NEWSLETTER

Autumn issue, October 2007 No.187, Quarterly, distributed free to members

Registered with the Civic Trust and the Forum of Amenity Societies, Registered Charity No.1058103

Website: www.brixtonsociety.org.uk

Our next appearance: Planning Ahead th Although Council has many Saturday 6 October policies for assessing planning applications, at present there seems to be Lambeth Archives no overall vision or dynamic for how the Town Centre should develop over the next Open Day 10 years, and no co-ordination of separate 10 am to 5 pm at Minet Library, corner proposals within the Centre. Thus the of Burton and Knatchbull Roads, SE5. Central Square plans ignore the likely This year’s theme is sport and leisure, arrival of new tram services. There are with related talks in the Michael rumours a Master Plan exists but no-one Church across Burton Road. Another seems to own it or follow it. In search of a opportunity to check out the wide better way, some of us have been in touch range of publications available from all with the Prince’s Trust to bring in experts Lambeth’s amenity societies, for intensive discussions with locals to thrash out a Master Plan that we can feel ourselves included. th we have a part in – more news on the 11 October. Thursday 11 October: The Heart of Lighting up Time A progress update on developments in Brixton Town Centre, including the Central Square, new transport links, the Railway Hotel and more. An opportunity for members to comment on the emerging proposals and to ask questions. 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2.

Thursday 31 October: We have secured funding via Capital Book Launch Community Foundation to run a series A joint event to launch two books – of lantern-making workshops for both Steve Martin’s account of local children and adults in the run-up to involvement in both the slave trade Christmas. These will culminate in a and its abolition, and the Brixton Peace and Light event on the evening Society’s publication on black people’s of Friday 21 December in Tate contribution to British life in the 20th Library Gardens. More details on flyers century. or our website next month. 7 pm at Brixton Tate Library – please book as for the walk on 20 October, or More dates listed inside… tell Glyn Kyle on (020) 7326 5070.

1 Adv\ BSN\ Oct 07 front Diary of Events, Autumn 2007

Brixton Society guided walk around led by local writer th meeting dates Monday 5 Nov. - Steve Martin. One of The London The Executive Committee Lambeth’s Black History usually meets on the Month events – bookings/ Underground second Thursday of the enquiries to (020) 7926 Illustrated talk by Neil Lloyd, month to plan activities 0758 or by e-mail to 8 pm at The Woodlawns and agree our responses blackhistorymonth@lambet Centre, 16 Leigham Court to local developments. h.gov.uk Road, SW16. All meetings 7 pm at the Lambeth Libraries, Archives Streatham Society (local Vida Walsh Centre 2b & Arts. history group). Saltoun Road, SW2. Contact the Secretary to Sunday 21 October Tuesday 13 Nov. - confirm details. Autumn Walk: Bermondsey Abbey • 11 October Meet at 2 pm by the clock A report on recent (open meeting) tower in the centre of excavations by Alastair • 8 November . Douglas of Pre-Construct • 10 January. Friends of Brockwell Park Archaeology. 7 pm for 7-30 at the Housing Co-op Hall, Brixton Area Forum Thursday 25 October 106 The Cut, SE1 (almost For meeting dates of the opposite The Old Vic Forum and its working Brain of Lambeth: Theatre). groups, contact the Town This general knowledge Southwark & Lambeth Centre office on (020) quiz now follows the popular Archaeological Society. 7926 1077 or e-mail to: pub quiz format, for teams [email protected]. of up to 4 people. 7-30 for Tuesday 20 Nov. - uk 7-45 pm start, at Lambeth Crime & Disorder Town Hall (probably Room 125 but check at the door). 7 pm at the Karibu Centre Links with Enquiries to John Moore on (formerly the Abeng) 7 other groups (020) 8677 6490 or e-mail: Gresham Road, SW9. [email protected] With a review of current We suggest checking initiatives and players with organisers in case of The Lambethans Society including the Safer changes since these Neighbourhoods Panel, details reached us. Some Until 27 October dispersal zones, ASBOs events may be charged Departure 07: and the Drugs & Alcohol for, and most groups Further Explorations in Team. welcome donations. Print: this interactive Brixton Town Centre Forum. exhibition explores various Saturday 13 October practices and allows visitors Friday 30 Nov. - to join in creating their own Henry Tate Gardens Christmas Lights In case you missed the artworks. 11 am to 6 pm, tours in May, they will be Mondays- Saturdays at Unit switch-on repeated at 2-30 & 3-30 pm, 7, Brighton House, 9 Official launch of the Brixton around the gardens of Park Brighton Terrace, SW9. See Town Centre lights in Tate Hill, home of Sir Henry Tate www.londonprintworks.com Library Gardens (times and from 1880 to 1899. or phone (020) 7738 7841. details to be confirmed). London Printworks Trust Meet at entrance gate on nd Streatham Common North, Sunday 2 December th near junction with Leigham Sunday 4 Nov. Winter Fayre Court Road, SW16. Memories in Print: 11 am to 3 pm in Brockwell Streatham Society. Sift through a selection of Hall, in the centre of the magazines, newspapers Park. Saturday 20 Oct. – and booklets from 30 to 70 Friends of Brockwell Park Lambeth and the years ago. Then discuss Abolition Walk: ideas for 2008 events – all Remember also to check Meet at 1-30 or 3 pm part of the AGM, 2-30 pm at our website in a month or outside Holy Trinity Church, the Vida Walsh Centre, 2b so, for updates and later Clapham Common, for a Saltoun Road, SW2. additions to this events list. The Lambethans Society.

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Looking along Electric Lane from Rushcroft Road, May 1929, with the Coach and Horses pub on the right. Today, Charlie Chaplin House is on the left and the pub has become the Living Room bar. This is a relatively downmarket image for a postcard – most postcard views showed prestigious buildings or middle-class streets. (Landmark image 02970)

Picturing Old Brixton Schools, health services, transport and some of the older housing We have had a few recent enquiries estates are better represented in about sources of old pictures, so it the London Metropolitan Archives, seems worth repeating some which originated as the records of previous advice. the London County Council and Lambeth Archives has c.30,000 GLC, but which now embrace images in total, of or associated material from many London-based with local personalities and places organizations, commercial and around the borough. Since late voluntary. LMA is run by the City 2003, a growing number – about a Corporation and can be found at 40 quarter by now – have been Northampton Road, EC1 (tel. 020 accessible via the Internet at 7332 3820) or see www.lambethlandmark.com www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma This collection is normally the best place to start, but the content of any Beyond these there are many archive reflects what people thought specialist national collections to was worth recording at the time, and explore, but closer to home we have to a lesser extent what their reprinted some old postcard views, successors have been able to mainly c.1910 vintage. As with the acquire since. Particular strengths originals, we find that the more familiar are Council activities and donated views sell better, though the postcard material now reflecting a range of books published by Sutton Publishing interests, starting before photos were include some less prominent sites and commonplace with the Surrey streets too. Their titles covering this Collection donated by Mr Minet with area are also stocked at Lambeth his original library building. Archives.

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considered lucky as we had two bedrooms 150 years ago… in the house. Mum and Dad had one From the list of burials in the Parish bedroom and the two brothers and sister of St.Mary Lambeth, in the County of shared the other. Sometime after my two Surrey in the year 1857: other brothers and sister were born, Mum August 23rd, a female unknown, age and Dad slept in the downstairs “best about 25 – found drowned at Brixton. room” and the boys and girls had a bedroom each. On the ground floor, in My thanks to Robert Holden for spotting addition to the best room, we had a small this and passing it on. In the 1850s the kitchen and scullery. It was very basic, We River Effra was still open and ran had a kitchen table with 4 chairs and a alongside from the Police built-in larder. In the scullery we had a Station (then the Watch House) all the large clay copper (boiler) and a gas stove. way to St.Mark’s churchyard at All rooms except the scullery had . We can only guess fireplaces. We did not have a bathroom, whether this was suicide, foul play, or only a tin bath hanging in the backyard. In she simply fell in on the way home from the yard we had a pigeon loft because my the pub. Street lights were rare and father raced them. When they became too early drawings show scarcely any old they ended up in the pot. fencing, even on the footbridges that linked houses on the east side to Brixton My first school was in Lyham Road, and Road. then I went to a technical school to study plumbing, as it was expected that I follow the family trade. The school was near East Another Brixton Boy Brixton Railway Station (closed in 1976) at Our thanks to Barry Pearson for sharing the top end of Gresham Road where it his father’s reminiscences with us… connects with Coldharbour Lane. I did not like it much and did not complete the My father Ernest Pearson was born and course. I also went to a Socialist Sunday bred in Brixton. The Pearson family School which I assume was organised by moved to Brixton from Hoxton in 1871. Socialists as an alternative to church. Ernest’s great grandparents, William and Mona were both 33 years old at the time The first job I had was with an ironmongers and had 5 young children. They had or oil shop, where I worked 6 days a week another 4 children while living in – until 9 o’clock on Saturdays. I stayed for Cornwall Road, Brixton. a few years and then became a van boy Ernest’s grandfather, Arthur, the second- with Belvedere Laundry in Acre Lane. Most eldest, married Sophia Benfell in 1884 of the washing was for wealthy families when he was 19 and their first son, also living in South-East London. At that time Arthur (Ernest’s father) was born in there were big houses in , many 1885. with servants. Then war broke out. But first let me tell you what family life was like I always wondered why the family as I was growing up. moved all the way from Hoxton to Brixton. After some research I Life was hard but enjoyable. We all had discovered that in 1866 the Poplar our jobs to do and and had to do them – no shipbuilding industry collapsed with the excuses – although we did try and cut loss of 35,000 jobs. In addition to corners. I remember my brother and I economic decline, the Autumn of 1866 were expected to walk with a box of racing saw 4,000 people die when a cholera pigeons to the lavender and watercress epidemic broke out in East London. It fields on the borders of Streatham and seems the choices were either get sick, Mitcham, a long way. We often walked the workhouse or get out – my family only as far as Clapham Common (much chose the latter. nearer) then hung around for an hour or so before releasing the birds. We had to Ernest’s memories make sure we did not get back too soon I was born in 1912 at 31 Allington Street in because if my father found out he would Brixton (now part of Blenheim Gardens). I not have been very happy! was the 4th child of Arthur and Mary Pearson (nee Rogers). We were The most important role was to make sure that there was food on the table. It was a

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hard struggle, particularly when my father get money was the Rag and Bone Man. was blacklisted for trying to recruit for the We used to prepare a bundle of rags for plumbers’ union. He was a founder which we received so much per pound. member of the old Brixton and Clapham Sometimes we made the rags in the Labour Party, and used to speak on a middle a little wet to get extra weight. soapbox outside the Tate Library in Brixton. He had no work for nearly two Life was hard but good. Most people were years. I must have been around 10-12 at honest – if not it was sorted out by “us” not the time and remember eating lots of bread the police. This happened very rarely as and jam. On some Sunday mornings my most of the street did not own anything mother and father had smoked haddock worth stealing. My father was liked by and us kids had bread which we dipped in everyone, although as a lifelong Socialist the fish water. We got most of our food he did have some strange views. We kids from Brixton Market. My Aunt Florence, had to go flyposting for him right up until who was only 6 years older than me, went the time we left home to got married. One in the evening to the butchers for a incident I remember was him going down hambone. She was told to smile at them the road to a demonstration outside Brixton and ask if they had any bits of spare fat. Prison in the early 1920s. Probably some We picked up any discarded vegetables, Irish Republicans were inside. I know he cut off the bad bits and put it in the pot with took a piece of lead piping in a stocking the hambone – a meal for 3 days. We also with him, but as to whose side he was on I used to collect any old boxes to use as never found out. This was most unusual of firewood. him as he was not a violent person.

We used to get our bread from the local I got married in 1937 and it did not seem bakery. Sometimes we could get day-old long before war broke out and I wound up bread and cakes very cheaply, but what with the Royal Dragoons in North Africa. was best was when my brother got a job at the baker’s and “unofficially” broke bread. I More next time about his war service and was near the front of the queue when the after, perhaps? broken bread was sold off very cheap. To save a few pence we also used to buy Where and When? broken biscuits and spiked potatoes. Jam After we successfully identified the and pickle were bought by the pennyworth. location of a tram outside Brixton Police A cup was taken to the grocers and the Station c.90 years ago, P.Hotchin of idea was to be as nice as possible to the Stanmore has followed up with a photo grocer in the hope of getting a bigger of a 109 bus parked somewhere off portion. Brixton Road c.1965. There has not been time to scan it into this issue, but it I remember the many different tradesmen will be displayed on our stall at the who came around the streets and from Archives Open day for your comments. whom my mother bought things if she had a little spare cash (she always had to keep some back for the pawn shop). Milk was Celebrating Age Festival th sold from the churn (I remember helping For the 10 year, Age Concern my uncle sell it when I was a child). Lambeth is co-ordinating a series of Mussels were sold at two old pence a events for older people all through quart and you could buy sixpence (2.5p) October. Reminiscence and worth of mixed fish – a real luxury. Another nostalgia are well-provided for, or you treat was fish and chips – one pennyworth could opt for health and exercise of fish and a halfpennyworth of chips. A instead! You can pick up a copy of cat’s meat man came round with half a pennyworth of meat on a stick. If he knew the full programme at the Vida Walsh you were out he would put a very small Centre or at the library, or contact piece of meat on the stick and drop it ACL on (020) 7733 0528. through the letterbox. When he came later The centrepiece is Lambeth on for his money, he said the cat must have Show Day at the Town Hall on eaten the rest! Friday 12 October, 10-30 am to 3-30 pm, including information displays, I used to collect horse manure and sell it entertainment and free refreshments. for a halfpenny a bucket. Another way to

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Helping with reading in a Brixton primary school There are some dozen to fifteen primary schools in and around Brixton, providing 2008 is to be the second “National Year education and cultural skills to the of Reading” (the first was in 1998). This children of the area, and contributing in will no doubt boost awareness of the diverse ways to the vitality of the importance – and the pleasures! – of community. reading, with special initiatives in Tony Bell schools from January and as yet unannounced public activities starting in Readers interested in volunteering are April. invited to contact Tony on 020) 7652 There are volunteers helping with 4276; e-mail: tonybell- reading and other activities in several [email protected]. primary schools in Brixton, as a result of Information about RSVP can be found an RSVP project that started last year. on its website http://www.csv- The new school year has started, and rsvp.org.uk/ and the CSV website: RSVP (the Retired and Senior Volunteer http://www.csv.org.uk/. Programme of CSV) would like to attract more volunteers in and around Brixton. How to contact the Society A teacher in a Brixton primary school told me recently that individual help with Editorial & Event Notices reading is the best support, and she Material for the next issue should be sent added, with feeling, that the school before 12 December to the Secretary, Alan Piper, at 82 Mayall Road, SE24 0PJ, or by would welcome as many volunteers as e-mail to [email protected] possible! Individual attention provides a We welcome news and comments from all significant boost to a child’s reading, interested in the Brixton area, so opinions confidence and willingness to learn. expressed in these pages are not Volunteers are greatly appreciated by necessarily those of the Brixton Society. the teachers – and also by the children. Publications & Membership Schools present a great opportunity for Book orders, membership renewals and older people, who often find that they updates to the mailing list should all be sent have a bit of free time, to give a few to the Membership Secretary, Diana Linskey hours a week as a volunteer. Most at 32 Green, SW9 9HZ, or by e- volunteers help in primary schools, mail to: [email protected] though volunteers who want to help in secondary schools are very welcome. Planning Issues Local people in local schools, bringing If you are concerned about a particular people together across cultures and planning application, contact David Warner generations: everyone wins! And there at [email protected],net or on (020) 7924 0618. For wider plans and is no doubt that it is rewarding. One policies, consult Alan Piper as above. Brixton volunteer says she has never felt more welcome than she is in "her" And how to contact You? school. Another, who helps especially We are gradually adding members’ e-mail with children experiencing difficulties, addresses to our database, so we can alert knows it is worth it when she can say "I you to late programme changes or other feel we’re beginning to get there" with a developments between Newsletters – but particular child. Volunteers get to know please tell us when you change your e-mail, "their" children, and really appreciate the otherwise the message will not get through! progress that they make.

Adv\ BS\ N\ Oct 07 community.doc Green Issues

Every Action Counts, From the numerous newsletters that I doesn’t it? have thus far read, two articles struck me From Emma Montlake, as representing the depth to which some EAC co-ordinator at the Civic Trust. Society members are considering these issues. They also span the climate change In a poll that appeared on the BBC news spectrum and encompass the issues at rd on 3 July, it was found that of more than the root of the Every Action Counts 2000 adults questioned, 56% believed that campaign. I hope the authors won’t mind if scientists were still questioning the advent I mention them. of climate change. Further there was a feeling amongst respondents that the One was an informed and informative stories were being exaggerated to make article in the Otter Valley Association money! This struck me on both a personal newsletter for July 2007 written by Norman and professional level. Crossland entitled “Climate Change and On a personal level I found the results of its Effects on the South West”. This article the survey depressing. The latest report of gave a very good summary of the scientific the International Panel on Climate Change background, causes and effects couldn’t have been more unequivocal: associated with climate change. The they found that it was now very likely that article ended with notification for members human activities are causing global that the Association is arranging warming. The reason why the climate forthcoming events to raise awareness of change message is not penetrating as it climate change, including a screening of Al should is not fully understood but these Gore’s “An Inconvenient truth”. This article findings should be deeply worrying to clearly demonstrates one of the objectives government. of the Every Action Counts campaign - raising awareness. On a professional level, the results of the poll make me realise the uphill struggle of engaging with the public on this issue. My involvement stems from my role at the Civic Trust to manage their Every Action Counts campaign. This campaign envisages using the great networks established through voluntary sector organisations such as the Civic Trust to The second was an article that appeared disseminate information and encourage in The Ipswich Society Newsletter for April everyday environmental actions from 2007 written by Mike Brain and entitled ‘A amongst their members. The hope is that Change in the Weather’. It presented the through such campaigns more and more reader with the ethical questions that arise people will be encouraged to think about out of climate change and other what it means to live within the planet’s associated issues. Those are the resources and to strive for sustainable, behavioural choices facing us: whether we one planet living. No small task but the choose to take individual responsibility, Every Action Counts campaign champions collective responsibility or chose to drop the taking of small actions by everyday out of responsibility all together? Is this not folk that will ultimately have profound at the very heart of civic society’s debate effects on reducing man-made green itself? Again it is very much at the hub of house gas emissions. Every Action Counts. It may also go some way to explaining the results of the poll; To better understand the interaction that is the interplay between personal between my involvement with Every responsibility and denial of truth. If the Actions Counts and Civic Societies, I have truth is too difficult, is it easier to drop out been reading a selection of newsletters of taking responsibility altogether? But if from the vast array produced by Civic we do need to take responsibility, how do Trust affiliated societies and amenity we go about encouraging the sceptical groups. I was interested to see whether 56% to take it? Civic Societies and groups were thinking about climate change issues, and whether This brings me back round to Every Action the poll results were reflected in Civic Counts. If it is about taking personal and Societies’ own coverage of the issue. collective responsibility, then here is a

Adv\ BS\ N\ Oct 07 Green issues.doc 7 Green Issues ready made tool that can be used to civic responsibility within the Civic Society encourage such degrees of action. Should movement to be doing something? Or is it Civic Societies be interested in an issue for others? encouraging members to effect change; to take personal responsibility that leads to Training Opportunity collective responsibility that leads to change, to lead the way? My response to As part of “Every Action Counts”, the this is yes, Civic Societies should be at the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers forefront; part of the vanguard of change. (BTCV) is organising free training locally for those who would like to become Three facets of Every Action Counts Community Champions. If you are interested, contact Joanna Purkiss at First there is a website to be found at LVAC on (020) 7737 9463 or e-mail to: www.everyactioncounts.org.uk. When a [email protected] society signs up to the Every Action Counts website there are opportunities for If there are enough people interested then publishing and networking amongst other BTCV will put on a course within Lambeth, community action groups, plus tips, advice otherwise courses will be held elsewhere and an evaluator of your group’s progress within Greater London. in reducing its carbon emissions.

Secondly, there is the appointment of Recycling Buildings Community Champions - those prepared The Brixton Society came into being in the to champion Every Action Counts and mid-1970s when communities around become its voice amongst their group. In Brixton managed to convince the order to develop engagement and delivery Government and eventually the Council with the group, two days free training and that their homes could be renovated or a range of tools are provided. adapted to modern use more economically than tearing them down to start again. By And finally there are the 5 Every Action comparison, the long and expensive Counts themes around which change is efforts to remedy the deficiencies of the hung. They are:- early-70s Angell Town and Stockwell Park estates shows we were right. 1) Energy and climate change; 2) Resource minimisation and But once again the Government is getting recycling; interested in building more homes. We 3) Transport and travelling wisely; had always said that numbers could be 4) Caring for where you live; and usefully increased by dividing larger 5) Ethical and local shopping. properties into small self-contained flats, and nowadays smaller households To quote a few examples of how Every predominate, so there could be a good Action Counts among Civic Societies, the “fit”. The alternatives are that either the Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Association larger houses are shared by several adults has signed up to the “Founding Statement (to maximise the rent) or they get on Sustainability” which starts “Our lives, displaced by new purpose-built flats at our communities and our society should higher density. We have usually preferred be sustainable for generations to come”. to retain the older houses for their The Weald of Protection Society character, but provided that insulation can prints their newsletter on 100% recycled be improved, there are now also “green” paper. Hilary Porter, Chair of the arguments for re-using the existing Leatherhead Civic Society is a Community structures. Champion. And we at the Civic Trust have signed up to the Third Sector Declaration Of course there are practical limits below on Climate Change which includes which sub-division is impractical and recognising the need for urgent action at removes family-sized houses with all levels and adopting public plans to gardens, so space standards need to be set with care. However, a general ban on reduce carbon emissions . conversions would encourage demolition

What is your Society doing to combat and rebuilding to fit in more people. climate change and raise awareness ADP. amongst its members? Is there an issue of

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