11 minute read
Number 12 Bus Route
from SE21 July 2022
by SE Magazines
Save Our Historic
12 Bus Route | George Mavrias
I first heard about TfL’s proposal to cut over 42 Bus routes across London, literally days after the opening of the new Elizabeth Line. At a cost of £18.9bn, you have to ask, has this been at the cost of a vast amount of Bus users across London?
What’s happening?
Tfl are proposing to remove Bus Route 12, replacing it with Bus Route 148. The new route would start from Dulwich Library to Westminster Station, and would then turn left towards Victoria onto Shepherds Bush, meaning we would lose our direct link to Oxford Circus. Unite Union (Bus Drivers) have said that this change would “create a poorer level of service, more delays, overcrowded buses, missed connections and overall poor quality of service.” Having lived in East Dulwich for 38 years, and like so many others, regularly using and relying on the number 12 bus route, I was alarmed to hear of this proposal, so decided to start a petition to try to stop this iconic bus from being cut. I was blown away that within just one week I had over 4,000 signatures.
Why does this matter?
There are many reasons why saving this route from termination is so important, not least due to it being such an iconic part of South East London’s Historic Culture; the route passes a number of tourist attractions and landmarks and has been suggested as part of a cheaper alternative to formal bus tours of London, which brings a lot of joy to passengers. What you might not know, is that the Bus Route 12 is one of the oldest in London, dating back to at least 1851, founded by Thomas Tilling, who moved to Peckham aged 21 with just £30 in his pocket. Tilling used this £30 to establish his own company on Walworth Road, beginning with just one carriage, and eventually hiring out multiple horses, carriages and drivers. Tilling was eventually given permission to run a service between Peckham and Oxford Street – this formed what we know as the 12 Bus Route today, a key part of South-East London’s history. In modern times, this route is utilized by so many as their only direct link into the West End, as we do not have a London Underground Station in this part of London, the 12 Bus route is our Community Tube/Direct link to the West End for Work, Theatre-Land and Shopping etc. With this in mind, the proposal to remove the route will also have a huge negative impact on those who face mobility issues, as they may not be able to easily change at Westminster to travel onto Oxford Circus, due to space issues in buses in such a busy interchange area. A final consideration point is that this change will ultimately make travelling into central London twice as expensive for us Dulwich folk, as we would need to change bus (and given the length of journey from Dulwich to Westminster, plus interchange wait time, the Hopper Fare would often not be applicable).
What can I do to help?
I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has signed, shared and supported our petition so far, and to those who haven’t yet – please do check it out and sign! Link via QR code above. I’d also encourage you to share your comments and feedback on the TfL consultation at https:// haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/busreview. They recently got in touch with me in direct response to our petition to say it is at the top of the list for customer reaction, and that they welcome all feedback and will take all comments into consideration via the survey as well as the petition. Thank you SE22 and long live the Route 12 bus!
above: Marina Abramović, Role Exchange, 1975, framed black and white photographs (diptych) with framed letter press text panel. Image framed 75.6 x 100.3 cm (each), text framed 26 x 18.4 cm. Collection, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Purchase, 1995 © Marina Abramović. Courtesy of the Marina Abramović Archives / DACS 2021 6.30pm-9.30pm. Join us for this after-hours exclusive view of Reframed: The Woman in the Window. This event will feature an inconversation from Woman in the Window curator Jennifer Sliwka and Dr Flavia Frigeri Dr Flavia Frigeri is an art historian and curator, focusing on post-war Italian art, feminism, exhibition histories and pop art. In September 2020 she joined the National Portrait Gallery in the capacity of Curator: Missing Narratives on Women; leading on a three-year research project with a particular emphasis on female artists and sitters. During this talk we will be reflecting on the enigmatic motif of the ‘woman in the window’. Discover how artists have long used this motif to elicit a particular kind of response ranging from empathy to voyeurism. This event will start with a drink’s reception at 6:30pm. A complimentary drink and entry to the exhibition is included in the price of your ticket.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk.
To get your listing here contact: angela@semagazines.co.uk
Friday 22 July: Creative Arts Club for Older Adults (60+): Printing with Light
10:00am – 12:00pm. The Creative Arts Club is a new club for older adults which will take place once a month. Studies have proved that creativity is important for our health and well-being, as is environment and the company of others. The aims of this group are to bring these together: we will learn new creative skills, share stories and enjoy companionship in the beautiful setting that is Bell House, Dulwich. In this month’s workshop we will learn how to make cyanotype prints, also known as blueprints or photograms. There is something very ethereal about a cyanotype print, the simplest of objects can make a hauntingly beautiful image. Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road SE21 7BG.
https://www.bellhouse.co.uk/events
Saturday 23 July: Queerdirect Creative Explorations 1pm-4pm
Join Queerdirect for a life drawing workshop redefining ‘The Women in the Window’ through a ‘queer’ lense outside heteronormative norms. The session will focus on recreating poses and scenes from the artworks and engage audience members in group discussion around reinterpreting historical works as queer. Assisted by clothing and props, participants will explore the spectrum of gender and sexuality by looking and participating in life modelling they choose.
Queerdirect is an LGBTQI+ Artist support network, curatorial platform, arts programme and gallery. Queerdirect hold regular events and curate exhibitions around London and provide queer artists with a platform. Queerdirect is one of the UK’s first contemporary arts platform and project space dedicated to queer arts.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Monday 25 July – Wednesday 31 August: Megabyte Club
We run awesome MINECRAFT HOLIDAY CLUBS, giving children an opportunity to play, learn and explore a variety of STEM, Design and Storytelling Projects. We run a special Megabyte Minecraft Realm so the kids can play together safely and securely. We always make sure to include a multiplayer project which is often the highlight of the day! As well as being lots of fun we choose educational projects on a variety of topics such as Renewable Energy, The International Space Station and Pixel Art! All tutors at the club love Minecraft and are ready to answer any questions that come up and help the children with all of their projects! Dulwich Prep London, 42 Alleyn Park, London SE21 7AA. Book at:
https://megabyteclub.co.uk/
Wednesday 27 July: Cooking with Scissors
6.45pm-8pm. An opportunity for local business professionals to meet, make new contacts and gain new business. The last Wednesday of every month. Free Admission. To find out more or register please go to our website:
www.cookingwithscissors.co.uk The Lordship Pub, 211 Lordship Lane SE22 8HA
Thursday 28 July: Curators Talk - Reframed: Woman in the Window
7pm-8.30pm. Join Jennifer Sliwka curator of Reframed: Woman in the Window for an inspiring introduction to the exhibition. Through this talk, Jennifer will explore how the ‘woman in the window’ has been so important to different cultures across the globe. You’ll gain an understanding of how artists have used the motif to stir deep emotions and reflect on gender and the visibility of women, throughout history up to the current day. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the conversation. Got a question you’d like us to cover in the Q&A? Email learning@dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk in advance with ‘Curator’s Question’ in the subject line and we’ll do our best to answer as many as we can on the day.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Saturday 30 July: Stuart Semple’s Festival of Happiness
10.30am-12.30pm, 12.30-2.30pm and 2.30-4.30pm. This free and jampacked one day festival, devised by renowned British artist Stuart Semple, will encourage recovery, hope and joy through colourful and imaginative events, workshops and family trails. The festival will premiere Semple’s new work Something Else, a playful series of sculptural installations spread throughout the Gallery’s gardens. Visitors will be invited to follow a map designed by Semple which will guide them through this interactive artwork, which will sit alongside family-friendly workshops and a series of relaxed performances from the City of London Sinfonia. The festival will also feature Semple’s famous ‘Happy Clouds,’ which will be shown in the UK for the first time in over a decade. Throughout the day visitors will also be able to access the Gallery and the current exhibition Reframed: The Woman in the Window for free. Festival of Happiness will be held in memory of Ingrid Beazley, former Chairman of the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery from 2005 – 2008, and founder of the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery, which brought art to the streets of south London.
Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Summer Heat Kills
Pets Corner with Leonie St Clair | www.londondogstraining.co.uk
Our climate is so variable that the first sign of hot weather prompts us to spend as much time as we can outside. However, in our eagerness to soak up those rays of sun we can forget about risks to our pets, especially youngsters and elderly animals. On very hot days, all animals require access to shade and to water. Outdoor runs may get way too hot and indoor cats may swelter in a stuffy house with little ventilation. Long-coated animals may get too hot to sleep at night and get grumpy as a result. So, next time you check the weather, have a plan to help out your animals too. Regular grooming is an obvious one, lots of dead fur close to the skin will create irritation. Keeping the coat matt free and brushed will allow air to circulate and help cool, the animal. It’s also a good idea to ensure your animal does not have any open cuts or irritated skin. Fly-strike can be deadly. Similarly dogs that swim in salt water or get sand in wet fur are at risk of irritated skin. The pet animal most likely to suffer in a sudden heat wave is the dog as his choices are few. It is vital to remember that dogs can overheat very easily, especially flat-faced and bully breeds, which may experience breathing issues in hot, humid weather. Dogs cannot sweat through their skin; they cool off by panting and through sweat glands in the paws. However, keeping cool expends a lot of energy and can be exhausting. Here is a check list to help keep your dog safe. • Avoid walking or outings in the hottest part of the day, especially with a young or old dog • Don’t go running or cycling with your dog when it’s hot • Always take water and access to or the means to create cool shade • If your dog refuses to walk on the lead do not force him, consider what is going on; is the pavement or sand painfully hot, is he thirsty, is he able to breathe? • Animals with arthritis may well experience more discomfort in hot, humid weather • Packing a towel that can be dampened for your pet to lie on creates a quickie cooling pad • Do not drape a wet towel over your dog, this will heat him up, splash tepid water on his tummy and under his legs • Don’t leave dogs tied up outside cafes or shops in hot weather- or any time • Do not leave your dog in a vehicle, caravan or hot rooms like a conservatory The last and most important point is to recognise signs of heatstroke. This kills hundreds of dogs every year. Heavy panting, drooling, drowsiness, diarrhoea, vomiting, staggering can all be signs of heatstroke. If you have been in hot weather and your dog develops any of these signs get him to a vet immediately - it is a medical emergency.
