SE23 April 2024

“I

Alison,

Welcome to SE23

The clocks have sprung forward and now we can start to benefit from the light mornings and evenings. Spring is definitely in the air. I love April, especially when there is so much to do locally!

As usual I have rounded up all the great events taking place in and around Dulwich. The events pages start on page 6. April is proving to be a busy month for events, so we have a fantastic eight pages of online and in person events happening in and around Dulwich.

Please do check any event before turning up to make sure that they are still going ahead. Remember to check out www.arounddulwich.co.uk too as many events get added after I have gone to print. You can often find out more details online too.

There are two free informal hubs, for people living with dementia and their carers. The Sunflower and Tulip Cafes, also caters for those over the age of 65, who do not have a dementia diagnosis. Find out more on page 22.

The Dulwich Festival is back in May and you can find out what is happening right here in our preview on pages 26 & 27.

St Christopher’s Fun Run is back! Find out more on page 29.

Until next time.

Angela

Angela Burgess Head of All Things Community SE Magazines/Around Dulwich

May Deadline - 15 April (please allow an extra two days if design is required)

To advertise in SE23 please contact Angela Burgess on 020 8693 9040

angela@semagazines.co.uk for further information. You can download our media pack

Events Calendar - April

Easter Monday

Easter Tennis Camp see p6.

Easter Maths Revision Course see p6.

South London Women Artists Spring Exhibition see p6.

Online Talk: The Lost Mansions of Dulwich see p6.

Bach to Baby Easter Concert, p6.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Goose Green Coffee Morning, see p8.

BNI Adventurers see p8.

The Thursday Ceilidh see p8.

Easter Tennis Camp see p6 & p18.

Online Breathing Class see p6.

Honor Oak WI, see p18.

Life Drawing & Painting see p6.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Online Breathing Class see p6.

Dulwich WI, see page 24.

Life Drawing & Painting see p6.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

EDWI - Bingo Night, see p19.

Lewisham Underwater Hockey, see p9.

Live Band Karaoke see p9.

BNI Adventurers see p8.

The Thursday Ceilidh see p8.

Elizabeth Buchan in Conversation p19.

The Arts Society event, see p19.

Lewisham Underwater Hockey, see p9.

Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club Summer Term see p19.

BNI Adventurers see p8.

Dulwich & District U3A Talk, see p24.

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p24.

Online Breathing Class see p6.

Life Drawing & Painting see p6.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Curator Talk: Curating Skateboarding p25.

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p24.

Online Breathing Class see p6.

Life Drawing & Painting see p6.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Kimchi Fermentation Workshop p25.

Don’t Man UpSpeak Up!, p25.

The Lost PathsJack Cornish p25.

The Thursday Ceilidh see p8.

Instagram for Small Businesses p24.

Bookbinding Taster Case Binding Workshop, p24.

Lewisham Underwater Hockey, see p9.

parkruns, see p9.

Bell House Open Garden, see p9.

Design & Handprint Wrapping Paper see p8.

Drama Club, see p9.

parkruns, see p9.

Weekly Horniman Market see p18.

Junior parkruns, see p18.

Weekly Horniman Market see p18

Indoor Pop-up Market, see p6.

Junior parkruns, see p18.

Singaround, p19.

parkruns, see p9.

Weekly Horniman Market see p18.

Junior parkruns, see p18.

BNI Adventurers see p8.

The Thursday Ceilidh see p8.

Lewisham Underwater Hockey, see p9.

Menopause Support Group, see p30.

Blues Night @ The Ivy House see p30.

The 12-month Garden p30.

parkruns, see p9.

Gog Magog & The Guardians of London, see p30.

Weekly Horniman Market see p18.

Junior parkruns, see p18.

Forthcoming Events

Further details where available can be found in the News and Events pages 6, 8, 9 18, 19, 24, 25 & 30. Please read as not all the events can fit on the calendar!

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enquiries@hernehillschool.co.uk

What's On - April

Monday 1 – Sunday 7 April: Easter Maths Revision Course at Dulwich College 9am – 5pm

We offer two revision courses: iGCSE Maths (3 day course) and A level Maths (4 day course). Each participant will receive a comprehensive booklet comprising essential topic materials and exam questions. Students receive our exclusive collection of meticulously crafted practice exam papers, complete with detailed solutions which will ensure students make excellent progress, enabling them to achieve a top grade. Dulwich Common, London SE21 7LD www.apstatutoring.com

Monday 1 – Friday 3 May: South London Women Artists

Spring 2024 Exhibition 12pm – 6pm

SLWA, founded in 2008 in Dulwich by a group of women artists, is a non-profit association of highly acclaimed visual artists based south of the river. This exhibition features the work of over 20 women artists working across different media. It celebrates the rich and diverse styles of the artists, while also reflecting contemporary concerns in the world today. Heritage Cheese Shop, Gallery Upstairs, 1b Calton Avenue, SE21 7DE.

Tuesday 2 April: Bach to Baby Easter Family Concert

10:30am – 11:15am. Critically acclaimed concert series for babies, toddlers and their carers. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances by outstanding musicians, with your young babes in tow. Remember: Up to 2 children come free on every Adult Ticket! St John The Evangelist, East Dulwich, 62A East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AT. www.bachtobaby.com

Tuesday 2 – Friday 12 April: Easter Tennis Camp

9am – 3:30pm. At Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club we run structured, fantastic and fun tennis camps for children as young 3 years-old to advanced level teens. Players will benefit from an experienced team of LTA qualified coaches with a great coach/ players ratio and each camp is specially designed according to each age group and skills. At our tennis camps your children have the perfect mix of tennis, fun games, healthy competitions, drills and a lot more! Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club, Giant Arches Road, Burbage Road, Herne Hill, SE24 9HP. www.clubspark.lta.org.uk

Tuesdays

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 April: Weekly Online Breathing Class

7pm – 8pm. Join me every Tuesday at 7pm for a 40-minute breathing and relaxation class. Unwind, centre yourself and use the breath to help relax and prepare for a restful evening. Using different breathing techniques that can be incorporated into your day along with a few gentle mat-based stretches and ending with Yoga Nidra a full body guided meditation for deep relaxation. All welcome. No experience is needed. £7 To join please use the link below: https://liveyogateachers.com/classes/ meditation-open-level-kerry-flower

Tuesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 &

30

April: Life Drawing & Painting

7pm – 8pm. This is an online drawing & painting session conducted via Zoom. Long pose life painting and drawing. A single pose held for three hours with 5-minute model breaks every 25 minutes. This class will be run by Freya Tate, a wonderful artist with a sharp eye and a playful line. The session will be life model focused but Freya will introduce chaotic elements to challenge you and move your drawing on to higher levels. The Dulwich Art Group & School. www.dulwichartgroup.co.uk.

What's On - April

Tuesdays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 April: Social Runs with DPR

7:30pm – 8:30pm. Fantastic local running club. Social runs every Tuesday 7.30pm at Trevor Bailey Sports Ground on the south circular. Plus runs every Sunday morning; coached sessions on Thursdays; cross country races; competitions; weekends away; frequent social activities. Come along on a Tuesday to try us out!

More information and to enquire go to: www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk enquiries@dulwichparkrunners.com

Trevor Bailey Clubhouse, Dulwich Common, London SE21 7HA

Tuesday 2 April: Online Talk: The Lost Mansions of Dulwich

8pm - 9pm. Just over 100 years ago, the last of the huge old mansions on the northern side of Dulwich Village were demolished. This illustrated talk by Ian McInnes will cover all five along with their wealthy occupants, many of them influential Victorian entrepreneurs. Ian McInnes is a retired architect and is currently chair of the Dulwich Society Local History Group and Chair of the Twentieth Century Society. As well as giving talks and leading walks in the area, he researches and writes articles on a wide range of local history subjects. Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG. Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Wednesday 3 April: Goose Green Coffee Morning

11am – 12:30pm. Do drop in to Goose Green Coffee Morning where you can meet others from your local community for friendly chat plus coffee, tea and cake. All welcome! St John The Evangelist, East Dulwich, 62A East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AT.

Thursdays 4, 11, 18 & 25

April: BNI Adventures

6:30am – 8:30am. Part of the award winning multi-national networking organisation, BNI, Adventurers brings together businesses local to Dulwich with the aim of passing business and keeping money in the local community. Givers gain, and members of Adventurers have excelled at both over the last 12 months. Now back in person this as exciting time for the chapter. Breakfast included. Free parking. Get referrals: boost your business! Please contact Hayley on 07843 989728 for more information.

Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club, Grange Lane, College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7LH. Register for this event on: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Thursdays 4, 11, 18 & 25

April: Thursday Ceilidh – at St Barnabas Parish Hall

8pm - 10pm. If you like dancing but don’t want to spend hours learning routines before you can actually dance, if you are single and feel you won’t have a chance to dance without a partner, or if you enjoy dancing but worry about joining a new group and, if you love Ceilidhs, then The Dulwich Dance Club is just right for you. You can join in the dancing immediately and as much as you like throughout the evening. This is because all dances are first practised and then the moves “called” as a reminder while we are dancing to the music.

• 4 April: Caller - Wendy Newall

• 11 April: Caller - Paul Goldsmith

• 18 April: Caller - Joyce Wood

• 25 April: Caller - Philip Barber

ENQUIRIES:

John Blase: 020 8693 2873

johnhblase@aol.com

Wendy Newall: 07821 089861

wendy.marsh@hotmail.com

https://e-voice.org.uk/dulwichfolkdancing/ Entrance on door £5 (£4 Club members)

Friday 5 April: Live Band Karaoke

7pm – 11pm. Reckon you’ve got the swagger of Jagger? Well, this is your moment. Belt out classics from Dolly Parton to Dizzee Rascal, live on stage, backed by a stunning 5-piece band, in front of a supportive crowd. Lyrics are provided on a screen, and our compere will be on stage with you to add those critical BVs or keep things on track... Pick from over 350 tunes from all genres. Sign up to sing at the venue, then keep an eye on the ‘up next’ screen. See Instagram for a taste of what’s in store.

www.live-band-karaoke.designmynight.com/ The Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road, Nunhead SE15 3BE

Fridays 5, 12, 19 & 26 April: Lewisham Underwater Hockey Club

7:30pm – 9pm. Try out underwater hockey at Forest Hill pools every Friday evening. We’re a mixed ability club who play for fun and exercise. Complete beginners welcome - we’ll ease you in gently and have kit you can borrow. See the link to our website to learn more.

Forest Hill Pools, Dartmouth Road, SE23 2HZ. For more information go to www.luwhc.org.uk

What's On - April

Saturdays 6, 13, 20 & 27

April: Parkrun 9am – 10am

Dulwich Parkrun

Free, weekly timed 5k run, jog, or walk in Dulwich Park. Every Saturday at 9am promptly starting from Queen Mary’s Gate. Register once and bring your printed barcode (can be used at any parkrun across the world). First-timers briefing at 08.50. Also in Peckham Rye, Brockwell and Crystal Palace parks.

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/dulwich/

Peckham Rye Park Run

A 3-lap anti clockwise course, entirely on tarmac is mainly flat and therefore a potential PB course The start & finish are located close to the Colyton Road entrance of the park. This scenic course takes you over 2 bridges along the pond keeping the black metal fence on your left before turning right running past the bowling green and around the oval gardens.

Peckham Rye Park, Colyton Road SE15 4JR.

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/peckhamrye/

Saturday 6 April: Bell House Open Garden

11:30am - 1pm. Bell House is opening its garden for visitors to explore. Set behind the Georgian house, visitors can explore the peaceful two-acre garden. Tea and coffee will be available.

Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road SE21 7BG

Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Saturday 6 April: Drama Club (12 -16s)

1:30pm - 3:30pm. Faisal Dacosta whose credits include So Awkward, Kids Camp (The MovieCBBC), Silent Witness (BBC), Professor T (ITV) & The Personal History of David Copperfield (FilmNation) will be leading a drama club for ages 12 – 16. The objective of this club is for your kid to have the confidence to walk into any room with full confidence with their heads held high. Faisal has years of experience in mentoring & teaching kids with special educational needs and loves using all of his creative skills to guide them into being the best version of themselves.

Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road SE21 7BG

Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Dulwich Hamlet FC

https://dulwichhamletfc.co.uk

April is the crunchiest month for our Hamlet sides, as we reach the back end of this cracking season. The month brings a final five fixtures faor our Men’s team as well as four for our Women’s firsts – and crucially it’s still all to play for!

For the men, after the April Fools’ Day fixture at Carshalton Athletic on Easter Monday, it’s Enfield Town at home on Saturday 6th April, followed by away jaunts to Essex and Kent: with trips to Canvey (‘you’re a peninsula!’) Island on Saturday 13th and Folkestone Invicta on Saturday 20th. After that it’s end game – or hopefully, maybe, not quite – as the final fixture of the season proper sees the visit of Cray Wanderers to the Hill on Saturday 27th April, when a play-off prize could still be on the cards.

At the time of writing we’re sitting just six points off those play-off places, and still to face three of the teams above us. Dare I say it, dreams of promotion glory are beginning to drift down from Goose Green. Picture the roundabout!

Meanwhile our Women’s first team is dreaming even bigger and, dare I even think it, the league title itself remains a target. Imagine that roundabout rocking! Chasing hard to catch the two sides above us, and with games in hand, our women face one of those teams in a crunch clash on Wednesday 3rd April, with Fulham’s visit to Champion Hill. A Wednesday night under the lights with so much at stake is surely unmissable.

To keep the pressure on, and our ‘spice’ levels high, the women then have two more home games, hosting Dorking Wanderers on Sunday 7th; then Enfield Town on Sunday 14th, eight days after the visit of Enfield’s men. We end April with the Women’s away trip to AFC Crawley on Sunday 28th.

After that there’s a potentially tortuous threeweek wait before the last game of the season, away at Saltdean on 19th May. By then the pressure could be unbearable. But just remember that roundabout! And so to complete the fixtures, our Women’s Reserves face Richmond Park on Sunday 7th April before a final game against Camden & Islington on 5th May.

I should add that by the time April begins the picture for both our Men’s and Women’s sides could have shifted, depending on results elsewhere, from the delirious scenes of roundabout glory I’m allowing myself to imagine now. But in any case get the dates in your diary and don’t risk not being there when pink ‘n’ blue history is made!

While you’re at it you can add a couple more dates to look forward to: the next DHFC Fan Forum is on Wednesday 10th April in the Champion Hill bar. And looking ahead further to when the season’s dust has settled, our Supporters’ Trust AGM will be in late June – so still plenty of time to join the Trust, the voice of our fans. Hopefully we’ll have a hell of a lot to shout about by then. Tales of roundabout revelry and all! Up the Hamlet!

In Praise of Euphorbia

Garden Talk with Janine Winlaw | Instagram @janinewinlaw

These beautiful and useful foliage plants add structure and texture to the garden. Their exotic-looking foliage can give a lush tropical feel to planting, but these handsome plants work equally well in more traditional schemes. The bright acid green euphorbia flowers in spring add zing to a border and beautifully complement purples and blues. There are many varieties to choose from, whether for height or ground cover, sun or shade. Here’s my pick of the best.

E. characias wulfenii - This is probably the most popular euphorbia. Its stems of bluish green leaves (up to 1.5m high) provide year-round rounded structure to the garden and look great with silvers and purples. From March it comes alive with with blowsy lime green flowers that perfectly complement plants such as Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’ or alliums. It will tolerate some shade but prefers a sunny spot and is pretty drought tolerant once established – perfect for a gravel or Mediterranean garden. E. characias ‘Humpty Dumpty’ is a more compact version of wulfenii –growing to around 50cm.

E. mellifera - This is a beautiful exotic-looking plant with bright green evergreen leaves and rusty orange, honey-scented flowers in spring. It gets big – around 2m – so it’s perfect if you want a large architectural structure in your garden. Combining it with large or spiky leaved plants or bold pinks, oranges or reds with give it an exotic feel. It likes full sun or partial shade.

E. pasteurii - This has long striking leaves (though slightly darker green) and orangey flowers in early summer, but it’s smaller a 1.5 m in height. It’s another sun lover and looks good with yellow flowers or lush grasses such as Hackonachloea macra.

E. Cyparissias - This is a low growing deciduous variety with needle-like leaves and tiny yellow flowers. E. Myrsinites is another fab ground cover euphorbia with grey green evergreen foliage and lime green flowers.

E. griffithii ‘Great Dixter’ - If you want a bit of summer colour, this is fab. The warm orange flower heads in summer are followed by red and orange autumn leaves. Or E. griffithii has bright red flowers for even more of a wow factor.

E. palustris - With its fresh green foliage and mass of bright green flowers throughout the summer months, this is great for brightening up a sunny border – and will tolerate part shade. It looks amazing with blues, such as iris ‘Jane Phillips’ It reaches about 90cm.

E. x martini - With red-eyed flowers from march until late June, this striking euphorbia looks good with other dark red/pink early flowering perennials such as aquilegia. It’s compact and upright, at 75cm in height and is a good choice for a smaller sunny border.

E. Amygdaloides var. robbiae - Fab for brightening up a shady spot, this low growing (50cm) euphorbia is one of the earliest to flower, with dark glossy green leaves and fresh lime green flower that look great with dark purple tulips. Great ground cover, though it can be a bit invasive. E. amygdaloides ‘Purpurea’

Maintenance

Some evergreen euphorbias need to have their faded blooms cut back after flowering, while others such as E. characias need their stems cut back down the ground after flowering, to encourage new shoots, which will flower the following spring. Deciduous varieties need to be cut down to the ground in autumn. Bear in mind that euphorbias have a thick milky sap than can be a skin irritant, so wear gloves and long sleeves. Wash off immediately if you do get some on your hands. Euphorbia’s do have a tendency to spread or selfseed – some more than others, but they’re easy enough to weed.

Ripe Old Age

Practical Advice for Navigating Later Life |

Understanding Brain Disease

Michael Scott, is the co-owner of the award winning, locally based, specialist, home care company Right at Home Mitcham Streatham and Dulwich. Here we focus on the incredible mystery of the brain and the effects of brain disease.

By the time we reach 85, half of us will be living with some degree of dementia. Since 2011 dementia has been the leading cause of death for women. Dementia is an umbrella terms for a disease of the brain. It is incurable - which is not surprising considering 90% of the brain remains a complete mystery.

Inspection of the brain by sight and under the microscope, only deepens the mystery. It weighs around 3lbs and is made up of 60% fat. The remaining 40% is a combination of water, protein, carbohydrates and salts. How such organic matter can combine to perform such complex functions, is beyond science - and just about - beyond our imagination.

Our brain is crammed with 86 billion nerve cells called neurons. These cells last a lifetime. We do not know how it works. All we can detect are electrical pulses lasting milliseconds. Despite centuries of science, no one knows how the brain captures information, forms memories and codes all the sights, sounds and smells we are bombarded with every day. That said, it is believed the brain’s capacity to do this is almost limitless. On top of this, we do not understand sleep nor consciousness. In short we do not know much!

Dementia effects everyone differently. There are many types of brain disease each with their own symptoms and prognosis. Memory loss is common but those supporting loved ones living with dementia may see a bewildering array of unexpected (and out of character) behaviour including anger, aggression, paranoia, asking for someone who has passed away, wandering, agitation, repetitive behaviours, inappropriate sexualised behaviour, refusing medication and swearing.

Encouragingly some drugs are now available to slow or reduce the effects of dementia. However,

there remains a lot of stigma linked to dementia. This can create feelings of loneliness or isolation causing considerable pain and misery. Negative stereotypes often cause us to assume the worst – so we just see the disease and not the person.

With love and care however - focussing on what is possible and being positive – it is possible to improve the person living dementia’s well-being. Getting out into the community can reduce social isolation. It also helps to have a stable support team, so trust is built and maintained.

By thinking laterally, carers can often revive old hobbies and pastimes that may distract the person from anxiety or other signs of distress. One of our clients – a former engineer with advanced dementia – was quite happy doing maths puzzles for hours a day, relieving his normal state of constant anxiety. Many clients love to look at old photos and reminisce about their childhood and major life events.

As the dementia advances we see the memory erode whilst, at the same time, it seems to cling-on to core memories, key to our identity. Invariably the longest lasting memories, stored in the deepest part of the brain, are favourite old music and classic songs, hence the fantastic Signing for the Brain sessions that we can all enjoy, joyfully singing together to our final days!

Meditation for Emotional Resilience

Fitness tips with Leanne Spencer | www.bodyshotperformance.com

There are many ways to build emotional resilience, such as be optimistic, exercise regularly, find your tribe. But this month I want to talk about meditation for emotional resilience, or more specifically, doing something that is meditative. And this may not necessarily mean what you think it does.

Meditation’s Image Problem

Meditation, you could argue, has a bit of an image problem. We tend to imagine sitting cross-legged; eyes closed; breathing deeply for a significant amount of time. And yes, that is one way to do it. However, there are many other methods of meditation for developing your emotional resilience. And what I’m encouraging you to do in this month’ article will perhaps feel a little more achievable in comparison to spending hours on end in the lotus position. So I want to ask, what is something you could do routinely that is meditative? And if you’re not sure what that means, allow me to explain…

Do Something Meditative

If you’re wondering what that might look like for you, allow me to share an example. I used to work with a lovely lady who was extremely senior in London’s banking sector. She was having difficulty collecting her thoughts or decompressing between meetings and had become frustrated as a result. She had tried meditation using various apps but didn’t feel she was getting any benefit from them. At home, she liked to knit, and one day tried bringing one of her craft projects into the office to work on during downtime. She never looked back!

Repetitive Movements

Knitting may seem a bit funny at first, but its repetitive nature is very meditative. Sometimes the pattern is simple and you are able to focus on the rhythm of the movement. Other times the pattern can be complex which will require you to focus your attention on counting stitches, for example.

In fact, some studies have shown it can be just as effective in relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety as meditation. And this is because the repetitive movements work to engage your parasympathetic nervous system, signalling the body to relax. It also helps to reduce heart rate and blood pressure to promote feelings of calmness.

Make it non-negotiable

Now, I’m not telling you to learn to knit. When it comes to meditation for building emotional resilience, there are all kinds of options. For example, running, hiking, gardening, Tai Chi or yoga are just some other options that you could consider. It’s down to you to decide what that looks like. So think about it.

What could you do that’s meditative; that relaxes you; that allows you to slip into that parasympathetic state, but also helps you to become a little bit more resilient, because your nervous system is no longer under constant stress? And when you’ve found what that is, make it one of your daily non-negotiables: small things you do every day without fail that will have a big impact over time on your health and wellbeing.

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What's On - April

Saturday 6 April:

Design & Handprint Wrapping Paper & Crafting Card

2pm – 5pm

Design and print your own beautiful stack of wrapping paper and card for home crafting or tutored bookbinding. At the end of three hours, you will have handprinted a selection of gorgeous designs onto card and paper of all sorts of textures and colours and, as an added bonus, old maps dictionaries, recipes books, sheet music and maybe even some wood veneers! All of this will be guided by print-enthusiast Simon who will show you how to use our Albion, Showcard and Adana Presses and help you select your design elements. You will also learn to add thermo gloss powder and melt it onto the paper using our vintage conveyor belt which we lovingly call our ‘Travelodge toaster’.

To finish up after tea and cake Simon will demonstrate how to use your gorgeous stack of supplies at home to make into gift tags, bookmarks, greetings cards and mini-bunting. Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events/ Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG

Sundays 7, 14, 21 & 28 April:

Junior Parkrun

Brockwell Park - 9am - 9:30am

A free 2km fun run for 4–14-year-olds in Brockwell Park. Just register on parkrun.com to get a barcode and meet behind the lido at 8:55 for a briefing. Come rain or shine, Easter, or Christmas we meet every week.

Brockwell Park, Dulwich Road SE24 0PA. www.parkrun.org.uk/brockwell-juniors/

Peckham Rye - 9am - 9:30am

A free, weekly, timed run for 4–14-year-olds, to get fit, stay healthy and have fun! We run 2km every Sunday morning at 9am, through rain and shine. The course is visible, well-marshalled, and all held on the paths around the sports pitches.

Peckham Rye Park, Colyton Road, SE22 0NE. www.parkrun.org.uk/peckhamrye-juniors/

Sundays 7, 14, 21 & 28 April: The Weekly Horniman Market

10am – 3:00pm. Located on the Bandstand Terrace, you will find stalls selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan bread and cheese, organic meat, and delicious street food. If that’s not enough to have you feeling like our overstuffed walrus, we also have regular guest traders specialising in treats such as luxury chocolates, delightful drinks, irresistible cakes, and tasty pickles and preserves.

100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ www.horniman.ac.uk/

Monday 8– Friday 12 April: JL Tennis Academy

The Easter five day camps will have one hour of instruction per day for Streetennis (3-5 Years), one and a half hours for Mini-Red (6-8 Years), Mini-Orange (8-9 Years) and Mini-Green (9-10 Years) with three hours for the Youth Squad (11+ Years).

The camps will feature: technical development, tactical training, play patterns, drills, movement and footwork training. Book early to avoid disappointment as places are limited!

Alleyn’s School, Townley Road SE22 8SX

www.jltennis.academy/junior_tennis_camps

Tuesday 9 April: Honor Oak WI

We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Stanstead Lodge Cafe SE23 1DD at 7:30pm. Please note that we will meet on the second Tuesday on the 9th April and the 14th May due to bank holidays. honoroakwi@gmail.com twitter.com/honoroakwi Honoroak_WI

www.facebook.com/groups/honoroakwi/

Wednesday 10 April: East Dulwich WI – BINGO NIGHT

7:30pm – 9:30pm. The EDWI is holding a Bingo night for our April event. Our Bingo caller is one of our own, and calls with panache! So come along for your ‘Two little ducks, ‘Sweet 16’ or ‘Garden gate’ and enjoy a fun evening. The East Dulwich WI welcomes guests to this event, first time guests attend for free, returning guests pay a fee of £5.00 (cash only). We welcome new members, the new membership year runs from April 2024 to March 2025, the membership fee is £48.00. join@eastdulwichwi.co.uk

The Castle Pub - Upstairs Function room, 280 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9JH.

Thursday 11 April: Elizabeth Buchan in Conversation 7pm-8pm

Local author Elizabeth Buchan, the best-selling author of The Museum of Broken Promises and Two Women in Rome, talks to Isabelle Grey about her latest novel, Bonjour, Sophie. Isabelle Grey, a local TV screenwriter and crime novelist, will be asking Elizabeth about her own childhood journeys, her 17 novels, her love of reading, and their shared fascination with the secrets of World War Two. Village Books will be selling copies at the event, which Elizabeth will be happy to sign. Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG. Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Thursday 11 April: The Art of Stained Glass 8pm - 9pm

Lecturer: Nicole Mezey A work of art is not just a symbol of creative genius but a historical object and the result of a laborious process of creation. This lecture looks at the development of stained glass, its purpose, the process by which it was created and some extraordinary examples of its survival. From vast cathedrals to tiny chapels, we will concentrate on the great achievements of the Middle Ages. We will also consider why this formerly pre-eminent art form has declined in popularity and show some of the projects in which it has been revived. www.theartssocietydulwich.org.uk/programme/ lectures. James Allen’s Girls’ School Sixth Form Centre, Green Dale, Dulwich, SE22 8TG.

What's On - April

Sunday 14 April: The Goose Is Out! Singaround at The Ivy House 7pm - 10:30pm

If you like singing, come to our Singaround! It consists of people – or sometimes small groups of people – taking it in turns to sing a song. We welcome listeners too! Our Singarounds are very informal and participative. We don’t use the stage and we don’t use mics. You can sing whatever you like - any genre, any language. You don’t have to be a “good singer” - just wanting to sing is good enough for us. Everybody is welcome, including those who have never sung in front of other people before.

£5 on the door (cash or BACS only, sorry).

www.thegooseisout.com

The Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road, Nunhead SE15 3BE.

Monday 15 April – Sunday 7 July: Summer Term at Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club

9:00am – 3:30pm. We have classes from Monday to Saturday. We welcome players of all ages and abilities.

Mini Red classes (5-8 years-old)

Mini Orange classes (9-10 years-old):

Mini Green classes (10-11 years-old):

Teen classes (11-18 years-old):

We look forward to teaching your children during the sunnier months. Please, do not hesitate to contact Head Coach Sebastien sebtenniscoaching@gmail.com should you have any questions regarding tennis at the club.

Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club, Giant Arches Road, Burbage Road, Herne Hill, SE24 9HP

www.clubspark.lta.org.uk

Financial Matters

With Akwasi Duodu |

How Do I Invest Responsibly?

There is a lot of terminology around investing responsibly and it can all be a bit confusing. Terms used include Ethical, Socially Responsible, Sustainable and ESG (Environmental Social and Governance). But what does it all mean? And is one approach better than another? Whilst we don’t think there’s any right or wrong, we’ll try to explain the different approaches available to you.

Ethical V Sustainable Investing

Ethical investing is primarily driven by negative screening. For a fund manager, this process involves finding companies that score poorly on environmental, social and governance factors relative to their peers. This would include companies working in sectors that are harmful to society or the environment. These companies would then be avoided in investment portfolio construction. For example, the investment portfolio could exclude companies involved in animal testing, gambling, armaments, tobacco and those that cause harm to the environment or have a poor human rights record.

Sustainable investing on the other hand is driven by positive screening. Instead of finding companies that score poorly as in certain areas, the fund manager would actively seek out companies that score highly. For example, the fund manager, when constructing a portfolio of investments, would only consider companies that had products and services that helped create a cleaner, healthier, more inclusive society. They would encourage good corporate behaviour and their products and services would help solve the world’s social and environmental challenges. Sustainable investing is all about active engagement to encourage continual improvement.

What Is ESG Investing?

E stands for Environmental, which look at the business’s carbon footprint, it’s contribution to other forms of pollution, and its sustainability, for example, how renewable are the resources it uses?

S stands for Social and include factors like the diversity of the business workforce, inclusivity, and its responsibilities towards customers.

The G stands for Governance and relates to how the organisation is structured and run, and how fairly employees are treated in comparison with management and senior executives.

ESG investing takes all these factors into consideration with the primary aim of delivering a competitive return for the investor. Whilst ESG goals may appear to conflict with growth aspirations, there’s a strong argument to suggest that companies that pollute and fall outside ESG don’t have a particularly bright future, so why would you invest in them?

The 2008 financial crisis was a stark example of what happens when profits are prioritised over ethics. Today, worldwide focus on climate change means that green technologies are attracting more investment and government subsidies, potentially giving them a financial edge as well as an ethical one.

The Importance Of Advice

Get advice from an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) before taking the plunge. Why? There are countless of investment funds in the UK, all of whom want to attract your money. Information you find online may be biased, inaccurate or outdated and you never know what vested interest a journalist may have.

An IFA, by contrast, is paid to work for you and to act solely in your best interests. They will be experienced in identifying funds and comparing them objectively. Most importantly, they will look at wider factors such as how any new investment complements other investments you may have and ensure that you are invested in accordance with your risk appetite, goals, aspirations and values.

Dementia Friendly Cafes

Home instead Wandsworth, Lambeth and Dulwich is a local home care provider rated “Outstanding” by the CQC, and because of our passion to care for over 65’s we also run two community based, local dementia friendly Cafés.

The Butterfly Café

Held on the 1st and 4th Tuesday of the month, Time: 1.30-3.30pm.

Venue: The Boardroom (Opposite Marks & Spencer’s), Hambleden Wing, Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 9RS

Tulip Café

Held on Thursdays, between 11am -1pm.

Venue: All Saints - West Dulwich, Lovelace Road, SE21 8JY

The cafes are a free informal hub, for people living with dementia and their carers. The Sunflower and Tulip Cafes, also caters for those over the age of 65, who do not have a dementia diagnosis.

At our cafes, we strive to create a safe space, where senior citizens can interact positively with one another and engage in a range of activities, to help minimise social isolation and increase their holistic well-being.

Why not come and join us, socialise, and engage in some amazing activities? These include: wellbeing sessions, art and music therapy, knitting, seated exercise and poetry.

Attendees can also enjoy homemade sandwiches, tea, coffee, fruits, and biscuits, while interacting with one another.

For

What's On - April

Monday 15 April: Dulwich WI Monthly Meeting

7:30pm - 9:30pm. Launched in 2018, the Dulwich WI is a supportive and stimulating group for women of all ages and backgrounds. We meet once a month at 57 North Cross Road, SE22 9ET. We would love to meet you and look forward to welcoming you to our group.

www.dulwichwi.com

Kix Bar + Kitchen, 57 North Cross Road SE22 9ET

Wednesday 17 April: Dulwich & District U3a Monthly Meeting: Positive Ageing

2pm - 4pm. Christine Webber, columnist, coach and author of the book Too Young to Get Old, gives this talk on Positive Ageing and how we can stay as young as possible for as long as possible. Book at: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Herne Hill Baptist Church lounge, Half Moon Lane, Dulwich, SE24 9HU.

Thursday 18 April: Instagram for Small Businesses

7pm – 8pm

If you’re a small business owner who knows that Instagram is a powerful marketing tool, but feels overwhelmed at the avalanche of advice from all the Insta gurus, then this workshop is for you! Suzanne Hemming from TCB Social Media will walk hand in hand with you through 7 simple steps to getting the most out of Instagram. Helping you to find the right followers and turn them into customers. There’s one thing that Suzanne asks you to hold onto when you come to the event and work through the steps: it’s not about the number of followers, it’s about the RIGHT followers. Suzanne will help you to find your ideal followers, how to engage with them and nurture a community, and ultimately convert them into paying customers or clients.

www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG

Friday 19 April: Bookbinding: Taster case binding workshop

10am - 4pm. This is a taster session suitable to anyone who can thread a needle and handle a craft knife! No experience required. All materials and equipment supplied. This taster session is designed to introduce you to a few basic skills that you can build on at future workshops and work on at home. At this workshop you will take home two case bound books (one single section and a multi section). We will be holding these workshops in the Bell House Print Room and Bindery where we will be using materials and equipment kindly donated to us from Dulwich College and The London Library.

www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Mondays 22 & 29 April: Forest Hill Bowling Club

2pm - 5pm. Forest Hill Bowling Club is a private club with a mixed membership of around 60 members. We welcome new members of all ages and abilities. The club has a full list of friendly and league matches with a combination of men’s, ladies and mixed games as well as twice weekly casual play sessions (roll-ups) on Monday and Friday afternoons. Other days and times are also available. If you are interested in taking up a sport that keeps you active in pleasant surroundings among friendly people, why don’t you come along and have a go. We have coaches who will be happy to start you off. We have spare sets of bowls for you to use. The only special requirement is that you have shoes with flat soles and no heels to protect our green. The club has its own large car-park and is easy to get to by public transport as we are near bus routes 75 and 356 and Forest Hill railway station is only half a mile away. For more details contact our Secretary on 07905 507155 or on our website www.foresthill-bowling-club.com 28 Wynell Road, SE23 2LW

Tuesday 23 April: Curator Talk: Curating Skateboarding

7pm – 8pm. Tory Turk is an exhibition curator, specialising in style and popular culture, and cofounder of HYMAG, ‘The World’s Largest Magazine Collection’.In 2021 Tory curated No Comply at Somerset House, an exhibition that explored the phenomenon of skateboarding and its influence on culture and communities over the past 40 years. She is also the associate curator on the Design Museum’s current exhibition SKATEBOARD where she worked with skateboarder and industrial designer Jonathan Olivares on the first major UK exhibition to map the design evolution of the skateboard from the 1950s to today. The experience of working on two very different skateboard exhibitions has contributed to Tory’s ongoing interest in developing specialist curatorial practices to preserve, exhibit and celebrate subcultural history. Tory will discuss the development of both exhibitions and their greater purpose and impact on documenting and displaying ‘living’ histories like skateboarding. www.bellhouse.co.uk/events Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG.

What's On - April

Wednesday 24 April: Don’t Man Up – Speak Up!

7:30pm – 8:30pm. Awardwinning writer and broadcaster Russ Kane OA returns to Bell House where he spent several ghastly years as a boarder from aged nine. The subject of the evening is ‘Why Do Men Find It Difficult to Talk?’ Why Mental Health is EVERYONE’S issue. Don’t ‘Man-Up’ – Speak Up! For twenty years Russ Kane, was the voice of Capital Radio’s ‘Flying Eye’ where he formed an on-air partnership with Chris Tarrant to create the most listened-to commercial radio show in the world, with a daily audience in excess of four million.

www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG

Thursday 25 April: The Lost Paths – Jack Cornish

7pm - 8pm

Wednesday 24 April: Kimchi Fermentation Workshop

7 – 8pm

Join Lorraine from @SouthLondonFerments in the Studio at West 16th for a hands-on Kimchi Fermentation Workshop where you will learn to make this fabulously punchy fermented side dish and condiment. At the end of the class you will have your own jar of kimchi to take home. The recipe is vegan, packed with probiotics and no experience of fermentation is required. Your ferment will be ready to eat within a week of the workshop.

£45pp www.tickettailor.com/event (includes all materials, a delicious cheese and kimchi toastie and a West 16th kombucha cocktail).

PLEASE NOTE: we buy fresh ingredients for the workshop, so unfortunately cannot refund any tickets, however if you are unable to make it for whatever reason, you are welcome to send someone along in your place. Suitable for ages 18+. West 15th, 137 Half Moon Lane SE24 9JY.

For listings contact: angela@semagazines.co.uk

Hundreds of thousands of miles of paths reach into, and connect, communities across England and Wales. By 2026, 10,000 miles of undiscovered footpaths around Britain stand to be lost. Jack Cornish has dedicated the last five years of his life to walking these forgotten routes.

Come and hear Jack talk about his brilliant book which is a celebration of an ancient network and a rallying cry to reclaim what has been lost and preserve it for future generations. Jack is head of paths at the Ramblers, Britain’s largest walking charity, with over 100,000 members. In 2017, he walked across the country from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and is ten years into a (probably futile) attempt to walk every street in London. www.eventbrite.co.uk/

Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road SE21 8SW

Dulwich Festival

10th-19th May 2024

Dulwich Festival, 10th-19th May, promises to deliver another exhilarating programme of exciting events in 2024 for the delectation of our South London audience!

Filling spaces and places with arts and culture, this year’s lineup includes all the festival favourites, from fairs to the ever-popular Artists’ Open House, as well as walks, talks, literature, music and performance. Literature headliners include food-blogger and author Ella Mills, Channel 4 news presenter Cathy Newman and local author, social commentator and entrepreneur Kenny Imafidon ‘Deliciously Ella’ will be demonstrating how to enhance mealtimes with her latest book Healthy Made Simple, whilst Cathy Newman will be offering a captivating insight into her book Ladder, which brings together discussions between some of the most influential women in the world on work, love, growth and challenge. Kenny’s book, That Peckham Boy. Growing up, Getting Out and Giving Back, details his positive outlook and manifesto for social change, after being accused of a murder he did not commit, and is sure to both hearten and inspire audiences.

Music and Dance acts will nourish the soul, with fantastic female leads heading up the Jazz series at the EDT. London born Poppy Daniels will be introducing her new quintet, merging sounds from jazz, hip-hop and Latin, whilst Laura B and her Band will be showcasing an electrifying evening of rhythm and blues. The much-loved Dulwich Choir Festival will be raising the roof with uplifting performances from three colossal choirs, including the multi award-winning Meantime Chorus, whilst festivalgoers are invited to exercise their own vocal chords at the Sing From Scratch workshop. Expect a night of enchanting music and spoken word at Under the Tree, and sublime

classical sounds from the Southwark Sinfonietta. If the dance floor has your name on it, the Festival Ceilidh and Live Band Dance Party are not to be missed!

For families, there are an abundance of activities on offer, many of which won’t cost you a penny! Get back to nature with the London Wildlife Trust, who will be returning to The Orchard in the Village for a Wild Teddy Bear’s Picnic, or enjoy a full day of activities, food and fun at Kingswood Arts. For a dash of culture, head to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, where you’ll be able to gain free access to the gallery’s main collection or visit Christ Chapel to explore the historic organ, built by George England in 1759! If you’re partial to a kitchen disco, the awardwinning Big Fish Little Fish, with DJ’s, dance and craft, might be just the ticket for you and your family! Of course, the fairs at Dulwich Park, West Dulwich and Goose Green will be serving up all the good stuff, including the renowned Dog

Show at Dulwich Park Fair, maypole dancing at West Dulwich Spring Fair and delicious street food and performances at Goose Green Fair.

The much-celebrated Artists’ Open House will take place across the two weekends of the Festival, with a huge range of artists sharing their talented output. Be sure to catch the pop-up shop in Dulwich Village, hosting six artists, including Joe Thomas, who will be back in action with his energetic five-minute fast portraits! Havelock Walk, Carnegie Library and Coldharbour Studios are all fantastic hubs to explore a wide range of artists, and if street art makes your heart sing, grab a place on Street Art Walks with Amanda Greatorex, who will explain the links between murals and the Masters at Dulwich Picture Gallery! For more pavement pounding centered around our wonderful community, there are several historic walks to participate in, including a Pub Walk, examining the historic pubs of the area… drinks not included!

There really is something for everyone at Dulwich Festival this year – dive into www.dulwichfestival.co.uk and see what makes you smile!

Community Index

Useful Contacts

The University Hospital Lewisham

Tel 020 8333 3000

Lewisham Borough Council

Tel 020 8314 6000 (24 hrs)

www.lewisham.gov.uk

Lewisham Early Years Service

Tel 0800 085 0606

Forest Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team

Tel: 020 8721 2723

Email: ForestHill.SNT@met.police.uk

Community Groups

Forest Hill Society

www.foresthillsociety.com

Friends of One Tree Hill

http://friendsofonetreehill.wordpress.com

www.facebook.com/friendsofOTH / @Friends_of_OTH

Tewkesbury Lodge Estate Residents’ Association

www.tewkesburylodge.org.uk

Sydenham Garden

Tel 020 829 11650

www.sydenhamgarden.org.uk

Our Lady and St Philip Neri Friends Association

www.olspnfriendsassociation.com

Independent community websites

www.se23.com

Local MPs

Ellie Reeves (Lab, Lewisham West)

Tel 020 7219 2668

ellie.reeves.mp@parliament.uk

Janet Daby (Lab, Lewisham East)

Tel 020 8461 4733

Janet.daby.mp@parliament.uk

Vicky Foxcroft - (Lab, Lewisham, Deptford)

Tel 020 8469 4638

vicky.foxcroft.mp@parliament.uk

Local Councillors

Forest Hill Ward

Peter Bernards (Labour) Tel 020 8314 9927

cllr_peter.bernards@lewisham.gov.uk

Sophie Davis (Labour) Tel 020 8314 3493

Cllr_Sophie.Davis@lewisham.gov.uk

Billy Harding (Labour) Tel tba

Cllr_billy.harding@lewisham.gov.ukSurgeries

All councillors: 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month, 11am-12.30pm. Forest Hill Library, Dartmouth Road, SE23. 11am–12.30pm.

Perry Vale Ward

John Paschoud (Labour) Tel 020 8314 3437

John.Paschoud@Lewisham.gov.uk

Susan Wise (Labour) Tel 020 8314 2214

cllr_susan.wise@lewisham.gov.uk

Sakina Sheikh (Labour) 020 8314 7963

Cllr_Sakina.Sheikh@lewisham.gov.uk

Surgeries

Meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month (excluding August) at The Lodge Cafe (Stanstead Lodge Senior Club), 260 Stanstead Road, SE23 1DD. We’ll be there from 10:30am until 12:30pm.

Crofton Park Ward

Chris Barnham (Labour) Tel 020 8314 9896 cllr_chris.barnham@lewisham.gov.uk

Tauseef Anwar (Labour) 020 8314 9930

Cllr_Tauseef.Anwar@lewisham.gov.uk

Carol Webley-Brown (Labour) Tel 07795 915362 cllr_carol.webley-brown@lewisham.gov.uk

Surgeries

Crofton Park councillors offer in-person councillor surgeries on:

2nd Saturday of each month at 11-12

4th Saturday of each month at 11-12

4th Tuesday of each month at 2-3pm

All sessions take place at Crofton Park Community Library, Brockley Road. There are no surgeries in August, nor on 26th July, 24th or 27th December.

Volunteer Drivers Needed

For 30 years, Link Age Southwark has eased loneliness and reduced social isolation for local older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia. Today, they urgently need more volunteer drivers like Mark. Every Thursday, he collects four older women, from very different backgrounds, driving them to and from singing sessions run by the charity.

“I enjoy listening to them chat when I’m driving them. Hearing about their lives and families is fascinating – they may have limited mobility now, but one of them told me that at 18 she’d been a long jump champion!

They seem to really appreciate the interaction – they’ll ask about my sons, my dogs – it’s lovely to just be me. I retired last year from a very highpressure career where I was constantly ‘on call’. I wanted to explore other aspects of what I can bring to the world.

Link Age Southwark needed drivers. I have a roomy car, and it was an opportunity to give my

BabyBallet

The award winning movement to music, dance & singing programme for boys and girls from 6 months upwards run with a fun, safe and caring environment. Classes in Dulwich. Call Stephanie 07809 148348 | www.babyballet.co.uk.

Boppin Bunnies

Interactive Music class for under 5’s led by professional musicians. Monday mornings 9:30am, 10:15am & 11am. Punk Me Up Ceramics Cafe. 34 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX www.boppinbunnies.co.uk.

HartBeeps

Mondays at Christ Church, 263 Barry Road, East Dulwich, SE22 0JT. Mondays 10am Happy House, 11.15am Baby Beeps & 12.30pm Baby Bells.. http://hartbeeps.com

Little Superhero Training

Practice your Superhero moves! Discover Superhero fun facts! Any Little Heroes, Boys and Girls aged 2 - 5, Come along for a FREE taster session. Mondays & Fridays (term time only) St Barnabas Parish Hall, 23 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BT. Contact Lucy 07813 791757 | lucy@littleherocompany.com www.littleherocompany.com

brain a rest, whilst hopefully making a difference. Being a volunteer driver makes me feel good: you’re taking time – listening and being there for others.”

To find out more about becoming a Link Age Southwark volunteer, contact 020 8299 2623; volunteering@linkagesouthwark.org or visit: www.linkagesouthwark.org

Lucy Sparkles

Outstanding music, drama and dance classes and parties for young children. Fun classes where children engage with singing, movement and live music whilst enhancing learning through developing physical, emotional and intellectual skills. Tues, Weds & Fri classes for different age groups/themes. sarah@lucysparkles.com | 07929 784 719

Mini Athletics (SE London)

Winning the gold medal for children’s sports classes! Start your child’s fantastic journey in athletic development, designed for toddlers up to children of 7 years old. All through a fun play-based format. To try us out, contact Sam: 07811787153 | smcdermott@miniathletics.com

www.miniathletics.com

Sunday Spot

Free, artist-led workshops for families at South London Gallery, 65-67 Peckham Road SE5, on the last Sunday of every month. For children aged 5–12 years with their parents & carers. Pre-booking advisable. www.southlondongallery.org

What's On - April

Friday

26

April: Menopause

Support Group: A Natural Menopause by Belinda Wahla and the Sleep Solution by Dr Tanya Patrick

12:30pm – 2:30pm. Menopause Connections: A Holistic Approach to Menopause is proudly presented by a team of local menopause practitioners covering nutrition, pelvic health, fitness, medical and natural approaches to managing menopause symptoms. Following the presentation, there will be time for informal questions and connecting with all the Menopause Connections Team and other attendees over a cuppa. Belinda and Tanya will be supported by the other members of Menopause Connections: Amanda Duncan - Registered Nutritionist and founder of Amanda Duncan Nutrition.

Annabelle Fish - Chartered Physiotherapist and founder of Annabelle Fish, Women’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Siri Andersen, Level 3 Personal trainer specialising in pre/postnatal and peri/ postmenopausal exercise, founder of Stronger By Siri.

www.bellhouse.co.uk/events/ Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG.

Friday 26 April: BLUES NIGHT

with Alan Glenn & Dave Peabody, Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke, Simon Prager & Wendy Lanchin

7pm - 11pm. Three great headliners tonight, all excellent and all very different! In alphabetical order ...... Alan Glen & Dave Peabody are veterans of the British blues scene. Alan Glen is known for his playing with The Yardbirds and other bands, and Dave has been voted ‘Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year’ 3 times! Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke have been playing their unique take on folk, roots and blues since the late 70s. They are exciting and compelling performers and songwriters, with an amazing empathy on stage. Simon Prager & Wendy Lanchin play an exciting mix of acoustic music, from country blues to ragtime, jazz, skiffle and swing. Simon has been involved in the British blues scene since the 60s, and Wendy came to folk and blues via cabaret and musical theatre. For more information and tickets go to: www.thegooseisout.com

The Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road, London SE15 3BE.

Friday 26 April: The 12-month Garden - Colour All Year Round, talk by Geoff Hodge

7:30pm - 9:30pm. Geoff’s illustrated talk will introduce a palette of shrubs, perennials, bulbs and annuals from which to select, with tips on how to get the best from them to provide a colourful garden throughout the year. Geoff is a freelance garden writer, broadcaster and author. After the talk, there will be an opportunity to meet him over a glass of wine.

The talk is being arranged by the Dulwich Society in association with Bell House. Tickets, including a glass of wine, are £10, with any surplus going towards the garden activities at Bell House.

Tickets: www.tickettailor.com/events

Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG

Saturday 27 April: Gog Magog & The Guardians of London: Treemoot International Storytelling Festival 11:30am – 4pm

In this opening session of the festival, you will hear from amazing traditional and contemporary storytellers about the extraordinary story of Gog and Magog. We will explore this foundational myth of Britain, the tree giants believed to be the Guardians of London and contemporary re-tellings of the Guardians of London story. We will touch on issues of memory, land, and environmentalism, and also bring together human and tree perspectives as part of our proposed parliament of trees, all as part of this celebration of The Great North Wood in SE London. There will be stories, food, drinks and more.

11:30-11:45 - The Parliament of Trees, opening with Nic Salazar

11:45-12:30 - Gogmagog & the Guardians of London with Janet Dowling

12:45-13:30 - Me, The Tree with Dermot Daly LUNCH

15:00-16:00 - Woodland foraging and acorn coffee-making with Chris and Nadean Foster

This event is for all ages, and accessible to all. Food and drinks are available at the festival camp, and camping sites are available in case you want to stay overnight.

Book your FREE ticket on www.eventbrite.co.uk Treemoot Camp, The Fort, Grange Lane, SE21 7LH.

St HospiceChristopher’s Fun Walk

Time To Dust Off The Walking Boots As St Christopher’s Hospice Fundraising Event

Returns on Sunday 12th May

St Christopher’s Hospice is celebrating the return of its popular Fun Walk fundraising event after a five-year absence. The feelgood event will see thousands of keen walkers and supporters of St Christopher’s take part in the fun on Sunday 12th May, with fancy dress costumes a popular choice for many. Some walkers proudly walk in memory of loved ones with photos of them on their t-shirts, raising money for the charity. The Fun Walk starts and finishes at Keston Common, which hosts fair-ground stalls, children’s games, live music, refreshments and even a dog show.

You can choose your distance with a choice of 3, 5, 8 or 11 mile sponsored walks with plenty of entertainment stops along the way, if you want to rest and take in the springtime scenery. Early birds can set-off from Keston Common from 9am, with the last recommended set-off time advised for 11am if you are undertaking the eleven-mile walk. It costs £15 to register as an adult or £5 for 3-17-year-olds. Dogs are also very welcome to come along for the walk; in fact, why not ask friends and family to sponsor your dog to scamper across the fields?

Walkers can sign up teams and will be given a dedicated online page where they can compete with others to see who can raise the most money. A team of dedicated hospice nurses will be walking as a team on behalf of St Christopher’s, raising vital funds for the charity.

The hospice hasn’t organised a Fun Walk for five years after the COVID-19 pandemic interrupted plans, meaning donations through events such as these have taken a hit. The event first took place in 1990 and raised £29,000! 12-year-old William has been walking for St Christopher’s since he was a toddler in memory of his mum, Jennifer, who died aged just 27.

He’ll be joined by his grandma, Debbie Slaughter, and his grandad, also called William, his dad, and a group of dozen friends and family. They have taken part in every walk organised by St Christopher’s since Jennifer died in 2013.

William, who has received bereavement counselling through the hospice’s child bereavement service, said: “I love raising money for St Christopher’s so that others can be looked after like my mother was and to buy equipment for people staying there to make their overall experience comforting.”

Grandma Debbie, who lives in Bromley, said: “Jennifer used to do the Fun Walk with her friends so it just felt like the natural thing to do. We really look forward to it. Yes, it’s very poignant, but it’s also, as the name suggests, a great fun day too. We wear T-shirts with a photo of Jennifer on and no matter what the weather, rain or shine, enjoy remembering her.”

Christine Davies, Head of Fundraising at St Christopher’s, said: “We’re so excited to return to Keston Common for the first Fun Walk since 2019 and welcome back thousands of our supporters from across South London.

“Fun Walk has always been a popular fundraising event for us ever since the first one in 1990 - raising hundreds of thousands of pounds over the years. With no Fun Walk for five years, this year’s event is more important than ever to help us to raise vital funds to continue providing end of life care for people across south London, as well as their families, loved ones and carers. Please do sign up today.”

To sign up for St Christopher’s Fun Walk visit: www.stchristophers.org.uk/funwalk

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"I love SE Magazines. They are full of useful information and contacts of local businesses and events. My business, Pianolobby is happy to advertise here and Angela is helpful and supportive."

Julian – Pianolobby

"There are a few local publications but SE22 is the best. We have advertised in the publications for many years and feel we have received a good response. We also enjoy reading about local events and information."

Jackie - Quickprint

"I have been advertising with SE Magazines pretty much from day one, so every month for well over 10 years now. It represents exceptional value for money, gets seen by a huge number of local people, both residents and businesses which is perfect, and monthon-month I have always had an excellent response to my advert. If you a running a local business and want to reach out to local people look no further."

Chris - Mac Support

"SE Magazines have always been longstanding supporters of the work of Link Age Southwark. From holding an annual Christmas lunch raising funds to enable our work to support older people in the community to promoting our volunteering opportunities. We really value the professional and high quality service they provide to the community."

Link Age Southwark – Local Charity