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NEWSLETTER WINTER 2017 SOCIETY LAUNCHES NEW WEBsite The Society has just launched a new website as We announced the first changes in part of an extensive programme to freshen our plans for our image renewal at the Society’s AGM in June. image and attract new members. The new website is the most all- You can still access us at www.blackheath.org but the encompassing project in our 80th content, look and feel of what you will see is completely anniversary plans this year, which different. It features a new layout, carries more have also involved publishing two photographs and has a cleaner, sharper look. new books - Walking the Village and We list the major issues affecting Blackheath and Blackheath Preservation Trust 1938-2016. Our project provide details of upcoming events. For the first time to erect seven historical storyboards across the Heath new members will now be able to sign up online. The will be launched in the New Year. site explains our aims and values, lists our publications This is a soft launch of the website which will evolve and provides information about your committee. further. Please let us know what you think. The new website will act as the portal for our extensive archive of photographs of the Blackheath area. The launch completes a 15-month project to update and refresh our image, creating a new house style and reviewing and redesigning our logo and corporate identity. The project also involves a new social media presence on Twitter and Facebook, a redesigned Newsletter, annual report, stationery and emails. It was designed by local graphic designer Pippa Stanton, whose work can be seen on her website at www.meandyoucreate.com. HIGHLIGHTS New arts brochure Philip Binns retires Douglas Bliss painting Page 3 Page 9 Page 10 Page 2 | VILLAGE DAY VILLAGE NEWS | Page 3 NEW ARTS & CULTURE IN BLACKHEATH BROCHURE LAUNCHED VILLAGE DAY was opened on Saturday 2 December by a stunning procession of classic cars through the Village. We started a little later this year, so our usual horses were not able to Five charitable organisations in Blackheath have the Society’s makeover. The five bodies are the ones come from Woolwich as they had to be back in their barracks for lunch. just joined together to produce a new brochure which contributed to the Community stall last year - about their activities. This is the story of how Age Exchange, The Conservatoire, The Arts Society Blackheath, The Blackheath Halls and, of course, The Hundreds of people gathered at the outdoor stage on the Heath, at The Crown and the idea was born and developed. Blackheath Halls to enjoy local choirs, bands and traditional dancing throughout the Blackheath Society which was responsible for the coordination and production of the booklet. afternoon. Our photographs were taken by Warren King and Howard Shields. While planning for Village Day in 2016, we recognised this would be an ideal opportunity to tell more people Several hundred copies were given away on Village Day Father Christmas and his elves from Age Exchange were joined by the choirs from about the important work being carried out by the main this year. Each organisation has more to distribute over Blackheath Halls and the lantern makers from The Conservatoire in a procession through the Blackheath charities. the coming months and Village to the grand lighting-up ceremony on the Heath. Local historian Neil Rhind gave an We then decided to set up a supplies will be offered illustrated talk on the Village in All Saints’ Church in the evening. community stall on the Heath to local estate agents for close to the open air stage and people moving into the food outlets. Simple activities Blackheath area. were available for children, and We hope this addition to each organisation provided our local literature will be supplies of their main literature. kept in homes for future It soon became apparent that reference, providing the piles of assorted leaflets, information about the programmes and brochures many opportunities were not an attractive offer, which exist in the Village particularly when people were for concerts, literary enjoying a day out, listening to events, walks, talks music and enjoying the festive and visits to places of atmosphere. interest, as well as to the training and educational So it was decided that this year opportunities available we would produce a single for people of all ages. attractive booklet providing brief introductions to the This information is main not-for-profit Village supplemented by the organisations, with details of Society’s regular emails how to discover more and to members. become involved. Each organisation Each organisation has written welcomes new members and designed its own entry, or friends and the with the cover and central map new brochure will produced by Pippa Stanton, demonstrate how neast it the designer responsible for is to join. GOOD AND BAD NEWS ON BLACKHEATH TRAIN SERVICES The Department for Transport has finally published the results of the Southeastern rail franchise consultation and the good news is that the Bexleyheath Line will retain services to both Charing Cross and Cannon Street. The bad news is the direct Victoria service will operate on the Hayes and Sidcup lines, requiring Bexleyheath line users to change at Lewisham, but the Victoria service will be increased from two to four services an hour all day. The changes are proposed to start from December 2022, subject to a successful future public consultation on the detailed timetable proposals. More good news is a proposal to increase the frequency to Charing Cross and the capacity to Cannon Street by running more 10 and 12 car trains. More bad news is the North Kent Line service via Blackheath to Charing Cross will be redirected to Cannon Street, but this line will gain some Thameslink services. In the public consultation this summer, 89% of 10,500 respondents opposed reducing the choice of London termini, most of them along the Bexleyheath Line. We will try and investigate improvements in signalling at Lewisham that can increase capacity without reducing the choice of London destinations. You can read further details about the choices for London termini on pages 35 and 36 of this document: www.gov.uk/government/ consultations/future-of-south-eastern-rail-services. Page 4 | VILLAGE NEWS VILLAGE NEWS | Page 5 SOCIETY LEADS CHILDREN’S BLACKHEATH PHOTO TOUR FASCINATING TALK ON GPO FILM Unit IN BLACKHEATH This autumn Year 4 pupils Steven Foxon, archivist for The British Film unit was due to the popularity of the sport with the from three primary schools in Institute, gave an interesting and lively talk for management. Blackheath Village - All Saints the Society in October on the production of In the early 1940s the Blackheath GPO Unit went its C of E, Blackheath High and early documentary films during the 1930s in own way and Grierson moved to Canada, where he led the way in documentary production. The excellent work John Ball Primary – took part in the Arts Building in Bennett Park. done here by the GPO was transferred to the Crown a photography project called The large audience of members and friends were Unit and then to Pinewood studios. ‘Through My Mind’s Eye’. intrigued to hear Blackheath had been chosen for this They built on the work done at Bennett Park and pioneering work because of its quiet suburban setting. The Society led a walk around produced many more documentary films which played the Village on 18 October for the John Grierson, Head of Production at the General Post a large part in the war effort. children to look at interesting Office, had been inspired by the silent movies of Soviet Steven illustrated how The Night Mail, produced buildings, their historic features, Russia. A difficult man, he pioneered the inclusion of in Blackheath, was in fact a film in two halves, and learn about the history of the members of the general public in films about working he explained the large part he played in its recent Village and take photos. people, to which he added sound. restoration. They gathered at Blackheath High, He often provided the voiceover The evening where committee member Liz himself, recorded in Blackheath. closed with the Wright showed them pictures from Sir Steven Tallents brought his screening of the the Society’s archive and talked uploaded the pictures on computers experience in advertising to this potent wartime about how much the Village has and were creative with their team of pioneers. We also saw propaganda film changed during the last 150 years. arrangements, which were printed how innovators, such as Len Lye, London Can Take to be displayed at the schools. included colour and early animation Liz has a photographic connection It, which was in his films. to Blackheath as Elizabeth Hunt, her We enjoyed working with the another Blackheath great grandmother, came here by schools and sharing the Society’s It was amusing to learn that the product. train from Hertfordshire as a young knowledge of the Village. dominance of fishing films in woman in the 1900s just to have In January there will be an exhibition the early output of the GPO The blue plaque in Bennett Park and a Night Mail poster her photograph taken, seen right. of the pupils’ work. If you would like Teachers explained how to use to attend please contact the office. the cameras and take interesting VOLUnteers KEEP THE SOCIETY RUNNING – CAN YOU HELP? photographs. The children were enthusiastic photographers and LOOK OUT FOR EXCITING ADDITIONS TO THE Most of the work of the Society depends on took plenty of pictures of historic ARCHIVE - WE PLAN TO MAKE 1000 NEW IMAGES FROM THE ARCHIVE features, shop windows and dogs.

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