strong link with the university and last week 120 Year nine students visited the Elephant and Castle campus to utilise the facilities for their own version of 'Silent Witness'. The pupils were able to study police evidence and carry out their own forensic investigation.
Another successful visit for able pupils in Year 10 was to Lambeth College, where they studied engineering and developed a robotic mouse with in-built sensors to follow a light source.
Gary Phillips, the headteacher of Lilian Baylis, said: "Lilian Baylis herself, who founded the Old Vic theatre, would be proud of how the school bearing her name was doing in drama. All of the staff and students are extremely pleased that OfSTED found so much to praise in the way we support gifted and talented pupils. The feedback session we had with the inspectors was illuminating and encouraging. We have strong partnerships with universities and colleges to ensure our most able pupils are really stretched."
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW

Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

Date: 25.04.2002 Ref: 1338 Press contact: John Harrison Tel: 020 7926 2440 Email: jharrison@lambeth.gov.uk Press Release Dramatic success for pastoral officers at Lilian Baylis
A KENNINGTON school has slashed its rate of unauthorised absence in half and increased its attendance rate from 86% to 92% after the introduction of two pastoral officers to support and liaise with parents.
Lilian Baylis School has a better attendance record than the national average, quite an achievement for an inner city school.
Two pastoral officers, funded through Excellence in Cities, were appointed a year ago. David Browne is a trained Youth Worker and Hillarie Hoyte is a Counsellor. They believe their blend of skills has helped them succeed at their roles as pastoral officers.
Hillarie Hoyte said: "We have more time than teachers to really get to the bottom of issues affecting attendance. We liaise closely with parents, social services, the Police and the Education Welfare Officers at Lambeth Council to ensure that the real reasons for absence are understood and that parents and students are supported."
The two pastoral officers are completing their first year at the school. Their work has involved setting up parents meetings and establishing a drop-in centre at the school for family members concerned about a child's attendance. The officers also have a helpline for parents.
They have built strong links with external, voluntary groups committed to reducing unauthorised absence, including Mentoring Plus and the Brixton based 409 Project, and the Odeon Cinema in Streatham has chipped in by offering discounted tickets to well-attending pupils.
The pastoral officers have sought to tackle the underlying causes of poor attendance by setting up study circles so pupils can learn to be more involved and interested in lessons.
Gary Phillips, the headteacher of Lilian Baylis School, said: "The success of the pastoral officers has been fantastic. The officers provide a link with parents and, not only boost attendance, but free up teachers to concentrate on lessons. The skill and dedication of the pastoral officers has been crucial to the massive improvements at Lilian Baylis School during the last year."
Issued by the Communication Centre London Borough of Lambeth Lambeth Town Hall Brixton Hill London SW2 1RW

Telephone 020 7926 1000 Fax 020 7926 2835 www.lambeth.gov.uk

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

Laurel & Hardy in Kennington
Laurel & Hardy films are shown frequently in Kennington. The Sons of the Desert is the name of the international Laurel & Hardy appreciation society. We hold our meetings at
The Pilgrim 247 Kennington Lane London SE11 5QU t: 020 7735 6288
every other month. Our next two meetings are scheduled there for May 25th 2002 and 27th July 2002 at 5pm-ish. Entrance is free for members and Ł3 for guests. Annual membership of the club is Ł10. If you like Laurel & Hardy, perhaps you would care to join our happy group, the Sons of the Desert, or just come along and see if you like it. All welcome.

-- Del Kempster (delkempster@hotmail.com), May 02, 2002.

Local History Week: 4-12 May
Circular Guided Walk: Sunday, 12 May - North Brixton
At first glance anonymous and blighted by heavy traffic, but many historical links once you know where to look.
Meet at 2.30pm at front gates of St Mark's Church (opposite Oval tube station) in Clapham Road, for a guided walk led by Alan Piper, Secretary of the Brixton Society.
There is no set charge but we welcome donations.
For a copy of the full Walks Programme and/or our Spring Newsletter, please contact:
Alan Piper Secretary The Brixton Society 82 Mayall Road London SE24 0PJ t/f: 020 7207 0347 e-mail apiperbrix@aol.com www.brixtonsociety.org.uk

-- Alan Piper (apiperbrix@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

'Backstairs Billy' told to leave home
The Queen Mother's most faithful servant has been told to leave his grace-and-favour home in the grounds of Clarence House after 51 years of service. William Tallon, who served as Steward and Page of the Backstairs, has been given until the end of July to leave Gate Lodge overlooking The Mall.
The faithful retainer, known affectionately as "Backstairs Billy", is said to have been forced to retire at 66, without severance pay, before he could help wind up the Queen Mother's affairs.
The snub has left him depressed and bewildered, according The Mail on Sunday. Mr Tallon will now move into a Ł80-a-week housing association flat in KENNINGTON.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 29 April 2002 Terms and Conditions

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

Wombles accused after 'officer picked fight'
Jeevan Vasagar Guardian
Tuesday April 30, 2002
A police officer yesterday described being surrounded by "a sea of masked individuals screaming abuse and lashing out" as he tried to arrest a member of the anti-capitalist protest group known as the Wombles.
Seven members of the anarchist group went on trial yesterday at Horseferry Road magistrates' court in central London on charges including assaulting a police officer, causing criminal damage to a police van and using threatening words or behaviour.
Supporters of the Wombles claimed outside court that the trial was deliberately being held this week to keep the men away from tomorrow's May Day demonstrations.
The fracas which led to the trial broke out on October 31 last year after a police patrol in Oxford Street in central London spotted a group of about 20, most of whom were dressed in white paper suits and Halloween masks.
It is the typical gear of the Wombles, who had been picketing a speech by Henry Kissinger at the Institute of Directors earlier that day.
PC Martin Hayes, who had also been on duty at the Kissinger protest, got out of the van after he saw one of the men - identified in court as Martin King, 28, of Finsbury Park, north London - gesturing and flicking v-signs. He tried to detain Mr King. "The group surged around me and encircled me," he said.
"There were a lot of comments such as 'kick him, get him'. They were extremely abusive and threatening."
The court heard that police bundled Mr King into their van, then came under attack from the protesters. As the van was kicked, one of the officers shouted to the driver to go - he reversed into Oxford Street and collided with a bus.
Police reinforcements arrived and the officers got out of their van and started chasing the protesters, PC Hayes said.
Some of them tried to strip off their paper suits as they ran. Simon Chapman, 28, of Basildon, Essex, was grabbed by PC Hayes as he tried to pull off his costume. The officer alleged that Mr Chapman kicked him in the ankle.
Under cross-examination by Kieran Vaughan, counsel for King, PC Hayes agreed that a man gesturing was not a threat to the public. "And if you had driven on, nothing would have happened?" he asked. "I believe that sort of behaviour should be challenged," PC Hayes replied.
Jo Cooper, counsel for another defendant, Clayton Elliott, 28, of Lewisham, south London, alleged other officers thought PC Hayes was "inclined to lose control" and took things too personally. He said: "You stopped and picked a petty fight, didn't you?"
PC Hayes replied: "I didn't pick a fight. I challenged someone re: anti-social behaviour."
Also charged are Robin Horsell, 42, of KENNINGTON, south London; Bennet McComish, 29, of Homerton, east London; Peter Gerajhty, 37, of Finchley, north London; and Graham McAleer, 47, of Finsbury Park, north London.
The trial continues today.
· Papers alleging police wrongly detained two of about 3,000 people caught up in the action to contain last year's May Day protest in London were yesterday lodged at the high court. Lawyers for the pair said the papers involved two test cases over the police's right to be able to detain the crowd in Oxford Circus from 2pm to 9pm.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), May 02, 2002.

Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre & Vision for Vauxhall
Vision for Vauxhall and Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre are jointly holding a public election hustings scheduled for this Tuesday 30th of April 7pm at The Spring, 100 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5EL. It's an opportunity for local residents to hear what the different candidates in Princes Ward are proposing to do if elected and, more importantly, for the candidates to listen to our concerns. If there are burning issues you want to see addressed, this meeting is the perfect opportunity to make sure that the candidates know, and are going to do something about, them.
Tim Boxall (Secretary, Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre)
Mary Ackland-Hood (Co-ordinator, Vision for Vauxhall forum)

-- Tim Boxall (Secretary, Vauxhall Gardens Community (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), April 29, 2002.

Read the first chapter of my autobiography on living with manic depression entitled "A CAn Of Madness" for free at www.chipmunkapublishing.com The book is sponsored by the mental health charity Mind. As a resident of Lambeth i am particularly interested in getting the message across to people in the borough. Kathy has very kindly let me know about this forum. On the website there are details of a charity i am helping to set up which encourages people who have been prejudiced against to write about their experiences. There are also reviews from the press and the public on "A Can Of Madness." Everyone who reads the book is either comforted by it (as they are a mental health user or are a friend or relative of one) or changes their perception of people with mental health problems as a result of using it. The book is breaking down stereotypes and prejudices. It is uncompromising, honest and absorbing.
You can order a copy by sending a cheque for Ł12.00 made payable to chipmunkapublishing and send it to:
PO Box 6872 Brentwood Essex CM13 1ZT United Kingdom
There are also links on the website to other mental health services such as Mind and Mental Health Media. Everyone knows someone who suffers from a mental health problem so lets start helping them instead of treating them like aliens.

-- Jason Pegler (jasonpegler@yahoo.com), April 29, 2002.

EVENTS: PICK OF THE WEEK The Vauxhall Open Fri to 31 May St Peter's Church, London SE11 The Independent - United Kingdom; Apr 27, 2002 BY PETER CONCHIE
For perhaps too many years now, the artists of east London have exercised a hypnotic hold over the minds and wallets of the capital's critics and collectors. A gathering this weekend on the unfashionable side of the river aims to challenge this Hoxton-centric view of modern art, and to promote the artists of Lambeth.
Artists taking place in the month-long event work in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, film and video, installation and sound.
A gathering this Friday gets the event underway with an evening of cinema and live music (7.30pm-12mdn't, pounds 3). The programme includes new and commissioned films, and music, plus performances by musicians who recently featured in the Wigmore Hall's "Young Masters" series of concerts.
3-31 May, St Peter's Church, Kennington Lane, London SE11 (020-7793 0263) Fri to 31 May, Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm, free
All Material Subject to Copyright

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 27, 2002.

Jail for car jackers
Old Bailey: Two knife-wielding robbers who terrorised motorists in violent car-jackings have been jailed.
Trevor "Tiny" Hodges, 18, was given eight years for his part in the car-jackings, one of which happened in Aldersbrook Road, Wanstead.
His accomplice Linden George, 19, received five years, after the pair were sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Sentences for the pair, who pleaded guilty, also took in other charges of robbery, motoring and disorder.
The court heard how the pair terrorised their victims in four different incidents and had a string of previous convictions.
The case comes just two months after Hodges was found not guilty of murdering Wanstead law student Sajid Chishti.
Hodges, of Manor Park, and George, of Poplar, started their trail of terror on May 26 last year when, with a third man, they threatened a minicab driver in Bow.
They put a knife to him and forced him from the vehicle, a Toyota Corina, stealing his takings and the car.
The vehicle was later found in KENNINGTON with the fingerprints of both men inside.
Their next victim was a 34-year-old woman who was driving her VW Golf in Aldersbrook Road around 5.35pm on June 14.
After noticing a Ford Fiesta in front of her, she was suddenly surrounded by the men, who held a knife to her face and forced her from the vehicle.
They drove off in her car, leaving behind the stolen Fiesta they had arrived in.
Just over an hour later they struck again. This time they pounced on a 73-year-old man who had stopped his Mercedes in Forest Gate to let them pass.
Instead they got out, threatened the pensioner with a knife and ripped a gold chain from his neck.
They then tried to steal the Mercedes but couldn't start it because they could not drive an automatic. They drove away in the earlier victim's VW Golf which was abandoned in Manor Park, near where Hodges and George were later arrested.
Two months ago Hodges was found not guilty of murdering Mr Chishti but guilty of robbing him. The court heard how Hodges had performed a victory dance after Mr Chishti was fatally attacked at Ilford station in May last year.
He was also arrested after the murder of a shopkeeper in Forest Gate in 1999, but charges were dropped.
Investigating officer DC Mark Robson said later: "We're pleased with today's sentencing. Hodges and George are violent criminals who threatened their victims with a knife, leaving them fearful for their safety if they didn't hand over their property.
"Tackling street crime is one of our top priorities and the public deserves to be protected from dangerous criminals like Hodges and George."
April 25, 2002 11:00
© Copyright 2002 Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 27, 2002.

Events What's on in south London this week? Apr 26 2002 South London Press WHETHER it's clubbing, comedy, music or culture you are after, if it's on in South London it's here...
Clubs
SOUTH LONDON PACIFIC, 340 Kennington Road, 020-7820 9189: Tiki Bingo (tonight 8pm-2am) Free before 10pm Ł4/Ł3 after. Palladium (tomorrow) with Felchley B Hawkes, Sunday Lei-In (Sun 5pm-11pm) Free.
Jazz
BATTERSEA BARGE, Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, 020-7498 0004: Sunday Lunch Club, with Julian Seigel (Sun 2pm-4.30pm) free. Ed Jones Quartet (Thu 8pm-11.30pm) Ł6.
Theatre
OVAL HOUSE THEATRE, Kennington Oval, 020-7582 7680: Kushite Theatre present The Front Room (tonight, tomorrow, Tue, Wed, Thu 7.45pm) Ł9/ Ł5.
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002 icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 26, 2002.

Recruitment
Vauxhall City Farm
Requires
COMPANY MANAGER
Experience of staff management, budgeting, fundraising and excellent communication skills. Responsible for developing and implementing a diverse range of projects.
Salary Ł24,000 pa
Closing date 17th May
YOUTH CO-ORDINATOR
To develop the youth volunteering programme. Develop links with individuals and organisations, recruit, select and supervise trainees, volunteers and work experience placements.
3 days/wk, pro rata Ł19,800
Closing date 10th May
For app. send A4 SAE to V.C.F., 24 St Oswalds Place, London SE11 5JE T: 020 7582 4204

-- Sam Harpur (vauxhallcityfarm@ukonline.co.uk), April 26, 2002.

Coming up on Richard and Judy
FRIDAY 26th APRIL
DAVID SOUL Actor David Soul tells us more about his theatrical role in 'Deathtrap.'
MO MOWLAM Former Northern Ireland Secretary Mo Mowlam talks about life after politics.
STOCKARD CHANNING Actress Stockard Channing gives us the low down on 'The West Wing.'
MONDAY 29th APRIL
LUKE GOSS Eighties popstar turned film actor, Luke Goss talks about his role in 'Blade II.'
2DTV The satirical adult cartoon '2DTV' is back for yet another series. We'll be meeting the talent behind the show - Impressionist Jon Culshaw and Producer Giles Pilbrow. TUESDAY 30th APRIL
FAY RIPLEY The talented Miss Ripley joins us to natter about the return of her comedy drama 'I Saw You.'
FRIDAY 3rd MAY
RONAN KEATING Life is a roller coaster on Friday, when Irish pop star Ronan Keating joins us in the studio!
http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/R/richardandjudy/
POSTAL ADDRESS
Cactus TV Ltd PO Box 31888 London SE11 4XS

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 26, 2002.

Walworth Garden Farm are having their annual sale of spring plants every Saturday and Sunday in May starting on May 4th.
The plants are usually of a very good quality and pretty cheap. The Farm is a charity helping train long term unemployed people in horticulture so is well worth supporting.
They are based at the junction of Braganza Street and Manor Place.

-- rob pateman (robpateman@bbcboo.com), April 26, 2002.

Nietzsche & Freud
Two Talks
Both these seminal western intellectual figures were vilified in their time.
Although they are both still reviled they still keep making their ideas know. Perhaps the constant attacks play a part in maintaining their significance for the present.
These two talks will examine the various controversies and argue for the continuing (urgent) significance of these two thinkers for our own troubled times.
Speaker: Geoff Digguenes
Place: The White Bear Theatre Club 138 Kennington Park Road London SE11
Time: 8pm, Monday 29th April (Freud) 8pm, Monday 6th May (Nietzsche)
Tickets: Ł5
To book ring The White Bear box office on 020 7793 9193 or 07985 500 677.

-- Michael (mkwbear@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

The Times April 24, 2002
'Distortion' of rural issues From the Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance
Sir, Matthew Parris (Comment, April 20) is quite wrong to imply that we are doing nothing about the big rural issues. Of course the political attack on hunting features largely on our website, but this merely reflects the perversely distorted current “rural” priorities of Westminster, not ours.
We have been pressing ahead with a panoply of constructive policy output and community project activities. This includes our work on regional food, crime prevention, food co-operatives, social services and amenities, affordable housing, and sustainable land use. But most of the media appear more interested in hearing from us on hunting than learning about our progressive initiatives and policies to help the people of the countryside.
It is not we but the politicians who have hijacked the real social and economic priorities of the countryside. Hunting is not even an issue in most rural communities — only in Westminster. But a ban on hunting is a huge issue for the countryside, both in itself and because it seems to be our politicians’ prime interest in rural Britain — judging by the inordinate amounts of parliamentary time and taxpayers’ money they appear willing to waste on legislation that would not help a single rural (or urban) family and would harm many.
Meanwhile, politicians largely ignore the real problems and priorities of the countryside. When they do show any interest it is usually in doing things to, rather than for, rural people. And that is why, despite Mr Parris’s scepticism, hunting has become the touchstone for rural communities’ anger and sense of betrayal over their political treatment — as our politicians will assuredly find out when we bring hundreds of thousands of people to London on September 22.
Yours etc, RICHARD BURGE, Chief Executive, Countryside Alliance, 367 Kennington Road, SE11 4PT. April 22.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

News Roadworks creating worst jams in years Apr 23 2002 By Oscar Mortali And Jon Ryder, South London Press
THE worst jams for years are forcing traffic to a standstill across south London with roadworks creating near-gridlock on the city's streets.
Winding tailbacks are driving motorists mad and some minicab drivers say they are thinking of packing in the job because of the stress behind the wheel.
One said congestion has got so bad, customers were getting out halfway through the journey as they struggled through obstacle courses of cones and diversions.
Laurie Gordon, who works for Martini Car Hire, said: "One woman told me to stop, got out and said she'd be quicker on the train." He said he was turning jobs down and losing money.
Laurie, who has worked for the Burnt Ash Hill firm for six years, said he has never seen the streets so bad. Last week it took him 40 minutes to drive less than HALF-A-MILE across Lewisham.
"It's horrendous. I've never seen anything like it and it's coming to the stage where drivers are thinking enough is enough. The way it's going, it's coming to a complete standstill."
When the South London Press scanned the RAC roadworks' list on Friday, we counted 13 major road-works clogging up the already over- crowded streets.
Long-suffering drivers have been fuming over hold-ups around The Oval at Vauxhall Cross, and Jamaica Road between Shad Thames and Abbey Street has been clogged since last October. Those Bermondsey roadworks are not expected to be finished until the end of July - 10 months after the cones first went down.
The A2 has been plagued by bridge-strengthening work at New Cross but, as if that wasn't bad enough, there's also a hole in it big enough to swallow a small car. The capital's largest pothole appeared on busy Blackheath Hill last week and is believed to be the result of collapsed chalkmines.
The chasm will take a lot of filling, meaning the vital section of the trunk road could be shut for another month leaving drivers snarled up in massive traffic jams on the surrounding roads.
A Transport for London spokes-woman said: "There is a lot of improvement work at the moment at places like Vauxhall and the Kennington Oval which would account for any increase in roadworks."
* A pilot project in Camden launched last year saw the north London authority fine utility companies for every day that roadworks ran over the allocated time.
It is hoped the scheme will get the go-ahead London-wide later this year.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

SPRING PLANTS FAIR AT THE MUSEUM OF GARDEN HISTORY
Sunday 28 April 10.30am-5pm; Ł2.50; Museum of Garden History, Lambeth Road
Thousands of plants from nearly 20 specialist nurseries.
http://www.museumgardenhistory.org

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

LAMBETH PALACE GARDEN OPEN
Saturday 27 April 2-5.30pm; Ł3 (OAP Ł2; child Ł1); Lambeth Palace Road
The Archbishop of Canterbury's garden, the second largest in London, has a rare public opening.
http://www.se1direct.co.uk/quicklink/go.php?id=38

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

acesandeights present
Silence and Violence by Torben Betts
23 April - 12 May 2002 Tues - Sat 8pm / Sundays 4pm At the White Bear Theatre
"He has an O'Neill-like emotional force" Michael Billington on Torben Betts in the Guardian
An artist awaits execution for crimes he hasn't committed. In a moment of doubt and terror his ruthless lover begins her last rites that will see them both swallowed in the horror of her power-crazed husband's apocalyptic vision; his homeland risen from the ashes of war.
A blistering yet intimate portrait of political manipulation and emotional brutality set against a savage campaign of genocide.
"Silence and Violence" is an epic meditation on the nature of self and fate.
Call 'The White Bear' to reserve your tickets 020 7793 9193 Ł8 Full price Ł6 Concessions
Commissioned by acesandeights
A member of ITC WHITE BEAR THEATRE CLUB 138 Kennington Park Road London SE11 4RB

-- Michael (mkwbear@hotmail.com), April 22, 2002.

The Daily Telegraph 20 April 2002
Thai Pavilion East 78 Kennington Road, Nr Imperial War Museum, London SE11 6NL 020 7587 0455 Overlooking the grounds of the Imperial War Museum, Thai Pavilion offers Thai food, global drinks and a wonderful ambience. Opens June 4 2002. Contemporary.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 21, 2002.

The Guardian Profile: Richard Jones
Rise of the demon king
He played piano in bars and worked as a stage hand in variety shows but his real passion was for theatre. Now his uncompromising productions of operas and plays have earned him an international reputation - and the scorn of traditionalists. Charlotte Higgins reports on the director who brought scratch-and-sniff to Prokofiev
Charlotte Higgins Guardian
Saturday April 20, 2002
Bald-headed, stubble-chinned and with bent wire spectacles, director Richard Jones is propelling singers around a London rehearsal room. English National Opera is preparing for its landmark production of the season, Berg's Lulu. Today they are working on a complex scene towards the end of the opera. The best word to describe what Jones is doing is choreography: the intricate movement of the performers, right down to a hand making contact with a phone receiver, or a palm patting a bottom, is as neatly and uncompromisingly plotted as a dance. "You've got to be still now or an atomic bomb will go off," he tells the singers. "It is totally unnegotiable. It has to be absolutely tickety-boo. And Graeme - your bottom-patting is too perfunctory."
There is nothing anodyne about Richard Jones. His work, indeed his very personality, is unflinching, intense and often deeply witty. Over a 20-year career directing opera and theatre, he has been responsible for some of the stage's most talked-about images: latex- clad Rhinemaidens inflated to the proportions of Michelin men at the Royal Opera House; a tyrannosaurus rex towering over Ann Murray's Julius Caesar at the Staatsoper, Munich; a Ballo In Maschera in Bregenz in which a reclining skeleton, 32 metres high, clutched a vast open book that formed a stage floating on a lake. Jones is also the director who, memorably, brought scratch-and-sniff to the opera in his vision of Prokofiev's The Love For Three Oranges, first seen at Opera North in 1989. A deadpan, besuited announcer explained to the audience that the cards to be found on each seat in the theatre were to be rubbed at certain points in the opera to release appropriate smells. He was then shot by a chorus member and dragged behind the curtain.
This gift for the thrilling, the gaudy and the wayward is one of the characteristics that marks Jones out. "He is the best British director around at the moment," says director David Pountney, part of the "powerhouse" triumvirate that presided over English National Opera in the 1980s. "He is extremely imaginative, he has a very individual, quirky response to the material, and a very sharp eye for humour." According to Nicholas Hytner, artistic director-designate of the National Theatre: "He is one of the most genuinely original and completely individual directors around. I want him to do lots of shows at the National. Anything he's interested in." "He is indubitably top-notch," agrees ENO's general director, Nicholas Payne.
But just as Jones's work is often extreme and unpredictable, so is the critical response to it. There are shows - Three Oranges, his Pelléas And Mélisande of 1995 for Opera North, his 2000 Queen Of Spades for Welsh National Opera - that have been universally adored and acknowledged as classics. But things have not always run so smoothly. His Ring cycle for Covent Garden in the mid-90s was greeted with bemusement, even contempt: one paper called it "a monument of garish flippancy and banal cartoon caricature". The audience's catcalls on the first night of Das Rheingold made front-page news, and trouble behind the scenes was broadcast to the nation in the infamous TV documentary about the ROH, The House. "It was really quite memorable," Jones says, wryly, "to go on stage at Covent Garden, and be greeted not just with booing, but with a wall of sound. I suppose I didn't feel very much at the time. I was quite anaesthetised. Not with chemicals... alcohol."
His latest opening, this February, was a staging of A Midsummer Night's Dream - his Royal Shakespeare Company debut. A million miles away from the world of the pastel gauze and fairy glitter of convention, Jones's staging brought horror-film images, outsized flies and dirt-smeared, deranged fairies to conservative Stratford. The critics loathed it. One headline read: "Dream world ruined by this vandal's romp." Another observed: "Miserably undercast, grotesquely overdesigned, sloppily directed and lacks the following: theatricality, comedy and magic."
It was not a great time to be getting bad reviews. The production has been swept up in the current row about the future of the RSC and Adrian Noble's fitness to run it and is now generally known as the play that got the worst reviews of the RSC's entire history and of any theatre production for the past 20 years. Jones says: "It's quite extraordinary. I switched on Newsnight the other week and there was Jeremy Paxman waving copies of reviews at Noble. I watched it for a bit and then turned it off... I don't want to get involved. But I feel very happy to have directed it.
"I don't think it's the worst piece of theatre in Britain for the past 20 years. It's just not 'fairy glade'. A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Ring cycle will always be there tomorrow. All we are saying is, 'This is what we think of this play or opera tonight. We can do it differently another time.' There is an absolute obsession with being definitive in the theatre, which I hate. People think there is some kind of grail, that there is one way for a piece to be done. I think there is a cultural amnesia about what theatre is for. It should certainly ask more questions than it gives answers."
Richard Jones was born on June 7, 1953, in south London - down the road from his present home, an elegantly decorated terraced house in Kennington where he lives alone. His father worked for Shell; his mother ran the home. He has one elder sister. Ask Jones about his life and he is apt to provide a gloss: "I was a musician for a while, and then I became a theatre director." Reminiscences do not flow freely, and he baulks at discussing his childhood and schooling. His mother has watched one or two of his productions, but Jones cannot remember that his father has been to anything. "It's not as if he is saying, 'I refuse to see anything my erring son has directed.' This is just the way it has worked out," he says. David Sawer, a close friend whose opera From Morning To Midnight Jones staged last year for ENO, says: "He wasn't the sort of child who was given a toy theatre, put it that way."
Jones's first experience of the theatre was to be taken by his parents to a panto at the London Palladium, when he was aged about seven. "It was called Old King Cole. It had two people in very Wagnerian costumes who came out of trapdoors in puffs of smoke. I thought it was absolutely unbelievable, tumescent. Then when I was about 10 I saw Boris Christoff singing Boris Godunov at the Royal Opera. He was dressed in lots of fur; I thought that was deeply cool. I could draw you the sets for that production. It had St Basil's cathedral - all domes - and lots of people holding sticks topped with jewels. It was like Eisenstein. I thought it was amazing."
Jones was educated at a south London comprehensive. "I didn't like school. Frightened. This is going to sound horribly mawkish, but it is difficult if you are gay; it can be the most miserable time in your life. They can be disgusting, the years between 11 and 17." He learned the piano, discovering a keen aural sense and a talent for mimicry. "I was very dextrous but had absolutely no originality," he says.
His university career took him to Hull to study anthropology, after which he returned to London for postgraduate studies. "It was boring," he says, "but I didn't know what to do. What I really wanted was the theatre, but I thought other people did that, people like Peter Hall and Trevor Nunn. I was very embarrassed as a teenager by the theatre and I repressed my desire to do it for years. Instead I thought I would live on the periphery of that world." In the late 70s he started playing the piano in shows, restaurants and clubs - places such as the Ritz, L'Escargot and the Zanzibar. "I was earning about Ł50 a night, which then was phenomenal. And I blew it all on ridiculous clothes. Being a director was something I wanted to do so passionately that I didn't get on with it, or thought it was uncool to get on with it. I had a very nice partner, I was earning money, I thought life was rather good."
Then he began to work as a stage hand at the Victoria Palace theatre in central London. There was Swing-a-long-a Max with Max Bygraves, the Mike Yarwood Show, Carry On London. "It was the dying embers of variety, all these beaten up people performing to old ladies who are probably all dead now. I was dunking the fire sticks for the fire- eater, popping out for 20 B&H for women from the chorus line. I've never been happier in the theatre since. That world held an almost sexual excitement for me."
The experience provided a reconnection with the mythic, dingy, fantastical world that he had encountered as a small child watching panto and spectacular, creaky operas. He calls it a blood transfusion. You suspect it is closer to his heart, and much more significant to him, than any production directed by Peter Hall and his ilk.
It helped him wake up to what he wanted to do, and he started badgering directors to let him help out on operas and plays. In 1982 he was awarded an Arts Council bursary for trainee directors that took him to Scottish Opera. He assisted directors such as Pountney and Jonathan Miller. Finally, he was given his own production of Verdi's Macbeth ("a bit violent and exciting") for Opera-Go-Round, Scottish Opera's touring branch. After a few years at the coalface, he directed Ostrovsky's Too Clever By Half at the Old Vic in 1988, which won him an Olivier award.
A year later came The Love For Three Oranges. Nicholas Payne, who then ran Opera North, recalls: "There were lots of more famous people who were considered, but in the end we thought we'd give him a go. It was a surprise success for everyone, a piece from an unknown director that captured the public imagination. It's the production that made his name, but it's not his greatest one, nor one that he would want to be revived. It had a brilliant but surface theatricality. It was a firework. It was later that he acquired a greater depth and understanding of the human soul."
Productions at ENO followed, but, characteristically, he was soon to turn out what was regarded as a turkey - his 1991 Die Fledermaus, hated by the critics. Peter Jonas, who then ran ENO and now heads the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, calls it "the greatest production of that opera I have seen". Jones, who is fairly self-critical, calls it "terrible, and horrifyingly received". But he loved the atmosphere at that house: "It was one of those few times when you think, 'I'm working for a real opera company, something with an aesthetic, and the aesthetic is about ideas, and the ideas are disposable, and we think this about this piece today and we might have another idea about it tomorrow. I found it completely stultifying doing the Ring at Covent Garden, where there was this immensely stagnant notion that something should be definitive or achieved."
The Ring dominated Jones's professional life during the mid-1990s, and what overshadowed that experience was a disastrous relationship with conductor and Opera House music director Bernard Haitink. Jones's sometimes iconoclastic ideas had already confounded one potential partnership with an old-school conductor: in 1994 Sir Charles Mackerras took one look at the model for Jones's Munich Julius Caesar (in which tyrannosaurus rex literally loomed large) and refused to conduct it. "I think Charles Mackerras thinks I am the devil," says Jones.
"And he is rather unconventional in the music world in that he calls a spade a spade. But the point is it didn't end in acrimony - he was incredibly professional." The first night saw a bar rage of boos and catcalls. People were shouting, "Kinder, kinder! [children, children]". Then it became a succés de scandale, loved in Germany, less loved by the UK critics - "fatuous send-up" they called it.
It is clearly a production of which he remains very fond, along with a later Munich production of Tippett's "ecstatic, unwieldy" A Midsummer Marriage, which involved teaching an enormous German chorus to sing a rather odd text in English - the sort of faintly hilarious, paradoxical situation that Jones seems to warm to.
Things were infinitely darker during the Ring period, 1994-6. "I was set up with a conductor [Haitink] who was a nice bloke, but who wanted it to be a rather distant and dignified and gauzy stage event. Instead Nicholas Payne [then head of opera at Covent Garden] locked him in a room with a theatre artist. It was intolerable for him and it was intolerable for me, because he wasn't engaging in the stage imagery." Jones was working with designer Nigel Lowery, whose abstract concept for the tetralogy was almost universally damned. "I like modernism. To me Haitink had clearly never looked at a picture by Picasso. It was an evil and horrible working relationship. One person was talking one language and the other another."
Jones acknowledges that it was not the most successful directorial event of his career: "I think Siegfried was quite good and Rheingold was quite good. I didn't think Walküre was ever directorially cracked and Götterdämmerung was so bleak it was very punitive for the audience. It was messy, unfinished, had moments that were distinguished and moments that were not. I think you can only do that piece if you have a conductor and director who are on the same page." Payne suggests that, despite the trauma of the experience, there was something in Jones that relished the impossibility of the situation: "It was gladiatorial. You boldly go into the lion's den, into the Royal Opera House, working with extremely famous singers, and mould a work to your imagination."
Jones deeply resents the TV documentary series The House, that memorably saw Haitink's face drop a mile when presented with the models for the Ring. "I thought [the programmes] were complete shit. I suppose if they had been about another sphere of work I could have watched them more objectively, but they aroused in me lots of the contradictions and complexities and negative feelings I have about working in the theatre."
One hopes for happier times ahead: Jones returns to the ROH in 2004, to direct Shostakovich's epic Lady Macbeth Of Mtsensk, with Antonio Pappano conducting. None the less, he retains some fairly trenchant views about aspects of that organisation. "I went to the National Portrait Gallery one day between meetings and saw an exhibition of photographs by Mario Testino. Mediocre pictures of people who are famous for being famous. By the end, I wanted to bomb it. I thought it was shit. The same photographer's work is what publicises the Royal Opera House - huge blown-up pictures outside t he theatre, in the newspaper ads. Girls with champagne glasses. And [singer] Willard White there, to add a dash of racial harmony - which of course you can't say. As long as you are promoting theatre that way you are doomed."
For the money, and to get away after the Ring nightmare, Jones decided to head to Broadway, to direct the musical Titanic. "I was also attracted by doing one of the most ironic stories of the 20th century in a format where you can't be ironic and you can't deal in unpalatable truths." It turned out to be a gruelling, if Tony- garnering, experience. At the first preview, the Titanic set failed to sink, which made international news.
"After each preview - there were weeks and weeks of them - we had meetings in this room above Times Square, which I called the arms- dealing room," says Jones. "There would be men sitting round a table and some unfortunate Filipino hovering in the background who would give you a drink. The producers' main problem was that we hadn't yet got a standing ovation - an SO they called it. I was at my wits' end. Eventually I said to my assistant director, 'What's the corniest thing you can think of?' He replied: 'I don't know... the dead meet the living?' I said, 'Right then, that's what we'll do'. Four nights later the dead met the living on stage and there was a standing ovation. And all these producers and writers were high-fiving in the theatre. I felt very weird about it."
Later the production went to Los Angeles. Jones says: "I had to watch a lot of previews and it was hideous, grotesque. Sometimes I used to slope out and a producer would tell me off. I would say, 'I am going to have to be hospitalised if I see this again'."
Punctuating the dark days of the Ring, however, came one of Jones's unalloyed successes - his Pelléas And Mélisande for Opera North in 1995. Paul Daniel was in the pit. "I remember rehearsing a particular scene that required great intimacy between two of the characters," Daniel says. "We were struggling with it, doing it in rather a reserved, distanced way. Then one day Richard came in and completely changed it: he allowed much more direct emotion into the scene. I remember him saying that he had allowed a door to open within himself that had been kept shut before. I think he used to use more schemes and ploys in his work than he does now. Over the years he has gradually allowed more and more of himself to be revealed on stage. The other thing that's really important about Richard is that he will know the score absolutely inside out."
People often accuse Jones of poking fun, of doling out cheap send-ups of operatic icons. That is to overlook his absolute obsession with, and knowledge of, music. He chats to his friend David Sawer most days, and when they aren't talking about sex, apparently, they are talking about "nerdy" music stuff. Jones goes to a lot of concerts, and finds the "hilariously nerdy" world of contemporary music benign.
Sawer points out that the way Jones deploys performers on the stage, in recurring but complex patterns, can be likened to the way a composer might deploy musical motifs. When Jones finds absurdity or monstrosity in plays and operas it is often assumed that he finds the art work itself laughable. But it is not really about that: it is about holding up these works unflinchingly to the light and bringing to the stage what he sees. If there are black jokes and absurdities, the joke is likely to be on us. He does not believe theatre to be redemptive or healing or a comfort. "We are told to take a huge, pulsating, ambiguous, inexplicable thing and render it coherent and linear and explicable. You can't do that and nor should you. It's Little Nell. That's why you get bored. That's why you think 'Oh god, I can't stand this.'"
Sometimes it is hard to see why Jones has chosen to be a theatre director, rather than, say, a visual artist. The fact that his stage work lacks the durability of a painting or a piece of music does bother him, he says. But he is not the sort of man to sit in a room on his own: his natural habitat is clearly that north London rehearsal room, cracking jokes with the singers. Soprano Joan Rodgers, who sang Mélisande in his Pelléas, calls him a "great enabler". But he says that he wouldn't want to run his own company; that he hasn't the charm and ability to schmooze that you need to run a theatre. Then he says, only half jokingly, "The only thing I would do is run the Royal Ballet - something that so clearly needs reinvention."
It will come as no surprise to his detractors that one of Jones's favourite opera productions of recent times has been last year's Don Giovanni directed by Calixto Bieito at ENO, branded by one critic "a coke-fuelled fellatio fest", and the focus, not unlike Jones's A Midsummer Night's Dream for the RSC, of a series of critical attacks on the artistic policy of the company. Says Jones: "Seeing it, I felt there was air going into my tyres for the first time in years. I thought, 'Oh yes, that's why I want to do this.'"
So why does he want to direct? "So I can see things that are in my head... about things I've read or heard. I'm often charged with being dishonest about what I have put on stage. But all I can say is they are things I have seen in my head. And I like the fact that the pictures you make are in three dimensions and there are live people in them who speak or sing."
And what, does he suppose, is theatre for? "It's about imagination. And about replicating human behaviour so you can organise it and study it. It is about images and dance and movement. It is sensual. It is magnificent. It is somewhere everyone can go to ask who we are and how we should be behaving better."
Does it work?
"No. Of course not."
· Lulu is at the Coliseum, London WC2, from May 1-30. Box office: 020- 7632 8300. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 20, 2002.

I am in need of some urgent help or advice. I need to talk to a fabric designer, preferable someone involved with printed fabrics. It’s quite urgent and although I have design background, not with fabrics. So please is there someone local who could help or advise me on a project I am currently trying to get sorted out I would be very grateful. Please get in touch.
Thanks Frances

-- Frances (frances@francesmckay.com), April 17, 2002.

Wednesday 17 April 2002 telegraph.co.uk SURREY: Upbeat despite the grief By Simon Briggs (Filed: 16/04/2002)
DURING the early weeks of this season, the tragic loss of Ben Hollioake will cast as long a shadow across the Oval as the famous Kennington gasholders. In such a stable and close-knit squad, no-one could fail to be touched by the death of this hugely talented yet unaffected young man.
Surrey's players have no alternative but to play through their grief, just as they did five years ago, when wicketkeeper Graham Kersey was involved in another fatal car accident in Western Australia. That summer, the team pulled together on the field, and club captain Adam Hollioake dedicated their victory in the Benson & Hedges Final to Kersey's memory.
"People will grieve in different ways and at different times," said Surrey coach Keith Medlycott last week. "But what I do know is that as professional sportsmen, these guys will be ready."
Surrey will begin the season without Ben's brother Adam, who remains at his family home in Perth. But in a side featuring three men - Alec Stewart, Mark Butcher and Graham Thorpe - who have led England at some stage, there is no shortage of captaincy alternatives. Butcher will take the reins in the opening County Championship match against Sussex on Friday.
"Adam will come back when he's ready," said Medlycott, "he's got to look after much more important things than 23 cricketers."
Adam will soon be looking after a new baby, too. He and his wife plan to name their daughter Bennaya in honour of Ben and his girlfriend, Janaya Scholten, who is recovering in hospital from the crash. His return is likely to be delayed into late May or even June, now that Surrey have found on-field cover in the form of Pakistan all-rounder Azhar Mahmood.
"We've just signed Azhar for about a four-week period for the Benson & Hedges Cup," said Medlycott. "Without Ben, and with Adam mourning in Australia, we're missing a lot of the dynamism of our side. Saqlain Mushtaq will be away too, playing against New Zealand, and he doesn't come back until mid-May."
While the retention of the B & H Cup would be a significant bonus, Surrey's season will be judged on their ability to displace Yorkshire from the top of the County Championship.
James Ormond has arrived to bolster fast-bowling stocks, but their tribute to their departed team-mate could easily come in the form of a third Championship title in four years.
The supporting seamers were Surrey's main problem in a rocky 2001 season, when they remained in theoretical danger of relegation until the final match. Despite the admirable efforts of Martin Bicknell, who was named all-rounder of the season for his 72 wickets and 748 runs, Alex Tudor proved too fragile and the newly recruited Ed Giddins too feckless.
While attending the National Academy in Adelaide, Tudor was diagnosed with a pelvic condition which causes two bones to grate together in the groin. Under the guidance of Academy director Rod Marsh, he took up the same exercise technique that has cured Andrew Flintoff's back trouble and bowled without pain in last week's practice match at Hove.
Alec Stewart is also restored to full fitness after twin operations on his elbows before Christmas. He notched an unbeaten century in that same match against Sussex, and the continuing advancement of James Foster within the England camp suggests Stewart may be available for a full season of county cricket for the first time since 1989.
Surrey details
Surrey staff: *A J Hollioake, R M Amin, J N Batty, M P Bicknell, A D Brown, M A Butcher, M A Carberry, R Clarke, E S H Giddins, Azhar Mahmood, T J Murtagh, Saqlain Mushtaq, S A Newman, J Ormond, M R Ramprakash, J D Ratcliffe, I D K Salisbury, P J Sampson, B J M Scott, N Shahid, A J Stewart, G P Thorpe, A J Tudor, I J Ward.
New Players: R Clarke, Azhar Mahmood (until Saqlain returns from international duty), S A Newman, J Ormond (Leics).
Released: G J Batty (Worcs), I E Bishop, G P Butcher, C G Greenidge (Northants), J J Porter.
Beneficiary: A D Brown.
2001 record: County Championship: 4th, Div 1 (P15 W3 L1 D12). National League: 8th, Div 1 (P16 W6 L10). B & H Cup: Winners. C & G Trophy: 4th rd.
Championship fixtures 2002
April 19: Sussex, Oval (CC1). 24: Yorkshire, Headingley (CC1).
May 8: Lancs, Oval. 24: Somerset, Oval. 31: Lancs, Old Trafford.
June 12: Kent, Oval.
July 3: Somerset, Taunton. 10: Warwicks, Oval. 19: Kent, Canterbury. 24: Yorkshire, Guildford.
Aug 8: Sussex, Hove. 14: Leics, Grace Road. 22: Hants, Oval. 27: Warwicks, Edgbaston.
Sept 11: Hants, The Rose Bowl. 18: Leics, Oval. © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 17, 2002.

South London Press News Rural campaigners to stage Budget day protest Apr 17 2002
Countryside campaigners are set to stage a demonstration to remind Chancellor Gordon Brown rural businesses need help in the Budget.
Members of the Countryside Alliance are sending a convoy of up to a dozen tractors, supported by two horse trailers, to carry signs around the streets of Westminster in central London urging the Chancellor to "Keep the Countryside Working".
The convoy is meeting at Montford Place, Kennington, in south east London, and plans to circle Westminster for several hours after noon.
It is to drive past the Palace of Westminster, around Parliament Square, north over Westminster Bridge and along Millbank, circling the offices of the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in Smith Square and back to Parliament Square, passing College Green.
The lorries are to carry four simple messages to the Chancellor relating to the rural economy.
The move by members of the pro-hunting Countryside Alliance is part of their "Summer of Discontent", which aims to demonstrate the strength of anger in rural areas over the threat to fox-hunting.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 17, 2002.

Local election hustings in Princes Ward - April 30th
Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre & Vision for Vauxhall
Vision for Vauxhall and Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre are jointly holding an election hustings meeting scheduled for 7pm Tuesday 30th of April at The Spring, 100 Vauxhall Walk, SE11 5EL.
It will be an opportunity for local residents to hear what the different candidates in Princes Ward are proposing to do if elected and, more importantly, for them to listen to our concerns. If there are burning issues you want to see addressed this meeting is the perfect opportunity to make sure that the candidates know, and are going to do something about, them.
Tim Boxall (Secretary, Vauxhall Gardens Community Centre) thespringvgcc@yahoo.com
Mary Ackland-Hood (Co-ordinator, Vision for Vauxhall forum) frank.blackaby@blackaby.demon.co.uk

-- Tim (thespringvgcc@yahoo.com), April 16, 2002.

Friends of Kennington Park
The next big meeting of the Friends of Kennington Park is confirmed for Monday 29th April at 7pm at
The Community Hall Kennington Park Estate London SE11
(The entrance is on Harleyford Road, just by the 36 bus stop on the opposite side of the road from the tube)
For those of who have kindly volunteered to lend a hand leafleting a couple of streets, we are getting together on Thursday (18th April) to share out the flyers between 6pm and 7.30pm at 155 Kennington Park Road. See you then!
All the best
Mark Rogers Acting Chair rmfr@btinternet.com
P.S. A quick bulletin: the council are repairing the lights on the midnight path and have come back with a budget of c.Ł2,000 for upgrading the lights to higher strength ones. Jonathan Meares, area parks officer, is keen on the idea of opening up the café as part of Vauxhall Festival and we are investigating costs and funding.
Friends of Kennington Park c/o 155 Kennington Park Road London SE11 4JJ
020 7582 2849

-- Mark (rmfr@btinternet.com), April 16, 2002.

Evening Standard 15 April 2002 Deliciously dirty-minded
Who's Sorry Now? Howard Jacobson (Cape, Ł16.99)
Reviewed by William Leith
Howard Jacobson is a fine observer of dirty-minded men tormented by their ambitions, sexual and otherwise, and his new character, Marvin Kreitman, is a beauty. Kreitman is "dark and shiny, with a complexion as polished as the carapace of a beetle"; he's a luggage tycoon with a Georgian house in Kennington, a wife, two daughters and five mistresses. His obsession with sex is "like an illness", but so is his obsession with the handbags and suitcases and purses he sells; fingering the soft leather of an upmarket purse, we are told, "filled Kreitman with the purest satisfaction he knew".
Of course, he is desperately unhappy. Having grown up in the shadow of his nasty, uncommunicative father - a luggage baron who died of "gangrene of the personality" - Kreitman has a deep, unfulfilled yearning to be something else: a man of letters. But he's a tycoon - somehow, he can't help it. His schedule is punitive. He rages around London, permanently intoxicated by leather goods and the flesh of sexually adventurous women. He loves the leather, but he's never satisfied by the human flesh; he always wants more.
Describing the experience of having sex with Kreitman, his tough, vibrant wife, Hazel, says, "Marvin used to ransack my body as though he'd lost something. It was like being Treasure Island, like having Long John Silver stomping across you with a spade and bucket."
One day, this "sperm-tank heterosexual", this "serial faller-in-love" is having lunch with his best friend, Charlie Merriweather, an author of children's books. On the surface, the two men could hardly be more different. Merriweather is a huge, lumbering softie who has only ever had sex with one woman - his huge, lumbering wife. And the sex they have, what's more, is "nice", quite unlike Kreitman's brutal jabbings and shaftings. So it comes as a shock when Merriweather offers to swap his wife for one of Kreitman's six women. And, this being a Howard Jacobson novel, it comes as less of a shock when events conspire to grant Merriweather his wish.
Merriweather is another interesting creation. He's a "prep-school glutton" who gorges on cheap curries, "stainless-steel bowls of blistering brown slop". He was bullied at school. His mother didn't care. Then he married a woman who, to Kreitman, is the epitome of sexlessness - "the vegetable in her seemed to outweigh the animal". And now, after more than two decades of monogamy, Merriweather has caught the same disease as his best friend.
He finds himself making eyes at women and leering at girls who are, as Kreitman says, "young enough to be your readers". The scenes that follow - Kreitman's vegetarian couplings and Merriweather's carnivorous ones - are painful, funny, and highly readable. Jacobson is at the top of his verbal form here. His subject, as it emerges, is a good one - the inability of men to admit they are unhappy. "How long does it take to go mad?" asks Jacobson. The answer is: "Overnight, if you've been putting in the groundwork for 30 years." This is an author who understands the inner conflicts of dirty-minded men. As the obsessive shagger Kreitman puts it: "Sex isn't nice." And he should know.
© Associated Newspapers Ltd., 15 April 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 16, 2002.

The Sunday Times April 14, 2002
Fame & fortune: Vet bill shows MP value of insurance When her cats died, Ann Widdecombe discovered that private health cover is not just for people, writes Natalie Graham ANN WIDDECOMBE, MP for Maidstone and The Weald, and former shadow home secretary, has been a member of parliament since 1987 In June l998 she became shadow secretary of state for health. A year later she was appointed shadow home secretary, although she retired from the position last September.
Ann, 54, grew up with her older brother Malcolm, today a vicar in Bristol. Their father was a senior civil servant and their mother, now 90, looked after the family. Ann was educated at the Royal Naval School, Singapore, La Sainte Union Convent in Bath, Birmingham University and Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. She has honours degrees in Latin, politics and economics, and an MA from Oxford.
From l976 to l978 Ann was a Runnymede district councillor. In l988 she was appointed to serve on the select committee for social services.
From November l990 until May l993 she was parliamentary under- secretary at the Department of Social Security, then at the Department of Employment. In July l997 she was appointed to the House of Commons standards and privileges select committee.
Ann’s first novel, The Clematis Tree, published in April 2000, became a bestseller. Her second novel, An Act of Treachery, comes out in July.
Ann, who is single, shares her homes in London and Kent with her mother.
How much money do you have in your wallet?
About Ł90, which should last for the week. It will be for incidental expenses such as taxis, necessities such as milk and bread, and buying my teas, lunches and dinners here at the House of Commons.
Do you have any credit cards?
I have one credit card and one debit card, both with Barclays. I use the debit card constantly, as a substitute for cash. The credit card usually comes out for more significant purchases, such as a new sofa.
Are you a saver or spender?
It is quite hard to say because I do neither on a large scale, but I never forget the taxman. I am self-employed when it comes to writing articles and books, so I hold those earnings in my Barclays account until I need to pay the Inland Revenue.
How much did you earn last year?
I could not tell you because I have to tot it all up. The parliamentary salary is Ł51,800, but on top of that I have fees from writing. In l999 I signed a two-book contract for Ł100,000. A large part of the publisher’s advance was paid last year because I had the paperback production of my novel, plus the delivery of my second book, An Act of Treachery.
I also make television appearances that pay irregular fees, so it is never possible to say there is a set sum. I would have to look at my income-tax return to say exactly what it was last year.
Have you ever been really hard up?
Yes, I have. I went through a tough time in the recession in the early 1990s, when I had two properties and two mortgages. But I have never been starving or faced some of the choices my constituents had to make.
What is the most lucrative work you have done? Did you use the fee for something special?
By far the highest paid work I ever did was in l999. I had to produce one article a week for the Sunday Express, for which I was getting Ł1,250. The work wasn’t difficult because it was not deep political thought.
I had the column for a year, during which time I was moving from a flat in Kennington to a house in Elephant & Castle. I used the money to help furnish and decorate the house.
Do you own a property?
Yes, the house in Elephant & Castle, and a bungalow in Sutton Valence, Kent. I bought my first property in l981, a flat in Fulham. Then I moved to a bigger flat in Kennington. It was within a mile of the House of Commons. By the time I bought it I had been selected for a seat. This purchase was so successful I stayed there for 13 years, gradually modernising the place. I sold it in l999, the year that I was earning all this money. I made a huge profit but I can’t say how much, because a fellow MP bought it.
Do you invest in shares?
I shun them. As far as I am concerned they introduce a degree of complexity that I haven’t got time for. My father had a lot of shares, and the wind-up of his estate wore me out. I swore that I would never inflict these reams of paperwork on myself.
Do you have a pension, or other retirement plan?
Yes I do. I am extremely fussy about pensions. It is one aspect of my financial life to which I have given great thought. I have an occupational pension here at parliament, into which I transferred my previous pension fund from London University, where I worked for 12 years.
I was pensions minister during the Maxwell crisis and I have seen what happens when you don’t have enough money for old age.
Do you believe pensions are a good thing?
I think they are utterly essential. You can’t always rely on property to increase your capital, either. I think if I were in a different job I would still have tried to earn the second income. When I retire I plan to go on writing for a bit.
What has been your worst investment?
The flat in Fulham, which turned out to have extensive dry-rot problems. I paid Ł33,000 to buy the flat in l981, but it was hugely expensive to put right. I left it in l985, with great relief.
And your best?
The home in Kent. When I first bought it, I didn’t think that it was a good investment, but because I have stayed there so long, it has gone up in value, and has never needed any serious work. All I have to do is to maintain it. The village is an extremely pleasant place to live at the weekends. If a good investment is one that gives you both pleasure and money, the bungalow has certainly been my best.
Do you manage your own financial affairs?
I have an accountant, and I have an agent who negotiates writing fees, but other than that I manage on my own.
What aspect of our taxation system would you change?
I would make tax relief available to both employers and employees who want to have a comprehensive company private healthcare scheme. That’s how we got pensions off the ground.
What is your top financial priority?
To have a good retirement income, which I think is going to be possible. My pension is a defined benefit, and will be two-thirds of my final salary. The second priority would be to make sure that I am mortgage- free before retirement.
Do you have a money weakness?
Yes, I do. I would probably save a great deal if I walked instead of taking taxis — and do my figure a lot of good at the same time.
What is the most extravagant thing you have ever bought?
When I went on a cruise last August with my mother, we decided to take a top grade of cabin with a private verandah, which cost thousands for 15 nights. It was a once-in-a- lifetime experience. We went to the Arctic Circle.
Do you play the lottery? What if you won?
I play the lottery every week. My mother does three lines and so do I. I was lucky over Christmas. One week I had Ł65, another week Ł67, then Ł10.
If I got the big one, I would give a lot away to causes that I support, such as the Zambian Open Community Schools. Then I would buy in advance my retirement home on Dartmoor, in as remote a location as possible.
What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?
The importance of having sufficient, which you never find out until you don’t. It’s easy to be good with money when you have made a steady income over and above your salary, but the real test is when you haven’t got very much.
I’ve learnt that owning animals is a serious business, which has consequences on your budget.
Until early February I had two cats, Pugwash and Carruthers, who both died within a fortnight. They were mogs that I got from a rescue centre. I have a huge box of condolence letters from the public.
The second one died unexpectedly, but a week later I had a vet’s bill for more than Ł500. I was fortunate to have a healthy savings balance.
Though I am fastidious about maintaining health insurance for myself, I have never done it for the animals. I am now having a rethink before I get the next ones.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 14, 2002.

The Times April 13, 2002
Portrait badge hits cricket for six By Simon de Bruxelles A TINY picture of an 18th-century batsman may hide the true South London origins of the Marylebone Cricket Club, the home of modern cricket. The portrait, by an unknown artist and in the form of a mock badge of honour, was presented to Samuel Welch, president of the Thursday Cricket Society, a precursor of the McC, in 1788. The well preserved watercolour on enamel depicts a gentleman cricketer in black-rimmed hat, white shirt, cravat and plus-fours at the crease, holding an implement which looks more like a hockey stick than a modern cricket bat. The badge, 3.9in in diameter and enclosed by a blue gilt and enamelled border, is inscribed: “By manly exercise we promote health.” The reverse inscription reads: “The Unanimous Gift of the Thursday Cricket Society in Token Esteem for their late President Mr Samuel Welch 1788.” Analysis of the picture has revealed its likely location as Kennington Park in Lambeth, South London, nearer the Oval than the McC’s home at Lord’s, in North London. A distinctive building with three triangular sections to the roof has been identified as the Horns Tavern on Kennington Common by comparison with a contemporary engraving in the Museum of London. Collectors from around the world fought over the relic, put up for sale by a West Country family. It sold for Ł32,200 at an auction in Dorchester on Thursday to an unnamed bidder. Its design as a spoof royal garter almost certainly alludes to the Star and Garter Tavern in Pall Mall where the Thursday Cricket Society, whose members included Sir Joshua Reynolds, the artist, held weekly social gatherings. The book Club Life of London recorded: “At the Star and Garter in 1774, was formed the first cricket club. Sir Horace Mann, who had promoted cricket in Kent, and the Duke of Dorset and Lord Tankerville, leaders of the Surrey and Hants Eleven, with other gentlemen and noblemen, formed a committee under the presidency of Sir William Draper. ”They met at the Star and Garter and laid down the first rules of cricket, which very rules form the basis of laws of cricket to this day.” Guy Schwinge, from Duke’s auctioneers, said: “It is a unique item from the game and from a time when the sport was in its infancy.” According to the Welch family history, their ancestor Samuel was baptised in May 1760. He married Charlotte Chapman in 1790 at a church in Lambeth. That would fit with the location of the cricket pitch depicted on the badge. There are many wealthy collectors of memorabilia of what is known as God’s game, including the American convert to cricket, Sir Paul Getty. Stephen Green, who is curator of the museum at Lord’s, said that the first written record of cricket dates from the mid-16th century.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 13, 2002.

Jason Pegler invites you to celebrate the publication of his autobiography A Can of Madness on Saturday 13th April (tomorrow) at 7.00pm at: The Lavender Pub 112 Vauxhall Walk Vauxhall London SE11 5ER (0207 735 4440)
Books will be available for Ł10 at the pub and Ł12 (inc P&P) at www.chipmunkapublishing.com where you can also read the first chapter for free. Proceeds are for charitable purposes.

Jason Pegler is 26, suffers from Manic Depression and is commited to improving conditions for the mentally ill and other persecuted groups in society. His intention in writing his memoirs of what it is like to live with Manic Depression are starting to shake up a long overdue heated debate on the appalling way in which people who suffer from mental stress are treated by society.
Jason Pegler has worked independently and with charities throughout the United Kingdom including the largest mental health charity in the country Mind. It is 93,000 words and the first 300 books will go to promotion and charity.
Copies of "A Can Of Madness" are now for sale for Ł12.00 (including p&p). Please make cheques payable to Chipmunkapublishing.
PO Box 6872 Brentwood Essex CM13 1ZT United Kingdom

What follows is intended to help people understand the condition of manic depression and similar mental illnesses. And I hope that sufferers, their families and friends - a significant 80% of them black - will gain strength from reading it. My own experience is that it's possible to emerge at the other end of adversity and live a decent life. Admittedly, you may have to make changes in your life and behaviour but that's a small sacrifice to make compared with the alternatives. The first step is to accept that you've got a problem, or rather, that there is a problem - the exact causes of which, more often than not, will forever remain unknown. The second is to deal with it - and the sooner the better. When writing this book, I often thought back to how long it took me to accept my own illness. I now know I can help at least one person cope with their illness better than I did. This alone makes the pain of writing it worthwhile.

-- Jason (jasonpegler@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.

April 12, 2002
Tory leader sees father's memoir get fresh wings By Robin Young THE Leader of the Opposition, Iain Duncan Smith, was flying by the seat of his pants yesterday at the Imperial War Museum in Kennington, south-east London. He was gracing a book launch in place of his late father, Group Captain Wilfred “Smithy” Duncan Smith, who died in 1996. The post of Leader of the Opposition is certainly no bed of roses, but “Smithy” Duncan Smith really knew what it was to be in the hot seat. He was a Spitfire pilot who survived four years in the skies at a time when an RAF pilot’s average life expectancy was just four and a half weeks. Iain Duncan Smith, whose own literary ambitions stalled with the rejection of his first novel, a thriller called Ithaca, was relaunching his father’s war memoir, Spitfire Into Battle, which has returned to print after a 20-year hiatus. The book includes some episodes of dry humour, such as an account of using a Spitfire’s home run to shoot up German officers “for diverting sport” while they were gardening. Spitfire Into Battle is hailed by its publisher, John Murray, as “a backlist classic”. Iain Duncan Smith has supplied a foreword for the new paperback edition. Having himself preferred the Scots Guards to the RAF (“my father was always telling me the Army were pongos, to which I had to reply that we called the RAF Crab-air”), Mr Duncan Smith perhaps wisely chose to fly yesterday in close formation with another son commemorating his Spitfire- generation father: Dr Gordon Mitchell, whose book about his father, the Spitfire’s designer, is reissued in a revised, enlarged third edition entitled R.J. Mitchell: Schooldays to Spitfire. For such a dual event many of the Few and their widows, descendants and admirers were on parade. Dame Vera Lynn beamed; Lady Bader, widow of air ace Sir Douglas, circulated; Air Chief Marshal Sir Christopher Foxley- Norris, chairman of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association, still cut a noble figure, touring the room in a wheelchair. Some of the veterans were a mite irascible. Raymond Baxter, the veteran television presenter who flew 227 wartime missions in Spitfires, said bluntly: “I can never forgive ‘Smithy’ one thing. In his book he says that at one stage RAF morale was very low. In six years in the Service I never knew it so. It was always quite amazingly high.” “Yes, that was complete balderdash,” confirmed co-pilot Mike Francis, obviously ready to scramble for another aggressive sortie if required. “We never doubted we would win.” But they added afterwards that “Smithy” had been a great leader, an inspirational officer who shot down 18 enemy aircraft. “Smithy”, one of the RAF’s most decorated pilots, became the last RAF pilot to fly the Spitfire operationally after the war. The aircraft was described as “beautiful and frail, yet agile, potent and powerful”. “I always wanted a woman like that,” remarked Squadron Leader Gerald “Stap-me” Stapleton (six confirmed kills, many probables). After photographs with the museum’s Mark 1A Spitfire, still in its wartime livery, Mr Duncan Smith spoke from notes hastily sketched on the back of his chequebook. “I would not draw parallels between myself and my father,” he said, “but you cannot help but learn from somebody who has displayed such leadership. His was a remarkable generation, and I like to think he was a remarkable member of it.” The new edition of Spitfire Into Battle has on its cover, at the Tory leader’s suggestion, a picture of a painting which has hung in the family home for decades. “I thought the photographs they originally proposed looked dull,” he said. “I got my mother to photograph the family’s painting of a Spitfire in the clouds from an angle, so that she would not get reflected flash, and that was it.”

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 11, 2002.

What Ł183,000 buys you in London
by Wayne Veysey, Richard Allen And Mira Bar-hillel They are the Ł183,000 properties. According to the latest survey the average price of a London home is now Ł183,262 - 16.2 per cent higher than a year ago. But the diversity of prices across the capital means that can buy you anything from a tiny studio flat to a three-bedroom house. Period features, modernised kitchens and south-facing windows are the kind of factors that can help make a one-bed flat as valuable as a Thirties semi with garden. But location is the biggest attraction and if you want an 0207 phone number and the Tube around the corner you will be pushed to find a property with room for more than a double bed and small dining table. Jeremy Leaf, London spokesman for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, said: "The diversity of properties available at the average London price confirms the old estate agents' adage that house prices are based on location, location and location. "The better, more central and more desirable the location, the less your money will buy in terms of space, quality and amenities. Established areas tend to retain value, recent hotspots may cool faster if the markets slows. We often see the 'last in, first out' syndrome when the market changes." David Thompson of the Halifax said activity has picked up in upandcoming areas such as Battersea, Kennington, east London and Croydon. This is what you can buy for Ł183,000 today: •In Shepherd's Bush, a one-bedroom, ground floor Victorian maisonette for Ł182,500. The area has a wealth of pubs, bars and clubs, live music venue the Shepherd's Bush Empire, and a popular market. Agents Fletcher Estates describe the property in Stowe Road as "immaculately decorated". It is a short walk from Goldhawk Road Tube, in a quiet residential road. It features reception room with fireplace, modern fitted kitchen and bathroom, and built-in wardrobes in the double bedroom. •In Camberwell, despite south-east London's reputation as a more affordable-area, a one-bedroom flat costing Ł182,500 - albeit in a listed Victorian monastery. Agents Oliver Burn describe St Gabriels Manor as a "stunning" modern flat with a fitted kitchen. There are views of Big Ben and the London Eye, a communal roof terrace and a designated parking space. Nearest stations are Oval, Brixton and Loughborough Junction. The City and West End are just a few stops away. •A three-bedroom maisonette in Finchley, north London, for Ł183,000. Agent Jeremy Leaf says it is ideal for those wishing to escape exorbitant property prices in central London. In a quiet residential area, near Woodside Park Tube and North Finchley's shops, it features gas central heating, double glazing, and a shared garden. • A one-bedroom semi-detached house with garden in Wapping for Ł182,500 - within walking distance of Tower Bridge. Part of a new private housing estate surrounded by canals, it is a five-minute walk from Wapping station on the East London line. Agents London Real Estate describe it as "modern" and in a "sought after development". It features double bedroom, conservatory, power shower, gas central heating, built-in wardrobes, loft space, and allocated parking. •In the quiet south London suburb of Morden Park, a Thirties endofterrace three-bedroom house at Ł182,950. This might not be for long - house prices have steadily risen along the Northern line since Clapham became fashionable. A spokesman for Townends estate agents said: "Everything round there has been shooting up over the past couple of months." The house in Lynmouth Road has two double bedrooms, fitted kitchen, double glazing, a 40ft garden and a garage. Morden Tube station is a bus ride away. © Associated Newspapers Ltd., 11 April 2002

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 11, 2002.

Peace campaigner recalls Bethlehem terror Apr 9 2002 South London Press
A SOUTH London peace campaigner who was trapped amid the violent troubles in Bethlehem for two days is safely back on home territory. Chris Denham, 31, is spending a week away from his work at an environmental group in Kennington, and sharing the recent ordeal with the nation. He has been talking about his experience in the Middle East on television programmes and was due to appear on Channel 4's Richard and Judy Show yesterday. Also set to appear on the tea-time chat show was Streatham-based comedian Jeremy Hardy, who was trapped with Chris in the Star Hotel in Bethlehem while filming a documentary. Chris told the South London Press that his experiences in the Middle East - where he received shrapnel wounds to his hands after Israeli soldiers opened fire in front of him - would not stop him campaigning for a peaceful solution to the problems. Chris spoke to the SLP last week from the besieged Star Hotel where he and his fellow campaigners were trapped while officials from the British consulate negotiated with Israeli armed forces to get them out.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 10, 2002.

Plea to help find graves Apr 9 2002 By Vicky Wilks, South London Press
THE FAMILY of a man who was the only survivor of a bomb blast that killed 50 including both his parents has appealed to south Londoners to help find their graves. It was the height of the Blitz in October 1940, when James Holland, then just 14, took shelter with his parents in a bomb shelter in Kennington Park. Tragically, a massive bomb blast destroyed the shelter and only James and a tiny baby were pulled out of the wreckage alive. James's daughter, Kay Coster, 50, from Cumbria, has checked record books which say nobody survived and she believes if the baby did escape, he or she died shortly afterwards. For the past 50 years, James, now a 75-year-old granddad, has lived with the horror of losing both his parents in such a devastating way but has rarely spoken to his family of the tragedy. His five brothers and sisters, Margaret, Mary, Elizabeth, Frederick and Charles, who all grew up in Fairbairn Road, Brixton, were not in the shelter at the time of the blast and have also rarely spoken of the tragedy. The funeral of James's parents, Frederick and Francis Holland, was organised by James's sister, Margaret, who has since died. None of the surviving family, including James, Kay and Margaret's daughter, who is terminally ill with cancer, knows where the Hollands were buried. James, now of Southampton, is particularly keen to find out so he can visit his parents' graves while he still can. Kay said: "He would dearly love to know where they are buried because no one has ever told him. He is getting old now and wants to visit." In a bid to help him, Kay has contacted many London boroughs but can find no record of the burial. She believes a good friend of the family, who was called Kathy O'Connell, helped to make the funeral arrangements. Kathy would now be aged about 80 and Margaret would love to hear from her or anyone else from the north Brixton area who remembers the Holland family. Anyone who can help Kay and James should call Kay on 01697 746453.
Rob Pateman, Secretary, Friends of Kennington Park, reports that Kay has now located the graves in Streatham Cemetery in Mitcham. Thanks

-- Kay Coster (kcoster@directhost.co.uk), April 10, 2002.

Thousands expected at Cannabis March Apr 7 2002 South London Press THOUSANDS are expected to turn out for the fourth annual Cannabis March and Festival. The festival is held in Lambeth where cops have recently piloted a more relaxed approach to those found in possession of cannabis. In past years, up to 30,000 revellers have joined in to show their support for the relaxation of cannabis laws. The day will begin with a carnival-style march from Kennington Park to Brockwell Park where the main festival is held. In the park, two stages and a marquee will feature a mixture of music and there will be hemp products, drugs information, debate and live performance. The fourth annual Cannabis March and Festival will be held on Saturday, May 4. The march will leave Kennington Park at noon. The organisers are looking for people to collect donations on the day. Contact: 020-7737 7044 or e-mail ganjadaysounds@yahoo.co.uk. They are also looking for stewards. Contact: 020-7267 8329. Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002 icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 07, 2002.

Telegraph Sunday 7 April 2002 'We'll do all we can to find work for her staff' By Andrew Alderson and Adam Lusher (Filed: 07/04/2002) THE manager of the Queen Mother's household has promised to do everything possible to minimise redundancies among her 50 staff, who face an uncertain future after her death. Capt Sir Alastair Aird, the Queen Mother's private secretary and comptroller, will meet her full-time and part-time staff this week in an attempt to find other jobs within the royal household for those who want them. The task has been made easier by the fact that many in the Queen Mother's employment have reached pensionable age and will retire. Others, however, will lose their jobs along with their grace-and- favour homes or their residential accommodation within the four homes that the Queen Mother used. Sir Alastair, who worked for the Queen Mother for 42 years in four different roles, spoke last week of his optimism that many staff will be found alternative work. "There is tremendous liaison between the royal households and one hopes that those who wish to continue to work will be able to do so. We will do our best to help," he said. The Queen Mother's staff, however, will not be heartened by the events after the death of Princess Margaret in February. Of her 15 staff only two were offered alternative jobs in the royal household: only one accepted. The remainder either retired or accepted severance terms. It cost an estimated Ł1 million a year for the Queen Mother to run her household: she was helped with her expenses with Ł643,000 a year from the Civil List but, because this did not match her outgoings, she ran up a substantial overdraft, once estimated to be more than Ł4 million. Many members of the Queen Mother's household who are past retirement age remained in her service out of admiration and affection for her: she is known to have disliked staff leaving. Her most senior and longest-serving staff are among those expected to retire. They include Sir Alastair; the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, her Lord Chamberlain; the Hon Nicholas Assheton, her treasurer and extra equerry; Major Raymond Seymour, her assistant private secretary and equerry; Michael Sealey, her head chef; and Lucy Murphy, her information officer. Others who want to be retained for jobs in the royal household will be considered for other positions. Those who work at the Queen Mother's homes of Clarence House in London, Royal Lodge at Windsor, and Birkhall on the Balmoral estate will hope to keep their jobs once it is known who will take on responsibility for the houses. It is, however, inevitable that some members of the Queen Mother's staff will have to take compulsory redundancy. Those who formed part of a "floating" team of staff, believed to total fewer than 10 and who travelled from house to house with the Queen Mother, may be the most vulnerable. According to royal officials, the Queen Mother had 11 permanent staff at Royal Lodge, where she died last weekend. She is understood to have employed one steward, one butler, one under-butler, two footmen, one chef, two cooks and three gardeners. At Clarence House, she had a similar staffing level. William Tallon, the Queen Mother's steward at Clarence House who is known affectionately as "Backstairs Billy" and who has been in her service since he was 15, is now 66 and eligible to retire on a pension. It is understood, however, that the Prince of Wales has offered him a job in his household and wants him to remain at his grace-and-favour home at the Lodge close to Clarence House. If Mr Tallon opts to retire, he is financially secure. He owns a house in Kennington, south London and was left almost Ł200,000 last year by Reginald Wilcock, the Queen Mother's late page and his close friend. Others who may be seeking alternative employment with the Royal Family include John Collings, the Queen Mother's head chauffeur. He is married to Susan Percival, one of the Clarence House chefs who may also be seeking an alternative job. Lady Angela Oswald, a lady-in-waiting to the Queen Mother, spoke yesterday of how much the staff enjoyed working for her. "She was held in such affection because she took a great personal interest in all of them. She knew all about them and their families." The Castle of Mey, in Scotland, the only home privately owned by the Queen Mother, is already being run as a charitable trust. The six full-time staff of managers, housekeepers and gardeners will not lose their jobs, according to trustees. © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2002.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 07, 2002.

Two-mile queue for thousands to pay last respects The Independent - United Kingdom; Apr 6, 2002 BY CAHAL MILMO
SOME WERE avowed royalists, dressed in black and carrying plastic Union flags. One confessed to coming to "gawp at a sad fairytale". Others simply shared a quiet tear as the gun carriage and coffin passed by in the procession of 1,600 servicemen and women pacing in the sunshine to a funeral dirge. Amid the pageantry of a state ceremony, a cross-section of 21st- century Britain turned out on the streets of London yesterday to see the Queen Mother, for many the embodiment of the 20th century, borne from St James's Palace to Parliament. In all, some 250,000 people lined the route to Westminster Hall, adjoining the House of Commons, where the Queen Mother will lie in state on a 7ft catafalque, draped in purple felt, until the funeral at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. Formality and self-conscious sentiment were present in equal measure. On top of the coffin lay the Queen Mother's Crown, made for her coronation in 1937 and featuring the priceless Koh-i-Noor diamond. Alongside it was a wreath from the Queen with the message: "In Loving Memory, Lilibet." Within two hours of the arrival of the coffin, solemnly accompanied by the dead Queen consort's grandchildren and great-grandsons, a crowd of at least 5,000 had gathered to pay their personal respects by filing through Westminster Hall. By mid-afternoon the queue snaked for nearly two miles across Lambeth Bridge and along Albert embankment, in scenes reminiscent of those that followed the death of George VI, the Queen Mother's husband, in 1952. Officials in charge of Operation Tay Bridge, the codename for the royal funeral, said they were considering extending last night's 6pm closing time. As spectators stood 15-deep at the Cenotaph, the memorial in Whitehall where the Queen Mother had attended all but four of the Remembrance Sunday ceremonies since 1945, opinions about the significance of the day were as diverse as the mourners themselves. Daniel Sorrows, 47, from Kennington, south London, a "sometime communist and lifelong republican", said: "She was the last redoubt of imperial Britain. I might not agree with it but I felt the need to see it consigned to history." At the opposite end of the spectrum was Yvonne Browne, 52, the vice- president and chairman of the Women's Institute in Sandringham, Norfolk. The Queen Mother was president of the branch for 65 years and attended each January to take tea and cakes over a report on its activities. Mrs Browne said: "The Queen Mother was someone I met and each time she was friendly, interested and charming. It is something about her which didn't change. "I just felt the need to be here. This for me is a magical moment, a unique and historical event." Others admitted the lure of the biggest funeral march-past since the death of Sir Winston Churchill in 1965 and the convenient arrival of the Easter holidays had drawn them to press themselves up against the crush barriers. Alistair Stein, 32, a researcher from New York, had sandwiched himself between two statues outside the Ministry of Defence. He said: "I guess I'm here to gawp. To me it's a sad fairytale - the soldiers, the princes, the military bands. To an outsider, this is an extraordinary spectacle." The gun carriage, last used for the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, wound its way along The Mall and Whitehall followed by 14 royals - the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and Princes William and Harry among them, alongside the Princess Royal in a break with protocol. Spectators stood silently as a dozen separate detachments of the Armed Forces, from the Royal Marines to the Grenadier Guards, marched by - the latter in such close step they sounded like tapdancers. But beyond the pomp there was also genuine emotion. As the coffin draped with the Queen Mother's personal standard was received into Westminster Hall, watched by the Queen and politicians, Prince Charles was seen to cry. As the Royal Family made its way back up Whitehall in limousines, applause started. Meanwhile, several thousand people were preparing to queue for hours to go whence the Royal Family had come. As one man near the line's end put it: "I'm glad the Royal Family look after themselves. I wouldn't want to do this too often."
David Dimbleby, presenter royal, Review, page 5 All Material Subject to Copyright

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 07, 2002.

Here's a Roofer recommended by Betty Severn:
Mr McQueen, LMQ Roofing 020 8670 7760
Betty said they are very pleased with some work he did recently.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 05, 2002.

What's on in South London this week? Apr 5 2002 South London Press WHETHER it's clubbing, comedy, music or culture you are after, if it's on in South London it's here...
For full listing: http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/1000whatson/0600events/page.cfm? objectid=11760344&method=full from which I have gleaned the following:
Dance OVAL HOUSE THEATRE, Kennington Oval, 020-7582 7680: H2 Dance: Butterfly Belly and Ostrich (tonight 7.45pm), Maxine Doyle: It's Only A Game Show (Mon, Tue 7.45pm) Ł10/Ł6. WATERLOO ACTION CENTRE, 14 Baylis Road, Waterloo: Rock 'n' Roll dance classes (Tue 7.30pm beginners, 9pm intermediate). Ring Jean for more information on 07944 77 55 56.
Jazz BATTERSEA BARGE, Nine Elms Lane, Vauxhall, 020-7498 0004: Sunday Lunch Club, with the Jim Mullen Organ Trio (Sun 2pm-4.30pm) free.
Rock/Pop SWAN, Clapham Road, Stockwell, 020-7978 9778: Offenders (tonight 5pm- 3am) Ł5, Ł2.50 before 9pm, free before 8pm. The Goonies (tomorrow 7pm- 3am) Ł6, Ł3 before 9pm. Cushty (Sun) Ł4, free before 10pm. Jumpin (Thu) Ł2, free before 11pm.
Theatre OLD VIC, The Cut, Waterloo, 020-7928 7616: The Island, with John Kani and Winston Ntshona (tonight 8pm, tomorrow 3pm, 8pm, Mon-Thu 8pm) Ł12.50-Ł30.
Misc BRIXTON VILLAGE, (formerly Granville Arcade), Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, 020-7274 2990: Arts and crafts market, with music and children's entertainment (tomorrow 9.30am-6pm). THE OLD OPERATING THEATRE, 9a St Thomas's St, London, (SE1 9RY, the original site of St Thomas's Hospital, near Guy's Hospital and London Bridge Tube) 020 7955 4791: The Blade and the Bone - Surgery without Anaesthesia (Sun 2.30pm) Ł3.50/Ł2.50. Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002 icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 05, 2002.

Due to popular demand, Madeira Cafe's giant prawns from Mozambique are now on the menu and will be available every night beginning Monday 8 April! This bulletin board certainly seems to have helped Madeira's business. Madeira Star, 337-339 Kennington Road, London SE11 T/F: 020 7582 8778

-- Marisa Heine (mheine@dfkingeurope.co.uk), April 05, 2002.

She brightened a dull day with her charm Apr 5 2002 By Julia Lewis, South London Press
WHENEVER she looks at the flourishing copper beach tree in the garden of Trinity Hospice, Iris Allen always thinks of the 'lovely day' when the Queen Mother came to plant it. Mrs Allen, of Walcot Square, Kennington, isn't referring to the weather. She remembers clearly the wretched, grey day in March, 1981, that was considerably brightened up by the royal visit. Mrs Allen was working as a volunteer at the hospice on Clapham Northside. She and the other volunteers had done all they could to make the grounds ready for their royal visitor. The occasion of her visit was to mark the start of a renovation scheme for the garden. The Queen Mum, who was patron of Trinity Hospice, had read in the hospice newsletter that several trees had had to be cut down because they were unsafe and had offered to plant a new one. There had been a lot of rain so duckboards had been laid out over the grass in readiness. In those days there were not nearly as many volunteers as there are now - the hospice was smaller - and most of them were women. So, for the Queen Mum's visit, husbands were invited as well, and each one was positioned by a door to open it for her as she passed. But it didn't go quite as planned, which is one of the reasons why the royal visit lasted twice as long as scheduled. She said: "She stopped, shook hands and spoke to every one of them instead of just walking through." "Then she came out into the garden and we were all there. "My husband, who worked at the time at County Hall, had borrowed the ceremonial spade, which was a pristine stainless steel one. John Smythe, the caretaker, had been chosen to hand the spade to her and had carefully rehearsed the move beforehand. But what he hadn't reckoned on was that the Queen Mum would hand him her handbag to hold. "Fair exchange is no robbery", she quipped, as she passed it to the astonished man. After the planting, the Queen Mum chatted to everybody on the duckboards and when it was Mrs Allen and her husband Doug's turn to meet her, they found her in a similar jokey mood. "Who is the boss of you two?" she asked. Mrs Allen, who is still a volunteer at the hospice, remembers how she went around the wards speaking to 'every single patient' and, in particular, the way in which she received the bouquet that was presented to her. She said: "She looked at it and held it, and said how beautiful it was, as if she'd never been given one in her life before. "She had a lovely way with her, a natural warmth." Afterwards, she recalled, everybody stood outside to wave her off. She said: "It always stands out in my memory as a lovely day. "It was March, the duckboards were down but it stands out in my memory even now. "And when we met her at Westminster Abbey at a reception for Trinity Hospice's 100th anniversary in 1991, she asked us how the tree was."
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002 icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 05, 2002.

Solving the street names Apr 5 2002 By Local Historian Brian Mcconnell STANDING there on the street where you live, as they sing in the song from My Fair Lady, people still ask: "Why is it so called? Why not something better, more romantic or what you will?"
From my schooldays' exercise book here are some of the historic reasons:
* Albert Embankment, between Lambeth and Westminster Bridges, honours Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert (1819-61). * Alleyn Road and Alleyn Park, in Dulwich, is for Edward Alleyn (1566- 1626), Lord of the Manor and an actor in Shakespeare's time, who founded Dulwich College and almshouses. * Bankside, Southwark, is where people watched the Fire of London across the Thames, in the area of the Clink Prison. * Battersea, from Patricksey or Peter's Island, owned by St Peter's Abbey at Westminster, which sent monks to convalesce there. * Baylis Road, Southwark, after Lillian Baylis (1874-1937), niece of the theatrical Emma Pons, whom she partnered to launch the Old Vic theatre, Lambeth. * Bear Gardens, Southwark, from the bear-baiting which replaced the theatres destroyed by the Puritans. Bears were tied to posts and dogs set upon them while customers bet on the outcome. * Black Prince Road, Kennington, from the gift of the Duchy of Cornwall (the manor of Vauxhall and Kennington) by Edward III to his son, the Black Prince (1330-76). * Borough High Street, Southwark, so named from Roman times to identify it as part of a burgh or borough separate from the city of London. * Broomwood Road, Clapham Common, the name of the house there occupied by William Wilberforce of the anti-slavery movement. * Cardinal Cap Alley, Bankside, Southwark, after Cardinal Beaufort, who paraded his ceremonial headpiece given by the Pope (which cardinals by tradition never wear). * Carlisle Lane, former home of the bishops of Carlisle, 14 of whose guests were poisoned by the cook who was boiled to death as punishment. * Cavendish Road, Balham, after scientist Henry Cavendish's laboratories, where he first calculated the weight of the earth to calculate the density of the planet. * Chicheley Street, Waterloo, after Henry Chichele, 15th-century Archbishop of Canterbury, who enlarged Lambeth Palace by adding the Lollard's Tower. See Lollard Street. * Clapham roads so named after Clope or Cloppa, Saxon for homestead, mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1066. * Clink Street, once owned by the bishops of Winchester, with the Clink prison, probably from the old French word, clinque - or catch on the out-side of a door. * Cox's walk, Dulwich, after local painter David Cox. * Effra Road, Brixton, from the river of that name which rose in Norwood, flowed underground via Herne Hill, Oval to the Thames at Vauxhall. * Fentiman Road, Kennington, after the man who brought land to convert it into a plantation, pleasure ground and build himself a mansion. * Gauden Road, Clapham Common North, after Sir Dennis Gauden, 17th- century Bishop of Exeter and Master of the Temple, who lived there. * Grandison Road, Kennington, after Oliver St John, Viscount Grandison, who bought the manor from Charles I. * Ha-Ha Road, Woolwich, after Charles Bridge-man planted the first ha- ha in Britain, French for an invisible fence or hedge. * Lambeth roads from the ancient Lamb's hythe, or places where lambs shipped from abroad were landed on the Thames. * Lollard Street, Kennington, after followers of John Wycliffe who translated the Bible into English, 1382 and 1388, and were imprisoned in the tower named after them at Lambeth Palace. * Montague Close, between Southwark Cathedral and London Bridge, after Viscount Montague, who after the closure of the monasteries continued to worship there, the site of a destroyed Augustinian priory. * Nelson Close, Clapham, because the admiral victor of Trafalgar stayed at an inn here, breaking his regular journeys to be with Lady Hamilton at Cheam. * Rose Alley, Southwark, named after the Rose Theatre, London's first of many built around 1587 at nearby Bankside. * Roupell Street, Southwark, named after William Roupell, a scrap metal merchant and MP for Lambeth North by a suspiciously large electoral majority. He was exonerated but later jailed for unconnected fraud. * Shooters Hill, Greenwich, after the archers who practised their skills there or the coaches which travelled too fast and overshot the top. * Stonhouse Street, Clapham, after the absentee rector, Sir John Stonhouse, who preferred his Oxford estate to performing his clerical duties in SW4. * Thurlow Park Road, Dulwich, centre of the estate of Lord Thurlow (1751-1806), 18th-century Lord Chancellor. * Zoar Street, Southwark, named after the chapel there at which John Bunyan (1628-88) preached. A hidden section News http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/5000hiddensection/page.c fm?objectid=11763334&method=full
Copyright and Trade Mark Notice © owned by or licensed to Trinity Mirror Plc 2002 icSouthlondonTM is a trade mark of Trinity Mirror Plc.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 05, 2002.

Lambeth have organised a talk/discussion at Durning Library:
THE IMPACT OF IMPRISONMENT ON THE FAMILY 7-9pm Tuesday, 16th April 2002 Speaker: Annetta Bennett
A reminder too for your diaries of the Friends of Durning Library Annual General Meeting to be held at 7.15pm on Monday, 22nd April 2002 at the Library Doors open at 6.45pm to allow time to circulate and buy raffle tickets. (If you can give a prize, please let Mary Becker know on 020 7735 6212)
Wine (for which the suggested donation is Ł1.50) and free light refreshments will be available.
The AGM will be followed at 7.30pm by: "Florence Nightingale: Fact and Fiction" an illustrated talk by Wendy Matthews Her life held more than Scutari where she earned the title "Lady of the Lamp"
We need all the support we can get so do hope you will be able to join us. The Library is judged, from a statistical point of view, by the number of people visiting it as well as the number of books issued.... So please try to increase your visits and borrowings!

-- Cathy (FoDurningLibrary@aol.com), April 04, 2002.

Hunt supporters to mobilise Hunting supporters are expected to unveil more details of a campaign to save the traditional rural sport. The move comes as the Government prepares to launch a six-month consultation process and another hunting bill into Parliament soon after MPs and peers return to Westminster next week. The Countryside Alliance has already announced that it plans to stage a huge March through London, attended by around half a million supporters. An office to co-ordinate arrangements has been set up at its Kennington HQ. © Associated Newspapers Ltd., 02 April 2002
This Is London

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

Sad story of legend's mum Mar 29 2002 John Beasley By Southwark Historian, South London Press
CHARLIE Chaplin's mother, Hannah Chaplin, was transferred from Cane Hill Asylum to Peckham House, in Peckham Road, on September 9, 1912. This was a private lunatic asylum and stood where Warwick Park School is today. In the London Metropolitan Archives are receipts of Peckham House showing that in May 1915 the proprietors applied for her to be placed in the parish because Charlie and his brother Sydney had defaulted in paying fees of 30 shillings a week for their mother. Hannah Chaplin was a vaudeville artist until her voice failed. Impoverished and malnourished, she alternated between shabby rooms in Kennington, Lambeth workhouse and the public asylum at Cane Hill in Surrey. According to Kenneth Lynn in Charlie Chaplin and His Times, she was "a figure of tragic intensity...a woman of sorrows". The transfer to Peckham House followed a visit of Sydney and Charlie to Cane Hill. Peckham House was previously a mansion owned by Charles Lewis Spitta. The wealthy Spitta family lived there in great style, giving fetes for their neighbours and dispensing charity to poor people in the district. It became a lunatic asylum in 1826 and closed in 1951 so Peckham School could be built on the site; Dame Norma Major, wife of former Prime Minister John Major, was a pupil there. Who Was Who in Peckham includes Baroness Summerskill who married Dr E Jeffrey Samuel. At the time of their marriage in 1925 he was a medical officer at Peckham House. Edith Summerskill wrote in her memoirs, A Women's World: "I was a frequent visitor to the hospital - indeed it provided a background for our courting and we never failed to join in the Christmas festivities for many years after my husband had left." Who Was Who in Peckham is published by Chener Books, 14 Lordship Lane, SE22 8HN; Ł2.95 post free. It is by John D Beasley, Dip, Soc., C.Q.S.W. Member of The Society of Authors.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

The White Bear in association with Aces & Eights present
MISSING
By Reza De Wet directed by Derek Goldby translated by Steven Stead
A mother keeps her daughter under constant supervision on a remote small-holding during the Depression, where they earn a living sewing sacks for the mountains of manure brought to them by surrounding farmers. The father, who is never seen, exiled himself to the loft some ten years before the play starts, leaving the women to run the farm.
The night the action takes place is a strange one: haunting music fills the air from the nearby fairground, forbidden to the daughter. This night is the anniversary of several mysterious disappearances of young women from their homes in the village. It is expected that the killer, or abductor, of these girls will strike again.
2 - 21 April 2002 Tues - Sat 7.30pm, Sundays 4pm Tickets Ł8 (Ł6 conc) Box office: 020 7793 9193
Getting here: 138 Kennington Park Road London SE11 4RB (Two minutes from Kennington Tube) Bus: 133
About the Writer:
Reza De Wet is one of South Africa's foremost playwrights. She has received numerous awards, most recently the Vita Prize for Best Script. Her plays include African Gothic (the first play to be produced by the Market Theatre Johannesburg), In a Different Light (Market Theatre), Miracle (Grahamstown Festival), Yelena (State Theatre) and Three Sisters 2 (Karoo Festival, Oudtshoorn). Three Sisters 2 was subsequently produced at The Orange Tree earlier this year. Her novel Stil Mathilda was published in 1995.

-- Mike (mkwbear@hotmail.com), March 31, 2002.

Tony Benn comes to the Old Vic -
http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view.php?ArtID=158
Former Labour MP Tony Benn is bringing his one man show to Waterloo's Old Vic theatre.
An Audience with Tony Benn comes to The Old Vic (T: 020 7369 1722) on Sunday, 21 April 2002 at 7pm Ł17.50, Ł15 (Upper Circle) + a Ł2 handling charge.
In the show he reminisces about his 50 years in parliament and fields questions from the audience.
The 76-year-old former Cabinet minister stood down as MP for Chesterfield at the last general election.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 30, 2002.

Cameras to target station's hot spot Mar 29 2002 By Vicky Wilks, South London Press A MUGGING hot spot outside a Tube station will be at the centre of a new network of CCTV cameras covering main roads and housing estates. Oval Tube station in Clapham Road, which has been identified by cops as a street robbery hot spot, is to get a share of 15 state-of-the- art new cameras to be fitted across north Lambeth by summer. The cameras will be on Lower Marsh, Baylis Road, Kennington Park Road, Camberwell New Road and Clapham Road. North Lambeth is the last of the five 'town centre' areas in the borough of Lambeth to get cameras - busy streets in Brixton, Norwood, Stockwell, Clapham and Streatham are already under surveillance. Brixton and Stockwell Tube stations also have cameras. The images are monitored 24 hours a day from the council's CCTV control room. A Lambeth council spokesman said: "The system will help in the prevention, detection and prosecution of street crime, drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, and will help protect the environment." The technology is funded by Lambeth Council, the Waterloo Project Board, Circle Initiative and Cross River Partnership. There are also plans in the pipeline for more cameras on or close to housing estates, including between Cowley and Church Manor estates, on Myatts Field North and South estates, and Holland Town Estate. Residents have worked with Lambeth Council to bid for Government cash to pay for those cameras and are now waiting for planning approval from Lambeth Council. Vassall ward councillor Alex McKenna emphasised CCTV in isolation is not enough to fight the crimes that affect north Lambeth - street robbery, burglary and drug dealing. He said: "The cameras will give residents a greater sense of security and assist police in convictions, but ultimately it comes down to better policing as well - we have got to get more police on the beat and working with local people." He added: "Some of the crimes are a reflection of the lack of amenities for young people, particularly sporting activities. Schools can help by introducing activities outside of normal opening hours."

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 30, 2002.

Friends of Archbishops Park
According to the Spring Newsletter, there is "football coaching in the Park on Saturday mornings 10-12 noon. For those who have not seen it, 50 kids have been turning up every week with coaches from Fulham Football in the Community. Already one nine year old has graduated to specialist training with Fulham's advanced academy. Both we, and Fulham, are working hard to raise money to continue the scheme. If anyone has fundraising expertise, which they would like to contribute, contact Sarah. If we raise more money, we hope to expand into other sports. The coaching is free and any child aged between 7 and 15 is welcome."
The Friends would welcome more members. If you would like futher information, please contact Sarah by e-mail.

-- Sarah (sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk), March 28, 2002.

Mail on Sunday journalist called me to know local views on crime in Lambeth and the removal of Commander Brian Paddick. The journalist is angella.johnson@mailonsunday.co.uk if anyone wants to contribute a view.
All best to all Celia

-- Celia (celia.stothard@connectfree.co.uk), March 28, 2002.

EASTER EGG HUNT ARCHBISHOPS PARK, SE1 (Between Lambeth Palace Road and Lambeth Road behind the Palace and opposite St Thomas's A&E) Monday, 1st April 2.30 - 4.00pm FREE For children under 11 years old
Organised by: The Friends of Archbishops Park For further info, contact: Sarah: sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk

-- Sarah (sarah@fergalh.fsnet.co.uk), March 28, 2002.

Restaurants...
I was interested to read Kuan's notes on local restaurants and agree that Kennington Lane Restaurant (205-209 K'Lane, SE11 5QS T: 020 7793 8313, F: 080 7793 8323) is very good.
I also like: Bellamy's Dining Room (332 Kennington Lane SE11 5HY T: 020 7582 9569) down near Hester's Butchers. The chef is Michael, Sarah is the owner and Kim is the new supervisor. I have had there the best steak in my life. Again, it's expensive but for that special occasion... Apparently (according to their blurb), Fay Maschler said: "The restaurant is well worth seeking out..." They say: "Bellamy's Dining Room is passionate about British food...", "The food is delicious with a British touch using only the best seasonal ingredients, from small specialist suppliers." Open Tue-Fri (only), 12-3pm, 7-10pm. Oh, and you MUST check out the toilets! (both!)
I haven't been to the Lobster Pot for years but did see something in the Evening Standard recently about it's being one of the five best French restaurants in London:
FIVE PIECES OF FRANCE IN LONDON Our pick of the best French restaurants in London: Full Story: http://www.thisislondon.com/dynamic/food/top_review.html? in_review_id=528656&in_review_text_id=493586
As for Asian: I reckon the food at the takeaway, Taste of India, at #334 K'Road, SE11 (T: 020 7582 5603) is the best (but I'm from NZ so what would I know?)
For pizza, the best for me is Casa Pizza 5-6 Wincott Parade, 173 K'Rd SE11 (T: 020 7582 9585), run by a Lebanese chap. My favourite pizza is the Casa Special along with a salad (and, if you insist, a glass of wine).
I too agree, the Windmill Fish Bar is great. I'm so pleased that the recent renovation didn't posh it up too much.

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 26, 2002.

Builders, carpenters, plumbers, etc...
Can anyone recommend skilled, reliable (they phone you or arrive when they say they will…), and preferably not too expensive builders, carpenters, plumbers & electricians?
We want to have the exterior of the house redecorated, and there are a few small internal pieces of work for a builder. The other numbers are for future emergencies!
Also, we have a curved sash window needing repair – any experience of companies offering specialist services for this?

-- Frances (frances@newstages.plus.com), March 25, 2002.

Restaurants - my ha'porth Interested to see the recommendation on Chopsticks by Michelle. I didn't find it that authentic or good myself, though a pleasant environment & reasonably filling food ... different tastes I guess! Same applies to the Thai in Windmill Row (too expensive for what it is too, even more than the City). My absolute favourite is the (admittedly pricy) Kennington Lane Restaurant, though I wish they'd have separate ladies' & gents' (or cleaned them a great deal more regularly!) - unisex is a bit too modern for me in this case - & also sometimes the quality of cooking is a little variable (though still better than most). I've not been back to the Lobster Pot since I took overseas visitors there a couple years back & they took one & a half hours (no joke) to bring the first course - which clearly had been sitting out for a while so they could have served us a lot earlier. Love the fish & chip shop in Windmill Row. Pizza Express is my choice for the not so pricy but still good. I've not been back to a certain supposedly well known Indian for years since an experience when the food was over salty, they added up the bill wrong (it was too big of course) & when I spotted it, instead of being apologetic as you'd expect, they seemed quite miffed, which rather surprised but also put the wind up me. What I'm longing for is a really tasty, authentic (but hopefully not too expensive) Asian/East Asian restaurant nearby!

-- Kuan (ka@soprano.mailshell.com), March 23, 2002.

Broadband internet in Kennington - experiences?

1. Has anyone else had problems with BTOpenworld's ADSL service? I suspect it may be the card that users are connected to at the Vauxhall exchange, I keep getting cutouts (with OK days, weeks, sometimes months between) - they claim it's my PC but I've done nothing to it between when the connection works properly & when it doesn't...

2. Has anyone got experiences, good or bad, with cable internet? I'm thinking of switching from BT, you can see why! NTL's site says they don't provide internet because my postcode isn't cabled up but I'm not sure that's right (why else do they keep putting fliers for cable TV through my door..?)

Many thanks in advance Kuan

-- Kuan (ka@soprano.mailshell.com), March 23, 2002.

Roofing Specialist

Can anyone out there recommend a roofing contractor who is honest, competent and preferably not too expensive?
Thanks.
J W Benardout
Roofing Specialist
60 Penenden Heath Road
Maidstone, Kent ME14 2DE
01622 758127
07860 473196

-- Jim Chapman (home@jim-chapman.net), March 23, 2002.

Doing the Lambeth Walk

Doing the Lambeth Walk
If you are interested in learning more about our local area, you might like to do a guided walk that starts from Lambeth North tube station every Tuesday at 11am.
They take about two and a half hours and end up at the Museum of Garden History, going via the various squares (West, St Mary's, Walcott, Cleaver), up to the Cross, along Black Prince Road and up to Lambeth Walk. I went with Sylvia who set quite a pace.
Price Ł5/Ł4 concessions
For more information, phone Joy 020 7435 4782 or Sylvia 01342 324161

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 23, 2002.

Kennington Gardens Society

Kennington Gardens Society
Spring Flower Show
Saturday 23rd March
@ St Anselm’s Church Hall Kennington Cross
Opens at 2.30pm entries to the hall before 12.00 pm for the judging.
For information email the show secretary: frances@francesmckay.com
Come and enjoy the show, our society has been running since the 1920s

-- Frances (frances@francesmckay.com), March 21, 2002.

Does anyone know a good,local, reliable painter and decorator?

-- Peter Whittingham (consulting@peterwhittingham.co.uk), March 21, 2002.

http://www.dongtaichi.com/london/ has full details of a beginners tai chi class in Kennington Beginners 18.15 to 19.55 (Teacher: Gordon Joly) 020 7515 4964 at Pedlars Acre Community Hall, Opal Street, Kennington, London SE11. Cost 5.00 pounds (3.50 pounds or three classes for 10 pounds concessions) No class 1st April, May 6th, June 3rd.
The hall is off Kennington Lane and near Renfrew Road (the same building as the Waterloo and Kennington Neighbourhood offices) near the park.
Beginners are always welcome. No experience necessary.

-- Gordon Joly (kennington@dongtaichi.com), March 21, 2002.

Marisa and I have decided to sell our classic blue 1974 Saab 96. We have had it for a couple of years and spent money anywhere it was needed. We have brought it up to really great condition. It's a fun and very cheap car to run. It has a small engine, so we pay low road tax. Classic car insurance is cheap. And she gets almost 40mpg. We are selling as we are consolidating pre-marriage. If anyone is interested, we are looking for about Ł3250 ono. Look forward to hearing from any neighbourhood classic car

-- Simon Cordery (chalklne@globalnet.co.uk), March 20, 2002.

Brixton Heritage Trails

Brixton Heritage Trails
Is anyone interested in doing some walking on a Sunday afternoon? I was thinking that we could meet at the Prince of Wales in Cleaver Square around 1pm, have lunch and decide which walk we most want to do, then set off to walk off lunch.
The Brixton Society (www.brixtonsociety.org.uk) put out a book last year called "Brixton Heritage Trails" which has six walks in it, around the Brixton area, the nearest one starting at Oval tube station. (The six walks cover Brixton Hill, West Brixton, Stockwell, Myatts Fields and North Brixton, East Brixton, and Effra and Brockwell.) Do please let me know if you are interested.
Cathy
We have now done all six walks and the book is in Durning Library, 167 Kennington Lane, SE11 4HF t: 7926 8682 f: 7926 8684

-- Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com), March 20, 2002.

Cam Pharmacy opposite the police station on Kennington road the Pharmacist and staff are very helpful.

-- Michelle (Michelle.Farmer@rbkc.gov.uk), March 20, 2002.

I'm looking for a fitness training partner. I'm planning to go to the gym twice a week and run twice a week (minimum of 30 minute runs)and seek company. Male or female, any age.

-- Seth Hunter (shunteryak@yahoo.com), March 20, 2002.

Piano teacher sought for beginning adult (and possibly beginning four year old???). Any recommendations?

-- Charlie Holland (charlie@holland-palmer.demon.co.uk), March 18, 2002.

I can offer the services of my male au pair, Peter, for local gardening, babysitting and simple decorating (he painted my very large bedroom a fantastic lavender). He is very responsible, a hard worker, and good with children. He can be reached at 207 735 1897.
I am also on occasion looking for a babysitter in the evenings when Peter is in language class, if anyone has an au pair looking for work. Karen

-- Karen (mcclellk@ebrd.com), March 18, 2002.

Urgently looking for house in Kennington, Vauxhall, that could be easily adapted for disabled person in wheelchair. Up to 420,000 UKP. Should have garden. Preferably with no steps to front door, and a bathroom and bedroom possibilities on ground floor. Possibility of house swap - period 2 bedroom house in De Beauvoir NI for right property. please contact at chloejocasta@hotmail.com

-- Chloe (chloejocasta@hotmail.com), March 17, 2002.

Walworth Garden Farm

Walworth Garden Farm - a local charity that provides people who have been unemployed for a long time with horticultural training. They offer a gardening/maintenance/design/landscaping service. The work on my block's communal grounds cannot be faulted. I'm not sure whether they do individual gardens but you can but ask. They also sell off the shrubs and plants etc that they've cultivated over the winter in a Plant Sale, usually in May. I'll let you know when the next one is. It's a useful addition to Roots n Shoots. They're based at Manor Place (just at the end of Braganza St). Contact Mark Gibbons 020 7582 2652 or farm@wgfarm.plus.com

-- Rob Pateman (rob.pateman@bigwig.net), March 17, 2002.

Punch & Judy

If we have some sort of street festival I will do Punch & Judy!
There is a picture of me, Mr P and the Crocodile in the Hall of Fame on the Punch and Judy Website at punchandjudy.com
I don't do it commercially because I am fully employed and have a personal policy that I will not take work away from professional Punch Professors.
I should point out however that my show has no domestic violence and no baby battering but in all other respects it is a traditional show. I operate from within a booth, use a swazzle and have either wooden or resin puppets.
I don't have domestic violence because I am a serving police officer and I don't think it is appropriate to invite children to laugh at Mr Punch beating up Judy. Not everyone agrees with me. Indeed I am denied membership of one of the associations for this reason.
There's a fair bit of other violence though, my policeman (a particularly unpleasant looking individual) gets his fair share, as does the crocodile. Mr Punch who is rather nasty to Joey is laid out unconscious by him with a frying pan but in the end he recovers and kills the devil - good triumphing over evil.
Perhaps I should have a Mayor in it?
For further details, contact: IDRIVEJULIETTE@aol.com

-- Robyn (IDRIVEJULIETTE@aol.com), March 17, 2002.

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