Addiscombe & Shirley Park Residents’ Association www.theaspra.org.uk

1989 - 2017 Autumn 2017

It’s ‘hello’ to our new notice board, but is it ‘goodbye’ to Barclays…?

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An independent, non-politically aligned organisation run for and by the residents of Addiscombe !2 From the editor In this issue Our experiments with style continue, so we hope you like some of the changes in look and presentation 5 Letters we’ve made. The ‘local news’ sections appear to be quite popular, so we’ve 6 Addiscomment given them a title of their own and we Local talking points hope you like ‘Addiscomment’. Addiscombe Jumble Trail Elsewhere you’ll find pieces on 12 Another big success July’s Jumble Trail and the installation and ‘unveiling’ of the new 15 Addiscombe Rec Addiscombe Village notice board; we Goings-on in the gardening group hope it’s all interesting stuff. We are also trying out some new 16 Taking notice of Addiscombe ideas with our ‘What’s on’ pages, New notice board hits the road where you’ll find some of things being planned for the Christmas 22 Art at the heart of Croydon season, some of the leisure activities Warhol comes to Croydon in the neighbourhood and details of ASPRA meetings into next year. 24 What's on If any of you out there feeling like Goodies galore in Addiscombe getting involved with ASPRA more generally, but particularly with the 26 Something for everyone magazine, we’d love to hear from you. at St Millies Bob Sleeman, who’s been our Ashburton library Advertising Manager, as well as many 27 other things, would like to step back 30 And finally… from that role and we’re looking for someone to help us with that. If you’re keen to talk to our local businesses, keen on design and a bit IT savvy, you might be just what we’re looking for. Although it seems odd just at the moment, this is our last issue this year, so as we sign off now we’ll wish you an early Merry Christmas! Where’s this? Phil Poole

!3 !4 KN STAINED GLASS Letters to the Editor Sir, Traditionally constructed I had intended to highlight how awful the stained glass windows litter in Bingham Recreation Ground has and leaded lights been over the summer. However, recently there has been some improvement as the Old or damaged bins appear to have been emptied and other windows re-leaded rubbish cleared more regularly. Bingham Rec is an incredibly valuable Broken panels repaired local resource and all of us who use it should cherish it. We’re immensely grateful For advice to the gardeners who have enhanced the or free estimate call: ambience and attractiveness of the park and to the vast majority of dog owners who Keith Neiles clear up after their pets (a great 32 Fernhurst Road improvement from 30 years ago when my Phone: 020 8656 6334 children played there). Mobile: 07834 973 859 The rest of us should take responsibility for our impact by using the litter bins or, when they’re full, taking our rubbish home - especially those of us using the play-park or the tennis courts. When the park was at DP ROOFING its messiest, the extent of rubbish was overwhelming and too much for any individual to tackle, but now we can take Specialist in flat roofing action by perhaps all aiming to deal with slating, tiling one misplaced bit of litter per visit. I also wonder if there should be provision All work guaranteed of more bins strategically placed, for example in the tennis courts where empty Free estimates bottles magically accumulate. I love to see my young grandchildren 30 years’ experience learn to master new skills on the excellent play equipment, but I am ashamed that they might also be learning that leaving Tel: 020 8656 8708 litter and playing amongst rubbish is acceptable or the norm. Dave Patey 45 Kingscote Road Yours sincerely Adrienne Cluer Addiscombe Bingham Road

!5 Addiscomment become brazenly becoming two, and even inconsiderate. three, car households. Selfish stoppers Vans grab a space, The age of our housing If you look up and down even if half their length stock makes it ripe for some of our side streets crosses a dropped-kerb regeneration and on a Sunday afternoon exit and we can be forced development, so the you’d be forgiven for to interrupt an irate building work is going to thinking that parking plumber and persuade be on-going. And the problems around here him to move before we Addiscombe tram stop are exaggerated by some encourages the of us Moaning Minnies. commuter and the Then walk down the shopper. We suppose we same streets on a should be grateful to live Monday and see the in such a lively and rows of ‘parked for the upcoming area, but it day’ commuters, chancer doesn’t stop us moaning shoppers and about it. tradesmen’s vans. Skip wagons, concreters and Food for thought building suppliers inch can get our own car on Did you know we have a their way in to the road. A thoughtless local food bank? impossible spaces and commuter on the other Well it was a surprise might just leave enough side and you can be too to our contributor room for the skinniest of blocked in by two cars all Sarah Hills. However, passing traffic to squeeze day, and there’s an awful she tells us that it was through. ‘sod you’ in any response first set up in 1997 and This situation has if you care to complain. became a registered gotten steadily worse And it brings out the charity in 2002. over the last few years worst in some of us. Called the Shrublands and has prompted many We’ve heard of one local Food Bank, it doesn’t of us to give up our front putting his own two cars just deal with the gardens and have kerbs out onto the street, so residents of the estate dropped, just to more- that his friends could use but all of the or-less guarantee being his front garden. Then surrounding areas able to park in front of he was putting boards including our own. our own houses. The and bollards out to Its objective is to meet dropped kerbs, of protect his newly gained the needs of residents course, prohibit casual street spaces. with the provision of parking and make the Is there a common advice, information and situation worse for sense solution to all of other support at or near shoppers and visitors this? We fear not. With the trust’s premises. and the frustrated many of us having ‘kids’ The food bank would-be parkers start to that still live with us well operates out of the into their thirties, we’re Advice and Coffee shop !6 on 7 Broom Road If you would like to will have closed their Shirley. Activities take donate to the food bank outlet by the time this place most days and please make sure your magazine is going out, include learning about food has at least a three and Barclays have month life. announced their Fresh fruit and veg is intention to close the being donated by the Blackhorse Lane branch allotment holders on the in December. Woodside and Not only could this Addiscombe leisure mean two more closed gardens. premises with uncertain If you wish to contact futures, but it will add to the food bank call 020 the problems and computers, debt advice 3441 7887 or email frustrations of local and a craft club. info@shrublandstrust. traders and all of us who Unfortunately, however, org. They will happily have to bank cash or the food bank is take your donations on a cheques for societies and becoming the busiest Thursday morning small businesses. session of the week. between 9 and 12. Those banking cash Sadly the shelves are takings are being often empty of certain Blessed bankers directed to the Post items and, apart from And, while we’re on the Office services - and their Christmas and subject of banks - who what fun they can be in Easter donations, most seem to make more and the run-up to Christmas! people seem to forget the more money by But frustrations and food bank at other times providing less and less annoyance have led to a of the year. More service - we seem to be petition being set-up to families are being losing two out of the oppose the Barclays referred as time goes by three surviving in the plan. As we go to print, but not always those you high street. Santander up to nine businesses in would expect. People the high street are who are transitioning hosting the petition, from benefits to work which can also be found often have to wait for a on the ASPRA Facebook month to get paid. In page. those weeks it is hard to survive. These clients Imperfect progress are with the food bank Doesn’t it appear that on a temporary basis. the things we can come People who are in very to take for granted can low paid jobs sometimes be whipped away have to choose between without warning, while paying the rent and improvements or services or food. changes for the better !7 seem to take ages to Latest estimates put hub in the centre of come through. resolution and re- town. opening out to ‘sometime’ in 2019. Isn’t it funny how a whole island flattened by a hurricane gets a quicker recovery than a rusted bridge in Croydon.

What price Westfield? Although popular As John Lewis announce enough, this looks too to a profits drop and cut be threatened by plans for new stores, developers wishing to their planned ‘flagship’ put up housing on the store for Croydon’s site. We also wonder Westfield ceases to be what impact major Nothing currently mentioned. With no development work will demonstrates this more other major player in have on the Surrey Street than the Blackhorse sight, questions are market after so much Lane closure, now into being asked about the recent disruption. its second year. While no viability of the whole vehicle wheels run over scheme. Light Relief the bridges, the wheels With more scheduled Left to our own devices of progress spin closures in the Whitgift we seem to do quite well. exceeding slow and we centre, the whole area is Our ‘village’ notice- learn that it is only now going to look like a bit of board is up and running that TfL are putting the a ghost town as 2018 - and more about that proposed work out to comes around. Have later - and we’re well on tender. successive Croydon the way to getting a nice Councils, we wonder, display of Christmas ever had a plan ‘B’ in the lights in place to event of Westfield and brighten our bit of the Hammerson pulling out, Lower Addiscombe Road or was it a case of eggs over the festive season. and basket? Dave and Gill Lee managed to run a very Market forces quick opinion poll past One of better attempts at the road reps, where we changing the old area were given a choice for into something new was what we’d like to see. A You have been driving over the Matthew’s Yard idea very tasteful nativity star this! of an arts and creative came out a clear !8 favourite, and something forcing the diversion, The tournament was a to look forward to as possibly until 2019. great day of petanque for Christmas approaches. According to Inside Kathleen Herbert, Croydon, on Sunday 5 Adrian Cowie (club sec) November the hundreds and the rest of the team. of participating old Six teams petanqued for bangers will take a the cup, including detour through Friends of Palewell Stockwell and past Common, wherever that Clapham Common, is. The sport is getting going through, suitably, more popular and more Tooting, before taking organised in the UK and the A24 to Colliers Wood no wonder – petanque is and Morden and heading a very cheap sport, good through Banstead and exercise and good fun. rejoining the traditional route from Reigate into Redhill. That’s a shame. I don’t Veteran car rally to go every year, but it’s bypass Croydon nice to know it’s there. The Old Crocks Race, CG aka the London to How cheap? “You Brighton veteran car Petanque-top don’t have to have balls run, will be bypassing When the Croydon to have a go” was the Croydon this year. The Petanque Club won the advice from Linda traditional route since London Cup at Vauxhall Greenwood, club the run began on an Pleasure Gardens this president. annual basis in 1927 has summer it was no Croydon Petanque been from Westminster ordinary win: the Club is open to all ages Bridge along the A23, founder of the club, and all abilities. The going through Croydon. Kathleen Herbert, now pitch is accessed from 92, was in the winning the Tenterden Road park team! entrance and you can Your intrepid reporter contact Adrian Cowie on was buttonholed at the 8651 1510, 07884 Noticeboard ceremony 428024 or by four charming croydonpetanqueclub@h members of the club, otmail.com which meets four times a Website address is This year, though, week, 52 weeks a year in adrian2234.wix.com/ major road works to Ashburton Park. Come, petanque-in-Croydon. replace Victorian sewers as we tend to say, rain, You can even watch a on Brixton Hillare snow or shine. video of the London Cup !9 competition here: Boundary Commission https://youtu.be/ determinations, we can EGCl2f4wzyc CG sadly say with some confidence that Library larks Ashburton Ward will There’s a nice sign stuck disappear, and with it a onto the fencing bit of elegance and surrounding the old history. Instead, here in

Ashburton library, Delivering for Croydon? ASPRA-land we will be informing us that the old in the newly entitled building will be re- We hear that the Addiscombe East. opening in the summer planned new operators It could be worse, we of 2017 offering services have pulled out and that suppose; at least we’re from nisal learning and new plans are ‘under not in ‘New Fit2 Learn. As of late review’. Let’s just hope Addiscombe’, but in this September, however, that this doesn’t threaten process the ward will there’s no sign of much the end of a local lose Peabody Close, going on, except community asset. Glenthorne Avenue and construction work, with Shirley Park Road, but everything else quite East of Addiscombe they will remain obviously shut down and Whatever the outcome of welcome constituents of shuttered up. the seemingly endless ASPRA.

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!11 Another big success between stallholders returning for a second year and those trying it for for Addiscombe’s the first time. Jumble Trail Fifty advertising boards, provided by Lyn Simmons by Allen Heritage estate agents, were erected to promote the event. Our Jumble Trail organisers are A donation of £150 from Allen saying a big thank you to all the Heritage went on to the stallholders and local residents who Addiscombe Christmas lights fund, supported the 2017 Jumble Trail. while stall fees and other donations This hugely successful event took generated a further £160. place on Saturday 1 July. There The organisers received loads of were sixty stalls set up in the positive feedback, and really raised neighbourhood (ten more than last local awareness of ASPRA and the year) with a fairly even split work we’re all doing. Some interesting comments came from those outside the area who were very envious that we held such an event. For the stall holders it was a mixed picture in terms of the amount of sales made by individuals, but there was unanimous enthusiasm for taking part in a great event for generating community spirit and meeting neighbours near and far. When the organising team got together at the beginning of the year, they did seek information about other events planned on July 1st in the area, but nothing came forward about all the local school fetes taking place. We think that !12 this had a bit of an impact on interest and footfall on the day, particularly for those with young children. We also gave careful consideration as to whether

about dates to avoid. If anything springs to mind, please email [email protected] If anyone has any further ideas for the event, or wishes to get involved with the planning and organisation in 2018, just email.

Saturday or Sunday was the best day to hold the event. Saturday was felt to be a better option to draw in shoppers from Lower Addiscombe Road and Shirley Road and to include those who have church commitments on Sundays. There have been lots of requests to have another Jumble Trail in 2018. We are considering holding it on a Saturday in September and will consult the local community

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Local S. J. WHITE pharmacies Here are some of the opening SERVICES hours of local chemists. They (est 1968) are, however, all closed on Sundays. Your local Addiscombe Pharmacy 331 Lower Addiscombe Road BUILDER Telephone 020 8654 1542 Opening hours Mon - Fri 9am - 6pm Extensions Saturday 9am - 1pm

Conversions Boots Loft rooms 257 Lower Addiscombe Road Telephone 020 8654 2128 Opening hours Qualified carpenters Mon - Sat 9am - 5.30pm

Larchwood Pharmacy Qualified electricians 215 Lower Addiscombe Road Telephone 020 8654 1149 ♦ Opening hours Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm PLANNING PERMISSION Saturday 9am - 6pm ♦ Shirley Pharmacy 175 Shirley Road Telephone 020 8654 1065 BUILDING REGULATIONS Opening hours Mon - Fri 9am - 7pm ♦ Saturday 9am - 5pm INTERIOR DESIGN For longer opening hours (and Sundays): ♦ Sainsbury’s Superstore Trafalgar Way Telephone 020 8681 5800 0208 407 0362 Opening hours 07960 386677 Mon - Fri 7am - 11pm Saturday 7am - 10pm !14 Goings On In The Gardening Group from Lyn Simmons In spite of little organised activity since June, a great deal of work has been going on. We received great news from the Parks Department that they were happy to approve the fencing devised by Chairman, Steve White, and completion of will be taking place very soon. This will enhance the look of the flower beds and hopefully create a deterrent to inquisitive dogs. The established and newly planted shrubs, perennials and bedding plants have been thriving during the summer months. A new water butt was acquired along with a hosepipe which can stretch and reach both of the beds. Special thanks should be given to the residents and and to the dog walkers who have regularly taken time to fill the watering can or direct the hose pipe onto the now very colourful flower beds. Five sections of trellis will soon be erected on the ‘toilet block’ wall. They will be spread evenly across the wall but still allow the stonework to be seen in the intervals. Once in position a variety of climbing plants will be purchased and planted to give all year interest. Now that the group has been responsible for looking after the beds for several seasons, we are learning which plants thrive and those that do less well. Our aim is to bring colour and interest to the beds and reduce ongoing maintenance and the need for regular weeding. A planting plan is being devised and the money from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative and our local councillors community budgets will be used to purchase plants. In addition, local residents have continued to offer plant and seed donations which have been gratefully received. As the two main flower beds continue to be developed, going forward we can start to think about enhancing the planting in the three entrances to the park, possibly using cuttings from the main beds, excess plants or donations from local residents. The objective would be to keep this to a very low maintenance planting scheme as the main flower beds already keep us quite busy. !15 Taking notice of situ, located in the shadow of the old Black Horse underneath the Addiscombe silhouette of Addiscombe’s hussar. From our editorial team As spring arrived this year all sorts of good news came with it.

Councillor Andrew Rendle had Why does it have to seem made a very generous contribution surprising, in our sad and cynical from his ward fund toward the day and age, that a group of people total cost, planning permissions can decide to do something and had been granted and the carry that decision through to a manufacturers, WDS Signs Ltd, successful completion? were well under way with our ASPRA’s continuing aspiration order. to enhance the spirit of locality and Delivered and installed during sense of village in Addiscombe was the summer, all that was left for intended, about eighteen months Hilary to organise was a suitable ago, to be made manifest in the ceremony for an ‘unveiling’. form of a community notice board, erected centrally and visible to all. No easy task, if you think of the hurdles of costings, permission and logistics involved, but all tackled and overcome by the ASPRA projects team, led by Hilary Chelminski. Hilary, along with Dave and Gill Lee, worked incredibly hard to get things going, with help from Croydon’s Planning team and their Streets and Highways group. The professionals’ advice helped toward design and positioning. The board’s title, highlighting our village ambitions, came from a survey of our road reps all keen to Left to right: Steve White, Hilary differentiate our area from ‘just Chelminski, Croydon Mayor, Councillor another’ neighbourhood. Toni Letts, Councillors Andrew Rendle and The projects team kept the road Maddie Henson reps informed, presenting mock- ups of the new board and dummy ASPRA thought that this was an photo shots of how it would look in event significant enough for some !16 prestige and asked Croydon’s Already in good use, our notice Mayor, Councillor Toni Letts, if she board is standing busy promoting would do us the honour of opening concerts, community services and the new notice board to public use. events. We’re even using it to promote the petition we’re organising, trying to get Barclays to reconsider the planned closure of their Woodside branch on the other side of the road. It makes us wonder how we’ve managed without it!

The Mayor shares a joke with ASPRA’s Chairman, Steve White

That she was delighted to do so provided us with a real sense of occasion on a wet and windy afternoon in August, and demonstrated great public spirit. We were encouraged by her words on the day, and by the letter she Project champion Hilary Chelminski sent to ASPRA afterward praising the efforts of our community and its place in the hopes for Croydon’s future. You can read the full letter on the notice board. !17 Your ASPRA committee

Chairman Steve White [email protected]

Vice-Chairman Mary Alexander [email protected]

Treasurer Frederick Law 4 Parkview Road [email protected] Group Aims

Secretary Promote co-operation between Gill Lee the practice and the patients to 38 Northampton Road the benefit of both [email protected] Raise awareness of and improve ASPRA Magazine Editor access to other support agencies Phil Poole [email protected] Encourage communication of public health messages ASPRA Magazine Advertisement Manager Promote improvements for all Bob Sleeman patients and the community [email protected] If you want to have your say and Webmaster make your voice heard, or wish to Bob Sleeman find out more contact: [email protected] Surgery Reception on Email Postmaster 0208 654 1427 Dave Lee 38 Northampton Road www.stovellhousesurgery.co. [email protected] uk or email Projects Consultant contact@stovellhouseppg@gmail. Hilary Chelminski com [email protected]

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!20 !21 positioned on buildings or hoardings Art at the heart of in central Croydon for everyone to see. Croydon In addition to the walking trail, there was an exhibition of original Warhol by Lyn Simmons prints and watercolours in the gallery, A major art event focusing on an lectures, films and screen printing internationally famous visual artist workshops for adults and children. taking place in Croydon. Sounds I volunteered as a tour guide. After improbable? Well, actually no. so much bad press over the years During the month of September, about our town, it was a real pleasure visitors from near and far flocked to to have something positive and experience ‘Warhol Croydon’ a exciting to share with visitors. It was landmark exhibition of contemporary interesting to discover that people Warhol-inspired art. from all over London were inspired to come to Croydon. I even had one visitor on a walk who had journeyed over from Madrid especially for the event. It was especially rewarding while on the Warhol trail to point out all the fantastic street art we have right on our doorstep. Croydon is fast becoming the home of the best street art in the country – even outpacing Shoreditch. Croydonians who hadn’t ventured into the centre for some while were amazed at all the new cultural developments. If you are kicking yourself that you didn’t make it to any Warhol event, the street art remains. Several have been created by internationally recognised artists and Croydon is privileged to have examples of their work. Here are The event was initiated by Kevin some highlights: Zuchowski-Morrison owner of the Rise Winston Churchill on the corner of Gallery in St George’s Walk. An expert High Street and Park Street. The in urban contemporary and post war- image of Churchill is a remarkable pop art, Kevin realised that no other creation from words taken from his gallery in London was marking the journals and speeches. It has been 30th anniversary of Andy Warhol’s voted one of the top ten murals in death. He invited 12 international London. artists to pay homage to Warhol and To the Bone on the corner of High produce a piece of art. These were all Street and Fell Road. This piece is part !22 of a bigger worldwide project to highlight endangered species and the detail is exquisite. South African based artist Sonny was looking for a location in the UK. He rejected spaces in Shoreditch and selected the wall in Croydon so that the mural is on a permanent site. Boy Soldier (left) by Schoony on a wall in Surrey Street near the entrance to Matthew’s Yard. It is a bright blue installation appearing to rise through the brick opening all the time. Following the and highlights the plight of young huge success of Warhol Croydon it is children becoming involved in likely more events will be coming our warfare. way including walking tours of the The art scene in Croydon is vibrant street art. Look out for further news in and ever changing. New galleries are the local press and social media.

!23 What’s on! There’s a lot going on in and around Addiscombe

Thursday 4 January Concerts A performance of harp music by Saturday 11 November 10am Keziah Thomas. until 6.00pm Admission to all concerts is free, and Croydon Bach Choir presents concert goers are welcome to bring a ‘Come and Sing’ Day packed lunch with them. Learn to perform Sir Edward Elgar’s Refreshments will be available free The Kingdom of charge. St. Matthew’s Church, Chichester Road, CR0 5NQ Tickets for singers £18.00 or £5.00 for Christmas services the 5.00pm performance. At St. Mildred’s Church, www.croydonbachchoir.org or phone Bingham Road, Addiscombe, 07507 766565 CR0 7EB Sunday 10 December 10.00am. Saturday 18 November 7.30pm An All-Age Communion - Christingle. Ruskin Chorale presents The Music of John Rutter Sunday 17 December 6.30pm with Anthony Goode on piano and A Festival of Carols (followed by conducted by Adrian Connell. mulled wine and mince pies). Shirley Methodist Church, Eldon Avenue, Shirley. Sunday 24 December (Christmas Programme vouchers £7.00/£6.00 Eve) Students free. Contact At 4.30pm Tea Towel and Tinsel, and [email protected] at 11.30pm Midnight Mass. Thursday Lunchtime Concerts – Pastimes Shirley Methodist Church, Eldon Avenue Croydon Petanque Club is open to all ages and all abilities. Thursday 3 November The pitch is accessed from the Ester Cavett (piano) and Cressida Tenterden Road park entrance and Lindsey (soprano) from Trinity Music you can contact Adrian Cowie on Academy present a mix of piano solos 8651 1510, 07884 428024 or and songs. [email protected] Thursday 7 December Website address is A varied Christmas Concert by adrian2234.wix.com/petanque-in- students from Trinity School. Croydon.

!24 Our next meeting is scheduled for Christmas markets Thursday 8 February. Saturday 2 December Refreshments from 7.30pm. At St. Mildred’s Church, Meetings start at 8.00pm. Bingham Road, Addiscombe, CR0 7EB Christmas Market 12.30pm to 4.30pm Happy Christmas to all our St Mildred’s Literary readers! Society Meetings are held on Tuesdays and start at 7.30pm with tea and biscuits; talk at 8.00pm. ASPRA needs Talks include: 31 October Tudor your help! London, 7 November Frank Sinatra, His Life in Story and Song, 14 We need: November Women of the Raj, 21 A new ad manager November A Policeman’s Lot Can Be (Bob Sleeman has decided to call it a a Happy One, 28 November I Died day) in Hell, They called it Passchendale, 12 December Handling History: Road reps Touch and Feel, 9 January The Shirley Road (57-196) Crystal Palace Subway, 23 January Lower Addiscombe Road (194-362) Travels With a Camera Crew, Volunteers 30 January Lesser Known Editorial team Ceremonies of the City of London and Local issues planning group 6 February Charles Dickens: The Loads of gardeners to help with our Norwood Connection. planting in Bingham park On 5 December we will host a Quiz Night, on 19 December our We are an enthusiastic and committed Christmas Social and on 16 January committee and will give you all the help a Beetle Drive. and support you need. Without volunteers to fill these roles the Association will not be able to continue. ASPRA If a local residents’ association is important to you, please think about Our Road Reps Meetings are held getting involved. at St. Mildred’s Centre, Bingham Road. All members are welcome to Please contact the Secretary for attend, you don’t need to be a Road more information Rep to come along.

!25 What’s on for you! There’s something for everyone at St Millie’s

Young families Keeping Healthy Millie’s pre-school Extend exercise (07706 929878 or Zumba fitness milliespreschool.wordpress.com) Tai chi Sunday school Keep fit Musical bumps Yoga Beavers Pilates Cubs and scouts Slimming world Brownies Senior exercise class YELO dance Youth clubs Reaching out Out of School Club (07768 684863 or Drop-in for the homeless www.mlhclub.co.uk) Art group Toddler groups Women’s drop-in Creative steps Croydon food bank Spanishtastic Cafe M Art venturers Creative writing group Birthday parties Charitable giving Addiscombe neighbourhood care (0208 656 6593 or Adults and older www.anca.org.uk) Choir S.A.I Infinity Care The LIT (0203 667 3474 or Lunch clubs [email protected]) Popchoir Halls and rooms to hire Women’s group Orchestral Ensemble Recorded music society Parties and receptions

St Milldred’s Parish Church is the focus for Anglican worship in Addiscombe, but it is also very much the centre of the local community. Its activities are on offer to everyone. For more information contact St Mildred’s Parish Office on 0208 655 1434 or email: [email protected]

!26 ALL ELECTRICAL WORK & MAINTENANCE WORK UNDERTAKEN

NO JOB TOO SMALL

EXTRA SOCKETS AND LIGHT ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION POINTS CONDITION REPORT

UP GRADE CONSUMER UNIT REWIRING

SMOKE DETECTORS LANDLORDS’ CERTIFICATE

PART AND FULLY REWIRED REGISTERED ELECTRICIAN

FOR A FREE QUOTATION PLEASE CALL OR E-MAIL 0798 541 6250 [email protected]!27 What’s on at Event when local author, Gareth Endean, talks about his debut Ashburton library novel Terrible Lie. Ashburton library can be found Our Crime Reading group, who in the Oasis learning centre, are really quite friendly, meet once Shirley Road, CR9 7AL a month when new members Throughout the autumn there are very welcome. are a series of Monday Talks Monday 23 October, Monday 20 November and Monday 18 Admission to talks & events is free December. All meeting start at but booking is essential 5.30pm

On Monday 30 October 11am In term times the library Haunted Croydon promotes a number of Monday 20 November, 11am children’s activities: East Surrey Family History Talk Addiscombe Young Writers, (part 2) alternate Saturdays 9.30 to Monday 11 December, 11am 10.30am. A friendly, creative The History of Music Hall & writing group for 6–11 year olds. Variety Book Buddies, on Thursdays at Chair based fitness classes run 4.00pm. Listen to stories and join through fortnightly Fridays in with fun crafts for the under 7s. On Friday 6 and 20 October, 3 and 17 November. All from Chatterbooks, one Friday a 11am to 12 noon month 4.00 until 5.00pm. A fun Please wear loose, comfortable book based reading group for 7-11 clothing if you’re planning to year olds, attend. Please contact Ashburton Colouring isn’t just for kids, when Library to receive our monthly we’re offering Mindfulness email with the latest information Colouring for adults about all our events for adults & On Friday 13 October, 2-3pm children. Telephone 020 3700 1001 email: On Monday 20 November croydon.ashburtonlibrary@carillio 5.30pm we host an Author nservices.co.uk

!28 TD PRINT

!29 And finally…

It’s quite common for magazines, even ones as posh as this, to have horoscope-y things at the back. So here we are with half a page to fill and – guess what? Yes it’s a horoscope-y story. And, unusually for me, it’s completely true. Ish. Forty or so years ago I was working for a magazine company in the middle of Croydon. We published mainly hobby magazines, among them Prediction, all about horoscopes and tarot and graphology and things. One sunny Friday afternoon, after a busy week and having a bit of a wander, I was talking to Jo Logan, the editor, who said that if I gave her my birth details she would cast a horoscope for me. I rang my mum for the details and Jo cast a horoscope. I forget everything she said except for the fact that I had 22½ degrees of Gemini rising. That evening we went to a party at a friend’s house in Orpington. I didn’t know any of the people there and as it was a sunny evening we were mostly in the back garden. My wife went indoors for something or other. I was leaning against a garage wall, and I just turned and said to the woman nearest me, a complete stranger who was standing there by herself, “You won’t believe this but I’m Aries in Uranus [I just made that bit up] and I’ve got 22½ degrees of Gemini rising.” It was just a silly thing to say to a complete stranger at a party on a sultry Friday evening in a back garden in Orpington, Kent. “Me too,” she said, this complete stranger. We were born on the same day. What are the chances? CG

Advertising in ASPRA magazine

Addiscombe & Shirley Park Residents’ Association is always happy to welcome new advertisers to our magazine.

The magazine is published three times a year. Our Autumn and February issues go to more than 800 households and businesses. The Spring issue is delivered by hand to every household in our area – over 1700 in all.

Our advertising rates for 2017 are:

Full page £50 Trim size 148mm x 210mm Type area 128mm x 185mm Half page £25 Vertical 62mm x 185mm Horizontal 128mm x 90mm Quarter page £15 Vertical 62mm x 90mm Horizontal 128mm x 43mm Bleed page (+4mm on bleed edges) 152mm x 218mm

All measurements give the width first.

For more details on cover rates, acceptable copy formats, series discounts and all the other bits and pieces you need to know, please contact our advertisement manager, Bob Sleeman, on 020 8654 5814, or by email at [email protected].

!30 ASPRA Road Representatives

All our road reps have volunteered to be the first point of contact for our members. They distribute our magazine, the occasional notice and collect the annual subs. There are road reps’/members’ meetings to share information. We currently have a vacancies for parts of Lower Addiscombe Road and Shirley Road. If you fancy volunteering please contact Dave Lee, [email protected] or at 38 Northampton Road.

Addiscombe Road (275-395) Myra Rand 391 Addiscombe Road Annandale Road Patricia West 5 Annandale Road Ashburton Avenue Kiff Paddon 49 Ashburton Avenue Ashling Road Sheila Newbold 3 Baring Road Ashurst Walk Shirley Vine 11 Ashurst Walk Baring Road Helen Tilbury 27 Baring Road Bingham Corner Jenny Crook 29 Bingham Road Bingham Road East (93-186) Jenny Tighe 139 Bingham Road Bingham Road West (1-94) Jenny Crook 29 Bingham Road Birch Tree Way Sheena D'Souza 6 Birch Tree Way Brockenhurst Road Sheila Newbold 3 Baring Road Carlyle Road Chris Facey 19 Carlyle Road Cheyne Walk Zafir Iqbal 285 Addiscombe Road Claremont Road George Orlebar 30 Claremont Road Colworth Road Lyn Simmons 3 Colworth Road Compton Road Shashi & Shila Kotecha 21 Compton Road Craigen Avenue Jean Carson 13 Ashburton Avenue Craven Road Joy Morrall 7 Craven Road Elmgrove Road Claire & James Binnie 58 Kingscote Road Fernhurst Road Terry Eames 23 Fernhurst Road Fryston Avenue John Dellaway 34 Fryston Avenue Glenthorne Avenue Mike & Crys Rothon 33 Glenthorne Avenue Greencourt Avenue Mary Alexander 42 Selwood Road Greencourt Gardens Mary Alexander 42 Selwood Road Harriet Gardens Bill Callow 3 Harriet Gardens Kingscote Road Claire & James Binnie 58 Kingscote Road Lower Addiscombe Road (194-362) Volunteer needed Northampton Road Bob Sleeman 50 Northampton Road Parkview Road (evens) Sheilagh Clark 53 Bingham Road Parkview Road (odds) Rinish Shah 37 Parkview Road Peabody Close Lorna Elliott 60 Glenthorne Avenue Sefton Road John Aitken 42 Sefton Road Selwood Road (1-44) Mary Alexander 42 Selwood Road Selwood Road (45-87) Jan Rutter 73 Selwood Road Sherwood Road Tom Wells 45 Sherwood Road Shirley Park Road Sarah Hills 58 Shirley Park Road Shirley Road (1-52) Margaret Grimsley 22 Shirley Road Shirley Road (57-196) Volunteer needed Whitethorn Gardens Mike Foster 4 Whitethorn Gardens

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