AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 1 WestcombeNEWS Free to 3800 homes, & in libraries & some shops Feb. 2017 No. 1 ෛଙளԔ Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year! So-lar, so bad . . .
n the last days of 2016, the WN learnt London’s toxic air – Ithat the government is about to attack solar power – yet again. It’s hard to believe, but ministers are planning to hit schools and businesses that invest in solar power with huge tax hikes. MP’s accusations Recent government funding cuts have already triggered thousands of job losses in the UK solar industry. Now that we're he Westcombe Society would like to PHOTO: Raeleen Hutchinson a year on since the Paris climate deal Twish all our readers a Happy and was agreed by world leaders, the UK Healthy New Year. In the words of the government should be doubling invest- Sixteenth Century proverb, “If wishes ment in renewable power – and certainly were horses, beggars would ride...” not by slapping huge, unmanageable tax We say that because it doesn’t look as if hikes on the solar industry. we are going to breathe any cleaner air in If you agree, please sign the petition to 2017 than we did in previous years. The WN has repeatedly reiterated the tell the government to urgently rethink arguments, pointing out how the the tax hike on solar power in the UK Silvertown Tunnel, and the Enderby Wharf https://secure.greenpeace.org.uk/ Cruise liner terminal is going to no-new-solar-taxes exacerbate Greenwich’s – London’s – chronic air pollution problem, which causes some 9,600 premature deaths each HGVs - What year. Not just deaths. According to a 2016 survey by London Councils, nearly half of do you think? Londoners say that filthy air has had an impact on their health. This figure was any will be aware of the use of roads even higher among cyclists (59%) parents Mwithin Westcombe Park by Heavy Goods Vehicles avoiding the congestion on (58%) and people living in inner London Seeing in the New Year in the East Greenwich Pleasaunce. Story p. 3. (51%). the Blackwall Tunnel Southern Approach Jim Fitzpatrick (Lab. Poplar and quality demanded urgent government and/or Shooters Hill Road. MPs scathing Limehouse) said that the decision should action to tackle the public health A representative of the Westcombe And now MPs have added their voice on not have been left to Greenwich council to emergency that’s being driven by dirty Society attended a Working Party meeting the issue. The House of Commons make: other parts of London would be diesel vehicles and heavy traffic . . . with the Council's Highways Committee Environment Committee – one of those affected by the fumes given off by ships “We repeat our call for the urgent on Dec 20th to consider the speed and HoC committees whose job it is to moored at the terminal. He said Ms Coffey publication of a comprehensive air quality noise of HGVs going over the Traffic scrutinize the job of government – has should have intervened to protect strategy containing positive measures to calming on Westcombe Hill. delivered a scathing attack on Ministers Londoners. protect the public from the invisible threat Some residents want the calming over London’s toxic air scandal. Defending the government’s policy, of air pollution. measures to be removed because HGVs Chairman of the committee Neil Parish transport Minister John Hayes said that “We also demand leadership from the cause noise and vibration to their homes. (Con. Honiton & Tiverton) waved a map millions of pounds had been given to local government and funding to ensure that The Council is sympathetic to the issues at journalists showing how pollution town halls to clean up air pollution, but the local authorities can deliver a network of and proposes to contact developers on the peaked in November 2016, and railed committee said that the funds given, and Clean Air Zones for the dozens of cities Peninsula, and other regular users, to ask against the air quality minister Therese the powers derogated, were insufficient. exceeding EU pollution limits.” them to use alternative routes or at least to Coffey and transport minister John Hayes Sadik Khan, mayor of London, has called drive more considerately and within speed over why the people of London were still There were two court cases in 2016 in for local mayors and council leaders to limits. They are also looking at so-called breathing toxic fumes – despite warnings which judges ruled that the have greater powers to deal with the ‘horizontal’ measures such as chicanes, of the dangers of air pollution years ago. government’s air quality policies issues. and width limits – although this might The committee accused Ms Coffey of were very inadequate. ClientEarth The government has claimed to be divert traffic to other local roads. “opting out of key decisions” and tried to force Government to cut N02 “firmly committed” to improving air Also, there is currently a consultation “abdicating her reponsibilities” – which levels in London, which are above quality, and said that its latest report to the about restricting HGVs using the Halstow she strenously denied. legal limits, and the Court found in European commission showed progress Road/Humber Road junction due to the Mr Parish said that the committee was was being made. favour of the plaintiff. potential risk of heavy vehicles getting out aghast at her failure to intervene over the But Mr Parish said “November’s High Mr Hayes agreed that the rulings of control and damaging housing. Enderby Whard cruise liner terminal, Court judgement was the second time that were ‘a wake-up’ call, and quoted the Alongside these issues the Highways which, as we reported in last September’s courts have ruled against the government’s writer C S Lewis: “Failures are finger Department are being asked to look at WN, had been given the go-ahead without air pollution plans. posts on the road to achievement.” better siting of bus-stops and short term a requirement to install shore-to-ships “My committee’s April report on Air Two-finger posts, we assume. parking near the health and leisure centre electricity supply. so that those less able to climb the steep hills and/or with prams can have more easy access . << Newsbriefs >> Please contact info@Westcombesociety. org if you have any concerns. Emma’s Marathon Run for Refugees Congratulations to Myles Dove Only the lonely . . . The National Theatre actress Emma Manton our former distribution manager, on his ninetieth A number of charities have worked to produce Westcombe Society won last year’s Silver Bond highest fundraiser birthday later this month. evidence that over nine million people, nearly a Events in Mycenae House for your diary: award in the London Marathon when she raised fifth of the population, say they are often or over £32,000 for the UN High Commission for Air pollution always lonely – but two-thirds of them feel Sat 18th Feb. 8 -10.00pm Helpers’ and Refugees. This gave her automatic entry into the Greenpeace is urging the Mayor to join the uncomfortable admitting to it. 200,000 older Newcomers’ Party 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon – so now Mayors of Paris, Madrid, Mexico City and people have not had a conversation with family Sat 18th March, 2 -4.00pm Daffodil Tea she has another marathon to fundraise around! Athens in banning diesel vehicles in their cities. or friends for a month, and 25% of parents have Sat 1st April, 7.30pm for 8pm start, “It was the obvious event to enter, “ she said. Sadik Khan has called for a diesel scrappage reported feeling often, or always, lonely. Even Spring Quiz “I only live a mile from the start. But to get on scheme and for reform of vehicle excise duty, children– four million of them – say they some- Sat 15th April 2 -4.pm Easter Egg Hunt UNHCR’s list last year I had to raise an initial to make it less attractive to buy polluting cars. times feel desperately lonely. The issue much in Mycenae House gardens £2,000, so I asked my stage contacts for help. He has reiterated his plea for a new Clean Air exercised Jo Cox, the MP murdered by a right- Sat 10th June 7.30pm Members Evening The National Theatre donated use of the Act to replace legislation that is over fifty years wing terrorist, and her anti-loneliness campaign Sat in July Summer Picnic – TBC Lyttleton Theatre – but then, what to stage? I old. For later this year, a £10-a-day “T charge” is being carried forward by MPs Seema Fri 29th Sep, 10am -2.00pm, Macmillan asked some playwrights, and they produced an on the most pollutting vehicles is planned. Kennedy and Rachel Reeves. We are all invited Coffee Morning amazing seven bespoke one-act plays.” to do our bit. Chair of the Westcombe Society Sat 21st Oct 2 -4pm Chrysanthemum Tea Emma is now putting on a repeat performance Tree tricksters said “That’s where community organisations Fri 3rd Nov, 7.30pm for 8pm start, of the plays at the Haymarket Theatre at 4.00 Recently, men have been knocking on doors like the Westcombe Society can play a part – Autumn Quiz pm on February 28th. offering to fell or prune garden trees straight- but there’s no substitute for individual action.” The Westcombe Society really needs more We hope that WN readers will do their best to away. They charge hundreds of pounds even for volunteers to help out at these events. If support this absolutely excellent effort, and raise a small job, and are also committing an offence Well done Pegga Stores, you are interested, please ring Joanne on lots of money for the Syrian refugees. as this is a Conservation Area: no major tree which received some deservedly positive cover- For full details, please see page 3. work can be done without the Council’s consent age in the BBC’s London News on Boxing Day. 07709 571777. AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 2 COMMUNITY Community garden WESTCOMBE NEWS Are you jumping with joy at the prospects for 2017?! under threat All editoriAl correspondence to: derelict car park at the foot of Royal AHill that has been turned into a neville Grant, The Editor community garden is under threat of being [email protected] torn down, to create space for housing. Tel. 020 8858 8489 Local resident Tony Othen said: “We started s few years ago: the land All MAteriAl to Be sent to: [email protected] was derelict, and full of rubbish. So five or six of us cleared up the space, and deadline for the March with the generosity of so many people in issue: 16th February the community, we’ve turned it into a environment editor: Maggie community space and garden. Hundreds Gravelle of plants have been given, and many What’s on: Barbara Ward many local people have been helping to reporters: The community – that build up what we have today– a quiet means you! space where people can relax.” The Royal Hill Community Garden in environMent coMMittee Greenwich has taken hundreds of hours to emily norton All queries and build and care for. But now it may be lost, comments to: 020 8853 2756 as new plans for the plot have been [email protected] revealed. Developers want to build up to distriBution emily norton and four new family homes on the site. volunteers. Or perhaps jumping for joy at the inauguration of Donald Trump? No, these are A spokesperson from the council said: Volunteer distributors please phone just Greenwich Morrismen ringing their bells . . . See feature on page 6. “London is desperately short of housing 020 8853 2756 , we need your help! and Greenwich, like all local authorities, AdvertisinG MAnAGer is committed to creating new homes where Marilyn little, 163 Westcombe Homes for the homeless we can. However, we are liaising with Hill, se3 7dp 020 8853 1312 current users of the space to explore a [email protected] temporary licence to allow them use of the site before construction of new family All adverts payable in advance by homes (with gardens) begins.” the Westcombe society cheque to . Said Tony: “Heaven knows if that will displAY: Single column 6cm x 6cm: One - four issues £35, five-plus issues £30 ever happen: there’s a railway tunnel each. Other sizes: please inquire. beneath the site; my guess is that there classified Ads (Market Place) 30p per word might be too many technical difficutlies in (A telephone number = one word. An email/ building houses here.” web address = 3 words.) Deadline for all lackheath Halls Friends Annual recently completed the remarkable Holmes So watch – and enjoy! – this space! adverts is 10th day of the preceding month. BArchitecture Richard Grierson Lecture Road Studios for homeless people for printed by: trojan press is on Wednesday 22 February 2016 at 8.00 which, in 2016 he won the NLA building contact the Westcombe society: pm, and will be given by Peter Barber of the year. His lecture could not be more On Probation [email protected] (winner of the 2016 NLA Building of the apposite, as London records a shamefully publisher: The Westcombe Society Year Winner). He will be speaking on: high number of homeless people. n a new play, called Probation, Benoit D chairman: Marilyn Little “THE STREET… who owns the city?” Peter Barber has also been named ICaves explores the lives of three young Tel. 020 8853 1312 The New London Awards recognise architect of the year in 2011 by Building people involved in knife crime and gang the very best in architecture, planning and Design, and he won the Grand Award for culture. The convicted young offenders are The views expressed in the Westcombe development in the capital, including both Architecture in 2015 from the Royal News are not necessarily those of the encouraged to try group therapy sessions Westcombe Society or of the Editor. new and proposed projects across all Academy. He also lectures and is design to assist them towards early release on We take all reasonable precautions to pro- sectors of the built environment, selected tutor at the University of Westminster. probation, but their entangled and dam- tect the interests of our readers by ensuring by an international expert jury. Richard Grierson Lecture: £12 (£10 aged lives explode with devestating effect. as far as possible the bona fides of our Peter Barber set up his practice in 1989 seniors, £6 students) Blackheath Halls. Probation is at 8.00 pm on Friday 17th advertisers but cannot accept any responsi- and has made a strong impact in the field Information on www.blackheathhalls.com Feb. in Mycenae House. Tickets: £8 bility for them. Any complaints should be addressed to the advertiser. of housing. winning many awards He has or box office 020 8463 0100 online at WeGotTickets `(£10 on the door)
To access back-numbers (in colour) go to: www.westcombesociety.org/westcombe-news/ Any views expressed are personal, and are not necessarily those of the Westcombe Letters Society or the WN. Please give address & telephone number; these will not be printed. Westcombe Society’s Blog: http://westcombe.blogspot.com From: David Drummond Any money spent on the boat some of the trees even just as dead Vanbrugh Hill lake is most welcome, but for the trunks, and grow variegated ivy to Understandable to visiting rest, the less we do, the better. cover the upper branches? We s t Co mbe s o Cie t Y me mbe r s Hip Australians perhaps – but would- Many will remember what a Ed: Terry’s plea about signage please send this membership form to: be passengers at this Vanbrugh Hill beautiful sight the Cutty Sark was ehoes that of John Keats’ concept Christine Legg, 69 mycenae r oad, bus stop at least expected some before the fire. A fortune was spent of ‘Negative Capability’, when London, s e 3 7s e remedy when an additional notice on repairs – which managed to “Man is capable of being in was added alerting us to the hide much of the sillhouette in a uncertainties, mysteries, doubts, Name...... absence of buses whilst speed plastic skirt. without any irritable reaching Address...... bumps were installed.After at least Incidentally, it was terrible news after fact and reason.” [from six weeks, we had to rely on mem- to hear of the possible loss of the Keats’ letters] Was Keats in some ...... ory whilst we awaited the signage chestnut trees because of disease. way related to Donald Trump ? Might it be possible to preserve What do readers think? t el...... on the right to be corrected. e mail: ...... From: Mark Johnson-Brown Mycenae House Please enclose payment as appropriate: I write to pass on our sincere would like to sound a word of Family membership £12 [ ] thanks to you and the Westcombe caution. Enticing as they are, huge individual membership £8 [ ] News for promoting the Mycenae grants of money from lottery funds s enior Citizens/unwaged £4 [ ] Soup fund-raising dinner in your and the like do not always benefit splendid publication. In total the the recipients. Managers can some- event raised £1297 to support great times be tempted to do more than causes within our community. We is required, and this can result in a plan to hold our next Soup event loss of the site’s original charm. on Friday 17th November 2017, so Of course, maintenance of steps I hope readers will bear that in and paths is utterly necessary. But mind for future reference. do we really need to be the village Thanks again: we in Mycenae explainers of our park’s history? House really valued your involve- Where would such plaques be ment, and look forward to working located? Not I hope in open spaces. with you on future community Above all, we love our park for its events. Our community is greater mysterious romantic vistas, utterly for your involvement. natural, and uncluttered with signage. From: Terry Scales Greenwich The least we do the better. Let us I refer to Graham Dear’s article in continue to be inspired by the www.headstart.it the December edition of the WN wildness, the inspiration for Turner on “Supporting Greenwich Park”. I and countless other artists. 2 Westcombe News February 2017 AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 3 LOCAL NEWS Raising funds for Syrian Refugees
el Giedroyc (The Great British Bake- MOff – when it moved from the Beeb she “wouldn’t follow the dough...”) will join the all-star cast of Moving Stories at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 26th February to raise funds for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Moving Stories is curated by actress Emma Manton (RSC Love’s Labour’s Lost & Much Ado About Nothing) in response to the current global refugee crisis and was first performed at the National Theatre in 2016. “I have been absolutely blown away by the response of the theatrical community to this event,” Emma told the WN. “All the writers and performers have offered their services for free to show support for UNHCR is deeply grateful to the organis- refugees around the world. It’s very ers, the contributing performers, to the humbling.’ Haymarket Theatre, and toPHOTO: the audience. Some of the UK’s finest writers have With your support, we willNeville be able Grant to written and donated material for the event, continue our life-saving work to protect PHOTO: Neville Grant including Richard Bean, David Edgar, Phil and meet the urgent humanitarian needs of How many men does it take to put up a Christmas Tree? Answer: five – one to do the Porter, Michelle Terry and Jenifer Toksvig. the most vulnerable refugee families.” work, and four management consultants. Many thanks to Brown and Brooke Estate The cast includes Adjoa Andoh (Doctor The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) Agents for sponsoring the Westcombe Society’s festive Christmas Tree in 2016. ABOVE: Who), Edward Bennett (Much Ado about protects refugees, asylum-seekers and the A Team – Peter, Brian, Robert, Alan and, er Simon? (Tho’ Simon had apparently left, Nothing), James Bolam (New Tricks), stateless people around the world. Its staff claiming to be in search of the Christmas fairy. Last seen in the Royal Standard ...) Anna-Jane Casey (Mack and Mabel), are on the ground throughout Europe pro- Natalie Casey (Two Pints of Lager and a viding vital assistance to refugees currently Packet of Crisps), Ray Fearon (Coronation travelling in search of safety from conflict Homelessness: hopeless? Street), Rufus Hound (Dirty Rotten and persecution. UNHCR is leading the Scoundrels), Evelyn Hoskins (Sound of humanitarian response to the Syrian overnment statistics show homeless- homelessness services. Therefore, the Music Live), Andy Nyman (Hangmen), refugee crisis in neighbouring countries Gness is rising between 5-9% on aver- measures in the Bill must be the first step Caroline Sheen (Mary Poppins), and Zubin such as Jordan and Lebanon, as well as age across the country. The capital in a wider Government strategy to reverse Varla (Dara), subject to availability. working with governments to resettle some accounts for 32% of the England total and rising homelessness.” All profits from the performance will of the most vulnerable Syrian refugees so has also faced an 11% rise compared to the There are fears that the bill may be an be donated to the UNHCR to provide they can rebuild their lives in communities same period last year. If this pattern con- excuse to devolve responsibility to coun- much needed support and assistance to in the UK and in other safe countries tinues there will be more homeless people cils without proper funding, or to shift the refugees caught up in the current global around the world. on the streets of London than ever before. blame to councils for the Government's refugee crisis – the most overwhelming There is something of a local tradition There are hopes that the Homelessness failure on homelessness. The Government since the Second World War. Tickets, in support of UNHCR: Blackheath and Reduction Bill, with MPs from all parties must ensure that additional costs are fully priced from £15 are available from the Greenwich United Nations Association has speaking in support, will have a significant met for the long-term. Theatre Royal Haymarket box office. held three International Art Auctions over impact on the problem of homelessness Mr Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, UNHCR the past few years in support of its work. Matt Pennycook MP told the WN: “The Representative to the UK said, PRESS CONTACT – Emma Manton Bill would make a huge change to home- Not all bad . . . “Over the past months, we have seen an Listings Details: 4.00pm Sunday 26th. Feb. lessness law, both through the emphasis it extraordinary outpouring of public support Theatre Royal Haymarket, Haymarket, places on prevention, and through the in the UK for the plight of Syrian refugee London SW1Y 4HT Box office: 020 7930 8800 changes that it imposes on local authorities families, including wonderful initiatives http://www.trh.co.uk/whatson/moving-sto- to assist non-priority groups, particularly such as the ‘Moving Stories’ benefit event. ries-sunday-26th-february-4pm/ single people, in finding accommodation. “However, there are now two tests for Government: first, to fund the costs of the new legal duties in full; and secondly, to Chas & Dave: tackle the causes of the growing homeless- ness crisis in this country. “While I welcome the Government's The Masters support for this cross-party Bill, I believe any locals celebrated the arrival of the rise in homelessness is due to its M2018 with a Wassail in the East decisions since 2010: ending investment in Greenwich Pleasaunce off Halstow Road. of Rockney new affordable rented homes, taking £5bn This medieval tradition has been adopted he history of Chas & Dave is to be Day 70: A Party to Remember in Horse from housing benefit and payments, by the Friends of the Pleasaunce, to Tperformed in one special show – and Guards Parade, London, which was inaction on short-term lets and soaring encourage fertility and a good harvest it’s coming to Blackheath Halls. televised on BBC TV. It’s hrd to believe rents in the private rented sector and from our park’s fruit trees. Chas & Dave are one of those iconic that their first album was One Fing ‘an’ overseeing deep cuts to funding for vital Twelfth Night was actually celebrated acts that still consistently perform to Anuvver in 1975! on “Fourteenth Night” – Sunday 8th sell-out venues across the UK – and they They know how to give their audiences St George’s Church, January. Did that break the rules? If so, it return to Blackheath Halls with their a good time, and this event will see them Westcombe Park didn’t bother the good people who took greatest hits show in March 2017 perform all the hits that made this Cockney part. Lots of families much enjoyed spiced Over the last 2 years they have had a duo famous including Gertcha, Sideboard Weekly services: Kent cider, Morris Dancing, Stick-Banging new hit album That's What Happens, Song, Rabbit, Ain't No Pleasing You, Sunday 11:00 a.m. Holy Communion (stick-banging?) and general merriment, headlined The Royal Variety Show, sold Margate and much, much more. (All-age service on the first Sunday while children made celebratory crowns. out at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Chas & Dave: The Full Story Live of each month) 8:00 p.m. Sceptics Group (1st and 3rd New Year Resolutions and supported Status Quo. FRI 31st MARCH 8.00pm, Great Hall Sundays) at the Vicarage New research has found that almost On 9th May 2015 they performed at VE TICKETS: £29.50 | £27.50 concessions Tuesday: 7.00pm Greenwich Winter 60% of Londoners had broken their Night Shelter for homeless people who New Year's Resolution by the 11th have been referred of January. Here are three to ponder on: Offering a helping hand Wednesday 8:30 a.m. Morning Prayer 1 Resolve never to give way to ooking for a job? Need new skills adults and older people in their home, 12.30 p.m. Lunch and Fellowship depression. (This was Gabrielle and experience`? Volunteering and help out with basic tasks and/or (Soup, bread, fruit and cheese) Palmer’s resolution) L Wed. 15th Feb.: Spiritual Film Night: 2 Befriend someone who may be left can be a big plus on your CV. take people out locally; travel and Selma (2014) Martin Luther King, Jr. on their own too much. One of the opportunities available is phone expenses can be reimbursed. and the 1965 Voting Rights struggle in 3 Never open an email from a person the Person 2 Person scheme, under Three references are required. Alabama or persons unknown. It may contain which volunteers offer support and To find out more, contact Careers Contact: Rev’d Tim Yeager a virus and/or be a “Trojan Horse”. companionship to isolated or lonely Carers centre on 0300 300 2233 or Delete unopened! [email protected] Tel. 07804 614245 people: volunteers visit vulnerable visit www.thestablesse7.com
Westcombe News February 2017 3 AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 4 FEATURES Enderby Wharf: the The Thick of It JIM WINTOUR reviews Substance not Spin, Book Review true story MARY MILLS & PETER LUCK by Nick Raynsford. Policy Press, 2016, £17.99 ick Raynsford was the local Member Action Trusts, we had built up a strong EnderbyWharf Nof Parliament for this area from 1992 coalition of tenant opposition throughout has played an to 2015. In this book he draws on his England. However, it was Nick Raynsford important role experience as an MP, minister and cam- who identified the section in the in world paigner, to try to answer the question: why Government’s manifesto that was their history. The do some policies succeed and others fail? Achilles heel. Partly as a result, Mrs As a local MP he pressed successfully Thatcher backed down and conceded a Enderby Group for the first underground station in tenant ballot. want to preserve Greenwich – the additional stop on the Nick Raynsford spent eight years as a it for posterity. Jubilee Line at North Greenwich. He also Government minister. He was deeply pressed successfully for the additional concerned that many voters believed that station on the Docklands Light Railway at voting made no difference, with the per- Right: the Cutty Sark and the additional station centage of those eligible to vote but not Enderby House on Crossrail at Woolwich (due to open in doing so rising from 16% in 1950 to 39% December 2018). in 2005. To counter this alienation, he PHOTO: Peter Luck The campaign to add the Woolwich tried to devolve more power from central station to Crossrail illustrates how he government and one of his achievements e all take international phone There is also cable-loading equipment succeeded. On the one hand Berkeley as a minister was to establish the Greater calls and the internet for granted. preserved on one of two surviving jetties as Homes, Greenwich Council and the London Assembly and the post of Mayor WWe can talk, email, send photos, well as steps into the river on which there Mayor of London offered the Government of London. videos, and documents to almost anywhere is an important art work. The developers, the carrot of funding for the station. On He raises the spectre of the slow death in the world at the touch of a button. Barratt, are required to restore the house the other hand, the Crossrail Bill of council housing, with inner London Many local people will be aware of the under their planning consent and the Group Committee, on which Nick Raynsford sat, areas like Greenwich being reserved for Enderby Group, who are running a local are pressing for a future use which will threatened the Government with the big the affluent, and people on low and middle campaign to recognise and protect the include a recognition of the heritage of stick of stopping the Crossrail legislation incomes being driven out to live in Paris heritage of Greenwich’s unique role in this the area – and not just a few pictures hung altogether unless the Woolwich station style ‘banlieues’. As a minister he tried to amazing communication revolution. in the bar of a riverside gastro-pub, as has was added. The Government gracefully counter this by building more affordable It was here that the first transatlantic been proposed. conceded. housing. telegraph cable was made and loaded on to The Enderby Group want to see Enderby He was a very diligent constituency There are many lessons to be learnt ships, and for over 160 years, continuing House and the space linking it to the MP, regularly appearing in my office when from this book. But the main lesson may still, workers at Enderby Wharf have been Thames Path and the jetties treated as a I worked for Greenwich Council to press be that an MP endowed with a fierce leaders in the cable-based technologies that whole. The space would be called Pender the cases of individual constituents. intelligence, the wisdom to focus on key now connect the world. Up to the 1970s Plaza, after Sir John Pender, the first chair- He was also a brilliant campaigner. issues and a Calvinistic capacity for hard the majority of sub-sea cables were made man (from 1864- 1868) of Telcon – the When we campaigned together against work can help to change the world. here and today, at the rear of the same Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Margaret Thatcher’s proposal to compul- Jim Wintour was a director of housing site, work continues on making advanced Company. The group have circulated their sorily transfer council housing to Housing at the Royal Borough of Greenwich. equipment for sub-sea cables. ideas for the area with an interpretation of Local people will be aware that the the development here of international riverside itself has been sold to developers communications as well as developing the for housing and the controversial cruise area with facilities for local residents and The Royal Parks: Looking ahead liner terminal. What remains on site is visitors – including the many people who Enderby House, a 19th century Grade II walk the riverside path. The Group has listed building, named for the Enderby recently conducted a footfall survey on the he Friends of Greenwich Park Annual boards of English Heritage and the family who sponsored Antarctic explo- path, which has for long been a much- TLecture is to be given on February Museums and Galleries Commission, ration, and where early meetings of the valued local amenity. 9th by Loyd Grossman CBE, Chairman and is also Chairman of the Heritage Royal Geographical Society were held. What is needed most of all is support for of the new Royal Parks Board. Alliance. He is of course very well At present Enderby House is in a sad the Group’s ideas. They have sent out an Loyd Grossman has been appointed known as a journalist, TV presenter and state of neglect: the Enderby Group want information pack out to many local groups the new Chairman of this new Royal restaurant critic. the interior of the house to be carefully and people and are happy to send out more. Parks organisation – a merger of the Loyd Grossman’s talk “The Royal refurbished. In particular work on The Please get in touch if you would like to existing government agency with the Parks: Looking Ahead” is on Thursday Octagon Room, site of early meetings of the have copies. See their web site www. Royal Parks Foundation (the Parks' 9th February at 7.30pm for 8.00pm at Geographical Society, and also The Royal enderby.org.uk or their Facebook page. charity) into a public corporation with The King William Lecture Theatre, Society, should be carried out. charitable status. His talk will introduce University of Greenwich, at the Old this new organisation, due to be launched Royal Naval College. Tickets are £10 (to The view to shortly, with his vision for the future. include a glass of wine) from Friends of the South- Loyd's lifelong interest in history, the Greenwich Park, 52 Greenwich Park West from arts and heritage has involved him in Street, SE10 9LT (tel 8853 2150) or on Enderby many organisations. He has served on the the door from 7.00pm. Wharf towards the Old Royal Naval College – now the University of Greenwich
PHOTO: Rob Powell Is education happening? Education means the process by which children are led to acquire deep knowledge and deep insights to prepare for their adult lives: about how people tick, about themselves, about the history which led to where we are today, about the natural world, science, technology and the computerizing of information. Cramming means memorizing things superficially, quickly – in short term memory – to pass an exam. The P E R (Education Renewal Group) was founded in 1993 to try to ban cramming in schools and get back to genuine education.
For more details contact [email protected]
4 Westcombe News February 2017 AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 5
WHAT’S ON
Arts ADVANCE NOTICE: BLACKHEATH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS COMMUNITY CHILDREN’S OPERA SOCIETY, St Mary’s Church Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackheath www.artsinblackheath.org “PAWS AND PADLOCKS” All meetings are on the 4th Thursday of each month- A new children’s opera by Kate Whitley except August and December- 2pm for 2.30pm 23rd Feb. Alexandra Epps on JOHN SINGER George and Georgina are accidentally locked SARGENT - THE POWER OF THE PORTRAIT. in the zoo one night. They make friends with the Non-members may pay on the door animals - and discover a dastardly plan . . . GREENWICH DECORATIVE & FINE ARTS 60 children and adults are needed for this show, SOCIETY King William Court, University of no previous experience necessary! Greenwich Monday 13th Feb. 2017 8.00pm Printing in Blackheath Participation fee: £40.00 prompt. HABITAT CATALOGUED by Caroline since 1978 MacDonald- Haig Visitors may pay on the door From your ideas or Artwork Rehearsals: Sat 1st - Sun 9th April Some evening & STEPHEN LAWRENCE GALLERY, University of we can print at a weekend rehearsals from Sat.11th March. Greenwich MY GRANDDAD’S CAR: exploring the PERFORMANCES: Sat 8th April 2.0pm & 6.0pm reasonable cost: metaphorical significance of cars inherited from their • Business cards grandfathers in Pakistan and Nigeria. Featuring film, Sunday 9th April: 2.00 and 6.00 pm • Invoices • Letterheads photos, and sculpture created while visiting their TICKETS: £11.00 | Under 12s £6.00 ancestral homelands. Until February 10th. Free. Performances suitable for Ages 5+ • Books • Brochures • Forms • Invites cHildren & FAMilY • Wedding StationAry tHeAtre CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES AT THE BRIDGE tHe WestcoMBe societY THE GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill, 1a Lizban s t East Greenwich Pleasaunce blackheath, London s e 3 8s s London SE10 8ES Box Office: 8858 7755 Stay-and-play sessions for under-5s run on Tuesdays Pl. see page one. These events can and Wednesdays from 10.00am-12.00pm and 12.30- Sun 5th Feb. 7.30 THE VANISHING MAN For t el: 020 8853 2268 only take place if more volunteers 2.30pm and Fridays from 10.00am-12.00pm those who believe in magic... £16 | 13.50 e mail: [email protected] Mon 6th Feb. 7.30 THE LET AWARD Les Enfants Gardening Club for under 5s accompanied by a par- come forward to help. Interested? www.trojanpress.com ent, grandparent or carer on Mondays 1.30-2.30pm Terrible showcase the work of those shortlisted £11 Please ring Joanne on 07709 571777. Tues. 7th - Sat 11th Feb. FRANKENSTEIN adapted For info on other sessions involving arts and craft and £21.00 | £16.00 baby music, visit www.thebridgegreenwich. co.uk or coMMunitY Wed. 22nd Feb - Sun 12th March Tues- Sat 7.30 email [email protected] pm Sat Matinee 2.30 Sun 4.00 pm UK Premiere of BLACKHEATH HALLS 23, Lee Rd. Blackheath BLACKHEATH & GREENWICH WOMEN’S SE3 9RQ 0208 463 0100 www.trinitylaban.ac.uk The Rock Musical LIZZIE £26.00 | £21 r . G.Austin INSTITUTE First Wed. each month, 7.00 for 7.30pm THUMBELINA Sat 11th Feb 1.00pm & 3.00pm AND IN THE NEW STUDIO: (Established 1963 at Sunfields Methodist Church, Old Dover Road 31st Jan. - 4th Feb. 8.00pm THEY BUILT IT. NO Suitable for ages 2+ £8.50 BLACKHEATH BRIDGE CLUB duplicate sessions Heating Engineers, ONE CAME. 8 years ago Tobias and Alex formed a THE UGLY DUCKLING Sat 25th Feb. 1pm & in Mycenae House Mon & Thurs 7.15pm and on Wed spiritualist commune. They are still awaiting their first Property Maintenance, 3pm SEA LEGS PUPPET THEATRE Suitable for at 1.15pm. Tel Ron 0208 319 1312 member... Monty Python eat your heart out ... £11.00 GAS ages 3+ £8.50 Plus: 15 minutes: Meet the Puppets! DYSLEXIA ASSOCIATION OF BEXLEY, Electrics, Painting, Tues.7th - Sat 11th Feb. 7.45 (Sat 6.00 & 9.00pm) SAFE GREENWICH THEATRE CROOMS HILL BROMLEY GREENWICH & LEWISHAM A SUPER HAPPY STORY £11.00 Decorating, Plumbing, London SE10 8ES 8858 7755 Info: 07762265827 Help Line: 0300 999 1800 THE ALEXANDER PLAYERS Central Heating, Sun. 12th 5.00 pm & Mon 13th Feb. 2.00 & 6.00pm Thurs 23rd Feb & Thurs 20th April 7.45pm Alexandra Hall, Bramshot Ave. SE7 HEAVEN EYES by David Almond (Skellig) pre- Talks on Handwriting, and Revision Tips and Shower and Bathroom Specialists Wed. 15th - Sat. Feb.18th 8.00pm Doors open 7.30 sented by Theatre sans Frontieres Techniques. At St Nicholas Church Hall (Village Hall) THE MEMORY OF WATER by Shelagh 2A Hassendean Rd, Blackheath SE3 8TS WOW! SAID THE OWL Tues 14 Feb. Explore the Church Lane, Chislehurst Kent BR7 5PE Stephenson 07867 627 987 £9 (£8 Conc.) Telephone: 0208 858 7359 wow-world of colours with this curious little owl Adult Dyslexia Group: First Wednesday of each This prize-winning play concerns three sisters who [email protected] Mark Thompson's Spectacular Science Show Wed month at 7.30 pm Community House, South Street, N come together for their mother's funeral. 15th Feb. 11.am & 3.00 pm Think Science is boring? Bromley BR1 1RH Think again! £13.50, concs £11.50 Child. £8.50 THE WOODLANDS FARM TRUST CHARLTON HOUSE www.charltonhouse Music MICHAEL MORPURGO’s KING ARTHUR 8856 3001 Mulberry Tea Rooms Mon-Fri 9am- 4pm Thurs. 16th Feb. 2.00pm & 5.00pm 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, Kent DA16 3RP Lunchtime concert every Friday 1.00pm–2.00pm BLACKHEATH HALLS 23, Lee Road SE3 9RQ Telephone: 020 8319 8900 All Tickets £13.50, Concs £11, Children £8.50 BLACKHEATH & GREENWICH UNITED 0208 463 0100 www.trinitylaban.ac.uk February Half Term Events for children Plus £1.00 booking fee] Ages: 7+ NATIONS ASSOCIATION: Tues. 21st March Will CLASSICAL: Wed. 15th Feb. 1.00 - 3.0pm Print a picture DON'T DRIBBLE ON THE DRAGON Fri 17th -Sun be showing The Coming War with China, John Sun. 5th Feb. 11.00 am Great Hall THE AUSTEN 19th Feb. My brother keeps his dragon in a box... 2+ Come up with your own pattern or design and then Pilger’s alarming (alarmist?) film. The Trump effect... TRIO perform Haydn, Handel, Dussek & Cramer. SHERINGTON CHILDREN’S CENTRE, Tel. 0208 Meeting starts at 7.00 pm as the film is long, and time Tickets £14 | £12.00 concs. using special paint and rollers you can print this – 3053140 - 14, Sherington Road SE7 7JW will be needed for discussion. Free. All welcome. Fri 10th Feb. 7.30 pm Great Hall STRAVINSKY’s picture onto paper to take home with you. Just DAD’S STAY AND PLAY session every Wednesday, ST MICHAEL'S ART GALLERY is opening at St THE RITE OF SPRING plus Kalinnikov’s Symph. drop in to make your own print. £3 per child. 1.00pm -2.30pm –free drop in Sherington Children’s Michael's Church Blackheath Park for an exhibition of No. 1 & O’Hare’s Thread. £12.00 | £7.00 concs. Thurs. 16th Feb. Woodlands Farm Trail –Then Centre, all home dads welcome Each 2nd Saturday of amateur and semi-professional paintings and sculp- Wed. 15th Feb. 7.30 pm JETTE PARKER YOUNG and now 10.00am – 1.00pm See how the farm has the month – 10,00am -11.30am – free brunch/arts and tures on 2 February 5.00pm to 8.00pm and then on ARTISTS RECITAL Opera stars of the future per- changed on our 20th anniversary! £2 per child. craft Contact [email protected] for 4th, 5th, 8th and 11th February, 12 to 5.00pm. form arias & duets. Tickets: £7.00 | £5.00 concs. Fri. 17th Feb. Get Wild in the Woods 11.00am – more details, www.selondondads.org.uk Anyone wishing to exhibit please contact Chris at Sun. 19th Feb. 11.00 am GUILDHALL CANTATA 1.00pm & 2.00pm-4.00pm. Learn how to survive [email protected] or the church office at spoKen Word ENSEMBLE Unmissable chance to hear music from in the wild: shelter building, cooking over a fire 1 Pond Road. SMAG will be open 3 or 4 times a 16th - 18th Century from Monteverdi’s Venice played etc.and learn what animals need to survive. BLACKHEATH HALLS 23, Lee Rd. Blackheath year as a venue for those wishing to exhibit and by Guildhall artists £14.00 | £12.00 £4 per child Age 7+ Booking essential! SE3 9RQ Box Office: 0208 463 0100 sell their works. Sun 26th Feb. 6.30 pm Blackheath Halls Orchestra WED 22 February 8.00pm RICHARD GRIERSON WESTCOMBE WOODLANDS play Verdi, Beethoven (3rd Piano Concerto) & ANNUAL ARCHITECTURE LECTURE Next volunteers days are Sunday 5th. February Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4 £10 | £8.00 concs. RECITAL ROOM: Presented by Peter Barber, the and Saturday 4th March 10.00 am - 1.00 pm. LUNCHTIME RECITALS Mon. 27th Feb. 1.10pm 2016 NLA Architect of the Year £12.00 | £10.00 Please bring your own tools if you have them. Our Viv McLean plays Bach’s Goldberg Variations, & WED. 1st March 8.00 pm Boris Rumney: THE meeting point will be at the new gate at the western Bach/ Busoni ‘s Choral Preludes end of the Seren Park car park. NB We are not SPLITS; RECITAL ROOM A memoir and honest MAINSTREAM account of a difficult life £10.00 allowed to park in this private car park. Sat 4th Feb. UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SOCIETY GREENWICH/BLACKHEATH READING GREAT BRITAIN play “Heresy and Heritage” 8.00 greenwichindustrialhistory.blogspot.co.uk GROUP Meet at Greenwich Union Pub, Royal Hill. pm Tickets: £26 | £24.00 concs. 21st Feb. Andrew Turner on Redpath Brown & Co First Wednesday of each month (but this February the Sat 11th Feb. THE GREAT AMERICAN SONG- BLACKHEATH SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY meeting is on the second Wednesday! Feb 8th 7.30pm BOOK 7.30 pm Great Hall featuring the Sam Friday lectures at 7.45pm Mycenae House. for 8pm Informal, friendly, mixed group. Come join Jewison Orchestra Tickets £15.00 | £5 students Feb 17 Medical Microscopy TBC us! Read-Drink-Discuss. Next book: The Bees by 7th & 8th Feb. and 7th. 8th March 7.30 pm Visitors welcome - donations £3 to the society. Laline Paul (2015) Contact [email protected] BEATS IN THE BAR FREE, but ticketed. Trinity IN-WORDS Laban students with guest artists Irena Hill has said a sad goodbye to Made in GLOBAL FUSION MUSIC & ARTS Greenwich, and asks everyone to keep in touch Free workshops Fortnightly Tuesday and Friday com- NEW CHOREOGRAPHY: MIXED BILL with her via [email protected] munity workshops 7.30-8.30pm at Mascalls Meeting Learning is fun Feb. 7th 7.00for 7.30 pm Jan Fortune & Adam Room off Victoria Way, Charlton SE7 7TT TUE 14th. FEB 7.30 pm Craig (founders of Cinammon Press) will read from Info 0208 858 9497 LABAN THEATRE £6 | £4 St Olave’s is a Prep School in their latest novels. West Greenwich Library. Free Fri. 19th Feb.World Cinema Night Charlton House New Eltham for boys and girls (donations for refreshments welcome) Friday 25th event in Mycenae House Come and see works by the choreography aged 3-11 years March 7th at 7.00pm Frances Spurrier and friends Sat. 27th Feb. Fair-Trade Fortnight Event with stars of the future as they embark will read from their latest collections. West Kora Player from Guinea Mosi Conde, Stalls, on their professional careers. Greenwich Library. ! Broad, child-centred curriculum Taster Sessions, free massage and Trad. Ethiopean ! Excellent results in the 11+ Free (donations for refreshments welcome) Box office: 020 8463 0100 Coffee Ceremony. Mycenae House selection ! Clubs, outings and residential Grant Saw Wealth Management Limited MYcenAe House live events: FeBruArY 2017 trips ! Excellent pastoral care Wed 1st Feb 7.30pm - Icarus Club. An evening of acoustic live music ! Small classes INDEPENDENT PERSONAL and performed by high quality, original songwriters. £7.50. ! Specialist staff for PE, IT,Music, Fri 10th Feb 8pm - JazzNights. Candlit Live Jazz music event hosted by CORPORATE FINANCIAL ADVISERS French and Drama Investments - Pensions - Estate Planning Dave Silk featuring JazzNights Allstars plus guests. £10. Sat 11th Feb 1pm + 3pm - Let's All Dance present The Princess and ! Sibling fee reduction The Frog. Magical ballet for 2-9 year olds & their families. £9/£7. ! Before and after school care 2 Charlton Road. Blackheath Standard Fri 17th Feb 7.30pm - Global Fusion Music & Arts. Probation: A play 020 8294 8930 London SE3 7EX (T) 020 3417 9760 about youth crime by Benoit Chaves. Advance tickets £8. Te l : email: [email protected] Wed 22nd Feb 7.30pm - Burton. Winner of ‘Best International Show’ at www.stolaves.org.uk website: www.gswealth.co.uk. the Hollywood Fringe Festival with Rhodri Miles. £9 Fri 24th Feb 7.30pm - Icarus Club. An evening of acoustic live music HELPING YOU PLAN YOUR FUTURE performed by high quality, original songwriters. £7.50. Grant Saw Wealth Management Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority For further information about all Mycenae House events, please visit www.mycenaehouse.co.uk
Westcombe News February 2017 5 AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 6 FEATURES Surely a phoney Greenwich Morris tradition . . . ver the summer readers of Westcombe . . . isn’t it? ONews may well have come across a group of men in white, with brown waist- The Ooser coats and bells, dancing with sticks or that some- handkerchiefs outside a pub, by the Cutty times comes Sark or the park gates. out with the For 40 years, on summer evenings and Wessex warm weekends, Greenwich Morris Men Morrismen: have danced about the Royal Borough. In one of many July we celebrated our birthday with a day local of dance, inviting several other sides to traditions join us: 100 people, from different Morris traditions, dancing by the river! It was a [courtesy colourful, cheerful and musical spectacle. Dorset County Museum] Our year began a few months earlier, on May 1st, at dawn. Every May Day, as People are curious about the origins of the sun rises over Blackheath, we dance Morris dancing. No one knows for sure near the south entrance to the park. We but there is a longstanding idea that have a huge, appreciative audience – Morris is a contraction of Moorish, and unfortunately, it’s in a hurry, but we get a that the dances might have come from wave and a honk as coaches, lorries and of the dances of his country. revival of the 1950s when young people North Africa. Scholars aren’t convinced. cars speed along the A2. And there are We’re a friendly bunch, always rediscovered and learned the dances. But, back in the days when we unleashed always a few bleary-eyed people who, welcoming new people, who usually pick We sustain this tradition – the original bagpipers rather than bombers on Libya, despite it being 5.15 am, come along to up the dances pretty quickly. Anyone with street dance – by doing it: most of our a musician friend was sent by the British watch us dance, welcoming the summer. some sense of rhythm, and a bit of stamina members saw the side dancing somewhere, Council to perform at a festival there. Then, every Thursday evening (until it gets can enjoy Morris dancing. People from liked the look of it, came to have a go and He was astounded to witness six men, too dark for us to catch the sticks), and on India and America enjoyed it so much that they stayed. in two lines of three, dressed in white, many weekends, Greenwich Morris dance have danced with us – Julian Morris is by no means stuck in the with bells and handkerchiefs come somewhere local: at the Cutty Sark (both and one current past: contemporary choreographers and dancing out of the desert. There might, the ship and the pub!), in the Old Naval member is originally May hip-hop dancers are incorporating Morris then, be something in this theory. College, outside the station. from Indonesia. in new works. There’s video, viewed by One thing is certain: people have been We venture further afield, too; never We come from all walks of life; there’s thousands, of us dancing and swapping Morris dancing in England for a very missing Rochester Sweeps Festival. In an electrician, an educational psychologist, moves with Tommy Xpensive, a famous long time indeed. The earliest known September we were invited by a Morris a town-planner and one who was in Star and fabulously funky You Tuber from reference to Morris dancing was in 1448, side in Guernsey, and spent a wonderful Wars and Dr Strange, acting with Benedict Ivory Coast. when the Goldsmiths’ Company, another weekend dancing all over the island. We Cumberbatch. There’s no starting, and no Now the cold weather hs come in, group with local connections, paid seven are wanted men - in such demand for com- retirement, age: our foreman (who teaches Greenwich Morris Men have retreated shillings for a ‘morysk daunce’. Today munity events such as Surrey Docks City the dances) began when he was 11; another from the streets to our winter home, that would be more than £180 – a fee Farm Spring Celebration, the summer fair regular is in his eightieth year. Morris Mycenae House. We’re not hibernating, we’d gladly turn out for. at Shrewsbury Park and the wassail in in dancing keeps you healthy and happy – if but practising and learning new dances – The Morris used to be posh, a courtly East Greenwich Pleasaunce – that we not wealthy and wise. ready for our return, with the sun, on May dance, but when fashions moved on, it sometimes have to turn invitations down. We always dance to live music, played Day next year. Now is your opportunity! lost something of its lustre socially, but Morris dancing in Greenwich is very mostly on various assorted squeezeboxes. We have some vacancies. If you would like not its popular appeal. In 1600, Will illuminating because the passers-by come The tunes are terrific, and this is why to join us, to have a go at this wonderful, Kempe, Shakespeare’s clown, who was from all around the world. They are curi- composers such as Ralph Vaughan ancient, modern, English and global dance famous for his jigs, took a strange bet, ous about our dances, not so much because Williams and George Butterworth collected of the people and the streets, or if you are a and Morris-danced from London to they find them strange but because of the dance tunes and folksongs tunes and then musician and would like to play, please Norwich. It took him nine days – and similarities they see with the traditional incorporated them into their music. come along on Thursday evenings, 8.00- that’s where the phrase ‘a nine days’ dances of their own countries. Butterworth was one of a generation of 10.00pm, followed in the bar of Mycenae wonder’ comes from. From Euskera - the Basque Country - Morris dancers killed in the Great War. In House by a liquid physiotherapy session. Morris dancing persisted in rural areas to Turkey and beyond there are dances akin some villages the whole Morris side went [email protected] and different traditions developed: to the Morris. An man from Eritrea who off to war and never returned, and there www.greenwichmorrismen.com processional dances, often with clogs, in saw us thought that we had learned some was not much dancing until the folk Mycenae House, Mycenae Road. the north west; Border Morris, all ragged jackets and whooping, in the Marches; Cotswold, the most elegant, using handkerchiefs to elongate the lines – Blackheath Bridge Club which is what Greenwich Morris dances. or those who prefer less (physically) average club players of varying ability. are automatically entered as EBU mem- Fenergetic pastimes, bridge at The Club plays “duplicate bridge” – bers. Results are automatically scored, Blackheath Bridge Club is the answer! an increasingly popular form of the electronically, and players’ Master points Susan Clark Interiors Come and play at the club, and you game. This means that the same hands are automatically totted up by the will be following in the footsteps of an are played repeatedly by different English Bridge Union. impressive band of famous exponents of players, so that at the end of a session Results are displayed on the Club’s web- the game, who first cut their teeth at the you can compare your results with those site (www.bridgewebs.com/blackheath). club, which was formed in 1952. of other players. Instant feedback! Duplicate sessions are in Mycenae They include Terence Reese (the first New players are warmly welcomed, House Mondays and Thursdays at president), Derek Patterson, the twins and we have a host system to try to make 7.15pm, and on Wednesdays at 1.15pm. Neil and Stuart Tredinnick, and Neil sure that newcomers are never short of a (Limited access on Mondays for Susan Clark Interiors Rosen; but our members are really just partner. The Club participates in the disabled people). Please ring Ron on EBU's ‘Pay 2 Play’ scheme, so members 0208 319 1312 for more info.
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6 Westcombe News February 2017 AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 7
Planning applications can be viewed in the library, or at the Woolwich Library on the lower ground floor of the Woolwich Centre, 35 Wellington St. They ENVIRONMENT may also be viewed on www. green- wich.gov.uk/planning Mycenae Gardens: a very special place MAGGIE GRAVELLE ycenae Gardens is a public open space, and aware, both of the privilege of using the Mowned and maintained by the Royal space and of the importance of taking Borough of Greenwich, part of the original proper care of it. They had helped to plant garden of Woodlands, the country house bulbs and to restore borders and understood which belonged to John Julius Angerstein why some areas had been fenced and others (1735 – 1823). He became very wealthy and deliberately left untidy to encourage wildlife. spent part of his fortune buying pictures The children from the Mycenae House which, on his death, went on to form the cor- play group and the Acorns also have access nerstone of the National Gallery collection. to the grounds. This means that overall more his is an artist’s impression of IKEA new jobs. It is on six bus routes, provides The house is now home to the Greenwich than 100 children use the Gardens on a daily TGreenwich which will be built on the 75 cycle stands and 20 electrical car Steiner School. basis. Mark Johnson-Brown, Director of site of the old Sainsbury building and charging points. Car parking will be in the The gardens used to be much larger: they Mycenae House, was eager to stress the need adjacent site on the Peninsula. It will have existing car park shared with B&Q and the included a lake and an ice house as well as for balance in the use of the Gardens. He 100m of glazing to the front and a substan- Odeon. The design may change slightly some magnificent trees, including the plane told us that, as well as the playgroups, the tial amount of glazing to the rear which before IKEA apply for detailed planning trees we can still enjoy today. House uses it in some very specific ways. will overlook a community garden. permission in about a month. They hope to Mycenae Gardens has been designated by There is an agreement with the Council that Local community groups, including the start construction in the summer with the Greenwich Council as a Site of Local Nature part of the grounds can be used for events Westcombe Society, were invited to a store opening planned for mid-2018. Conservation Importance. The Westcombe such as weddings, and cultural festivals, presentation of their proposals recently. Community groups will be considering Park Conservation Area Character Appraisal, including the popular annual Parksfest. 2010, describes it as a “mature garden with Dog walkers value the space too. One man It is their first store to be built in London and responding to these proposals. large trees, dense shrubberies and grassland, takes his dog there most afternoons, out of for ten years. It is a unique design for If you have any comments/queries at this with a diversity of habitats for birds and consideration for the children: he tends to Greenwich and will be their leading store stage do let us know at environment other animals.” avoid times they are outside since, although in the UK. Planned to have solar panels, @westcombesociety.org We hope to The Friends of Mycenae Gardens they 'make a great fuss' of the dog, it tends to rainwater collection, a roof garden and provide further details in our next issue (FOMG) was set up, according to the web- get rather over excited. open space outside, it will introduce 500 and on our website Westcombesociety.org site, to bring together people who value these The Gardens and the neighbouring Dell are gardens', to protect and 'foster the natural rich in wildlife. Joe Beale, a local naturalist, environment and to ensure the space is did a survey in the Dell which revealed the Park Manager’s maintained in ways that appeal to all users. variety of birds - a total of 26 species of The WN decided to find out how and by which 14 were probably breeding in the whom the Gardens are used and why they neighbourhood. Bats and stag beetles have GRAHAM DEAR value it. Users include the Steiner School, been recorded, and other beetles almost Report visitors to Mycenae House, dog walkers, certainly live in the rotting wood. Animals hen this edition of the Westcombe very visible; can we improve the viewing wildlife enthusiasts, parents and children as use the dense, protective cover of brambles WNews comes out I hope I will have points? well as local people looking for some peace and other vegetation, so although in some spoken to some of you at the Open days in • Last summer we trialled a small and quiet. Some people are worried about parks this might by now have been 'tidied up' the park which were held on Sunday 22nd refreshment kiosk in the Flower Garden. possible over-use which could disturb the it is important to retain the natural environ- and Wednesday 25th of January. The feedback we received from comment tranquillity of the space. There is also an ment it offers. Joe, who also helped to These meetings are one of the ways cards was very positive. Would you like us on-going risk of compaction under the trees design the information board about the local depriving them of nutrients, water and air. wildlife, says “Clearly for many species the that we will be consulting with park users to repeat the trial this year too? In the summer, as reported in the WN, the Mycenae Woodland Dell has provided a safe on the Greenwich Park Revealed project The park team would be pleased to meet GoodGym Volunteers helped to restore an refuge for a long time – long may that con- which will lead to a grant application to and talk to you at the open days to discuss area under the plane trees by aerating it with tinue! I value the Gardens as a community the Heritage Lottery Fund under the Parks these and any other issues, but if you are forks and then mulching with bark chip. breathing space, as a wildlife habitat and an for People grant stream. unable to drop by comments can be fed Recently FOMG restored and replanted the alternative to over-tidied parks and the There will be further meetings in the back to us via the project mailbox at; shrub beds and these are now marked more increasing concreting-over of gardens.” park on 5th and 8th March 10.00am – [email protected] clearly to deter further damage. Natural The FOMG, with the support of the 4.00pm when more developed proposals Meanwhile, preparations have begun for fencing has also been installed in some of the Council, already do an important job acting will be available for view. this year’s London Marathon on 23rd wild areas in order to provide undisturbed as guardians of the Gardens, and being The Flower Garden is one part of the April. Having a small part to play in this space for wildlife. vigilant about possible threats to the space. park which is more used by local residents event is one of the pleasures of working at A visit to the Steiner School on a bright They have contacts with other environmental rather than tourist visitors. The Cedar Greenwich Park. Where else can you see autumn morning included a discussion with groups in the area. Is there more that can be lawns and fine bedding displays are over 30,000 people looking so excited and the head teacher, Adrian Dow, and with a done to promote and preserve the Gardens? deservedly popular but there are some happy? I am not sure they all look the group of children. Mr. Dow stressed how It might be possible to articulate the value of issues: same 26 miles later at the finish line in the fortunate they were to have access to such a the space more clearly through signs, labels • The deer herd, which is so much a part Mall, but it makes for a great atmosphere lovely space and explained that generally the and information panels. There might be more of the history of Greenwich Park, is not in the park. children use the area for 30 minutes each opportunities for activities, such as bat walks morning and lunch time. The kindergarten or fungus forays, which highlight the nature also have access to the area every weekday conservation aspects. Local experts could be morning. and some of the classes have approached to lead such walks. The school Controlled Parking Zone designated time in the gardens. might have imaginative ways to increase the llr Geoff Brighty told the WN: “After understand it, will also be circulated to “We are happy sharers,” Mr. Dow said, and pupils' involvement in the Gardens as an went on to emphasise the willingness of the educational as well as recreational resource. some delays this is now moving on residents (and hopefully traders) – this is C school to work with others to protect the Further suggestions welcomed. and I’ve just been to a briefing for expected to happen in January 2017 with gardens. It was playtime during our visit: the All the people we spoke to stressed that it Councillors on the outcome of the public an estimated ‘go live’ date of April.” children were enjoying the sunshine and is vital to keep a balance between all the consultation – and it seems to be good An observer commented that questions the opportunity to run about. They were different interest groups and users so that this news for Old Dover Road.” arise as to how rigorously these controls supervised by a group of staff to ensure unique and special space continues to be used Reflecting the views of local traders in will be enforced. But it is hoped they will that children keep to designated areas. The responsibly and with consideration, for the particular, the Council’s Highways Officers deal with the problems of commuters who pupils were enthusiastic about the Gardens benefit of all. are to recommend that the bays on Old leave their cars all day in Old Dover Road. Dover Road – in front of the shops – should be 2 hours free-parking bays. Battery Technology “I hope you feel this would be a good HAVE YOU MADE result.” said Geoff. There are no proposals to introduce t a meeting of Blackheath Scientific restrictions on Delacourt Road and there is ASociety in January, Dr Monica YOUR WILL? unlikely to be any parking restrictions Marinescu of Imperial College London introduced in St John’s Park following a talked on her work writing models for PETER BOWYER negative response to the proposals from a batteries used in electric cars. Her research PROFESSIONAL WILL WRITING SERVICES majority of residents who responded. interests included understanding their There may be changes to a small number degradation, improving their performance, Member of The Society of Will Writers and of bays in Stratheden Road. and more efficient usage. The Institute of Professional Will Writers “The proposals still have to be approved For the past couple of years her work by the Greenwich Council Cabinet has been on lithium-sulphur battery Single/Double Wills Member,” said Cllr Brighty. “Then there is chemistry, commercially available but not Lasting Powers of Attorney a process whereby draft traffic orders have yet mainstream. This is considered one of Home Visits to be published with a period of statutory the main contenders to displace the Li-lon consultation. batteries that are currently used in most Freephone 0800 389 7387 “It is likely that the final proposals will applications, as it has much improved Visit: www.londonwills.com be on show at an exhibition and, as I energy density and safety. Westcombe News February 2017 7 AAAFebruary2017WNX_WN.QXD 23/01/2017 11:44 Page 8
please send ads for the Market place with pay- ment by the 10th day of the preceding month to: Marilyn little, 163, Westcombe Hill, se3 7dp 8853 1312 [email protected] ALL classified adverts 30p per word. Please make cheques MARKET PLACE payable to The Westcombe Society
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