NEWSLETTER

New Year issue 2007 No.184, 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 Winter Social - A special project for 2007 200 years ago the first step was taken in the Thursday 18 January abolition of slavery, when in 1807 an Act of From 7 pm at the Vida Walsh Centre, Parliament forbade the trade in slaves 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 (Effra Road between Africa and the British colonies. The end, facing Windrush Square). bicentenary has a lot of local connections, both from the early campaigners and from the Admission free to members, but to help many residents, past and present, our planning, please confirm as soon as whose ancestors include slaves carried off to possible if you are coming, to Bill Linskey the Caribbean and elsewhere. on (020) 7274 3835 or by e-mail to: [email protected] There will be a number of related events in this year, including one in Tate How to contact us… Library Gardens/ Windrush Square on Sunday 25 March (details still to be Editorial & Event Notices: confirmed). Material for the next issue should be sent by 1st March to the Secretary, Alan Piper, However, we wanted to create a lasting record at 82 Mayall Road, SE24 0PJ, or e-mail to of Black experience in Brixton with all its [email protected] or phone or fax to different connections, so we are compiling a (020) 7207 0347. book of reminiscences on this theme. We would like to capture memories of coming to Publications & Membership: Britain while there are still people around who Publications orders, membership renewals arrived on the Windrush – or earlier. Even and updates to the mailing list should all from later generations, we want to hear about be sent to Diana Linskey, Membership growing up or finding work in a changing Secretary, at 32 Green, SW9 society. We particularly want to hear about 9HZ, or e-mail to [email protected] local organisations and social life.

Planning issues: It’s too early to say when the book will appear If you are concerned about a local because this depends how quickly stories can planning application, contact David be collected and edited – so just start writing, Warner at [email protected] or or remind other people who you think have (020) 7924 0618, or write to him at 290 something to say! Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8SE. A couple of volunteers have been lined up to Local History: transcribe the stories from anyone who needs We cannot undertake detailed research, help in getting the words down on the page. though we will try to point you in the right Our Treasurer, Norma Williamson, has offered direction – contact the Secretary as above. to co-ordinate this. Please send your contributions to her at 40 Hubert Grove, SW9 We welcome news and comment from all 9PD or by e-mail to: interested in the Brixton area, so opinions [email protected] expressed in these pages are not necessarily those of the Brixton Society. More 2007 dates overleaf!

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Diary of Events, New Year 2007

Brixton Society Southwark & Lambeth Links with Archaeological Society. meeting dates other groups The Executive Committee We suggest checking Wednesday 14 Feb. usually meets on the with organisers in case of second Thursday of the – My life in Show changes since these Business (so far): month to plan activities details reached us. Some and agree our responses Anecdotes of stage, events may be charged screen and Santa’s grotto to local developments. for, and most groups All meetings 7-30 pm at by the irrepressible welcome donations. Robert Holden. the Vida Walsh Centre 2b Saltoun Road, SW2. Wednesday 17 Jan. 7-45 pm at Contact the Secretary to URC Hall, c/o Redpost confirm details. – Windmills on my Hill and Herne Hill, SE24. • 8 February mind: Herne Hill Society. • 8 March Illustrated talk by • 12 April resident Peter Thursday 15 Feb. – Cobley, recently retired • 10 May Crystal Palace: as conservation architect • 14 June (AGM) Michael Gilbert of Crystal at Kent County Council, 12 July Palace Foundation • where his responsibilities • 13 September describes the themed included 8 windmills. courts of exotic styles of • 11 October 7-30 for 8 pm at Clapham • 8 November. architecture included at Manor Primary School, the Sydenham site. Belmont Road, SW4. Friends of Tate 8 pm at the Phoenix Clapham Society. Centre, Westow Street,

Library & Gardens SE19. Norwood Society Meetings are normally 24 January to 15 (local history group). held at 6-30 pm on the April – Canaletto in same dates as our England: Saturday 17 Feb. – committee meetings Exhibition of 50 paintings Lambeth Orchestra: (listed above), again at & 30 drawings produced Concert including Lalo’s Cello the Vida Walsh Centre. during Canaletto’s stay in Concerto, Dvorak’s Seventh England in 1746-55. Special Events Symphony and two popular Entry to gallery & special overtures. 7-30 pm at All We are also likely to be exhibition £7 (£6 seniors, Saints’ Church, Rosendale involved in... children free). Road, SE21. Slave Trade Abolition Dulwich Picture Gallery. The Lambeth Orchestra. Commemoration –

Sunday 25 March, Thursday 8 Feb. – Sunday 11 March – Open Garden Squares Great Tarts in Art: Weekend – 9/10 June, Local History: High Culture and the Crystal Palace Victorian A selection of short talks and Oldest Profession, a talk w/e - 30 June/ 1st July, recent research, introduced by by Linda Smith, 8 pm at Lambeth Country Show Alan Piper. James Allen Girls School – 21/22 July, th 2-30 pm at the Vida Walsh (6 form lecture theatre). Brixton Splash – Centre, 2b Saltoun Road, SW2 Dulwich Decorative & Sunday 5 August, Lambethans’ Society. Fine Arts Society. London Open House w/e – 15/16 September, Tuesday 13 Feb. – Monday 19 March – Lambeth Archives the Clapham Sect: Open Day – Saturday Recent Research: A round-up of recent Peter Jefferson-Smith on 29 September. the group which led the archaeology in South London, from various fight against the slave Brixton Area Forum trade, 8 pm at Woodlawns For meeting dates of the speakers. 7 pm for 7-30 start at the Darby & Joan Forum and its working Club, 16 Leigham Court groups, contact the Town Housing Co-op Hall, 106 The Cut, SE1 (almost Road, SW16. Centre office on (020) Streatham Society. 7926 1077. opposite The Old Vic).

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This photo of Electric Avenue by night was taken by Baron Corvo at Christmas 1895 (picture kindly supplied by Bill Linskey). This street was built in 1888 as the first shopping street to be lit by electricity. Until the First World War, it was usually enhanced by ambitious decorations for the Christmas shoppers.

Over the centuries South London has seen literally thousands of murders, but those included in the pages of this book are those which have most shocked or fascinated the public or contemporary commentators.

Some were milestones in crime detection Still fighting Slavery techniques such as fingerprinting or DNA The 1807 Act against the Slave Trade was testing. Some continue to generate interest, largely due to the efforts of a well- such as the Charles Bravo case in connected group of Clapham over a century ago, while some are long businessmen, inspired by their local vicar, forgotten, like the murder of St.Alfege in the Rev.John Venn. The Abolitionist Greenwich nearly a thousand years ago. movement spread and eventually achieved the end of slavery in the British Empire in Of particular interest to Brixtonians is the 1833, but it took another 30 years for heartbreaking story of little John Walter emancipation to reach the USA, and yet 20 Cowen. His murder in 1870 near more for Brazil. By this time, Africa was brought to public experiencing a new form of exploitation as attention the wanton abuse that the baby European powers carved out colonies, farmers of the time inflicted on their charges displacing the local rulers whose forbears and their patrons, usually single mothers had profited from selling their unwanted who desperately wanted to keep their people literally down the river. children alive but would not have been able to get jobs if they had to look after them. Sadly, slavery is one of those ideas that This case marked the end of the practice of has never quite gone away, and there is baby farming, previously unchecked, as the increasing concern at the trafficking of Government felt compelled to bring in young people from Eastern Europe and legislation against it. Asia for prostitution and domestic service. The successors to the Abolitionists, now Peter de Loriol has based his latest book on Anti-Slavery International, continue the trial and inquest transcripts, personal stories struggle from a local base, Thomas and contemporary newspaper reports, as Clarkson House, The Stableyard, well as visits to the crime scenes today Broomgrove Road (off Stockwell Road) (though nothing in Gordon Grove survives SW9 9TL. from John Cowen’s time). Website: www.antislavery.org/2007

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Every action counts

A new initiative through the Civic Trust… Flying into Trouble? Reflections on the seasonal crop of Every Action Counts (EAC) is a new travel advertisements campaign to encourage groups of people to make our future more Only 10 years after the Wright sustainable by working together. You Brothers first flight, the world’s first may already know that the Civic Trust four-engined passenger aircraft made is the national body promoting better its maiden flight near St.Petersburg. urban design and supporting local For the next 60 years, airliners were societies like ours. The Trust has refined to fly faster, higher and further. joined a consortium of 25 national Then a dramatic rise in fuel prices voluntary organisations in promoting meant a new priority to fly more EAC across all their networks. cheaply, leading to the larger and The London Region launch seminar on more fuel-efficient designs that now 12 December reflected this with pass over South London every 90 contributions from the Chair of the seconds. The latest “double decker” London Forum of Amenity Societies, Airbus 380 is claimed to consume less British Trust for Conservation than 3 litres of fuel per 100 km Volunteers, London Community travelled – comparable to an Recycling Network, BASSAC and the economical family car. Environmental Law Foundation. This efficiency is a mixed blessing. The programme is supported by Sure, we are now getting more out of Government funding through DEFRA each litre of paraffin (the usual jet fuel) with the aim of mobilising community but the lower costs have made flying groups to make more impact on much more affordable, so that environmental issues. passenger numbers have greatly There are 5 guiding principles: increased and it is the main means of • Save energy. international travel.

• Travel wisely. There has been growing concern at • Shop ethically. the pollution effects of this increasing • Save our resources. airline traffic, and particularly since • Care for your area. most of the emissions take place at high altitude, typically 36,000 feet (11 Many of the suggested actions are km) above sea level, at a typical simple everyday things, but the idea is temperature of -55 degrees C. that collectively they will soon add up Burning each gallon of paraffin and make a difference. Some can be produces just over a gallon of water, in done by individuals or families, but if the form of water vapour, usually seen the members of a group take action in the form of those white together, there will be a bigger impact. condensation trails behind high-flying Suggested actions can be found on aircraft. In certain atmospheric the website: conditions these can persist and www.everyactioncounts.org.uk increase the cloud cover at high

altitude, potentially affecting climatic In the year ahead, we will be featuring conditions. Air traffic is reported to be some of these themes in the Newsletter responsible for cloud cover over the (and on our own website) and we will USA increasing by 1% per decade continue to collaborate with residents’ since 1975. And that’s before we take and Friends groups and kindred account of the carbon dioxide, soot societies as opportunities arise. and other chemical pollutants which

also emerge in the jet exhaust.

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So are there alternatives? Modernising Schools

Rail via the Channel Tunnel is a The London Open House weekend last competitive option for much of Europe, September provided the chance to see but many island resorts owe their inside a selection of school buildings, success to direct air links. Although ancient and modern. Off Lambeth Walk, ships are much more fuel efficient than what remains of the old Lambeth Ragged planes, holiday-makers may not want to School has recently been converted into an spend too much of their break on a slow art gallery. Here, one of the original 1850s sea voyage. While we could restrict our classrooms survives, a big space with high holiday ambitions to closer to home, the windows and the floor stepped up towards reality for many of us is that we want to the rear. Closer to home, the rebuilt Effra keep in touch with family and friends in Early Years Centre/ Nursery School was places like the Caribbean or Australia. informal, bright and adaptable. Similar

Maybe we should now look to another ideas had been used to upgrade King’s wave of innovations in aircraft design, to Avenue Primary School on the Clapham a less polluting form? Solar panels fringe. Both have improved insulation to have been getting a lot of attention save energy in winter, but extra energy is recently for home use, but a solar- sometimes needed in summer to ventilate powered aircraft first flew across the or cool hot spots from generous use of top- Channel back in July 1981. lighting. Just outside the borough, the 1960s A solar-powered airliner would work Kingsdale School had been transformed by best as a flying wing design so that all of roofing over the courtyard to create a modern the upper surface could be covered in atrium containing a new plywood lecture solar PV cells. It would be driven by theatre. propellers via quiet electric motors, but would need to cruise at 50,000 feet to Back in Brixton there is more to come. enjoy continuous sunshine with least air A planning brief has been drafted for resistance. rebuilding Stockwell Park School, on Clapham Road. Planning permission There are drawbacks of course. has just been given for adapting the old Current designs are still much slower Strand Grammar School building for than modern jets, so flights could take 3 special needs secondary use, to replace times longer – though after travelling to Elmcourt School whose old site near the airport, security checks, baggage- Station will be used for a new handling problems and air traffic delays secondary school. are taken into account, there may not be such a great difference in the total An outline planning application has been journey time. made for a new Academy on the Council Inevitably power is much reduced in depot site between Loughborough Park cloudy conditions or when the sun is low and Shakespeare Road. The design by in the sky, so storage batteries would avant garde architect Zaha Hadid looks have to be carried to boost performance effective (no triangles after all!) but the site in an emergency. will need access from both frontages so On the other hand if it became the norm, that pupils can use all local bus routes. So it might put an end to night flights over far there is only a token green roof on one South London! block, but the design may develop.

Any comments? Write to Alan Piper at On the Herne Hill side of the tracks, the Building 518, Biggin Hill Airport, new Michael Tippett special needs school Westerham, Kent TN16 3BN. has already gained planning permission. Environmental design is impressive, Can’t wait for the next issue? including a “biodiverse” green roof – and Remember that we put event dates eliminating travel between the two present and news items on the website in split sites must help! Contrary to what we between our quarterly Newsletters told you last time, this one was designed by (and back numbers too if you missed Clapham architects, Marks Barfield, best an issue). known for the . ADP

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Will Trams return to Brixton?

Croydon Tramlink service in Crown Hill, Central Croydon, with the Whitgift Almshouses in the background. (Photo by Nick Goy, ref.20431, Autumn 2006)

The story so far: Trams will cross the Thames from Clapham North Tube Station This tram proposal has been via Waterloo Bridge and via Bedford Road and Kings championed by the member pass in front of the station, Avenue, to reach the Clapham boroughs of the Cross-River but sooner or later the route Park area. This might even Partnership for several years. divides into two branches, include a loop back down Brixton A map of the proposed route south to Brixton and south- Hill to the Town Centre. was shown on the front cover east to Peckham. The core of our Newsletter in Autumn service may continue to the Within Brixton Town Centre, the 2001. After competing for Elephant & Castle before original route was via Canterbury attention with other lines dividing into the two Crescent to terminate in Popes within Greater London, now branches, or as originally Road between the Recreation funding has been authorised intended, the western Centre and the present multi- for detail design, local branch may split off at the storey car park. This is still consultations and preparatory Old Vic, thence via Lambeth considered practical, though works, totalling £24m. North and Road space is a bit tight if both Construction cost will be over to join buildings remain. The promise of £500m., a major element Road. Both options would improved access and footfall being the need to divert reach Tube Station. might be enough to stimulate underground utilities so that development on one or both sites future repairs do not disrupt From the Oval, the probable if this route was confirmed. tram services. route is along Clapham Road to Stockwell Tube Another possibility is to run on Proposed Routes (and Station, thence along past Brixton Tube Station and Stockwell Road to Brixton finish on the Effra Road frontage variations): of the Central Square site. This The core route between Town Centre. A possible alternative is to run along would complicate planning the Euston and Waterloo will have Central Square, and the busy 30 trams per hour, one every the length of Brixton Road, which may benefit neglected section around the Tube Station 2 minutes. North of Euston, could be a bottleneck, but it the line splits in two, one areas east of that road. However there is already leaves scope for extending to branch continuing NW to Streatham. Camden Town, the other NE lobbying from the Clapham area to continue in their to King’s Cross, beyond which Physical Impact: there will be a depot for direction, perhaps as far as Clapham South. A possible The route through Lambeth parking trams overnight. follows existing roads, so variation is to run due south

Adv\ BS\ N\ Jan 07 Regen.doc 6 Regeneration Issues there is little direct effect on both with gunshot wounds. killed next to the Pizza Take- existing properties. However, a The chaos in the town after away on Acre Lane in late depot is proposed in the such occurrences is October and another candle-lit Peckham area to house the considerable and many vigil was held for another trams overnight (running times business people reported up bereft family. will be similar to the Tube). to 30% fall in trade in the Typical street arrangements can weeks following. A meeting for business people was already be seen in Croydon held on 7th December, to discuss Town Centre, though outer I was near McDonalds when actions they could take to prevent parts of the Croydon Tramlink things were going crazy, similar events such as these are more like the suburban rail heading for the Town Hall for happening again, and contribute to network, partly due to re-using a public meeting on this very community safety and prosperity. established rail lines. subject! Parts of Manchester The BBF have played a major role have also been suffering in these efforts, supporting the Timetable: violent youth gun and knife businesses affected, providing After allowing for a public crime, and Professor Gus guidance, counselling and inquiry process to resolve John had come down from his community involvement. objections, and the construction home town to launch his new process, the tram is expected book,’ Here I Stand’, that Businesses report that it is still to start operations in late 2016, deals with these issues, on very quiet in this run up to Xmas, i.e. almost 10 years off. the invitation of Lambeth’s but much positive effort is being Chief Executive, Derrick expended to turn things round. An Consultation: Anderson. He was also organising committee comprising Formally, this will be in two nearby when this scene ourselves, the Brixton Society, the stages, first to settle the route, unfolded. Friends of Tate Gardens, Brixton and later to deal with details of Understandably, when the Town Centre Manager and the road junctions, parking bays etc. meeting took place in a General Manager of the Tate The Mayor launched the packed Town Hall a short time Library, put together an impressive process in mid-November, and later, the mood was sombre programme of events for the Xmas responses to the first stage and angry, that these things season that was launched on should be made by the end of should be taking place in our Friday 1st December, with the January. home town, in a family switch on of the Town Centre restaurant at 5.30 on a Xmas lights by the Mayor. This Alan Piper. pleasant autumn evening, with was accompanied by performance many families and children from local school choirs and Business in Brixton enjoying the ambience of musicians, clowns, stilt-walkers, An edited version of the mid- Brixton. actors and singers. Morley’s Store contributed term report from the Chair of We didn’t sit still for this, financially and co-ordinated the re- the Brixton Business Forum: however. The very next week launch of their refurbished store a public meeting was with these festivities. The last quarter of 2006 has convened, where the local been a challenging one for community came together to A three week programme of pre- business in Brixton. The tone discuss the situation and Christmas activities includes an was set on 24 September, seek difficult but necessary enhanced craft market on when two men were shot solutions. The owner of the Saturdays, a Sunday Up- outside The Fridge Nightspot, Brixton McDonalds, Terry Market, and a Brixton Market after a major fracas both inside Eagle, gave a moving Mambo all culminating in a and outside the building. presentation on what it was like Peace and Light Celebration on

dealing with such a situation, 21 December. Four days later, four young as a business person and a men were waiting to be served human being. Many local key Much publicity has been put their burgers in the McDonalds decision makers were in together to accompany these Restaurant a few yards down attendance, and all resolved to efforts with coverage in the the road, when a few stern make every effort to tackle this local press, and colourful words were exchanged terrible social aberration. posters and flyers designed by between them. A few moments Mo-Shon, a local PR company later, one of these young men Unfortunately this wasn’t the that worked closely with us, was lying on the floor by the end of the story. Another ands which is developing the counter and another on the young man was shot and Brixton B brand around pavement outside by the door, positive values. Our work next

Adv\ BS\ N\ Jan 07 Regen.doc 7 Regeneration Issues year needs to build on this. The business development. Living Bar offered their facilities Against Crime Initiative, which Discussions are being held with for a short celebration after all is extremely timely given what the Angell Town Community the hard, soaking work that has been set out above. We Project about developing a new Friday. Thank you’s were offered have collaborated not only business infrastructure there. and bouquets awarded to Chris around its own objectives but Contacts are also being Sipidias, the Town Centre also, in establishing a developed in the North Manager and Sarah Slater, event Lambeth Business Network, to Brixton/Oval /Kennington area, organiser. more effectively put business’s as the businesses there feel case to the decision- makers. unrepresented. Sadly, neither of our major bids Through our work with for large investment funds for the McDonald’s, the possibility of We will also be seeking to area have been successful. The establishing a Business develop social enterprises, for bid to the Big Lottery Fund’s Resource Centre, housing which the government has just ‘Living Landmarks’ scheme for ourselves, LBAC , LBN and announced a new £16m £22m to revamp Electric Avenue perhaps other business development fund. and the Markets fell at the first initiatives, in their building is hurdle. Similarly our bid to the being explored. Despite all the problems it has government’s Local Enterprise been an extremely dynamic Growth Initiative for £30m over The Cultural and Creative year. The BBF has been the next 10 years to invest in Industries Group is now up revived from a moribund shell, business development and flying with productive where its officers’ own programmes and local business meetings with the new Head businesses had gone to the also fell at the first stage. of Culture at Lambeth Council wall after last Xmas, into an and the London Development active organisation, respected My sources tell me that our bids Agency. Resources are being by the decision-makers. lacked imagination, financial offered to facilitate the work of I would like to thank the robustness and sufficient the sector by a business Forum officers for their leadership by the business directory/trade guide and a support and the various sector. However Croydon Council major launch event. venues which have hosted and their business representation our meetings, and the organisation, Croydon Business The Lambeth Hair, Fashion Brixton Town Centre office did succeed in winning LEGI and Beauty Expo was a very for having put up with our money, and . Croydon Business’s successful event held at the administrative demands. Chief Executive, Angelina Purcell, Town hall in early November, has agreed to give a presentation organised by one of our key Devon Thomas. at one of our meetings early in members, Adornment. 2007. The work of our sub-group set BBF have now signed the up to examine Lambeth’s Business Link For London’s Planning policies as they Business Concordat, making us affect business and to set a an approved organisation with new Green agenda has access to their business recently delivered an excellent information website and proposal that we aim to database. implement in the New Year.

The Herne Hill Traders have A delegation from BBF also attended the African Caribbean continued patiently to pursue Business Network’s Annual the improvement proposals Putting the heart Conference in October that around the road junction back into Brixton focussed on the supply chain and adjoining . Enclosed with this issue you securing contracts for the 2012 should find a flyer/ poster Olympics. We were also A delegation from BBF from ABC Brixton about their recognised at the European attended the sumptuous proposals for the Railway Federation of Black Women Annual General Meeting of Hotel (Brady’s) in Atlantic Business Owners 11th Annual the Project Road – if not, see their Awards Dinner. held at the Ritzy Cinema in website www.abcbrixton.org November. CCP is injecting or e-mail them at: We have been working closely substantial investment into the [email protected] with the Lambeth Business Brixton Hill area including

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