SE23 September 2023

Welcome to SE23

Welcome to the September issue of SE23. Where did August go? I am not complaining as it means it is time for my favourite time of the year and my bumper Back to School issue.

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

Remember to check out www.arounddulwich.co.uk for a full list of events, as there are too many to put in the magazine this monthl. Also events get added after I have gone to print. You can often find out more details online too.

Highlights for this month are the fantastic Peckham Rye Fete on Saturday 2nd, so don’t miss out. The Peckham Festival is back and we have all the details on page 32.

Link Age Southwark are launching their first ever Strollathon this month. Find out all the details on page 20.

Remember the magazine depends on all the wondeful local advertisers, so please do let them know if you saw them in this magazine!

Until next time.

Angela

Angela Burgess

Head of All Things Community SE Magazines/Around Dulwich

October Deadline - 15 September (please allow an extra two days if design is required)

To advertise in SE23 please contact Angela Burgess on 020 8693 9040 or e-mail: angela@semagazines.co.uk for further information. You can download our media pack from our website: www.semagazines.co.uk.

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What's On - September

Friday 1 – Sunday 3

September: Vintage Rings & Collage Things Pop Up

10am-3pm. 5-day POP UP event for anyone who is as crazy about vintage, preloved, repurposed shopping & crafting as they are! Tickets via www.eventbrite.co.uk. Better Things London, 105 Dartmouth Road, Forest Hill SE23 3HT

Fridays 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29

September: Lewisham

Underwater Hockey

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, Forest Hill, SE23 3HZ. Tickets: www.luwhc.org.uk/

Saturdays 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 September: Dulwich & Peckham Rye Park Run

9am-10am. Free, weekly timed 5k run, jog, or walk. Every Saturday at 9am promptly starting from Queen Mary’s Gate (Dulwich Park) and Colyton Road Entrance (Peckham Rye Park). Register once and bring your printed barcode (can be used at any parkrun across the world). First-timers briefing at 08.50.

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

Saturday 2 September: Peckham Rye Park Fete

12pm-5pm. As usual you can expect the always popular dog show, sack races, coconut shies, Punch and Judy, the Friends-run stands and stalls such as the Pimms, wine and beer stand, the tea and cakes tent, and the book and plant stalls, along with a variety of other food stands and stalls The dog show profits are given to charity. All other profits from the fete are spent on projects in the Park or Common, such as the Community Wildlife Garden, Sensory beds and Fernery. www.peckhamryepark.org/news

Saturday 2 September: Open Garden September

11:30am – 1pm. Bell House is opening its garden for visitors to explore. Set behind the Georgian house, visitors can explore the peaceful twoacre garden. Tea and coffee will be available. Bell House Dulwich, 27 College Road, SE21 7BG

Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Sundays 3, 10, 17 & 24

September: Junior Park Runs

Peckham Rye - 9am - 9:30am

A free, weekly, timed run for 4–14-year-olds at 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. www.parkrun.org.uk/peckhamrye-juniors/ Peckham Rye Park, Colyton Road, SE22 0NE.

Brockwell Park - 9am - 9:30am

A free 2km fun run for 4–14-year-olds every Sunday 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.

What's On - September

Sundays 3, 10, 17, & 24

September: Horniman Market

Tuesday 5 September: Mick Herron in conversation with James O’Brien

10am–3pm. Located on the Bandstand Terrace, you will find stalls selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan bread and cheese, organic meat and delicious street food. Alongside food stalls, you’ll find body care, clothing, jewellery, design and craft; most are locally produced, ethical and many use environmentally friendly materials, natural and organic ingredients. Horniman Museum, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ. www.horniman.ac.uk.

Tuesday 5 September:

Winemaker’s tasting at Dulwich & Sydenham Hill GC

6pm-9pm. Wine Tasting with Neil Bruwer from Chamonix Vineyard, South Africa

Neil is a charismatic, young multi-award winning winemaker from Franschhoek, a true craftsman of his field, and a great presenter of his wines, super knowledgeable of the Chamonix vineyard, along with entertaining facts about the wine industry. Tickets are - £25 per person inclusive and can be purchased on www.winoship.com

Dulwich and Sydenham Golf Club, Grange Lane, College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7LH

Tuesdays 5, 12, 19 & 26

September: Weekly Online

Breathing Class 7pm -8pm

A 40-minute breathing and relaxation class. 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.

https://liveyogateachers.com/classes/ meditation-open-level-kerry-flower

7pm -8pm. Mick Herron is the author of the fantastic Slough House series, and he has been described by fellow crime writer, Val McDermid, as ‘the John le Carré of our generation’. His new novel, The Secret Hours, is a dazzling spy thriller that is at once unnerving, poignant, and laugh-out-loud funny. Mick will be discussing the book with author and radio presenter, James O’Brien.

George Farha Auditorium, Dulwich College, Dulwich Common, SE21 7LD

Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Tuesdays 5, 12, 19 & 26

September: Social Runs with DPR 7:30pm – 8:30pm

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. www.dulwichparkrunners.co.uk enquiries@dulwichparkrunners.com

Tuesday 5 September: Honor Oak WI

We meet on the first Tuesday of each month at Stanstead Lodge Cafe SE23 1DD at 7:30pm. honoroakwi@gmail.com

twitter.com/honoroakwi Honoroak_WI

www.facebook.com/groups/honoroakwi/

What's On - September

Wednesdays 6, 13 & 20

September: Goose Green

Coffee Morning

11am – 12:30pm. All are welcome to our weekly drop-in group where you can meet others from the local community. Enjoy a chat over coffee and cake. 13 September: The Singing Geese is a chance to sing a variety of songs from around the world in a relaxed setting. All are welcome, even if you think you can’t sing! We open at 11 o’clock for tea, coffee and cake, and the singing begins at 11:30am. Lead by community musician Steve Barbe.

St John the Evangelist Church, 62A East Dulwich Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9AT.

Thursdays 7, 14, 21 & 28

September: 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.

Breakfast included. Free parking. Get referrals: boost your business! Please contact Hayley on 07843 989728 for more information or register for this event on www.eventbrite.co.uk/

Dulwich & Sydenham Golf Club, Grange Lane, College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7LH.

Thursdays 7, 14, 21 & 28

September: Dulwich Folk

Dance Club 8pm -10pm

Whether partnered or single, an experienced dancer or not, you will find a warm welcome. So, join us, put a smile on your face and make new friends. You probably already know dancing is good for the body and mind and emotions, generating the “happy hormones”. We just find it fun! As a bonus, the hall is lovely, spacious and airy, so particularly great in these virus aware times. Entrance on door £5 (£4 Club members)

John Blase: 020 8693 2873

johnhblase@aol.com

Wendy Newall: 07821 089861

wendy.marsh@hotmail.com

Friday 8 September – Sunday

10 September: Peckham

Festival 6pm-8pm

The free hyper-local event celebrates creative and cultural Peckham and endeavours to create a cohesive and inclusive community through active cultural and artistic engagement. This year’s festival will feature open studios; live music; films; exhibitions; performances; street food as well as talks and workshops - all taking place in repurposed railway arches, warehouses, rooftops and a Victorian factory.

For this year’s festival we are very excited to be working with GALA, Balamii Radio, Jumbi, Prince of Peckham, Pexmas, The Palace Of The Dogs and Don’t Touch My Heritage to assemble an amazingly varied and high. Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, SE15 3SN. Full programme of the events can be found on www.peckhamfestival.org

Saturdays 9/16 & Sundays

10/17 September: Sydenham

Artists Trail 11am-5pm

A group of Havelock Walk artists will be opening their studios in conjunction with Sydenham Artists Trail. Come by and say hallo! Weekends only! Further details @etchstudio23 https://sydenhamarts.co.uk/artists-trail.

Sunday 10 September: St

Clement with St Peter Dulwich

11:30am – 1pm. Traditional Summer Fayre in the church grounds with bouncy castle, stalls including bottles, books, cakes and honey with live summer music and refreshments.

140 Friern Road, London, SE22 0AY 22

Bell House Dyslexia Fair

www.bellhouse.co.uk/events

is a learning difference which affects information processing and is often manifested in difficulties with reading and writing. However, with the right support, people with dyslexia can excel in any field and often have particular strengths in creative fields, problem solving and oral skills.

Celebrating Strengths, by Ruth Pierce, Specialist Dyslexia Teacher and Assessor

Saturday 30th September 2023, 10am to 4pm Bell House, 27 College Road SE21 7BG

We are currently getting ready to host our annual Bell House Dyslexia Fair. This year’s Fair has a special focus on ‘Celebrating Strengths and Supporting Challenges’ and will be taking place on Saturday 30th September from 10 to 4pm.

As a parent of a child with dyslexia, I remember only too well the overwhelming feeling of, ‘How do I support my child, who I knew was capable and had so many strengths but was floundering in the school system?’. As a family we would have truly benefited from the support and advice on offer at the Fair. It truly is a wonderful opportunity to bring together families, educators, and the wider dyslexia community to share their experiences and advice whilst developing further awareness. Around ten percent of the UK population are believed to be dyslexic. Dyslexia

We will be continuing with our popular ‘Primary and Secondary school panel’ eventsthese sessions allow us to learn from each other, and hear directly from students, parents and experts about how best to navigate the school system. We have a full programme of presentations with experts in their field who will be presenting on key topics such as the use of assistive technology, improving reading fluency and developing spelling skills. Please visit https://bit.ly/447Yr7a to access the presentation schedule.

Alongside the presentations, we have planned several creative events and workshops to make this an enjoyable fair for the whole family. This includes a creative writing workshop; letterpress printing workshops with Simon Trewin from the Garage Press and ‘The Illusioneer’ will be offering a chance to learn magic tricks.

We have had an increasing interest in the 1:1 advice clinic, and this year we have been fortunate enough to have more dyslexia experts available who will be able to advise you on topics such as examination access arrangements, dyslexia screeners and assessment and how best to support your child’s literacy and numeracy needs at home. It is possible to sign up for the advice clinics on the day.

The Fair will hold an exhibition of local and national dyslexia resources and products, and this gives a further chance to discover useful resources and talk to experts. Refreshments will be available at the cafe. The Dyslexia Fair is still completely FREE to attend and we are very much looking forward to welcoming you at Bell House.

About Bell House

Bell House is an educational charity, based in Dulwich, in a beautiful large Grade II Listed Georgian house with extensive gardens. The house is a centre for educational needs with dyslexia support being a key focus with regular courses, events and workshops for teachers, children, and parents from London and the South of England.

Hardy Geraniums for Every Situation

Garden Talk with Janine Winlaw | Instagram @janinewinlaw

– too much shade can make it a bit leggy. Similar varieties include G. ‘Brookside,’ with masses of intense blue flowers, and its slightly bigger seedling and G. ‘Orion’, which has larger, more violet blue flowers, on stalks high above the foliage.

Shade Lovers

The spring flowering geranium phaeum with their wands of small flowers and striking patterned foliage are great for a shady spot, amongst ferns and snowdrops.

A fabulous filler plant, easy to grow, long flowering and low maintenance, geraniums are a must for every garden. There are so many to choice from, but here are a few of the best.

Summer Colour

One of the most popular geraniums and rightly so, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ has striking large blue flowers with white centres and lovely mottled foliage. Happy in sun or part shade, its spreading habit makes it great ground cover, but do give it space. Most impressive of all is its amazingly long and late flowering period, from June right through to November.

Newer hybrids include ‘Azure Rush’ a more compact version of ‘Rozanne’ with paler blue flowers and a larger white centre and ‘Lilac Ice’, a less spreading hybrid with fresh light foliage and pale lilac pink flowers. Geranium ‘Dreamland’ is another lovely geranium with pale pink flowers that will keep the colour going from May to September.

Classic Blues

‘Johnson’s Blue’ is another classically popular geranium, with delicate foliage and a mass of papery blue petals from May to August. Great under roses or shrubs, in full sun or part shade

Geranium phaeum ‘Black Widow’ is very stylish with its deep purple black flowers and beautiful dark leaf markings. ‘Samobor’ is very similar, with slightly browner flowers and paler leaves. Or for something less somber, ‘Alba’ has airy sparkly white flowers, great for lighting up dark corners. Other shade lovers include Geranium nodosum, which is perfect where little else grows and comes in pinks or white. Geranium macrorrhizum varieties such as hot pink G. ‘Bevan’s Variety’ are also great ground cover for shady spots.

Small & Sweet

Compact, low growing (around 20cm high) with dainty flowers, geranium sanguineum varieties work well at the front of a border in smaller spaces. Geranium sanguineum (bloody cranesbill) has vivid magenta flowers from March until June while the similar ‘Tiny Monster’ has a mass of larger shocking pink flowers until late autumn. Softer sanguinium ‘Album’ with small pure white flowers May to June but the beautiful pale pink flowers of sanguineum var. striatum will keep going until August.

Show Stoppers

The bigger and bolder Geranium psilostemon with its vibrant magenta flowers and purple black eyes is stunning, but needs space. It flowers from June to August and the leaves turn fiery red in Autumn. The hybrid, ‘Patricia’ has the same dark eye but is a brighter pink and slightly more compact (60cm high) and longer flowering. The rangier Geranium

‘Ann Folkard’ has bright green early foliage and rich magenta flowers with a dark eye, again it needs space scrambling to a meter and flowers until September.

BEST EVERPRICESFOR FLEXIBLEBOOKINGS

Love in a Lost Land

New book out this month by local author James MacManus

Available from these local book shops

Village Books, Calton Avenue, Dulwich Village

Dulwich Books, Croxted Road, West Dulwich

Chener Books, Lordship Lane, East Dulwich

Rye Books, North Cross Road, East Dulwich

jamesmacmanus.com

Food & Drink Pork Chops with Apple sauce

A perfect supper for an autumn evening

Preparation time: 20-25 mins.

Cooking time: 30 mins plus standing.

Serves: 4.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops on the bone - about 3cm / 1.5 inches thick at room temperature.

• 1½ tbsp sunflower oil

• salt and pepper for seasoning

• Chunky Apple Sauce

• 450g cooking apples, cored and diced.

• 4 tbsp caster sugar

• finely grated zest 1/2 lemon

• 2 tsp lemon juice

• 4 tbsp water

• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

• knob of butter

Method

• Preheat the oven to 200C / 180C Fan / Gas mark 6.

• To make the apple sauce: Place the chopped apples, lemon juice and zest, sugar, and water into a heavy based saucepan. Bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the apples are tender. Add the butter and the cinnamon and beat the apples until you have a chunky sauce (if you prefer smooth, puree them). Remove the pan from the heat and cover to keep the sauce warm.

• Pat the pork chops dry and season well with salt and pepper. Heat the sunflower oil in a large ovenproof frying pan over a medium-high heat, and fry for 3 minutes each side to brown them.

• Transfer the pan to the preheated oven and roast the chops for 7-10 minutes, until cooked through. (The juices should run clear when you cut into a chop). Take the pan out of the oven, cover with foil and let the chops rest for a few minutes. Transfer the chops to a plate, spoon over the pan juices and serve with the apple sauce, mashed potato, and vegetable of choice.

The Benefits of Cold Water Immersion

Fitness tips with Leanne Spencer | www.bodyshotperformance.com

Cold water immersion has become more trendy, more popular and more well-known and there is a good reason for this. Its popularity comes from its many health benefits, and today we are focusing on those that relate to preventative health.

HOW IT WORKS

Cold water immersion causes a very fast drop in temperature (it is a bit of a shock to the system). Mentally, it puts you immediately into the moment and brings you into your body.

Physically one of the ways it helps your health is with the fast drop in temperature causes vasoconstriction. Blood rushes to the vital organs in the body. So even though it feels quite shocking and uncomfortable on the outside, you’re getting increased circulation to your vital organs.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF COLD WATER IMMERSION

It is said to be helpful for:

• lowering stress levels

• creating more mental toughness and resilience

• increasing your immune system

• boosting your circulation

• improving sleep

• feeling calmer

• positively affecting your parasympathetic nervous system

• increasing your metabolic function

• improving mood

• decreasing doms (delayed onset muscle soreness)

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH COLD WATER IMMERSION

Not everyone lives near to the sea or to a pool, for many these may also not be accessible for other reasons. So how do you get started?

A great way to start is with a cold shower or bath. A top tip is to have your normal shower, then at the end just slowly, turn it a bit colder. This way you have control, it is a little less shocking and you can start building your resilience that way. In a bath, you can have your bath as normal, and as you drain the water just hose yourself down with

the shower head on cold. Even just a cold splash of water to the face will work as a starting point –just start playing with it and seeing how it feels.

RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURE & TIME

If you are thinking about going cold water swimming, you want to look at a pool that is under about 15 degrees. The general rule is that you should stay in the water for as many minutes as it is cold. So for instance, if the pool is 14 degrees, so it is recommended to stay in for 14 minutes. It takes a bit of time to get warm afterwards, but do not turn the hot shower on straight away, just let yourself ease into feeling warm afterwards.

POST SWIM HIGH

It does feel great in your body once you come out. This is known as the ‘postswim high’ triggered by the release of beta-endorphins.

“The body is responding with all the stress hormones… you’ll see changes in all of the fightor-flight biochemical and hormonal responses. It’s raising your heart rate, your ventilation. That’s the thing that makes people say: ‘I feel alive, I feel alert, it wakes me up for the rest of the day.’”

Mike Tipton (Researcher at the University Of Portsmouth)

Please contact us to find out more about our range of ethical and ESG pensions, investments and savings

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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.

Come & try our range of beautiful pianos

Playing piano is fun for all the family! Also helps your child get ahead at school.

Pianolobby is in SE London & we are experts in matching people to their ideal upright piano.

Please call Julian on 020 3645 3930 or email: julian@pianolobby.co.uk | www.pianolobby.co.uk

Strollathon

Step Out & Support Link Age Southwark’s Strollathon: 10 September

As local charity Link Age Southwark continues to celebrate 30 years of alleviating loneliness and reducing social isolation for older people and those living with a diagnosis of dementia, we caught up with Chief Executive Sophie Wellings to find out more about how you can support the charity’s work.

How has Link Age Southwark’s 30th anniversary year been going?

It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate 30 years of our work. We’ve hosted some lovely events including a big party for our service users and volunteers as well as our annual Sunset Soiree event which, this year, took place at Dulwich Picture Gallery. The event showcased the photographic exhibition that has been compiled to mark this year, as well as our Pearls of Wisdom film project where some of our service users are reflecting on their lives and achievements. It’s been a wonderful celebration of the lives of Southwark’s older people.

What’s next in the Link Age Southwark events diary?

We’re inviting everyone to join us in beautiful Dulwich Park on Sunday 10 September (11am to 3pm) for our first-ever ‘Sponsored Strollathon’. It’ll be a fun, family-friendly, accessible event, with distances to suit all ages and abilities. If people get sponsored to take part, they’ll be helping raise valuable funds to support our work. Herne Hillbased big band The Fabulous Honeys will play live in the Park from 1pm, so we’re encouraging people to bring a picnic and make a day of it.

How can people get involved with the Strollathon?

There’s still time to register to take part in the Strollathon – whether you’re going to do it solo, it with friends, family, colleagues or four legged friends, we’d love you to join us. Every Strollathon participant will receive a medal and T-shirt, refreshments, fundraising support and much more. www.linkagesouthwark.org/Event/sponsoredstrollathon-2023

On the day, you can also find out more about what Link Age Southwark does, and make a donation.

Are there other ways to support Link Age Southwark?

The work we do continues to be of real importance, particularly given the impact of the last two years and the current cost of living crisis. We’d love more people to get involved as volunteers – it can make a huge difference in the life of a local older person who may be feeling lonely or isolated. We offer volunteers lots of support.

Our befriending service makes a huge difference to the lives of older people and only requires a couple of hours commitment each week for a cup of tea, a chat or maybe a gentle stroll. We also have telephone buddies, who make weekly calls to offer them a listening ear, a friendly voice and someone to check on how they are doing. There is more information on our website Volunteer roles (linkagesouthwark.org) Or come along to our Sponsored Strollathon on 10 September and have a chat – we’d love to see you there!

https://www.linkagesouthwark.org

Entry into Years 3 and 5 (ages 7 and 9)

Entry into Year 7 and Year 9 (ages 11 and 13)

What's On - September

Sunday 10 September: Link Age Southwark Sponsored Strollathon

Sunday 10 September: Singaround 7pm -10:30pm

Everybody is welcome to our Singaround, to sing or to listen! We don’t use the stage and we don’t use mics. Accompanied or unaccompanied, solo or duo or more, any language, any genre! It’s different every time, depending on who comes! First come first to sing, just sign up any time during the evening at the list on the ticket table. Door 7pm, singing starts 7.15pm prompt. £5 on the door. Cash or BACS only, sorry!

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

For more information: www.thegooseisout.com

11am -3pm. Link Age Southwark is inviting everyone to take part in its first-ever ‘Sponsored Strollathon’. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Dulwich Park, the Strollathon will be a fun, family-friendly, accessible event, with distances to suit all ages and abilities. Every Strollathon participant will receive a medal and T-shirt, refreshments, fundraising support and much more. Herne Hill-based big band The Fabulous Honeys will play live in the park from 1pm. So why not bring a picnic and listen to the music or get sponsored and get involved.

Contact Link Age Southwark on 020 8299 2623 to register your interest or ask questions.

Dulwich Park, College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BQ To get involved go to www.linkagesouthwark.org

Sunday 10 September: One Tree Hill Allotments Open Day

12:30pm-6:30pm. There will be tea, cakes, jams, chutneys and other produce; a BBQ and vegan paella; an art trail; guided tours, also of the wildlife refuge and the AFRIL Action for Refugees Allotment; apple pressing with fresh juice to drink; the Note-Orious Community Choir at 2pm and other live music; kids’ activities and stalls; a found objects drawing workshop; the Magnificent Museum of Curious Crisps ; and an exhibition of wood curiosities. The views from the top of the hill are lovely, but getting there is via narrow paths and occasionally a few steps, so bear that in mind. There will be seating and full access at the bottom of the site where the main tea stall and food area. See you all there!

The One Tree Hill Allotments Site, 111 Honor Oak Park, Greater, Honor Oak, SE23 3NP.

Monday 11 September: Dulwich WI Monthly Meeting

7:30pm – 9:30pm. We meet on the second Monday of each month at Kix Bar, 57 North Cross Road, East Dulwich, SE22.

Wednesday 13 September: How to Spruce Up and Maintain Your Garden

7:30pm -10:30pm. We welcome Helena Kowalska, a Horticulturist based in Dulwich for this gardening event. Find out how to plant and update beds and borders, containers and window boxes. There will be guidance on planting audits, seasonal and monthly maintenance, and how to draw up planting plans and source quality plants. Email at: join@eastdulwichwi.co.uk

The Castle Pub, upstairs function room, 280 Crystal Palace Road, East Dulwich SE22 9JH

Thursday 14 September: Roast Figs, Sugar Snow: Food to Warm the Soul by Diana

Henry 7:30pm -8:30pm

Join Village Books and Alleyn’s Schools Enterprises for an evening with bestselling cookery author Diana Henry. Roast Figs, Sugar Snow is an irresistible collection of cold-weather recipes that celebrate the unique pleasures of autumn and winter. Tickets from £12 and can be purchased from www.alleyns.org.uk

The MCT at Alleyn’s, Townley Road SE22 8SU

St Dunstan’s College London

Leading the Way as London’s Most Progressive School

St Dunstan’s College, Catford, south London, has championed a forward-thinking approach to education for over a century, with the opening vision of the school in 1888 being to provide a curriculum ‘in advance of the present time.’

The school’s first head, Charles Maddock Stuart, was a pioneer in heuristic education, designing the college to have science laboratories for students to discover learning themselves. St Dunstan’s was one of the first schools in the country to have laboratories and to devote significant time to hands-on scientific practical experiments for students to innovate and ‘do’, rather than passively observe.

Today, St Dunstan’s modern senior school curriculum builds on the legacy of its founding heads. Students entering the school embark on an educational journey of curiosity, studying a wide range of subjects, enhancing their study skills, and committing to a variety of co-curricular activities, not just in those they arrive more confident in, before specialising in the older years. The school, led by Head Nick Hewlett, believes that this wideranging and ambitious approach to education sets up a lifetime of inquisitive independence, allowing students to approach new and challenging concepts with courage and conviction.

‘Our world is changing at breakneck speed. A truly globalised future dominated by AI and biotechnology will require different skills and attributes from the young people we are educating today,’ Nick Hewlett explains. ‘Our social values are more precious to us than ever before, and so are they under threat. We inhabit a society where the art of rhetoric has diminished and the polarised, entrenched view has consumed us, amplified as it is through the platform of globalised cyber-space. We have a duty to respond to this in the curriculum we offer. Yes, pulling out values through education is important, but we need to be more radical than this.

‘We need to see beyond the GCSE conveyor belt and offer young people an education that facilitates an understanding of self and of the importance of diversity of thought. An education that teaches young people the skills they require to navigate the increasing complexity of an uncertain future. An education that equips young people not just with a knowledge-rich foundation, but one that is agile and from which children can move to adulthood with the ability to be flexible in their thinking, empathetic to others and active challengers to falsehood and injustice.’

Most recently the school has won praise around the world for its groundbreaking Stuart Curriculum, which looks at relationships, skills for the future and critical thinking. Stuart lessons have tackled the rise of toxic masculinity and individuals such as Andrew Tate.

St Dunstan’s bold and brave approach to education has led to the school winning many accolades. Last month, the school was named the ‘Most progressive independent school in London’ at the Private Education Awards 2023. Last year, St Dunstan’s was also named Independent Senior School of the Year at the Tes Awards in London, which are known as the Oscars of education.

Find out more about St Dunstan’s College at their upcoming open day on Saturday 23 September 2023, or their Sixth Form Open Evening on Tuesday 3 October 2023. St Dunstan’s offers a variety of scholarships and bursaries for students joining at 11+ and 16+.

Financial Matters

With Akwasi Duodu | akwasi@sterlingandlaw.com | www.sterlingandlaw.com

The Simplest Way to Pay Your Inheritance Tax Bill

If your estate is large enough, your beneficiaries may well end up paying inheritance tax on your death. Large enough? Well, we’re talking about over £325,000 if you are single or over £650,000 if you are married. Not a lot then, which means many unsuspecting people may be caught in the inheritance tax net.

The residence nil rate band means that the family home may be passed more easily to direct descendants on death. This is frozen at £175,000 until 2028.

Inheritance tax receipts amounted to approximately 7 billion pounds in 2022/23, up 1 billion from the previous financial year. This is a nice little earner for HMRC! Although considered unfair by many, the UK government is in no hurry to make amends. Why would they? It’s a great money spinner. Consequently, the inheritance tax nil rate bandhas been held as it is since 2009.

Complex Planning

There are many ways to mitigate inheritance tax. Gifting your home to your children is one way, however you’d have to either move out completely or pay them rent for the gift to qualify.

Equity release is becoming a popular way of taking equity out of your home. This in turn could reduce the value of your estate. It however involves raising capital through borrowing and with interest rates where they are today, the main winners are the lenders.

You could make annual gifts of up to £3,000 each year, however if your estate was reasonably large, you’d have to make several such gifts to make a dent in the value of your estate.

Charitable donations are another way of reducing your inheritance tax liability while supporting causes you care about. However, some would rather that money went to their children. If your estate was made up of a fair amount of cash, you could invest it and put the investment in trust for the benefit of your beneficiaries. After

seven years, the trust would fall out of your estate. Not everyone has a lot of cash lying around, so this type of planning has its limitations.

Using life insurance

Using life insurance is relatively simple. It involves working out what your inheritance tax bill may be after using some or all the planning options mentioned above. Next, set up a life insurance policy for the potential liability. Finally, write the insurance policy in trust to ensure it falls out of your estate and goes to your nominated beneficiaries. Simple!

Whist paying your inheritance tax bill out of the proceeds of a life insurance policy may appear relatively simple, we would strongly recommend seeking the advice of an independent financial adviser, as getting it wrong could make the position worse. They would know things like how best to set up the policy, and whether to use a term or a whole of life plan. The same goes for all the planning methods mentioned above.

You’d have to have a reasonably clean bill of health to get through underwriting, and the insurance would cost more for older applicants. But the advantages are huge. Inheritance tax must be paid 6 within months of your death. The life insurance would pay out almost immediately, avoiding all the hassle that goes along with probate. Your family could use the payout to pay any tax owing without having to raid your savings or sell property prematurely. The only question is whether you or your children should pay the premiums. That’s one for another day!

What's On - September

Saturday 16 September: Garthorne Road Nature Reserve Bake Off 2pm -5pm

Tuesday 19 September: Bach to Baby Half Term Family Concert in East Dulwich

10:30am – 11:30am. 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.

https://www.bachtobaby.com

62A East Dulwich Road, East Dulwich SE22 9AT

Wednesday 20 September: Louise Doughty 7pm -8pm

Please bring entries before 2pm for judging at 2:30. We have adult and junior categories. Garthorne Road Nature Reserve, Garthorne Road Nature Reserve, Beadnell Road, SE23 1AA. www.garthorneroadnaturereserve.com

Saturday 16 September: Organ Recital 11am -12pm

All are welcome to this recital by Matthew Dunn of All Saints Blackheath. Tea and coffee served afterwards. Retiring collection. St John the Evangelist Church, 62A East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AT

Tuesday 19 September: Honor Oak Musical Theatre Choir

7:30pm – 9pm. A touch of the West End is coming to Southeast London, thanks to a local singing coach, who has put out the call for enthusiastic singers to join her. Louisa Barry who has enjoyed a career as both a classical performer and vocal coach to West End stars lives in Sydenham. The choir is open to keen singers who love musical theatre and want the chance to work with a professional voice coach whilst enjoying “belting out showtunes together”.

For more details about how to sign up go to: https://www.singspacechoir.com/honor-oak/ Honor Oak Christian Fellowship Centre, 39 Honor Oak Road, SE23 3SH

A Bird in Winter is the electrifying new novel from Sunday Times bestselling writer Louise Doughty, author of Apple Tree Yard and Platform Seven, both adapted for major TV series. Hear Louise discuss this brilliant new novel and what it’s like writing thrillers for page and screen.

Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road, SE21 8SW

Thursday 21 September: Pilates for beginners

10:30am – 9:30pm. Classes are small to ensure personal attention and lead by an Osteopath with extensive Pilates and rehabilitation experience. St Barnabas Church & Parish Office, 40 Calton Avenue, SE21. Tickets www.eventbrite.co.uk

Friday 22 September: An Evening with Ann Cleeves

7pm -8pm. Join Village Books and Alleyn’s School Enterprises for an evening with bestselling author Ann Cleeves.

Author of more than thirty-five critically acclaimed novels, she is the creator of popular detectives Vera Stanhope, Jimmy Perez and Matthew Venn, who can be found on television in ITV’s Vera, BBC One’s Shetland and ITV's The Long Call respectively. The TV series and the books they are based on have become international sensations, capturing the minds of millions worldwide.

Tickets can be bought on www.alleyns.org.uk Alleyn’s School, Townley Road SE22 8SU

What's On - September

Saturday 23 & Sunday 24

September: Nunhead Art Trail

A celebration of fabulous arts and crafts, and also features comedy and sound performances, and a Street Art guided walk. Artists will open their homes and studios across Nunhead. Group shows will take place in the Stuart Road Allotments and at the Anglican Chapel in Nunhead Cemetery. Community centres and local businesses across Nunhead will join in along with a local youth club. www.nunheadarttrail.com

Wednesday 27 September:

Cooking with Scissors

6:45pm – 8pm. An opportunity for local business professionals to meet, make new contacts and gain new business. The last Wednesday of every month. www.cookingwithscissors.co.uk

The Lordship Pub, 211 Lordship Lane SE22 8HA

Thursday 28 September:

Boorish Trumpson 7pm -10pm

With clowning games, audience interaction and unexpected orchestral manipulations, Boorish Trumpson plays with the audience in an attempt to assert his ultimate power grab. The unique sound design, virtuosic physicality and playful absurdity of the piece (not to mention a script constructed from verbatim Donald Trump and Boris Johnson quotes) creates a raucous humour whilst the bigger questions bubble below. From critically acclaimed Lecoq-trained clown Claire Parry. Suitable for families and children aged 8+ Grab tickets on Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk

Kingswood Arts, Seeley Drive, SE21 8QN

Thursday 28 September: An Evening with Sebastian Faulks 7:30pm – 8:30pm

The Seventh Son is a spectacular examination of what it is to be human. It asks the question: just because you can do something, does it mean you should? This is an extraordinary novel about unrequited love and unearned power.

Tickets: www.alleyns.org.uk

A Village Books and Alleyn’s Schools Enterprises event. Alleyn’s School, Townley Road SE22 8SU

Friday 29th September: Cheese & Wine tasting with Emma Young

7.30pm

Emma (also known as The Cheese Explorer) will guide you through how to choose, taste, and pair cheese like an expert in this special evening to celebrate her new book: The Cheese Wheel. Emma brings her extensive knowledge and 13 years of industry experience to the page in this innovative, flavour-based companion to the world of cheese. The Junior School Hall, Alleyn’s School, Townley Road, SE22 8SU. A Village Books and Alleyn’s Schools Enterprises event. www.village-books.co.uk/

Friday 29 September: Melrose Quartet, Elizabeth Forrester, Tom Kelly 7pm -11pm

Simply one of the best acappella groups on the UK folk scene, as well as playing a range of instruments, Melrose Quartet are made up of two well-loved folk duos, Nancy Kerr & James Fagan and Jess & Rich Arrowsmith. Advance tickets are £16 from www.wegottickets.com/thegooseisout

Tickets on the door (if any left) will be £18 (cash or BACS only, sorry!) Door 7pm. Live music starts 8pm. The Ivy House, 40 Stuart Road SE15 3BE www.ivyhousenunhead.com

Saturday 30 September: Fair Trade Breakfast 9:30am -1pm

Adult breakfast £4.50 & Children under 12 £3.50. There will also be a variety of stalls and a range of fair trade food and gifts on sale The Bread of Life Fair Trade Centre, 263 Barry Road, SE22 0JT

Saturday 30 September: Bell House Dyslexia Fair 10am – 4pm

Free Event

The fair brings together families, educators and the wider dyslexia community to learn more about dyslexia, talk to experts, discover useful resources and share experiences and advice. This year the Fair will have a special focus on ‘Celebrating Strengths and Supporting Challenges’. Bell House, 27 College Road, Dulwich, SE21 7BG. www.bellhouse.co.uk.

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

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

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 3489 2790

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.

Peckham Festival

15th-17th September 2023

Peckham Festival returns for its seventh year across the weekend of 15th-17th September 2023. The free hyper-local event celebrates creative and cultural Peckham and endeavours to create a cohesive and inclusive community through active cultural and artistic engagement. This year’s festival will feature open studios; live music; films; exhibitions; performances; street food as well as talks and workshops - all taking place in repurposed railway arches, warehouses, rooftops and Victorian factories.

This year local music platforms GALA and Balamii Radio will be taking over the festival stage at Copeland Park whilst the community lineup will include the Peckham Chamber Orchestra, Nunhead Community Choir and Theatre Peckham. Local establishments; Jumbi and Prince of Peckham will be collaborating to bring a laid back evening of top quality DJs and cocktails.

Copeland Gallery’s Staying Power will be curated by founders of @ThePalaceOfTheDogs X DTMH (Don’t Touch My Heritage), Danny Bailey & Alizèe Ndiaye. This will be an exploration of Black British identity through art, film, live music and discussion. Featuring, writer and curator, Tony Fairweather; the exhibition will open with his recreation of the Caribbean living room HOME: Remembering the Windrush Generation - a nod to the windrush generation and fan out into a gallery of artists that explore black identity in their work.

Made in Peckham will feature over 150 artists and creatives in Open Studios across Peckham including at the Bussey Building; Blenheim Arches and Print Village as well as at the Pexmas makers market at Copeland Park.

Ourhood Community will also host two workshop events where the public can come and

learn new skills and meet creators. The topics will be ‘Natural Indigo Dyeing’ by Samantha Russell, founder of the brand Tens Studio and ‘Ceramics’ by Princess Adenrele, founder of the brand Warm Studios and a participant in The Originals Creator Network launched by Guap Magazine and Adidas. Further free workshops will be available over the weekend facilitated by local businesses and community groups including breathing and meditation classes from Southwark Foster Care. For children and families there will be a host of free creative workshops, talks and presentations including screen printing; ceramics; djembe drumming circles and an introduction to product design by local architects Kennedy Woods. There will be free skateboarding and interactive zine workshops courtesy of School of Skate Peckham; Clown Skateboards and It’s Okay Projects. Breakin Bread and The Lickshot Sound System will provide the tunes in the evening. The Keep Rolling Company - which was formed to create a fairer representation of women and to get more women skateboarding will provide skate and art workshops. There will be a storytelling corner from The Culture Tree and Dope Readers Club.

M a k e a n e n t r a n c e

Honor Oak Office:

47 Honor Oak Park

Honor Oak London SE23 1EA

020 3397 1166

www.pickwickestates.com

Dulwich Office:

8 Woodwarde Road

Dulwich London SE22 8UJ

020 3397 1144

info@pickwickestates.com