SE23 May 2024

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Alison, Dulwich

Welcome to SE23

It’s May and it is my favourite month of the year. Not just because it’s my birthday but because it is the return of the fabulous Dulwich Festival! There are so many events to choose from you will definitely need to check out the full programme of events by picking up the leaflet or via the website at www.dulwichfestival.co.uk. We have a preview of the Artists’ Open House (I used one of the fab images on the cover this month) on pages 26 & 27.

As usual I have rounded up all the great events taking place in and around Dulwich. The events pages start on page 6. May is another busy month for events, so we have a fabulous seven 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.

May is the start of the wonderful Brockley Max Festival too, so we have a preview of the events which mainkly happen in June on page 10.

The Last Word is dedicated to the Dulwich Festival. Jess Blandford is a local artist who is taking part in the Artists’ Open House weekends. Find out more on page 32.

Until next time.

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

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

advertise in SE23 please contact Angela

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Events Calendar - May

South London Women Artists Spring Exhibition see p6.

The Dance of Spring Exhibition @ Jeannie Avent see p6.

Lewisham Underwater Hockey, see p6.

Live Band Karaoke see p6.

Bell House Open Garden, see p6.

Bookbinding Introduction, p8.

The Dance of Spring Exhibition & Inner Peace Jewellery @ Jeannie Avent see p6.

Bank Holiday

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p18.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Meet Cressida Cowell, see p8.

Fringe Poetry & Music, see p8.

The Arts Society event, see p8.

The Dulwich Festival see p9.

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p6.

That Peckham Boy, see p9.

Artists’ Open House Weekend, see p26.

Organ Recital, see p9.

Marsh River Sky, Exhibition see p9.

The Dance of Spring Exhibition & Inner Peace Jewellery @ Jeannie Avent see p6.

Honor Oak WI, see p18.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Branco’s Sunny Side of Guitar, p19.

The Dance of Spring Exhibition @ Jeannie Avent see p6.

Dulwich WI, see page 28.

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p18.

Bank Holiday

Bach to Baby Half Term Concert, p28.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

Creative Writing Course, see p28.

Creative Writing Course, see p28.

Dulwich Park Runners see p8.

The Dulwich Festival see p9.

Marsh River Sky, Exhibition see p9.

EDWI - Covent Garden Tour p19.

Much Ado About Numbers, see p19.

An Evening with Ella Mills, see p19.

Bill Laurance: Live in Concert p19.

Booking Binding Introduction, p19.

Marsh River Sky, Exhibition see p9.

Alleyn’s Community Choir Concert, see p28.

Dulwich Lawn Tennis Camp, see p28.

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p6.

Love West Dulwich Fair, p24.

Forest Hill Bowling Club, see p6.

Thomas McCarthy, Ann Shrieves, Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd @ The Ivy House see p28.

Forthcoming Events

Please read as not all the events can fit on the calendar!

Nunhead Cemetery Annual Open Day, p24.

Dulwich Park Fair Indigenous Storytelling p24.

Singaround, p18.

Goose Green Fair

Artists’ Open House Weekend, see p26.

Forest Hill Open Gardens, p24.

Family Fun with the Gruffalo! p24.

Brockley Max, see p10.

Further details where available can be found in the News and Events pages 6, 8, 9 18, 19, 24 & 28.

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Wednesday 1 May– Friday 3 May: South London Women Artists Spring 2024 Exhibition

12pm – 6pm. South London Women Artists

SPRING 2024 Exhibition at the Gallery at Heritage Cheese in Dulwich Village. Heritage Cheese in Dulwich Village is delighted to host the South London Women Artists (SLWA) Spring 2024 art exhibition. Owner, Enrico Messora, is committed to supporting local artists, using the gallery space above his cheese shop to showcase the work of new and emerging talent. Heritage Cheese Shop, Gallery Upstairs, 1b Calton Avenue, SE21 7DE.

Wednesday 1 May– Sunday 7 July: Summer Term at Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club

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

Wednesday

1 May – Tuesday 21 May: The Dance of Spring

12pm – 6pm. Gabrielle will once again be exhibiting drawings, paintings and sculptures at the light and airy JEANNIE AVENT GALLERY From 9th May she will be joined by Jewellery designer maker Kath Dare exhibiting a whole range of beautiful jewellery alongside Gabrielle's artworks. www.gabriellebradshawart.com 14 North Cross Road, SE22 9EU

Fridays 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 May: 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. For details contact our Secretary on 07905 507155 or on our website www.foresthill-bowling-club.com

Forest Hill Bowling Club, 28 Wynell Road, SE23 2LW

Friday 3 May: 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.

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

Fridays 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31 May: 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, London. www.luwhc.org.uk

Saturday 4 May: Bell House Open Garden – May

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

What's On - May

Saturday 4 May: Bookbinding: Introduction to Coptic Binding

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 Coptic binding which was used by early Christians in Egypt (The Copts) as early as the 2nd century. This is an exposed stitch style of binding using chain and link stitches to bind several sections of a book and the covers together.

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

Tuesdays

7,

14,

21 & 28 May: 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! www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk enquiries@dulwichparkrunners.com

Trevor Bailey Clubhouse, Dulwich Common SE21 7HA

Thursday 9 May:

Meet Cressida Cowell! 4-5:30pm

Meet multi-million-copy selling, award-winning author (and former Children’s Laureate) Cressida Cowell, creator of the How to Train Your Dragon series. Cressida will be signing her latest bestselling book, Which Way Round The Galaxy, and her other books, too. Bring along your own sketchbook for Cressida to see, and get a free sticker sheet with each book of Which Way Round The Galaxy. No tickets required!

Village Books, 1d Calton Avenue, Dulwich, SE21 7DE.

Thursday 9 May

– Tuesday 21 May: Inner Peace Jewellery Exhibition 12pm-5pm

Kath Dare has created a collection of kinetic jewellery with the intention of calming and relaxing a busy mind using movement as well as carefully selected stones. The aim is to encourage inner peace. Kath is sharing the space with the talented local artist Gabrielle Bradshaw.

Jeannie Avent Gallery, 14 North Cross Road, SE22 9EU

Thursday 9 May:

Fringe Poetry & Music 7:30

- 9:30pm

Come along to an evening of poetry, music and fun. Wendy French and Robert Hancock will present six poets and two musicians to entertain you. Wine will be available. The evening is free but please book your ticket via Eventbrite on: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG.

Thursday

9 May:

Art Detectives: How to Look at and Decipher Paintings with Nirvana

Romell 8pm – 9pm

Using great masterpieces as illustrations, the lecture proposes a novel approach to understanding classical painting from late medieval times to the early 19th century. It will teach the viewer how to look, think and be comfortable with any classical painting by posing and answering the Art Detective questions: what is it? why was it painted? how was it painted? when was it painted? where was it painted? And who painted it? Note, this lecture will be followed the next day with a private guided tour by the lecturer of selected paintings at the National Gallery. Programme lectures can be found on: www.theartssocietydulwich.org.uk/ programme/lectures

James Allen's Girls' School Sixth Form Centre, Green Dale, Dulwich, SE22 8TG.

Friday 10 May: That Peckham Boy by Kenny Imafidon

7pm-8pm. Two days after his eighteenth birthday, Kenny Imafidon was charged with the murder of a seventeen-year-old boy in south-east London. The middle child of a single mother with ambitions for her children, Kenny grew up near an estate in Peckham where deprivation and hopelessness were rife, and gang culture flourished in his community. Kenny faced a minimum of thirty years behind bars – longer than the life he had lived. When the case against Kenny collapsed, he quickly realised that his name was still inextricably linked with a horrific crime he hadn’t committed. He decided to rewrite his story. It began with The Kenny Report, which he delivered to the House of Commons and which detailed the experiences of marginalised young people who drift into gangs, and has led to extensive work with charities, communities and policy-makers that is helping to change the narratives of other young people just like Kenny.

Tickets: £12 (plus Eventbrite fee) at: www.eventbrite.co.uk

The MCT at Alleyn's School, Townley Road, SE22 8SU

Friday 10 May – Sunday 26 May: Marsh River Sky

6pm-9pm. Recent Paintings by Nicholas Ashton that focus on the interplay between urban landscape and the natural world, drawing inspiration from the ever-changing scenery along the river Thames and the panoramic views and big skies over London viewed from Forest Hill. www.annalovely.gallery /140 Sydenham Road, SE26 5JZ

Friday 10 – Sunday 19 May: Dulwich Festival 2024

Ten days of music, dance, literature, art, walks, talks, performance and fairs. Including the Artists’ Open House Weekends. See pages 26 & 27 for more details.

https://dulwichfestival.co.uk

What's On - May

Saturday 11 May: Organ Recital

11am –12pm. All are welcome to this organ recital by James Carpenter from Beckenham Baptist Church. Admission free with retiring collection. St John The Evangelist, East Dulwich, St John The Evangelist, East Dulwich, East Dulwich Road.

Saturday 11 May: The Earth Transformed with Peter Frankopan 1 -2pm

In The Earth Transformed, Peter Frankopan, one of the world’s leading historians, shows that the natural environment is a crucial, if not the defining, factor in global history – and not just of humankind. Join Peter as he discusses this brilliant new book with scientist and broadcaster, Adam Rutherford.

Empireworld with Sathnam Sangera 3-4pm

2.6 billion people are inhabitants of former British colonies. The empire’s influence upon the quarter of the planet it occupied, and its gravitational influence upon the world outside it, has been profound: from the spread of Christianity by missionaries to nearly 1 in 3 driving on the left side of the road, and even shaping the origins of international law. Yet Britain’s idea of its imperial history and the world’s experience of it are two very different things.

How They Broke Britain with James O’Brien 5-6pm

Something has gone really wrong in Britain. Our economy has tanked, our freedoms are shrinking, and social divisions are growing. Our politicians seem most interested in their own careers, and much of the media only make things worse. We are living in a country almost unrecognisable from the one that existed a decade ago.

TICKETS: £12 (plus Eventbrite fees) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk Location: The George Farha Auditorium at Dulwich College, Dulwich Common, SE21 7LD.

Brockley Max Festival 31st May – 8th June 2024

Celebrating 23 Years of Brockley Max Festival!

Brockley Max is back and quite literally centre stage celebrating its 23rd Birthday from 31st May to 8th June 2024. Combining music, art, performance, and exhibitions, we have things you wouldn’t want to miss!

“Lewisham is such a programme reflected that. thisyearsowe’reconfident you want to watch comedy, station.”

Moira Tait -

founder

diverse area. It was important our festival that. We are offering a huge variety of events confidentthere’ssomethingtosuitalltastes.Whether comedy, learn harmonica or listen to our radio founder and director of the Brockley Max

With something for the whole family to enjoy, Brockley Max’s 2024 programme is really taking shape. Working alongside various venues in Lewisham we have must-attend events for you to enjoy this spring. At a glance, here are just some of the events that could make it into your calendar:

• The infamous open air Brockley Max Opening Night is returning at Coulgate Street on 31st May, with live music and more!

• Art In The Park is back on Hilly Fields on 8th June from 12-6 pm – with family friendly activities such as art workshops, storytelling and a craft market.

• Following on from the Black Icon’s Project last year, Lift Her Up will bring you meaningful panel discussions, films and workshops regarding black female trailblazers in Lewisham.

• Brockley Music Trail brings the whole community together through live music from front gardens to public spaces Saturday June 1st.

• Brockley Max rides the airwaves this year with the Festival Radio Station. We’re joining forces with One Harmony Radio, to broadcast festival highlights. There’ll be events coverage, interviews for the Daily Max Half Hour and plenty more besides. Be sure to tune in!

• Folk In The Garden – an all-dayer of the best of Lewisham folk bands on 8th June.

And plenty more to get excited about… For all of the details for the events, check out the full programme in May at www.brockleymax.co.uk

Spectacular Salvias

Garden Talk with Janine Winlaw | Instagram

@janinewinlaw

Culinary sage, Salvia officinalis, is a useful herb that holds its leaves over winter and makes a great addition to planting, in a border or pot. The purple variety is particularly ornamental. But there are thousands more salvias to choose from in a mouth-watering array of colours from blues and purples to hot pinks and yellows. Native to the Americas, Europe and Asia, they tend to cope well with dry conditions and go on flowering into autumn. So, pop a few of these must have plants into your borders now to rev up the colour in your garden come summer. There are the shrubby Mexican group which have a woody framework and include the wellknown red and white Salvia ‘Hot Lips’ as well as other bicoloured varieties such as ‘Amethyst Lips.’ These salvias have the biggest range of colours from pinks and purples such as the deep purple S. ‘Nachtvlinder’, to pure white, peach and yellow such as delicate S. ‘Lemon Light’. There are also lots of lovely blues such as S. ‘Sky Blue’. Most salvias like a free draining soil and sun, but the shrubby Mexicans which have small leaves are particularly drought-tolerant and can cope with a lot of sun and dry impoverished soil. They can suffer in severe frosts but usually bounce back. These look great underplanting roses which Sarah Raven does to ward off fungal diseases.

Keep shrubby Mexican salvias in a tight bush by pruning them back in mid-April by up to a half but make sure you don’t cut down below the new growth. In mid-summer, as well as taking off spent flower heads, you can give shrubby Mexicans a ‘Hampton hack’ by taking a third of the height to tidy them up and increase the number of flowers for later in the season.

Popular herbaceous salvias such as the fabulous deep blue S. nemerosa ‘Caradonna’ and other ‘cousins’ such as S. nemerosa ‘Amethyst’ are the European salvias. They cope better with moisture retentive soil such as clay but may still need added grit or organic matter for improved drainage. Cut back in early summer for late flowering, or remove the flower heads as soon as they’ve finished.

Half-hardy salvias include the very tall and striking S. guarantitica ‘Amistad’, which has stunning large dark purple flowers that go on into autumn, and the more unusual pinker S. ‘Amigo’, S. guaranitica ‘Blue Enigma’ and S. ‘Black and Blue’ are also lovely. Keep the flower stems in autumn or mulch over the crowns in winter to protect the roots and developing shoots from frost. Prune the dead stems to ground level only after new growth has emerged in mid to late April. These salvias cope with a little shade and richer soils.

Please call us on: 020 8699 4439 or e-mail: info@sterlingandlaw.com Quoting SE23

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As with all investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.

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Ripe Old Age

Practical Advice for Navigating Later Life

Secrets of the Super Agers

Could Science Find a Way to Ensure we all Enjoy a healthy old age?

Anyone in their 60s who recently has attended a school or college reunion they are likely to have been struck at how differently old friends have aged over time. Some will look just like they did 40 years ago. Others will be unrecognisable, as time takes its toll.

Our average life expectancy in the UK is 81. Only 0.02% reach the aged of 100. If you are lucky you will enjoy good health and succumb to a short illness after your 80th birthday. Sadly, for many however, their 81 years will end with a final 10 years or so of poor health and disease.

Statistics show as we age our risk of agerelated diseases (such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and Alzheimer’s) increases dramatically. If we could avoid these diseases we could all hope to live beyond 81 years – with reasonably good health.

From scientific studies of the “super agers” it appears those living disease-free into their 90s and beyond are blessed with genes that help them resist the fatal diseases typical in old age. These lucky few will commonly stay healthy and well (and rather than 10 years of decline) will pass away after a very short bout of illness. We have seen this ourselves at Right at Home with the most

elderly clients apparently absolutely normal one day but passed away the next as if their clock just stopped ticking. Scientists are hoping to develop in time gene-based drugs that could help more of us enjoy longer lives with good health and none of the diseases we currently associate with old age.

Three Super Agers

Sara Dappen - The oldest McDonald’s employee in the world is a nonagenarian Iowa woman who was enthusiastic about her job until she retired at the ripe old age of 92.

Jiro Ono - is a Michelin-starred sushi chef who is considered one of the best in the world. He is about to celebrate his 97th birthday and has been a sushi chef for over 70 years.

Irvin Kahn - is considered the oldest employee in the world. He continued to work on Wall St until his death aged 109. Kahn was a renowned value investor and has been credited with helping to popularize the concept of value investing.

Read more on the research “Longevity Genes Project” at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. www.einsteinmed.edu/centers/aging/longevitygenes-project/

Why It’s Important to Have a Wellbeing Framework

Fitness tips with Leanne Spencer | www.bodyshotperformance.com

I think it’s good for us to refresh our approach to wellbeing once in a while, and this month is as good a time as any to do it. So, here’s what I’m going to do to ensure my efforts are best spent.

What is a Wellbeing Framework?

A wellbeing framework’s a structure we can use to assess and enhance different aspects of wellbeing. By evaluating these components, such as physical, mental and emotional health and social relationships, the framework helps to guide our decision-making process and resource allocation to improve overall quality of life.

Marginal Gains

My wellbeing framework’s built around strength, health, energy, mood and motivation. And I’ve been

thinking about what one, two, maybe three small actions I’ll take to improve in each of those key areas. You’ve likely heard me talk before about the aggregation of marginal gains and how the little things add up to have a big impact over time.

Getting More Out of Doing Less

Another key thing I want to use my wellbeing framework for is to get more from doing less. I don’t mean through the latest productivity hacks or artificial intelligence. It’s not about apps that can help you get more done, but rather a very simple idea. And it’s this – where do you want your energy to be going? Because energy comes from one place within the body. Think of it like a jar, with all of the mental, emotional, physical energy that you draw upon inside it. There isn’t one energy jar for your endeavours at work, another jar for the gym, and another for the emotional stuff you might be dealing with. Which is why it’s really important to think about how you’re spending that energy; that precious resource. And, what’s more, how are you going to replenish it?

Investing in Energy

So, with that in mind, how can our wellbeing framework help us to get more from doing less? How can we maximise outcome by minimising input? I’m considering this in a few different areas –social relationships being one. For example, what’re the relationships that I really want to invest in? There’s a handful of relationships I want to put my energy into as an ongoing focus. Social connection is the next frontier of wellbeing, particularly in the age of AI.

Then there‘s work. I’d really like to spend more time in leisure and less time working if possible. That’s not because I’m lazy, but if I can find a way to achieve my desired outcome from doing a little less, isn’t that a good thing? And finally there’s fitness. We spend a good chunk of time on our fitness, but are we getting the most out of each workout? I’m looking to do fewer minutes of exercise per week, but be more intentional about what I’m doing; maintain a high level of focus; and then harness the power of rest and recovery to get the maximum benefits.

What's On - May

Saturdays 11, 18 & Sundays 12, 19 May: Dulwich Festival

Artists Open House POP UP

Artists Beth Worth, Maria Storey, Joe Thomas, Louise Ward, Chrissy Silver and Ruth Colvin come together to present an exciting display of their work , at this Pop Up venue in the heart of Dulwich Village. 11am – 6pm.

dulwichfestival.co.uk/openhouse/area/se21/ AOH POP UP, 43 Dulwich Village, SE21 7BN

Sunday 12 May

Sunday 12 May: 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. Everybody is welcome, including those who have never sung in front of other people before. www.thegooseisout.com

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

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

Murder & Mystery with Susan Allott, Abigail Dean & Christie Watson 1

Mondays 13

– 2pm

Join us for afternoon of murder and mystery as local crime writers Abigail Dean, Christie Watson and Susan Allott talk about how they keep the reader guessing. Three best-selling writers explore how secrets and lies from the past drive dilemmas and betrayal in the future.

Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me & the BBC by Rory Cellan-Jones 3-4pm

Rory Cellan-Jones knew he was the child of a love affair between two BBC employees. But until his mother died and he found a file labelled ‘For Rory’ he had no idea of the extent of their relationship, and why his unconventional childhood had so tested the bond between him and his mother.

How to Be the Grown-UpDr Martha Deiros Collado 5-6pm

Join Dr Martha Deiros Collado, a child psychologist with over 20 years of experience, talking about How to be the Grown-up, an empowering musthave toolkit for all parents tackling the many modern-day challenges of raising children.

Twinkind –William Viney 7

– 8pm

Author William Viney, an identical twin himself, discusses his fascinating new book Twinkind, the first illustrated global exploration of the cultural significance of twins.

Tickets: £12 (plus EvEntbritE fEE) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Old Library, Dulwich College, Dulwich Common SE21 7LD.

& 20 May: 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. 28 Wynell Road, SE23 2LW

Contact our Secretary on 07905 507155 or our website www.foresthill-bowling-club.com

Tuesday 14 May:

Power & Glory: Elizabeth II & the Rebirth of Royalty

7pm -8pm. Power and Glory begins with the fallout from the revelation of the Duke of Windsor's wartime treachery, and ends with the Coronation of Elizabeth II. Alexander Larman joins us to discuss this revelatory and acclaimed book, an intricately researched and incisively written account of Britain's most famous family on an epic international scale.

Tickets: £12 (plus EvEntbritE fEE) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Old Library, Dulwich College, Dulwich Common SE21 7LD.

Tuesday 14

May: 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 the 14th May due to bank holidays. Email: honoroakwi@gmail.com

Tuesday

14 May: Branco’s Sunny side of guitar - The Tipping Point

7:30 – 9:30pm Dulwich based for 30 years, art-music creator, Branco Stoysin’s Sunny side of guitar meets the beautiful natural world in a harmonious synergy. You will not only hear the music but see it, music that will replenish your heart, soul and ears; a solo-guitar recital that sounds at least as a duet. For a finale, Branco will perform live alongside the screening of his three special music/video projects of the beautiful natural world.

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

Wednesday 15 May: East

Dulwich WI: Covent Garden Tour 6:30pm

-9:30pm

Opera – aristocracy – crime – thievery & illicit pleasures! A tour designed and hosted by David Harry of the London Spy – One of London's Finest Walking Tours. We meet by the Young Dancer statue opposite ROH at 18:30 where David Harry awaits us. The East Dulwich WI welcomes guests to this event, first time guests attend for free, returning guests pay a fee of £5 (cash only). We welcome new members, the new membership year runs from April 2024 to March 2025, the membership fee is £48. For information email: join@eastdulwichwi.co.uk

Wednesday 15 May: Much Ado About Numbers with Rob Eastway 7pm – 8pm

What’s the connection between Shakespeare and maths? A lot, as it turns out! Shakespeare grew up in a time of remarkable mathematical innovation. From astronomy to probability, music to multiplication, new mathematical ideas were taking off – and much of this was reflected in his work. In this highly engaging book, awardwinning author Rob Eastaway explores the surprising and entertaining ways that maths and numbers crop up in Shakespeare’s plays.

Tickets: £12 (plus EvEntbritE fEE) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Old Library, Dulwich College, Dulwich Common SE21 7LD.

Thursday 16 May: An Evening with Ella Mills

7pm-8pm. Join us for an evening with bestselling author and entrepreneur, Ella Mills. Ella is a champion of plant-based living. She started the popular recipe website, deliciouslyella.com, before releasing a #1 app and writing the fastest selling debut cookbook in the UK, Deliciously Ella, which was named Amazon’s biggest-selling book in the year of publication and was a New York Times bestseller. She has since released a further five bestselling books and built a social media audience of approximately 4 million people.

Tickets: £15 (plus EvEntbritE fEE) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Vaughan Williams Auditorium, JAGS, 144 East Dulwich Grove, Dulwich, SE22 8TE.

Friday 17 May:

Bill Laurance: Live In Concert

8pm – 10pm. As an original member of 5 time Grammy Award-winning group Snarky Puppy, pianist, keyboardist and composer Bill Laurance has toured the world countless times playing hundreds of concerts to tens of thousands of fans worldwide. He performs in concert in North Dulwich to raise money for local school Bessemer Grange Primary School's music provision.

St Faiths Church, 62 Red Post Hill, North Dulwich. Doors & bar open at 7pm with the show at 8pm - 10pm with one interval.

https://billlaurance.com/About

Tickets are £30 at: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Friday 17 May: Bookbinding: Introduction to Visible Stiches Workshop

10am-4pm. Would you like to have go at bookbinding? 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 visible stitches binding. The exposed stitch style of binding uses stitching sections straight through the spine of the book.

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

Financial Matters

How Much Money Do I Need To Retire?

This is a very popular question for financial advisors. Generally, people want to know how much they’ll need to have saved in their pension pot to retire comfortably. The easy answer would be “lots of money” however, building a pension pot requires you to sacrifice some things today to prepare for a brighter tomorrow.

The best way to visualise retirement is like this: You’ve stopped working. Your children have grown up and flown the nest. You don’t have a mortgage and own your home outright. There’s no travel to and from work, no after work drinks on a Friday to buy and no lunching out every day. Life should be cheaper, right?

Is life cheaper post-retirement?

Generally, the answer is yes, but I’ll also throw an “it depends” into the mix. This is because, sometimes, the daily grind is so hectic that you don’t have time to spend. Weekends may involve flaking out in front of the TV building our reserves for the week to come. Living like that, costs very little.

When you retire, you generally have a lot more time to kill. Some call retirement “the longest holiday of your life”. Can you imagine being on a long holiday and being skint? Unthinkable. So yes, life should be cheaper post-retirement, but your lifestyle and hobbies could decide otherwise.

What will my retirement look like?

The first step is to picture how you’d like to spend your time. Some dream of a quiet life tending the garden and doing a bit of DIY whilst others envisage lots of activity, travel and time with friends and family.

Whatever floats your boat, it’s important to determine the lifestyle you may live and how much money you’d need to support it. Instead of thinking how much you’d need in your pension pot, think instead of how much your lifestyle would cost you monthly in today’s terms. Once you have this income figure (or combined income figure if you are

married), ensure that you’d be able to pay all your bills and have enough of a surplus to support your lifestyle. Your retirement age is also important. This money needs to last for the rest of your life so the earlier you retired, the more money you’d need.

Annuity or drawdown?

In the old days, your only choice at retirement was to purchase an annuity. You’d give the insurance company a lump of money in exchange for a guaranteed income for life. On the positive side, there’d be very little risk as you’d know from the outset exactly how much was coming in. On the negative side, this would be an irreversible decision.

The other option, Drawdown, was introduced in 1995. Here, your pension pot would remain invested, and you would draw a regular or variable amount as and when required. On your death, whatever remained in your pension pot would pass to your beneficiaries, in some cases, tax-free. The danger with drawdown is that drawing too much could erode your pot.

Crunching the numbers

There are many ways to calculate how much you’d need in your pension pot for a specific income. These calculations are complex and need to consider whether you’d be going down the annuity or drawdown route. This is where engaging a financial adviser could help. They would crunch the numbers for you and help you plan properly for the longest holiday of your life. Not to be taken lightly.

SPECIAL OFFERS

Dogs That Eat Poo

Pets Corner with Leonie St Clair | www.londondogstraining.co.uk

Dogs that eat poo can be one of the most distressing and frustrating of behaviour issues. However, although disgusting and anti-social for us humans, coprophagia is normal dog behaviour. The fact is, for many dogs poo is just another food source.

It is thought the ability to eat poo might be a hardwired remnant of ancestral wolf behaviour, where faeces of the young, old or maimed would be eaten by other pack members to stop parasite infestation in the den. In addition, dogs probably evolved alongside mankind precisely because human food waste and faeces presented an easy source of nourishment. In some cultures puppies are still used as ‘baby wipes’, licking bottoms clean! Studies even show that dogs prefer ‘fresh’ faeces; poo more than two days old is less likely to be consumed, probably because it harbours a greater parasite load.

There are various reasons where and why dogs learn to eat poo. Some pups learn in the nest by copying their mother. Whelping bitches are hardwired to eat puppy poo, to keep the nest clean and remove scents that might attract predators. Other pups see their owners handling and disposing of dog poo and become overly interested - a good reason to conduct clean-ups with minimum fuss. Dogs punished for housetraining accidents may even learn to eat the evidence! Dogs can be attracted by the scent of their own poo, or that of other dogs and animals, and learn to enjoy the experience of eating it. Bored dogs will enjoy hunting for poo, it taps into instinctive scavenging behaviour, with a free ‘snack’ thrown in. Finally, it is thought that dogs on overly processed diets eat poo to try to compensate for missing enzymes and nutrients. This is especially true for dogs with underlying medical issues that cause malabsorption, or that have a parasite infection. Accordingly, a thorough vet check should always be the starting point for managing a poo eating hound.

Once the problem is triggered the owner’s reactions can be key in maintaining the behaviour. Attention seeking is a major component and owners that get angry, shriek in disgust or attempt to shoo the dog away, teach the dog that eating poo gets owner attention. For many dogs any attention, positive or negative, is desirable.

If your dog has a long-standing poo eating issue you are best to get expert help but here are a few pointers.

• Check with your vet to exclude physical or dietrelated reasons for your dog’s behaviour. A change of diet may help.

• If your dog only eats his own poo, consider if this is a housetraining issue. Taking him back to puppy basics may help- especially if you became cross with your puppy for having accidents.

• Evidence suggests taste deterrents or punishment are not effective.

• Teach your dog a solid ‘leave’. Start to teach ‘leave’ against increasingly valuable food sources, eventually including poo.

• Clear your garden of poo, including cat poo, ahead of your dog going out, each and every time.

• If you have a cat that uses a litter tray ensure your dog does not have access to it.

• Stay calm. Emotional owner responses intensify the issue.

• Don’t chase your dog, chasing becomes part of an attention seeking game. At the very least, he’ll probably try to eat the poo more quickly.

• Out in the park, have your dog on a long line to help break the habit of foraging for poo. Keep your dog focussed on you with games and appropriate reward.

• Could your dog be bored? Does he have enough in the way of ‘thinking’ activities?

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

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

Family Space

Free, creative workshops that take place on the last Saturday of the month at the South London Gallery, 6567 Peckham Road. For children aged 5-12 years old with their parents and carers. Drop-in, no need to book. www.southlondongallery.org

What's On - May

Saturday 18 May: Nunhead Cemetery Annual Open Day

11am-5pm. Various FONC and other community group/charity organisations stalls provide information/activities and sales related to the heritage and environmental objectives of the Friends of Nunhead Cemetery. Free conducted cemetery tours and crypt visits; plant and refreshment sales stalls; choirs/poetry/morris dancing; Horse drawn and historic motor hearses will promenade down the Main Avenue. Children's events include bug-hunting, badge-making, clay modelling and, subject to confirmation, face painting . Craft demonstrations of woodland bodging, natural dyes, etc take place. More information can be found on www.fonc.org.uk

Nunhead Cemetery, Linden Grove, London, SE15.

Saturday 18 May: Indigenous Storytelling from the Atlantic Forest: Treemoot Storytelling Festival 2pm-4:30pm

On this day we have the honor of receiving Tawana Kariri-Xoco from the Fulkaxo people of Sergipe, Brazil, defender of the Atlantic Forest. Tawana will share stories of Jurema and other sacred trees, he will share songs, and dance and he will also lead a body painting workshop in which he will explain the relations between his body paint designs and the forest.

This event is part of a series of events celebrating the culture of the Great North Wood in SE London.

FREE TICKET: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Treemoot Camp, The Fort, Grange Lane, SE21 7LH.

Saturday

18 May:

An Afternoon with Katie Kirby,

author of the 'Lottie Brooks' series

2:30pm – 3:30pm. The fantastically funny and relatable Lottie Brooks series, written and illustrated by number one children’s bestseller Katie Kirby, is filled with first experiences, friendship fails, embarrassing moments and plenty of laughs. And so is this event!

Tickets: £8 (plus EvEntbritE fEE) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Great Hall, Alleyn's School, Townley Road, SE22 8SU

Saturday 18 May:

Love West Dulwich Spring Fair 10-4pm

Lots of fun for all the family. Maypole Dancing and dog maypole. Live music. Facepainting and balloon modelling. Yummy food stalls. Market Stalls. Croxted, Park Hall & Rosendale Road SE21.

Saturday 18 May: An Afternoon with Cathy Newman

5pm-6pm. Join us for an afternoon with Cathy Newman where she’ll be discussing her new book The Ladder: Life Lessons From Women Who Scaled The Heights (& Dodged The Snakes)

Tickets: £12 (plus EvEntbritE fEE) and can be purchased on www.eventbrite.co.uk

The Great Hall, Alleyn's School, Townley Road, SE22 8SU

Sunday 19 May: Forest Hill Open Gardens

12pm-5pm. National Garden Scheme - 5 lovely gardens open for charity. 7 Canonbie Road * 75 Canonbie Road * The Coach House, 3 The Hermitage * Hill Top, 28 Horniman Drive * 25 Westwood Park. COMBINED ENTRY £9 (children free). Tickets & map at all venues. Homemade teas and plant sales. Further details: https://ngs. org.uk/gardens/forest-hill-garden-group-se23/

Sunday 19 May: Family Fun with the Gruffalo!

2pm -5pm. Come and celebrate the 25th birthday of the Gruffalo with a special day of events! The Gruffalo will be touring the country and will be at Village Books on Sunday 19th May from 2pm to 5pm. no tickEts rEquirEd! Village Books, 1d Calton Avenue, London SE21 7DE.

SOMEONE SMILE

Help reduce loneliness and social isolation by spending up to one hour a week with an older person or someone living with dementia.

volunteering@linkagesouthwark.org

020 8299 2623

Artists’ Open House 2024 SE23

The much-cherished Artists’ Open House returns as part of Dulwich Festival on 10th/11th and 18th/19th May 2024, with over 450 artists displaying their work in 143 venues. Spanning across eight postcodes, AOH offers the South London community an opportunity to meet wonderful creatives, as well as purchase and peruse nearly 50 forms of art! Our editorial team has selected some of our favourite participating artists to create a trail around SE23, so all you need to do is put on some comfortable shoes and pack our bag-sized magazine for reference. Before starting, fuel your body at one of the lovely cafés near Honor Oak Park station, including Ground and Grapes or Two Spoons for fabulous coffee, pastries and brunch. For something more substantial, try Miss Margherita for a pizza lunch.

If you are based on the Honor Oak Park side of SE23, start the trail at Buckstone Close. Here, you can enjoy hand-thrown pottery by Hannah Platten, photographic studies by Julia Hamilton and richly-coloured prints by Paul Hamilton (1). Then, head to Walters Way to uncover a wonderful array of clay, glass, metal, paper and stone works, inspired by the natural world (2). Canonbie Road is next on the trail, where you should take a moment to enjoy the views across London before visiting the talented Japanese printmaker Misa Gott (3). Finally, walk to Ringmore Rise to explore prints and etchings by Kathryn Rosse and collage and posters by Ivan Bailey (4). For those positioned more on the Forest Hill side

of SE23, start the trail on Wood Vale, where you’ll find illustrated pets and clouds by artist and author Lisa Stickley, contemporary accessories and objects by Emma and Rob Orchardson of One We Made Earlier, and signed books and prints by local children’s author and illustrator, Sarah Horne. This stop is particularly great for families! (5). Make your way to Tarleton Gardens and explore artwork by Alistair MacKillop and hand-stitched textiles by Emily Jo Gibbs (6). Just a short walk away from here, you will stumble across the secluded Havelock Walk, where you’ll uncover no less than 14 artists in the historic Victorian cobbled Mews (7). Expect music and street food and be sure to purchase a raffle ticket if you’d like to be in with a chance of winning one of three original works by resident artists.

For those looking to continue the fun on Saturday 11th May, grab the 122 bus to Kingswood Arts for live music, drinks, food, stalls and family fun until 6pm. In the evening on Saturday 18th May, hop on the P4 and head to the family-friendly Festival Ceilidh at JAGS Sports Club or, for something a little more stationary, enjoy uplifting music at the Dulwich Choir Festival on Sunday 19th May at Dulwich College in the afternoon.

For more information on AOH or to book events at Dulwich Festival, please visit: www.dulwichfestival.co.uk

Art Trail SE23

What's On - May

Monday 20 May: 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 Kix Bar + Kitchen, 57 North Cross Road SE22 9ET We would love to meet you and look forward to welcoming you to our group. www.dulwichwi.com

Tuesdays 21 & 28 May: Creative Writing Course –How to tell a story 7-8:30pm

With screenwriter and novelist Isabelle Grey

Whether you’re writing a first novel or a family memoir, this will show how to build a narrative that people will enjoy reading. Seven classes over eight weeks will cover theme and plot, character and point of view, pace and suspense, endings and beginnings, and include plenty of workshop exercises. Learn how to edit your own work as well as give constructive feedback on each other’s work, with the additional week offering extra time for participants to exchange writing samples ahead of the next class.

Tickets: www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

Bell House, 27 College Road, London SE21 7BG

Thursday 23 May: Alleyn’s Community Choir Concert

7:30pm – 9pm. Faure - Requiem & Bach Cantata BWV68 Tickets £15 available on the night or in advance (link coming soon).

St Barnabas' Church, Dulwich, 40 Calton Avenue, Dulwich, SE21 7DG.

Monday 27 May: Bach to Baby Half Term Family Concert in Dulwich Village

4pm -4:45pm. Come and join Bach to Baby this Half Term for a specially designed programme of classical music for the whole family to enjoy together. Remember: Up to 2 children come free on every Adult Ticket! Book directly from our website on www.bachtobaby.com/

St Barnabas' Church, Dulwich, 40 Calton Avenue, Dulwich, SE21 7DG

Tuesday 28 –

Friday 31 May: Dulwich Lawn Tennis Camp

9am-3:30pm. If you are looking for something fun to do during your Half Term Breaks and Summer holidays, welcome to our Holiday Tennis Camps! 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. For more information click go to www.clubspark.lta.org.uk

Dulwich Lawn Tennis Club, Giant Arches Road, Burbage Road, Surrey, SE24 9HP.

Friday 31 May: THOMAS McCARTHY, Ann Shrieves, Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd

7pm – 11pm. Thomas McCarthy comes from a long line of singers and musicians who have kept the tradition of singing strong within the Irish Traveller community. He has a unique singing style, and was named the Traditional Singer of the Year in the Gradam Ceoil Awards 2019. Ann Shrieves is a singer of mainly traditional Irish ballads. She is a natural storyteller, and a regular visitor to our singarounds. Ian Kennedy & Sarah Lloyd are local singers who will be well known to many of you for their beautiful harmony singing at local events. £15 advance, £17 on the door (cash or Bacs only). Tickets & info at: www.thegooseisout.com

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

Friday 31 May: Brockley Max Opening Night

The infamous open air Brockley Max Opening Night is returning at Coulgate Street on 31st May, with live music and more! Check our website for information regarding our line up for 2024! For more information go to: www.brockleymax.co.uk

Coulgate Street, Brockley SE4 2RW

Monday - Saturday

8.30am - 5.00pm

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.

Are you looking for an unforgettable birthday party, family or team building event? Want to feel the adrenalin of paintball, but without the pain and mess and travel? Look no further than Adrenalin Rush Laser Combat.

Laser tag uses harmless, eye safe infra-red beams (like a tv remote) which are picked up by sensors worn around the necks of other players. Once a player gets “hit”, the sensor lights up and the gun shouts “arghh”. When they have been hit a certain number of times, their weapon stops working and they are considered dead (for a short time)!

Suitable for anyone aged 6 above, laser tag is an activity that the whole family can play.

**We can bring the fun to you** subject to availability and suitable venue

Please see https://arush.co.uk/south-london/ and contact us for more information or to book.

Brenton Amedee Director

Adrenalin Rush Laser Combat

The Last Word with Philippa Tunstill

I am a painter – I trained in Fine Art followed by a brief incursion into Design followed by a much longer period as a Senior Lecturer in Spatial Design on the Foundation Course at the University of the Arts.

How long have you lived in the area?

I have lived in Forest Hill for 22 years. Previously my husband and I lived in Wandsworth where we barely knew our neighbours. We heard about Havelock Walk – a small industrial Mews where many creative people lived and worked - from a friend. We came to look at it very early before work on a cold rainy winters morning, and as we were walking up and down there was a workshop open and a gentleman poked his head out and said “would you like a cup of tea?” That was it. My husband is an architect – we bought a shed which stored fridges – pulled it down and built a house and studio.

What has changed most during that time?

Unfortunately, wherever artists are in residence the price of properties go up which means artists no longer can afford them – so over the years for different reasons we have a lost a few much loved artists but it is still enough of like-minded residents to create a vibrant community which is very much in evidence during Dulwich Festival Open Studiosmaking it a great port of call.

What do you most value about the area?

The people who live and work here – everybody knows everyone else. During Covid we were able to go outside and chat to people keeping the required social distance – but also then able to help anybody who was isolating.

What one thing would you change?

Flytipping / rogue bins appearing / cars and trucks blocking the entrance.

Do you belong to any groups?

I belong to South London Swimming Club based at Tooting Bec Lido – and probably would be described as an obsessive swimmer - (along with two more Havelock Walk artists Lenka Rayn and Rob Lowe) – and swim early morning most days. Tooting Bec Lido is a place of instant wellbeing – and brings a structure to my day.

What is your favourite place to eat?

For best pizza - Pizzarte at the bottom of Brockley Rise - Big Cheeks for Thai food - Canvas & Cream for combination of Art & Food – and their constant support during Open Studios - Tea Pot for breakfast - Aga’s Little Deli for the best toasted cheese sandwiches ever.

Coffee or tea? Where?

Galao - New coffee shop recently opened opposite the Gym in London Road - a very welcome addition to Forest Hill and excellent coffee.

The best kept secret...

Havelock Walk – the number of long-term residents of Forest Hill who still say they never knew Havelock Walk. Though so close to the South Circular it is quite hidden and surprisingly quiet.

Where’s your favourite place to walk?

Horniman Gardens – a life saver during Covid. Sydenham woods when its not too muddy. Mayow Park – and a bit further afield Kelsey Park Beckenham with its abundance of wild water based birds.

The book I’m reading at the moment..

The Oppermanns by Leon Feuchtwanger - I have a friend of many years standing with whom I exchange 3 books every birthday and Christmas and he always manages to find the most obscure books – having said that someone will probably say I read that ages ago!

Keep up to date with our community website which covers the areas in and Around Dulwich including Dulwich Village, East Dulwich, Forest Hill, Honor Oak Park and West Dulwich.

Events | Stories | News | People

www.arounddulwich.co.uk

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