Meridian Magazine Sept 14 issue

50,000 COPIES DELIVERED EVERY MONTH SINCE 1996

SEPTEMBER 2014

Your local magazine

Back to school Education Supplement

Wetisnfor

Tick Greenwich Comedy Festival

Weddings Special

What’s in Fashion HOMES

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FOOD

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BEAUTY

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FASHION

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INTERIORS

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SHOPPING

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EDUCATION

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CONTENTS September 2014 4

LOCAL NEWS

7

LOCAL FEATURE

8

RETAIL NEWS

11

CANARY WHARF UPDATE

19

AREA FOCUS

COVER: Greenwich Comedy Festival

00 50,0 copie

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Award winning Bromley Palace Park The London Homebuilding & Renovating Show Plus your chance to win one of ten pair of tickets to go!

Canary Wharfs new brand

Chisllehurst: A village of two halves

23-25 WEDDINGS

ered D e l i v nth! ever y

Win a pair of premium tickets to see Nina Conti

What’s in Fashion & Venue, Venue, Venue

27-28 ASK THE EXPERT

Health advice and beauty tips

29- 52 EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTOR : Walkers Distributions

Informative advice from Nursery To College

53

PARENTING NEWS

55

FOOD NEWS AND REVIEWS

56

GALLERY NEWS

Meridian magazine is published monthly with a genuine distribution of 50,000 to selected residential properties and businesses within the borough of Greenwich and in Blackheath, Westcombe Park, Charlton, Eltham, Lee, Docklands, Canary Wharf, Bromley, Chislehurst, New Eltham, Hither Green and Kidbrooke. Copies also go to Greenwich Tourist Information Centre, libraries and leisure centres, pubs, restaurants and hotels. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part (including advertisement designs) without prior written permission will result in legal action. The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily shared by the editor or the publisher.

advice for new parents

Interviews, reviews and news Whats On and Where

57 ART

Deptford X

59 LEISURE

Dover Castle – the story of War and the Horse

61-65 LISTINGS

If its on its in

68

TRANSPORT NEWS

Why do we need more river crossings?

70 PROPERTY

Bellway’s Platinum Riverside

Meridian Line Publishing Ltd 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley, Kent DA5 2EE Tel: 01322 557794 Email : enquiries@meridian-magazine.co.uk Publisher: Joy Johnston Editor : Valerie Breese Art & Production Director : Paul McPherson Display Sales: Cheryl Voller, Emma Forbes Classified Sales : Laurie Monshall Contributors : Claire Allen, James Haddrell, Heather Scott, Nicola Berry and Tamsin Steer

Printing : Polestar, www.polestar-group.com Distribution :Walkers Distributions w w w. m e r i d i a n - m a g a z i n e . c o . u k facebook.com/meridianmagazine

MeridianmagLDN

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local N E WS New Funding for Mind

Bromley & Lewisham Mind has been awarded funding from the Department of Health’s Volunteering Fund to support 14-25 year olds to develop resilience and mental wellbeing.

The funding of £596,557 over three years will deliver wellbeing sessions, based around the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’, and will be run by trained volunteers who have personal experience of mental health problems. The sessions will be delivered in schools, colleges, youth centres and other venues, helping young people to develop mental resilience.

Bromley & Lewisham Mind will be working with the local Minds to deliver the project across five diverse London boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham, Richmond, Harrow and Hackney.

Schuh comes to Broadway Shopping Centre

Southeastern Driver’s Tickets to Artistic Talent Aids Charity

Froml eft to right are Stefan Gerrish and Nadine Boddie of Schuh in Broadway Shopping Centre

Slade Green driver, David Payne may spend his days in the cab of Southeastern’s Metro trains to the Capital, but in his spare time he’s a talented artist.

David, who has worked for Southeastern for 15 years, has painted an original piece of artwork that will be donated to Eltham-based children’s charity, Demelza Hospice. The specially commissioned art, which shows a Southeastern train at Eltham station and includes a number of unique references to the work that Demelza does in the local community, will be donated to the charity next month to hang in its hospice building. It is the latest contribution that Southeastern has made to support the charity, which is one of two local organisations that its staff have chosen to support as charities of the year.

Dover Castle

High street shoe giant Schuh has taken a step forward in Bexleyheath by opening a new store, which has created almost 20 new jobs.

The new shop is the popular footwear chain’s 101th store nationwide and one of those to seize a fulltime position is 30-year-old Stefan Gerrish, after an eight-month period of unemployment.

Peter Sedge, Broadway Shopping Centre Manager, said: ‘We are very pleased to welcome Schuh to Broadway Shopping Centre and it is terrific to hear first-hand from young people like Stefan about the valuable jobs which have been created there.’

Bromley & Lewisham Mind Chief Executive, Ben Taylor, said: ‘With so many people developing mental health problems during their teenage years, it is really important that young people are equipped with tools and approaches to look after their wellbeing and build their resilience. This funding gives us a fantastic opportunity to support young people over the next three years, using the skills of people who have experienced mental health problems to do so.’

We Are Blackheath Growing Communities

Win Comedy Fest

Local people are invited to get involved with a scheme that will deliver fresh organic vegetables into our community every week at an affordable price.

The Project, We Are Blackheath, hopes to get people involved through their website wearblackheath.com which includes loads of discount offers from local stores for use throughout September.

Andrea Britton, founder of the project, hopes to achieve this with the help os social media sites.

Andrea added, ‘We hope to introduce the community and residents to the folk that make our village tick and also encourage the ethos ‘shop local, live local’ that we so strongly believe in.

See more at www.weareblackheath.com

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A full gallery showing David’s work is available at www.facebook.com/loveoilpaintings.

Tickets to See Nina Conti at the Magners Greenwich Image Keith Cardwell Comedy Festival!

For more information about our services and projects please visit www.blmind.org.uk, www.mindcare.org.uk and www.bromleyworkingforwellbeing.org.uk

A new community project has just been launched in Blackheath to promote businesses and support events in the area by creating an online community.

September 2014

Growing Communities, a social enterprise based in Hackney, has worked with a number of community groups in London and beyond to set up vegetable box schemes that support local farmers by ensuring a regular demand for their crops, and provide local people with a weekly supply of very fresh vegetables.

The Lee Greens scheme is now launching to cater to residents of Blackheath, Lee and the surrounding area and we are looking for volunteers to help get the scheme up and running. If you can spare a few hours each month and have an interest in healthy eating, conserving the environment, or communityled trade, then please get in touch.

More details can be found on www.growingcommunities.org/about-us/start-upprogramme/ or email: leegreenslewisham@gmail.com

Win a pair of premium Tickets to see Nina Conti and more at this year’s incredible Magners Greenwich Comedy Festival. Taking place at the National Maritime Museum on Sunday 28 September, the show promises to delight with the British Comedy Award winning ventriloquist/ comic joined by much-loved ‘Father Ted’ star Ardal O’Hanlon, Radio 4 favourite Shappi Khorsandi and the formidably funny Dan Enjoy your as meal in an intimate and cosy setting Atkinson host. with stunning views of the Royal Park. Located right outside the the park’s lower gates, Greenwich Simply answer question below, the send the answer withplace your name, address and- daytime Tavern is the to be this summer come rain number tosome meridian magazine (GCF), ortelephone shine! Start off with filling falafel bites or 68 Summerhouse Drive, taking Bexley,pleasure Kent DA5 moreish meatballs before in 2EE one email oforour tastycompetition@meridian-magazine.co.uk burgers or fresh salads, with a tangy by refreshing the 19 September. and lemon tart or chocolate brownie cheesecake to finish up – all washed down with is theof first name of a What nice glass wine to cleanse your palate. With actor father? a Nina’s friendlyBritish atmosphere and a wide variety of food A) Tom options, the Greenwich Tavern has a lot to offer the B) Dick lucky winner of this competition.

C) Harry One lucky winner can win a 3-course meal for 2 and a bottle of wine at the Greenwich Tavern in the heart of Greenwich with our amazing competition. Simply send your name, address and daytime telephone number to Meridian magazine (Greenwich Tavern), 8 The Village, Charlton, SE7 8UD. Or email your details to competition@meridian-magazine.co.uk by 31 July.

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Local Feature

Bromley Palace Park Nicola Berry explores Bromley’s Hidden Gem

The Park has recently been given a green flag award, which is the mark of a quality green space, yet most Bromley residents will know it simply as the grounds of The Civic Centre.

The other evening I watched a heron swoop elegantly down to the middle of a lake. It sat there for ages with no one to disturb it. The amazing thing is that the heron and I were just a couple of minutes walk from Bromley Town Centre in Bromley Palace Park, which has surely got to be the town’s most undiscovered green space.

In fact, go there after staff at The Civic Centre have finished work and you’re guaranteed to have the place all to yourself.

In 1845, the Palace was sold by the Bishops of Rochester to a wealthy local businessman called Coles Child, who had the building extensively remodeled.

When he died the house became a girls’ finishing school and then, in 1933, Stockwell teacher training college. After almost 50 years the college closed and in 1982 the site became part of Bromley Civic Centre.

The grounds re-opened as Bromley Palace Park just a couple of years’ ago.

The park has recently been given a green flag award, which is the mark of a quality green space, yet most Bromley residents will know it simply as the grounds of The Civic Centre. It’s also home to Bromley Register Office, and the attractive steps of Bromley Palace (also known as the Bishop’s Palace) must have featured in a thousand wedding photographs. Take a closer look however, and Palace Park contains many reminders of a long and distinguished history.

What to see? One of the most important finds in the Park has been Pulham Rockeries, which was rediscovered by the Friends of Bromley Town Parks and Gardens in 2006. These two rockeries were built by James Pulham and Son in 1865, the gentlemen who were also responsible for creating the much admired rockeries in Sundridge Park, Buckingham Palace, Sandringham and Battersea Park. There has been much interest in their work of late, and such is the importance of the Bromley Palace rockeries that they have been given an official Grade II listing by English Heritage. www.pulham.org.uk.

From the 12th Century the site was occupied by a manor house known to be the residence of the Bishops of Rochester. The grounds contained a Holy Well and Oratory, which were dedicated to Saint Blaise, and the site was a place of pilgrimage for many years.

By 1774, however, the Palace had fallen into disrepair and Bishop John Thomas ordered it to be pulled down and rebuilt.

properties to the more famous springs at Tunbridge Wells. Just think – if our forefathers had been a bit more commercially minded, Bromley could have been a Spa town!

The Friends of Bromley Town Parks and Gardens, which is a voluntary organisation, is continuing to work with Bromley Council’s Heritage Department and English Heritage to restore more of the garden’s features. If you’d like to see Palace Park for yourself, a free leaflet providing a self-led tour around the grounds is available at The Civic Centre reception. The Park is open every day and on-site parking is available at the weekend. The Old Palace is closed to the public but rooms are available to hire for wedding ceremonies. www.bromley.gov.uk For more information about The Friends of Bromley Town Parks and Gardens go to: www. bromleytownparks.org.uk Nicola Berry

Look out too for the Ice House, the Ha-Ha, the Mock Medieval Folly and the spring-fed St. Blaise’s Well, which is dedicated to the patron saint of wool carders (Bromley was an important centre for the wool trade in medieval times). Interestingly, the waters have similar

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Retail News

Leisure

The London Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show

Photo: Steve Burden

As the property market regains its confidence, the UK’s fastest growing home show is coming to London for the first time as a combined event designed for both selfbuilders and remodelers. The new London Homebuilding & Renovating and Home Improvement Show proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements will take place from the 26-28 September at Olympia, London. The exhibition will offer visitors the chance to benefit from an extensive range of products and recommendations from more exhibitors than ever before and tips and bespoke advice from an extended expert panel on how to successfully complete a project from start to finish.

Julia Kendell talking through plans and ideas

Piers Taylor, award-winning RIBA architect and co-presenter of BBC2 series ‘The House that £100k Built’ will be making his first appearance on the London expert panel. Charlie Luxton, sustainable architectural designer and presenter of More4’s ‘Building the Dream’, will be making his awaited comeback. and will also appear alongside other homebuilding and home improvement professionals including Michael Holmes, editor-in-chief of the Homebuilding and Renovating Magazine.

Come prepared with your plans and ideas and benefit from the wide range of experts that can offer individual sessions at the Ask the Experts zone. This year, the panel of property specialists includes: Michael Holmes; Jason Orme Piers Taylor; Charlie Luxton; Julia Kendell; Matt James; David Snell; Douglas Kent; Tim Pullen; Bob Branscome; Chris Reeves and Jennifer Newton.

Another new feature for this year’s event is the updated Interior Design and Decorating Clinic, brought to you by Dulux Design Service. Standard tickets are £12 in advance or £17 on the door (children under 16 go free). For further information visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/london or call the ticket hotline on 0871 231 0824.

To win one of the ten pairs of tickets available, simply send your name, address and daytime telephone number to Meridian magazine, 68 Summerhouse Drive, Bexley, Kent DA5 2EE or email those details to competition@meridian-magazine.co.uk by the 19 September.

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Julia Kendell, on screen designer for ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover with Peter Andre and DIY SOS’ on BBC1, provides tips on how to add value to your property:

1. Bathrooms and kitchens, whilst a hefty investment, will add value to a property as the thought of having to endure the upheaval and expense of replacing such important rooms in the house can be overwhelming for buyers. Most are prepared to pay considerably more for a house with new bathrooms and kitchens to avoid the ‘pain’. Tick as many ‘wish-list’ boxes as possible for buyers, such as a range oven, island unit, solid surfaces, walk-in shower etc to maximise the value of the property.

2. One of the key things to add perceived value to your home when selling is to maximise the feeling of space and light. Texture of any kind absorbs light therefore consider simplifying the window treatments by replacing heavy curtains with shutters, woodslat or flat fabric blinds. Fitted shutters are the only window treatment considered to add value to a property. In the same vein, replacing a carpet with a hardwood floor, or a good quality laminate alternative will provide a more open feel.

3. Wallpapering a room prior to marketing is rarely a good idea as it is a risk to assume that potential buyers will like your taste in wallpaper! However, if the walls are in bad condition it is worth skim-plastering and re-painting as most buyers are pretty savvy these days and can see if a new coat of paint is disguising a bad surface.

4. Good lighting is key to showing a home at its best, both in creating the illusion of space and to produce an interesting and ‘designed’ look. Use good quality fittings to highlight good features and move the emphasis away from the less impressive. A statement chandelier or contemporary piece will add sparkle and raise the tone of the property substantially.

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Crossrail Station at Canary Wharf The final aluminium piece was placed on the Foster + Partners designed roof, marking the structural completion of the project which began in May 2009.

The roof will sit above a new roof garden and Canary Wharf Group’s four storey, 115,000 sq. ft. retail and leisure development including shops, restaurants, bars and a cinema. The roof garden and first phase of the retail and leisure space will open in May 2015, three years before trains run through the station.

Canary Wharf Group plc has unveiled a new brand mark and vision for the business, as it continues to diversify its portfolio. The group will be giving greater emphasis on residential and retail developments, both within and outside the Canary Wharf Estate. This reflects the group’s exciting evolution as a developer offering high quality office, retail, leisure and now residential space in London.

The rebrand also secures greater recognition and creates a stronger identity for the group, which started life as an office developer, but now encompasses a full range of activities including landscaping, arts and events, fit out, transport, infrastructure, Level39, residential, retail development and our objective to help place work for local companies through East London Business Place (ELBP), which has already helped to generate £1 billion worth of business.

‘We have regenerated the Canary Wharf Estate into one of the world’s leading business districts and the path ahead sees the group develop its residential offering.’

Sir George Lacobescu Canary Wharf Group’s Chairman and CEO

Reebok Major Multi-Million Pound Investment in Canary Wharf The Reebok Sports Club in Canary Wharf, London has announced details of a £6.5 million investment that will cement its position as one of the world’s leading luxury health clubs.

The Reebok Sports Club is already the UK’s largest luxury health club, spread over three floors and 100,000 square foot, and boasts the largest exercise timetable in London with over 210 classes a week.

The refurbishment – which will expand the current gym floor by a further 2,000 square foot - will see the Mind and Body studio relocated to a newly created Natural Zone on the fourth floor where there will be additional stretching areas available, a private yoga studio and relaxation area.

For more information visit www.reebokclub.co.uk.

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So how is the housing market doing?

It’s always a question I get asked, but I don’t think I have been asked it as much in previous years and there are a lot of them for me! It was a busy start to 2014 and over those first few months the market did get frenetic. ‘Open days’ became the new norm in terms of marketing properties and it was often a bit of a ‘bun fight’ to view your potential dream home. Because of the levels of interest the only fair way was to invite best and final offers, which is never a pleasant experience for all concerned, as you only end up with two happy clients and potentially more unhappy clients.

around the corner (or having arrived by the time you read this) I think the autumn could be a good time to think about moving. Interestingly even as we approach the end of August we are seeing viewing levels rising again.

In terms of where buyers are coming from, there are always a good number that want to stay local, but increasingly we are finding buyers coming from other parts of London, as they are telling us its better value for money here! Similarly we have some local clients who are moving out and buying in the London Borough of Bromley where we have four offices. So if you would like us to help you find a home in that area, I am very happy to talk you through the plusses and minuses.

I am pleased to say that the market is showing signs of returning to more normal levels of activity, which I think is a good thing as prices rising too quickly tends to lead to buyers potentially over committing and finding themselves unable to follow through. A few people have asked if prices are going down, but I don’t think this is the case. Where there have been some reductions in asking prices, it was more likely to be that the property had been priced a little too highly, so the reduction is bringing it down in line with what it should have been.

Going back to my comments about the busy market earlier in the year, we found it was predominantly properties up to £1,000,000 that had the most interest. What has changed is that as the market has plateaued overall, the upper end of the market has started to see increased activity with us having agreed a number of sales around the £2,000,000 level.

Also traditionally the market is a little quieter over the summer months, with many people away, so with September

As I write this with the rain coming down, lets hope for an ‘Indian summer’ to keep the buyers coming!

Greenwich

Guide £800,000

Blackheath

Feel free to call into our office in Blackheath (the old sweet shop on the corner of Wemyss Road) for a chat or contact me on.

E: richard@jdmonline.com T: 020 8463 0091 All the best Richard Piddock

Guide £1,200,000

Fabulous 3 bed cottage in heart of Greenwich next to old Naval College. DLR, train and river bus less than half a mile. Private courtyard garden and parking.

020 8463 0091

Edwardian 5 bedroom family home close to Maze Hill and Westcombe Park train stations and within half a mile of the much sought after Halstow Primary School.

020 8463 0091

Blackheath

Blackheath

Guide £600,000-£625,000

3 bed house tucked away only 0.3 miles from Blackheath station and around the corner from John Ball Primary school. Attractive garden, potential to extend.

020 8463 0091

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

£250,000

1 bed ground floor flat, with access to garden. Parking space. Blackheath Village 0.8 mile. Hither Green station 0.6 mile and Lewisham 0.8 for both train and DLR. 020 8463 0091

Blackheath 020 8463 0091

Locksbottom 01689 880440

Bromley 020 8313 6800

Petts Wood 01689 819819

Chislehurst 020 8325 8000

Lettings 01689 838040

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No 16 Pines Road £2,450,000

No 16 Pines Road is a brand new red brick, detached six bedroom family house set over three levels within the Bickley Park conservation area, in the London Borough of Bromley. The spacious property overlooks playing fields and tennis courts to the front and Bickley Park Cricket Club to the rear. Brick columns, interspersed with iron railings and two twin-automated gates, open onto a large sweeping drive leading to an integrated double garage with wooden doors. The front door is recessed into a large tiled porch. To the rear is a large garden patio area and mature trees.

The internal rooms are exceptionally large and cover in excess of 6,000 sq. ft.

The impressive marble entrance hall has a marble staircase with wrought iron balustrades, leading to a galleried landing on the first floor. Being a family house, the large kitchen and breakfast room is at the centre of the property with an adjacent open plan family room, complete with a high vaulted ceiling housing extra remotely controlled skylights.

Long bi-folding doors open onto the fenced rear garden and patio, making a perfect area for children to play in safety. The kitchen is beautifully fitted throughout and there is a separate utility room for laundry equipment and domestic storage. The kitchen and breakfast room is laid to a marble floor and the entire ground floor has under floor heating. Oak doors with walnut inlay frame the main reception room, dining room, study and cloakroom, all leading off to the large entrance hall.

The majestic staircase leads to the gallery landing which offers lovely views of the large entrance hall. The five en-suite bedrooms lead off the landing. All the contemporary bathrooms have under floor heating and the bedrooms have luxurious carpeting and stylish chrome radiators. The large master bedroom, with its own dressing room, has views to the rear of the property. The bathroom includes an elegant bath, twin wash basins and a separate shower.

On the second floor, there is a further bedroom, bathroom and living room. This separate space is flexible and makes the perfect setting for longer staying guests, a teenager or au pair.

The property benefits from easy access to public transport with Bickley station a fiveminute walk and Bromley South mainline station is a 10-minute drive. The property is well located for the M25, a 15-minute drive. There are excellent state and independent schools in the area, making this brand new property a perfect family home.

To find out more contact JLL, 8 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath Village, London SE3 0TA Tel: 020 852 8383 www. jll.co.uk/residental

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Area Focus

Chislehurst: A Village Of Two Halves A personal view on where to live and why, by Nicola Berry

Royal Parade

Chislehurst Common

Visitors to Chislehurst sometimes get confused. Where exactly is Chislehurst Village?

Is it the High Street or is it Royal Parade. Actually, the answer is both, so if you’re planning to visit this vibrant and attractive village, make sure you take a morning or afternoon to really do it justice.

The High Street and Royal Parade are linked by a series of leafy commons and ponds, which in the summer make it hard to believe Chislehurst is just 15 miles from Central London. There is a real café society here and upmarket chains such as Café Rouge rub shoulders with long-established local restaurants. It’s refreshing to find a good choice of independently owned shops, ranging from smart boutiques to interesting gift shops. In particular, Royal Parade boasts a number of specialist shops together with an excellent Deli, butchers and florist and there are a number of very attractive pubs just perfect for a leisurely lunch. A Farmers Market takes place once a month (the next two are on the 21 September and the 19 October) and there’s always something going. Look out for the intriguingly named ‘ Chislehurst Rocks’ which is a music festival and family fun day for all ages at Walden Rec on the 6 September.

If you like a good walk, a visit to Scadbury Nature Reserve is a must. There are 300 acres of stunning countryside just waiting to be explored, with a Public footpath that leads through ancient woodland and past the site of Scadbury Manor. The Orpington and District Archaeological Society will be holding an Open Weekend at the manor site on the 13 and 14 September. For more details go to: www.odas.org.uk One of the National Trust’s lesser known properties is The Hawkwood Estate, which lies between Chislehurst and Petts Wood. Sadly, there is no stately home to visit, but the area is a haven for wildlife and plants and is a very pleasant place to spend a

Chislehurst Caves

few hours. Alternatively, why not go for a walk underground? Chislehurst Caves has an interesting history; during WW2 it became London’s largest air raid shelter with up to 15,000 people taking refuge in it each night. There was even a hospital where a woman gave birth to baby, who she unfortunately named ‘Cavina’. More recently the caves have been used as a film location for both ‘Merlin’ and ‘Dr Who’. Daily tours of the caves are available for adults and schools; go to www.chislehurst-caves. co.uk for more information.

Many of Chislehurst’s road names reflect the area’s connection with the deposed Emperor Napoleon III of France, who was exiled here in 1871. Together with his wife, the Empress Eugenie, Napoleon was soon holding court in Camden Place (now home to Chislehurst Golf Club) and the great and the good came to visit, including Queen Victoria. Many fine mansions sprung up and soon Chislehurst became THE place to live. Today, it’s still possible to buy a little piece of Chislehurst history. Norman Cottage is a beautiful Grade II listed detached house overlooking Chislehurst Common. Built in the early 18th century, it’s been used as a pub and orphanage in its formative years and is now for sale at £1,600.000. Many large mansions were converted into apartments after the war and depending on size can range from £350,000 - £600,000. Equally popular are the streets of attractive Victorian cottages which are tucked away behind Chislehurst High Street; expect to pay around £400,000 for one in good condition. Chislehurst also has a good range of purpose-built flats starting at £200,000.

Useful websites: www.visitchislehurst.org.uk and www.chislehurst-society.org.uk Next month our area focus will be on Bromley.

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Interiors

Transform your house into a beautiful home For Victoria Smith, it all began when her passion and flare for beautiful home furnishings united to achieve expert and luxury design style. A perfect combination to transform houses into amazing and stunning homes.

Ebony & Ivory was created in January 2013 to provide ‘Timeless & Quality Living’.

Their unique product range delivers stylish and luxurious homeware including bespoke handmade furniture, mirrors, lighting, words of wisdom, candles and fragrances alongside many other home accessories.

Stocking the best in home accessories and carefully selected interior musthaves, Ebony and Ivory has built its client base by supplying only high-end quality items. They pride themselves on having impeccable customer service; no query or request is too big or small for their dedicated team.

They have carefully selected partners to ensure their high standards and expectations are not compromised. Ebony & Ivory’s clients include The Sofa & Chair Company, John Sankey, Culinary Concepts, India Jane, The Libra Company, Eve Victoria, Jadeed Interiors, Halo Living and Coach House to name just a few.

With Christmas approaching, what does your home need? Visit Ebony & Ivory where they can give you more information about their three Lifestyle Packages; Essential Lifestyle, Luxury Lifestyle and Deluxe Lifestyle and discuss your design requirements on the run up to the festive season. Ebony & Ivory can help achieve your look in their business suite with bespoke presentations designed exclusively for your home.

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Join the Ebony and Ivory journey today and transform your house into a beautiful home. For more information Call 020 3078 9131

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Family Law

Question “We are getting married.

Should we have a pre-nuptial agreement?”

In order to maximise the prospect of a pre-nuptial agreement being influential, the considerations/ steps set out below are relevant.

Full and frank disclosure - both parties should provide full details of their financial circumstances and these should be attached by way of a schedule to the pre-nuptial agreement.

Answer

Neither party should feel forced into entering the agreement. Therefore, it is recommended that there should be a minimum period of 21 days between the marriage and the date on which the pre-nuptial agreement is entered into.

A pre-nuptial or pre-marital agreement is a contract entered into between a couple before they marry dealing usually with how money and other assets should be divided between them in the event that their marriage irretrievably breaks down.

Both sides should take independent legal advice on the contents of the pre-nuptial agreement and the solicitors advising on both sides should ideally confirm that this has happened by signing a certificate to that effect which should be attached to the pre-nuptial agreement.

Pre-nuptial agreements are becoming increasingly popular. A common reason for not having one is that it is unromantic, demonstrating a lack of trust between the couple and a lack of faith that their marriage will endure. Pre-nuptial agreements are not automatically legally binding under English Law, but can certainly be taken into consideration when deciding on how matrimonial assets and liabilities should be divided between the spouses in the event of a divorce. There has been a shift in recent times in the longstanding principle in English Law that pre-nuptial agreements are against public policy and therefore not legally binding here.

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The prospects of a pre-nuptial agreement being valid may be improved by the provision of periodic reviews (e.g. on the 5th anniversary…) whereby the level of provision increases with the duration of the marriage.

There might be a better chance of a pre-nuptial agreement being enforceable if it ring fences assets acquired before the marriage, but takes into account the fact that any increase in value of those assets during the marriage should be considered as a matrimonial asset and open to division between the spouses.

About the author Mandeep Clair is a mediator, collaborative lawyer and experienced family solicitor at South East London solicitors Grant Saw. The practice offers friendly, professional family mediation and legal services including a one hour consultation for legal advice for £100+vat.

Please call 0208 858 6971 or email mclair@grantsaw.co.uk

Weddings

Back In Fashion

By Heather Scott

A traditional wedding will never go out of style - you really can’t go wrong with a petal-strewn, white satin aisle - however recently, brides and grooms are choosing something a bit more personal and out of the ordinary for their big day.

The dress The two piece wedding gown - For most brides the wedding dress is the critical factor of the day, with the traditional wedding dress being known as a unified sweeping dress of dreams. None-the-less, the latest trend attracted by the more contemporary, low key brides, is the choice of the two-piece wedding gown, as featured on the very latest 2014 bridal fashion catwalks. This boho-chic look is usually formed with a top garment beautifully coinciding with a bottom skirt, and enables the bride to create an effortlessly cool look whilst having some fun with what she wears.

Convertible bridesmaids dresses - If you’re having a dilemma on dresses to suit your individual bridesmaids, then this latest style could help to solve your problems. The versatile yet fashionable convertible strap bridesmaids dress, allows your best girls to keep in harmony with the style of your wedding, whilst also letting them show off their personal style.

With over 15 ways to wrap, every bridesmaid will be happy with their dress on the big day.

The Flowers Broached Bouquet - It’s all about the bouquet! No bride is complete without a traditional garland of flowers. However, now the bouquet has converted from a floral arrangement to the glamourous and sparkly alternative - the broached bouquet. This is proving progressively popular with modern weddings, and customised jeweled bouquets that incorporate family heirlooms add a more sentimental touch.

Flower centerpieces - There’s a new wedding design trend calling for floral arrangements on every table top at the wedding, even in the restrooms!

Wedding venues are being transformed into spectacular flowered scenes, with current trends including multiple level arrangements using tall, midheight and low-set floral designs to create a more eye-catching effect.

Tall branches such as willow branches add drama to the centerpieces, and tall, wide glass vases containing water and submerged flowers act as impressive holders for the flower-filled dream setting, with more flowers than ever before!

Dress Moonflower Elizabeth Stuart www.elizabeth-stuart.com

The cake Metallic cakes - Say goodbye to the traditional white marzipan encrusted fruit cake favored by past generations, and say hello to a whole new range of decorative and stylish wedding cakes that focus more on the design and exterior look of the big day’s sweet treat.

2014 includes a more quirky approach with cakes covered in metallic shades of bronze, silver and gold. If you are featuring gold, silver or copper tones in your wedding colour scheme, then this can be an interesting way of continuing the wedding theme into your cake design.

The shiny yet elegant cakes bring a glam twist to any wedding day.

‘Naked Cakes’ - This latest trend gives the wedding cake a serious make-under, as couples strip down the traditional frosting and buttercream outer layer, and showcase the glorious tiers of sponge cake and its textures and flavours inside. Here, the chef really gets to show off their hard work and beautiful ingredients that often get hidden behind the cakes décor. This simple and understated look gives a rustic feel to the wedding theme and can be decorated with edible flowers and seasonal fruit.

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Weddings Leisure

Vintage Crockery Hire & Traditional Cream Teas As new trends come and go, one style never seems to fade and that’s vintage. It can range from cosy to opulent and add that extra wow to your wedding, christening, birthday, in fact any event.

The company, Greenwich Tea Party, co owned by Jackie and Vanessa, offer a high quality vintage crockery hire service with traditional English tea, including all the linen required to dress your tables to meet your specific needs. They can cater from tea for two up to two hundred, providing delivery, setting up and service. Their tea ladies serve each table discretely and ensure the plates are never empty.

Clients can hire just the crockery or include the traditional cream tea from their extensive menu, which includes a selection of sandwiches, fresh baked sweet and savoury scones and stunning cupcakes.

For more information visit www.vintagecroceryhiregreenwich.co.uk or call 07732644592/07742 555751.

Venue, Venue, Venue Choosing your dream wedding venue for your celebrations is probably the most important decision you will make when it comes to planning your reception.It’s the place where you will spend most of your day and where the wedding breakfast, evening party and maybe the ceremony will take place, so its crucial to get it right.

Before visiting any potential venues, sit down with your fiancé and decide exactly how you both envisage the style of your wedding. If you’re having a religious wedding, the general rule is that your venue should be no more than twenty-minutes drive from the church. The same rule applies for a registry office. Nothing worse than being issued with an invite and a map!

Local venues include the The North Pole, a stylish modern European restaurant offering the best for your special occasion. The Piano Restaurant can be hired for 90 guests. www.northpolegreenwich.com

The North Pole Tel. 0208 8533020. The North Pole, 131 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8JA.

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Health & Beauty

Ask the Expert

Health & beauty tips and advice

Blackheath Hospital unveils New Department BMI, The Blackheath Hospital have officially opened their new operating theatre department. The new department is phase one of a £3.8 million investment project that will modernise the hospital’s theatre and upgrade its critical care provision.

Work began in September ‘13 to deliver a brand new theatre department with a 6-bed recovery unit, nursing station and upgrades to the hospital’s three theatres.

Behind the scenes the infrastructure L to R: Sue Jones, Richard Evans, Mark Elphick (Project Manager), and support for Hazel Dinnie and Peter Harris. the air-handling units, which filters air coming into the operating theatres, and the medical gas infrastructure has also been upgraded. Two of the hospital’s specialist orthopaedic theatres, which have air supplied through an ultra-clean ventilation (UCV) system, have also been improved to enhance the care of patients undergoing joint replacement surgery.

At the launch Peter Harris, Executive Director at BMI The Blackheath Hospital commented: ‘BMI The Blackheath Hospital has been a part of the fabric of our local community for over 30 years. In this time we have transformed the provision of care we are able to provide to our patients and this new theatre development means we can continue offering our patients the very highest quality care.’

Phase two of the project, which will upgrade the hospital’s high dependency unit to a level 3 Intensive Treatment Unit and deliver a new interventional radiology department, will now begin in the Autumn of 2014.

For more information on BMI The Blackheath Hospital, please visit: www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/blackheathhospital

Book Now! Our next course of Kinesiolog starts this October. Don’t miss out on your chance to learn more about this incredible therapy.

Do you believe that people can have great health – naturally by giving their bodies the right tools?

7 Reasons Why We All Need a Personal Trainer Results: If you are training with a personal trainer (PT) you should be achieving specific goals. Whether its weight loss, muscle gain, or rehabilitation, a PT will help you become accountable.

Education: Any decent PT will make it their mission to educate you on how to maintain the changes you make with them.

Motivation: By regularly booking in with a PT you are far more likely to adhere to your workouts.

Nutrition: There is no way you can out-train a bad diet. A quality personal trainer will create an effective nutrition plan for you as well as coaching you through specific habit changes.

A specific illness or injury: Experienced trainers can help you on your road to recovery. There are effective workouts for the prevention of everything from diabetes to heart disease, so don’t let any ailment stop you from keeping in shape.

Learn how to train on your own: Perhaps the most important of all of my points is that a great trainer will leave you with perfect form and technique as well as a much larger library of exercises to take with you.

It’s cheaper than the gym: Ok perhaps not per hour, but how many times have you signed up for a year long gym membership only to use it a handful of times?

With a trainer you pay for each hour, and that will always be worth the money.

For a PT that will help you achieve all of the above, drop into BBG at Blackheath Rugby Club and we will be happy to help. Call 01732451979 or Email Info@betterbodygroup.co.uk

Repair, Rehydrate, Renew Autumn is all about skin, we at the Greenwich Clipper Spa are devoted to your skin; we ‘live and breath’ skin.

After a long hot summer with constant exposure to the sun, even with sun protection at times, our skin is now at its most vulnerable. Now is the perfect time to repair, rehydrate and renew your dehydrated skin.

We offer two great non-invasive facials. The first is our mesotherapy power facial, this includes diamond tip abrasion, thermotherpy, ultrasound cryo therapy; with this treatment we exfoliate the skin, which unclogs the pores, encouraging the epidermis to work with the unique serums. The results are softened fine lines and wrinkles, repairs to sun damage, rejuvenating the whole face. This treatment is perfect if you have neglected your skin through the summer and need to kick start in to autumn.

Would you like to develop the skills and knowledge to help you, your family and your friends to live a healthier, happier life without pain, ailments or symptoms?

Do you want to be part of an inspiring, eye-opening course that will change the way you see health?

Are you are a parent looking to give your child the best start in life, nutritionally, emotionally and educationally?

Maybe you are looking to help others by embarking in a new and rewarding career in alternative health?

Then Kinesiology Foundation Training is for you. Their highly experienced teaching team is headed by Vanessa O’Sullivan who is also a tutor for The Academy of Systematic Kinesiology (TASK) and lectures on all courses from foundation to Diploma.

Contact Vanessa on 01322 555600 or check out their website for more information on their fun and inspiring accredited training courses; www.healths-angels.com

BEFORE

AFTER

The power facial is a great one-off treatment, but for more long lasting effects we recommend monthly sessions to keep your face looking great, and years younger.

We also suggest our intense pulse light skin rejuvenation facial, which can treat a variety of benign skin conditions,such as: rosacea, the appearance of redness, brown pigmentation and age spots.

Greenwich Clipper, 21 Nelson Road, Greenwich SE10 9JB. www.greenwichclipper.co.uk.

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Ask the Expert

Health advice

When it comes to mouth guards, fit is as important as looks.

On average one in two boys will chip a front tooth by the time they reach the age of 18. Luckily modern dentistry can repair the damage but of course it comes at a cost, both financially and emotionally.

Unfortunately a repaired tooth can also run the risk of future problems; an adult tooth subjected to trauma will often experience root resorption or problems with the gums, such as swelling or receding.

Discolouration is another possibility.

Surely it’s far better and cheaper to prevent a chipped tooth happening in the first place by wearing a mouth guard? There are now a number of good DIY ones available at sports shops. These involve immersing the mouth guard in boiling water until soft and then placing it over the teeth for a few minutes until the guard hardens. Their main advantage is the price - just a few pounds - but the downside is their tendency to rub.They can also make speaking clearly quite difficult!

A more expensive option, is the type of mouth guard available from companies such as Opro, who will go into schools and take impressions of a child’s mouth. This results in a more closely fitting mouth guard, but still this option lacks the custom made service that a dentist can offer.

For around £60, a dentist will provide a bespoke mouth guard that has not only been professionally made, but can be adjusted during the subsequent fitting to ensure total comfort with no rubbing. This is even more important if a child wears a brace, although sometimes it is necessary to have one made by an orthodontist. Either way it’s essential to keep the mouth guard clean by always rinsing if after use and regularly dipping it in a mild solution of Milton or denture cleaner.

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There are many designs of mouth guard including striped, multi-coloured and clear.

Many people now have coloured mouth guards made in their favourite team’s colours or to match their own sports strip.

Up until the ages of 16 or 17 a child should really have a new mouth guard fitted on an annual basis, but from then on a well-made mouth guard should last for quite a few years. At this stage getting a professionally fitted one that is comfortable to wear really is a good investment, because there’s no point in having a mouth guard that just sits in a drawer.

If you are unfortunate enough to have a tooth knocked out and can find the tooth and it is clean - put it back into the socket yourself. If it’s muddy, don’t wash it, just put it into a plastic bag with milk and go straight to your dentist as soon as possible. The sooner the tooth is replaced, the better the chance of success.

Better still, get a mouth guard from your dentist and reduce the chance of this happening!

Finn Dental Specialists, Backwoods, Kelsey Lane, Beckenham, Kent BR3 3NE. Tel: 0208 658 1230. www.finndentalspecialists.com.

MERIDIAN

SUPPLEMENT AUTUMN 2014

Our guide to the best in education locally www.meridian-magazine.co.uk | 29

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E D U C AT I O N

Exciting Time at Babington House School Another Outstanding Year at St Matthew Academy With a sharp fall nationally in English GCSE results to 61% A* to C grades, St Matthew Academy Blackheath achieved outstanding GCSE results of 71% A* to C grades and progress that puts them in the top 5% of schools in the country.

The Four Quadrants of Learning Bickley Park School believes boys must be prepared for the world they will enter as adults, which will be significantly more inter-connected, competitive and I.T driven. To thrive in such an environment, they must develop the confidence to embrace opportunities and stand out from what will be a very large crowd. Bickley boys develop life skills that will help them participate confidently in their senior schools and later lives. They develop the ability to communicate effectively in a variety of situations and form excellent relationships. Above all, they develop into fine young, interesting men with a desire to achieve.

An exciting, boy-friendly, holistic education is framed around Four Quadrants of Learning. The Academic, Arts, Community and Sport/Outdoor Education Quadrants are underpinned by skills for life: to inspire a love of learning; to gain confidence through a wide range of performance opportunities; to take on responsibility from a young age and show initiative; to develop leadership skills, learn to work as an effective member of a team, take managed risks and develop resilience.

Orlane Doumbe (pictured) achieved an A* in English which was one of the 15 A*/A grades.

Principal Barry said “The smile on her face was GREAT. I would like to thank the staff at the Academy for their hard work and Orlane for being a conscientious student. She has made the most of her time at St Matthew Academy, where children are encouraged to develop as confident individuals with academic excellence within a caring Catholic community.”

Orlane was also an active member of the Growing Doctors programme which was developed by The Academy for students to be mentored by medical professionals towards a career in Medicine.

Orlane said “It’s very strange and sad to be leaving SMA after 5 years, I owe a great deal to the teachers, and would like to say thank you to the school”. The Class of 2014 is another outstanding year group of which St Matthew Academy should be very proud.

This is a really exciting time for Babington House School with the arrival of a lot of new children. The School’s commitment to providing an academic and well-rounded education with small class sizes and an individual approach means they are firm in their promise of only having 20 pupils in each class.

They are now accepting boys to the age of 11 in their co-educational Nursery and Preparatory School. The Senior School is now academically selective with an Entrance Examination for Year 7 entry.

One interesting area Babington House School is currently developing is a small Sixth Form starting in September 2014. A range of subjects are available including Maths, History, English, Law, Business Studies and Politics. There is a real focus on work experience and our students’ future career path.

Tim Lello, Headmaster says, “This is a modern school with traditional values where self-discipline is highly prized, where bright pupils benefit from carefully monitored and well directed learning and where each child is known as an individual”.

Come and see for yourself at our Open Morning on Saturday, 4th October from 9am. www.babingtonhouse.com

www.stmatthewacademy.co.uk

100% Common Entrance Success

Bickley boys are taught to think big and aim high.

A programme of world class speakers and careers advice helps boys aspire to make the most of their talents. This results in outstanding achievements, be it through gaining places at world class schools, winning national and international competitions or by developing first-rate manners.

Congratulations to Year 8 pupils at Sevenoaks Prep School who all passed their common entrance exams into the senior schools for which they were entered. Between them, they also won 15 academic, art, drama, music, and sport scholarships and exhibitions. They worked extremely hard and we are very proud of them. As our student leaders, throughout the year they have set a great example to our younger pupils.

Bickley Park School is a fantastic school. Don’t just take our word for it. Come and see for yourself.

We will miss them enormously when they leave us at the end of this term, and we wish them every success in their senior schools.

Bickley Park School

Well done to all our Year 8 pupils and to their teachers! www.theprep.org.uk

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Education

Bromley High Appoints New Head Bromley High School, a school with 130 years of tradition, but with a view to the future

Angela Drew is newly appointed headmistress of Bromley High School from this September. I caught up with her unpacking boxes of books to fill the new floor to ceiling bookshelves in her office.

Having taught English, she has acquired her own personal library and it seems you can never have too many books.

Her teaching career spans 25 years and includes; Housemistress at a girls boarding school, Head of English and Drama and Head of 6th form at Mary Erskine School. More recently she taught in Whitgift School in Croydon, and George Watson’s College in Edinburgh before taking up the role of Deputy Head Academic at Epsom College.

‘Education is constantly changing and you can never sit still, you have to be ahead of the game’

Married with two children, a twenty-year old daughter studying at UCL, and a seventeen- year old son in the upper sixth.

On taking the helm at the flagship GDST School, Angela remarks, “it’s a huge pleasure to return to girls’ education. Bromley High epitomises that spirit of boundless ambition which makes the GDST such a beacon for innovation and excellence in girls’ education.”

Having worked in both single sex schools and Co-Ed she has gained a lot of experience in teaching both sexes, and their particular needs, aptitudes, learning preferences and strengths. Interestingly, with experience of both single sex education and Co-Ed, and as a mother, Angela is of the opinion that during the teenage years, ‘it is immeasurably harder being a girl’, and all the more important that girls have the opportunity to develop these qualities in a supportive and challenging environment.

And it is by no means, that the majority of Schools at the top of the Independent league tables tend to be all girls schools. The school’s ethos is ‘A desire to do one’s best and a belief that it is right for girls to aspire to the very highest level. And it is in this environment, where every girl is equal, and every girl is an individual, that every girl can thrive’, and they do.

As new Headmistress, does she have any changes planned for the school in the near future?

Angela, says that the School is in a great shape. She will however, be bringing her love of English and debating to the school. Sitting amongst the books is a gavel.

Debating is a passion of hers and the fact that girls should have a voice, and be heard. Angela draws attention to the continuing under representation of women in the political sphere and emphasises the importance of encouraging young women to develop confidence in articulating their own opinions. Perhaps the new female Education Secretary, Nicky Morgan, will provide inspiration for school girls to take a role in public life.

She will not only be managing the school as head she will also be teaching Critical Thinking to Year 10 students, which develops the ability to interpret, analyse and evaluate ideas and can support thinking skills in all subject areas, from Arts and Humanities to Sciences.

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‘Excellent in All Areas’

Education

Blackheath High School receives glowing inspection report and welcomes a new Headteacher

of its development and I am looking forward to working closely with the staff, students and parents in taking the school forward and building on these achievements.”

Following Mrs. Lisa Laws’ retirement, Blackheath High School welcomes a new Head: Mrs. Carol ChandlerThompson has recently returned from South Korea to take up the position, where she was ‘Head of the Girls’ School’ at a brand new, start-up independent boarding school: North London Collegiate School, Jeju.

Mrs Chandler-Thompson is delighted to be taking over the helm at such an important juncture in our school’s history, having recently received a superb report following an inspection by the Independent School’s Inspectorate. She said “It is a fitting tribute to Mrs. Laws and the teaching staff that our exceptional school has received such a glowing ISI inspection report which rightly applauds the outstanding educational provision throughout the Junior and Senior schools. It is a privilege to lead Blackheath High into the next phase

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The report rated Blackheath High as ‘excellent in all areas’, including: pupils’ achievement and learning; curricular and extra-curricular provision; teaching; the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils; pastoral care; welfare, health and safety; quality of governance and the quality of leadership and management. It summarised that “pupil achievement in their work and activities is excellent throughout the school and they are very well educated, fully in line with the school’s aim to promote academic excellence. High achievement is strongly supported by the pupils’ excellent attitude towards learning, which richly fulfils the school’s aim to nurture a love of learning and develop independent and enquiring minds.”

Blackheath High’s strong focus upon cultivating the students’ full academic potential is based upon a firm commitment to the girls’ whole development: spiritual; intellectual; emotional and physical. To this end, our rich curriculum, both inside and outside the classroom, is supported by Blackheath’s ‘Pillars of Learning’: Resilience; Enterprise; Innovation; Community Spirit and Environmental Awareness.

The pillars ensure that the Blackheath High education provides a consistent focus upon developing the character and skills of the girls, as well as their academic abilities, equipping and inspiring them to flourish in whatever path they choose in the future.

Blackheath girls leave us as aspirational young women with the confidence to see a world of opportunities and challenges, not boundaries and obstacles.

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St LeonardsMayfield St Leonards-Mayfield is a Catholic independent school for girls aged 11 to 18 nestled in the heart of the East Sussex countryside.

Over its 150 year history Mayfield has gained a reputation for excelling in a wide range of disciplines and for giving its girls the chance to be themselves within a challenging yet supportive environment.

Mayfield girls are encouraged to educate their minds, bodies, hearts and souls. Each girl has the space to develop a love of knowledge and sound working habits, taking responsibility for her own learning. The result is excellent public examination grades and university places at a wide range of leading institutions.

From fashion design to forensic science and netball to drama, Mayfield girls are also encouraged to extend themselves outside the classroom. The riding team has won the National Schools Equestrian Association Championship on numerous occasions. The elite choir, Schola Cantorum, has sung at St Pauls, Westminster Cathedral and St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The School has received several national awards for ceramics. Weekly boarders are ferried to and from London in a dedicated school coach.

Add to this Mayfield’s outstanding pastoral care and it is easy to why Mayfield girls are so well prepared to take their place in the outside world. www.mayfieldgirls.org

Bishop Challoner

Education

At Bishop Challoner, your child will learn within a caring happy and secure environment. We are committed to ‘outstanding pastoral care’ and the highest level of academic achievement.

Our ethos is one that nurtures individual talent, respects all faiths and creates a learning partnership for all. We are proud of our pupils who flourish in a community where individual support and attention is second to none.

Pupils foster a love of learning through high quality teaching, which challenges, motivates and allows them to be innovative and creative, giving them a sense of excitement, curiosity and fun.

We achieve excellent examination results reflecting a lot of hard work and dedication.

Our motto challenges each and every pupil to dare to do their very best.

Our School provides a safe, welcoming environment where every child is encouraged to reach their full potential. Small classes ensure that every child receives individual care and attention whilst benefiting from healthy competition. Pupils are stimulated and challenged well beyond the boundaries of the national curriculum.

We offer an extensive programme of extra curricular activities and we are recognised for outstanding success in Fencing at local and National level.

Applications for all year groups will be considered at any time of year and entry to the school is by informal assessment which is carried out during a taster day for the Junior School and entrance examination and interview in the Senior School.

You are welcome to visit the school at any time, to make an appointment.

Please contact our Admissions Registrar, Mrs Sue Long on 020 8460 3546.

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Building on Excellence

Education

New Headmaster, Guy Sanderson, starts at Eltham College Guy enthuses about the school, “There is nothing like a really broad extra-curricular programme for teaching resilience, building character and teamwork. At Eltham College that complements the outstanding academic programme that really stretches each student so that we bring out the best in everyone. It is genuinely rare to find a school where that all happens and Eltham College is different in that sense. That’s because of the size – it’s a medium-sized school, so we know all the boys, know all the girls in the Sixth Form and there is a real strong sense of individual care.”

Guy Sanderson joins Eltham College this September as the next Headmaster and is thrilled to become part of such a flourishing community. Previously at Reigate Grammar where he spent the last eleven years, latterly as Deputy Head, Guy is looking forward to further strengthening the school and building plans for continued success in the future.

Eltham College is an independent day school, set in over 60 acres of playing fields, for boys from the age of 7 to 18 and girls aged 16 to 18 in the co-educational Sixth Form. Academic excellence, combined with strong individual pastoral care and a vibrant extra-curricular programme are all on offer here, enabling exceptional personal development.

Having a Senior School of around 630 pupils allows Eltham College to offer the full range of academic subjects and build a timetable each year around individual students. It also gives teachers and form tutors the time to get to know their pupils personally, to understand their strengths and identify areas for development, in order to bring out an individual’s talents.

Eltham College was inspected in March 2014 and the resulting Independent Schools Inspection (ISI) report concluded that the academic achievement at the school, the curriculum offered, the teaching, the personal development of the pupils, and the pastoral care are all excellent, a term which is equivalent to the level “outstanding” used by Ofsted in state school inspections. In addition they found that the extra-curricular programme allows pupils to “develop exceptional skills” and overall the pupils “achieve an exceptionally high level of personal development”.

Guy is looking forward to talking to all of the parents and pupils about his plans to strengthen the sporting, academic and culture achievements of the school, while ensuring that no pupil will ever be lost in the crowd.

To find out more about Eltham College and to meet Guy Sanderson, please visit our Open Morning on Saturday 20 September 2014 from 10am to 12.30pm.

Eltham College Grove Park Road, Mottingham, SE9 4QF 020 8857 1455 www.eltham-college.org.uk

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Plumstead Manor School

Education

Releasing the potential

At Plumstead Manor School our ambition is to release the potential of every member of our community; supporting all in becoming aspirational, caring, creative, independent and reflective, fostering a love of learning and sense of self-belief in embracing the challenges of an ever changing world. We are fully inclusive, offering our young women opportunities to unlock their potential and achieve academically as they develop socially, emotionally and make lasting friendships.

We work to ensure that every student achieves her very best and our motto, ‘Success and Harmony’, underpins all that we do. We offer a challenging personalised curriculum, broad and balanced, enhanced by a wealth of enrichment activities delivered by a highly motivated, creative and enthusiastic staff. Our students are guided and supported by form tutors and key stage pastoral staff throughout their studies and have the opportunity to act as form captains and represent the student ‘voice’.

We offer a wide variety of extra-curricular clubs, trips and day visits and provide opportunities to get involved in the wider life of the school and beyond.

Our students are encouraged to participate in a variety of charitable causes and philanthropic activities and we are very proud of their achievements. We encourage personal responsibility and community leadership with our prefects, form captains, peer mentor sports and dance leaders.

The majority of our students choose to remain with us throughout their school career. At our post 16 centre, we offer a vast range of Level 3 - AS/ A level and BTEC courses, as well as Level 2 BTEC. Our thriving co-educational post 16 provision achieves excellent results, enabling students’ progression into higher education, university and / or employment as well as gaining skills and personal qualities through enrichment and mentoring.

We value our partnership with parents and carers holding regular curriculum and parents’ evenings where parents can work in partnership with teachers to help their daughters learn effectively.

Our excellent facilities include a new performing arts theatre complex with new music, dance and drama studios, recording studio and theatre, library, sports hall, outdoor amphitheatre and climbing wall and dedicated

sixth form centre. All of our school buildings and outdoor spaces have been refurbished with state-ofthe-art ICT equipment and wi-fi to ensure we offer first class, 21st century facilities to our school community.

To find out more about what Plumstead Manor can offer please visit the school’s website www. plumsteadmanor.com or come along to see for yourself on one of our open morning or evening events in September and October (Post 16).

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Education

St Saviour’s & St Olave’s Record results for second year running

Students at St Saviour’s and St Olave’s School are jumping for joy as their acheivements have produced yet another record-breaking set of exam results. First it was the turn of Sixth Formers, who produced an array of fantastic results, which included outstanding individual successes: Emma Rahman will take up a place at Christ’s College Cambridge to study Natural Sciences and will be joined at the country’s best university by Hanen Ziad, who will study Philosophy at Trinity Hall. Ayesha Ahmed will be going to Imperial College to study Medicine, Chelcie Ambrosio will begin undergraduate studies in Accounting and Finance at LSE, whilst Yasmin Kudsi will study at Skidmore College in New York having secured a scholarship through the Fulbright Programme. Head of 6th Form, John Breslin expressed his delight: “This confirms our status as one of the best state school for girls in South London.

Whether you are aiming for the best universities or the most prestigious industry placements, St Saviour’s girls have shown that with hard work and commitment, you can achieve these goals.”

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The following week was even better as the school delighted in announcing its best ever GCSE results.

82% of Year 11 students achieved the key benchmark of 5 A* to C including English and Mathematics, an improvement of 4% on last year. Achievement was reflected across a broad range of subjects, with a record 45% of students achieving the EBacc group of qualifications.

Headteacher Catherine May enthused: “Congratulations to all of our year 11 students on these wonderful results. They are the best in the school’s history and I am so proud of the girls. They have worked extremely hard along with our totally dedicated teaching and support staff, and I’m delighted their effort has been so well rewarded. We look forward to them achieving further success in our 6th Form.

I would strongly urge any parents looking for a truly great school for their daughter to come along to our open sessions and see how we do things.”

St Savours and St Olaves School is are a fully inclusive and very successful inner city Church of England school for girls. With roots that can be traced back to 1562, and only five headteachers in the last 110 years, we provide an educational environment of stability and tradition that enables our whole community to learn from the very best of our shared heritage.

The schools new facilities, include a new building completed in January 2013 providing state-of-the-art ICT, drama, science and sixth form spaces that enable us to provide the very best education for our 21st century students.

Details can be found at www.ssso.southwark.sch.uk or by calling 0207 407 1843.

Breaside Preparatory School

Education

Should I choose Breaside Preparatory School for my child?

As the name suggests, the role of preparatory schools is to prepare your child for their entrance into senior education, so don’t be surprised to see a plethora of subjects on the curriculum. Your child will experience a well rounded education albeit in a nurturing environment.

Classes are significantly smaller, allowing all pupils to progress. At the same time, this allows all staff to know their pupils and therefore offer a bespoke curriculum. Self confidence is encouraged and children are constantly motivated to enjoy and embrace all the opportunities that arise within this positive learning environment.

The academic curriculum within a preparatory school is clearly of the utmost importance. Throughout your child’s time at their preparatory school, they will be prepared for the common entrance and scholarship tests and preparatory schools’ academic credentials are renowned.

If the above isn’t enough to tempt you, consider the other aspects of a stimulating, all-round education.

Your child will have the opportunity to experience a wide range of music, playing in an orchestra or participating in the choir. Let’s not forget the range of sporting events that your child can take part in. Children in a preparatory school experience a range of sports, including rugby, hockey, swimming and cricket,

Should you choose a preparatory school for your child? Well, if you want to give them the best possible start in life, then the answer has to be yes. The investment will pay off as you see your child blossom into a well rounded, self confident, individual, ready to face the world!

Breaside Celebrates Another Year of Outstanding Examination Results Over 90% of Breaside Children selected for Grammar School Places.

Breaside Preparatory School prepares pupils from 2½ to 11 years for both Grammar and Independent Senior Schools in a caring and nurturing environment.

Once again, SATs and 11+ entry results for 2014 were outstanding.

Pupils also received academic, creative and sports scholarships to Eltham College, Trinity, Colfes, Walthamstow Hall and Bromley High, together with places offered to local Grammar Schools, including St Olave’s, Newstead Woods, The Judd, Dartford, Tonbridge, Beths, Chislehurst and Sidcup and Wilmington.

Breaside is committed to achieving the very best for each individual child from Kindergarten through to preparation for secondary transfer at the end of Year 6.

For more information or a personal tour of the School and Kindergarten please call 020 8460 0916, info@breaside.co.uk, www.breaside.co.uk

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Sydenham High celebrates exam and scholarship success

Education

Students at Sydenham High GDST have been celebrating exceptional exam success, prestigious scholarships and university places this Summer.

A level results brought a one hundred per cent pass rate, with three quarters of the Sydenham High students achieved A*/B grades and a third securing A*/A grades. There were also celebrations for places on a wide range of courses at top universities including Cambridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Manchester, St Andrews and York.

Amongst the highest scoring students were Rosie Cope and Elizabeth Treece who both achieved A*AA in their subjects, pictured here with fellow student Olivia Muir who secured an A* in her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Rosie will be heading to Cambridge to study French and Olivia to Exeter to start a degree in Clinical Psychology. Meanwhile Elizabeth will be following her dream to become a professional dancer with a place at the London Studio Centre, including a first year scholarship.

Meanwhile at GCSE, 65 per cent of students gained A*-A grades and 29 per cent achieved specifically A*s, with three girls gaining the magic number of ten A* grades.

Ninety-six per cent of passes were A-C. One very happy student was Katie Mills. Not only did the 16-year old (pictured with Headteacher Kathryn Pullen) achieve two A*s and eight As, she has also been awarded a nationally sought-after Arkwright Engineering Scholarship which identifies her as one of the country’s future leaders in engineering and technical design.

The renowned Arkwright Engineering Scholarship will not only provide Katie with a financial award to support her A level studies but also a range of activities to enhance her understanding and experience of engineering. The win her scholarship, which is respected by leading universities and top employers such as Rolls Royce, BAE

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Systems and Microsoft Research, Katie competed against a field of over 1,300 candidates from across the UK. Dr Martin Thomas, Chief Executive of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust, said: “I am delighted to see a student from Sydenham High School secure this prestigious accolade. Clearly, there is considerable technical talent here.” The head of design firm Conran recently also praised the school for teaching originality and not just technique in Art and Design Technology.

Kathryn Pullen, Sydenham High’s Headteacher, said: “I am so proud of our girls in achieving these great results against the recent background of change in the exam system. They’ve all worked hard and had tremendous support from their teachers and parents. Their resilience and determination are at the heart of the educational experience we offer here and will stand them in good stead as they progress with their education or into the world of work. Their achievements are just the beginning of a bright future.”

Education

The advance of Co-education

Heads and governors of single-sex girls’ schools will not have welcomed this year’s Independent Schools Council census.

It shows that numbers of girls in girls-only schools have declined by 20% over the last decade. During that period the number of girls-only schools in the independent sector has also diminished, from 203 to 168.

These statistics are stark but unsurprising. Over the last 20 years most erstwhile boys’ schools in the independent sector have become co-educational, either in the Sixth Form or throughout. London schools which have made the change include Highgate, University College School, Latymer Upper and KCS Wimbledon. My own school, Colfe’s, has been fully co-educational since 1999.

The most compelling argument for co-education is also the most obvious: more parents want schools to prepare their children for a world which contains both men and women. University will be co-educational and the rest of your life will be coeducational.

But the benefits of co-education extend beyond the crucial business of preparing for life in general. The social balance enables boys and girls to learn from each other, breaking down the intense and difficult social dynamics which can so easily develop when boys or girls are left to their own devices.

The educational experience is enriched by the presence of both male and female perspectives in classrooms and laboratories. This principle applies as much in Physics as it does in English Literature.

And despite the assertions of girls-only schools, there is no objective evidence that their pupils achieve better results. Girls do better at our national examinations regardless of which type of school they attend. When I subtracted the boys from the Colfe’s A Level results last year, 91% of the remaining grades were B or above, which would make us one of the best girls’ schools in the country.

Don’t assume, however, that boys and girls in co-educational schools will necessarily talk to each other. Friendship groups tend to be single-sex, at least until the Sixth Form; pupils may delay meaningful social interaction with the opposite sex for several years. Does this matter? No, it does not. The presence of both genders, per se, is a social advantage in preparing pupils for university and the rest of their lives.

Richard Russell Headmaster Colfe’s School, Lee.

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Education

King’s Rochester A school on the move

It is, without doubt an exciting time for King’s Rochester as new and ongoing developments continue to the secure its place as an outstanding school for 3 – 18 year olds.

September 2014 will bring new subjects to the curriculum with GCSEs in Drama, Computing, and Dual and Triple Award Science and A level Theatre Studies.

The school has also introduced the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) to enable its most able students to extend their academic interests and to hone some of the study skills required by the best universities.

New Challenge Grades introduced in 2013 provide aspirational but realistic targets for pupils and, together with tight tracking and monitoring across all three areas of the School - Pre-Prep, Prep and Senior - play an important role in ensuring that every pupil is stretched and supported to achieve to their maximum and that their progress is evaluated and reported to parents in the greatest detail.

Extra-curricular successes and developments are many and varied at King’s. Unsurprisingly, music plays a central role in this Cathedral Choir School and the School is very lucky to be able to stage many concerts, operas and dramatic events in Rochester Cathedral itself. The Cathedral Choristers have recorded for BBC Radio and Television, performed on London’s South Bank with the James Taylor Jazz Quartet and taken part in the Whitstable Arts Festival in addition to their regular singing at the daily services in the Cathedral. Examples of outstanding musical ability amongst pupils span the

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breadth of musical disciplines from Choral Music to Strings, Piano to Percussion and Opera to Jazz. Sixth Form leavers in 2014 continued to win Scholarships to conservatoires such as the prestigious Royal College and Royal Academy of Music and King’s regularly celebrates with its pupils who win local competitions such as the Medway Young Musician of the Year, Maidstone Young Musician of the Year or who are chosen to sing with National Youth Choirs, perform Organ recitals at Coventry Cathedral or Oundle – or even win the more local Rochester Battle of the (Rock) Bands competition!

The school recently reported another great year of A level results with a 100% pass rate, and a third successive increase in the percentage of pupils gaining A* grades in GCSE. Without doubt, pupils of all ages at King’s will benefit and, in many cases, already are benefiting - immensely from the developments that have been introduced and are ongoing. Each and every development builds on the School’s academic and operational aims which, in turn, are set out to provide the highest calibre educational experience for pupils.

Easily accessible from Kent and the South East and 30 minutes by train from central London. King’s has a beautiful location in the heart of Rochester. Pupils

travel on daily minibus from Kings Hill, Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Gravesend and Rainham. The School holds three Open Days as well as taster days throughout the year.

To find out more about the School, a great place to start is the next Open Day on Saturday 4th October 2014, from 9.15am to 12.00pm. Booking is not required but for further information, please contact the Registrar, Lynne Davies on 01634 888590 or email admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk.

For more information on the school, visit www.kings-rochester.co.uk.

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Steiner education…

A Love of Learning

Education

Austrian born, Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925), philosopher and scientist, inspired what has become a worldwide movement of schools. A Steiner education develops a love of learning and an enthusiasm for school through artistic activity and the development of the imagination as integral to learning.

Greenwich Steiner School based in the grade II listed Georgian villa, Woodlands House next door to Mycenae House is a small, successful independent school, located in the leafy Blackheath area.

They welcome all abilities from all faiths and backgrounds and take in to account the needs of the whole child – academic, physical, emotional and spiritual, based on an understanding of the relevance of the different phases of child development.

The school offers a dynamic and modern version of the Steiner Waldorf curriculum to provide an all-round education for children aged 3-14 years.

The priority of the Steiner ethos is to provide an unhurried and creative learning environment, which is experienced, explored and savoured. The main differences you first observe at a Steiner school are that the children do not start formal literacy and numeracy until aged 6. From age 3 to 6 they are in kindergarten where there they learn through free play and imitation. From age 7 until 14, children have

the same class teacher, which fosters a real sense of security within the pupils. Whole class, mixed ability teaching is the norm. Children learn to play a stringed musical instrument and eurythmy (expressive movement) as well as all the subjects of the national curriculum in a way, which engenders creativity, resilience and the joy of learning rather than academic hot-housing. The children become confident, sociable and able young people equipped to move on successfully to mainstream schools.

In the school’s most recent Ofsted report, the findings were: ‘…there is much outstanding teaching, which results in enthusiastic learning and high standards’ ‘Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) make a good start to their education; their personal and emotional development is outstanding…’

‘The quality of the curriculum has some outstanding features.’

‘The quality of pupils’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding; they are confident, articulate young people with high self-esteem who value both their own uniqueness and that of others.’ ‘it encourages independent learning and research skills to flourish through excellent teaching and curriculum planning in Middle School so that pupils are very well prepared for the next stage of their education.’

Steiner schools have a reputation for producing wellrounded and balanced human beings who are able to cope with the demands of a fast-changing and uncertain world.

Visit an Open Day on Saturday 4 October 2014 10am-12.30pm or Saturday 15 November 2014 10am-12.30pm

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Education

Shooters Hill Post 16 campus Established in 2002, Shooters Hill Post 16 Campus has built-up a proven track record in delivering high quality education and training across a wide range of academic and specialist vocational curriculum areas. Whatever an applicant’s prior school achievement, the Campus has customised courses from Entry through to Level 3 that will offer the right starting-point for preparation for further training, employment or Higher Education.

As a centre exclusively working with 16-21 year olds, the Campus offers an adult learning environment in which young people can grow in confidence, develop new skills in a modern and attractive state-of-the-art centre and prepare for work in the 21st Century.

Through word of mouth recommendation, our unique provision has meant that we have grown to be one of the largest sixth form providers in the South East of London. Our size enables us to offer exceptional additional learning support alongside an exciting programme of extra-curricular activities. Our students have access to an extensive set of post 16 Student Services which includes an assigned personal tutor, as well as the support of a bespoke team of Personal Progress Tutors who work alongside each department providing pastoral support to help our students achieve to the best of their ability.

Students at The Campus describe the learning environment as “adult, supportive and relaxed” which is something that we take pride in. The Campus community atmosphere enables our young learners to build new friendships and indulge their extra-curricular passions whilst receiving a top quality education in their chosen subjects.

We hope that you will find the time to come and visit The Campus at one of our open events during 14/15. During your visit you will have the opportunity to meet the Director and Teaching Staff as well as receiving a tour of our facilities from our Student representatives.

2014-15 Campus Open Events Saturday 11th October 2014 10am -12pm Thursday 6th November 2014 5pm -8pm Tuesday 20th January 2015 5pm -8pm Thursday 5th March 2015 5pm -8pm Friday 3rd July 2015 12pm -3pm

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Parenting News

Invest in a Bee Wheelybug for your child in a bee Design and you’ll be helping to save the rare Shrill Carder Bee from extinction. Hippychick, distributors of the award-winning Wheelybugs, will be giving a percentage of the proceeds of Christmas sales to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, a national charity devoted to raising awareness of the plight of bumblebees. The trust is running a local project on the Somerset Levels where the Hippychick HQ is based, designed to bring this particular species of bumblebee back from the brink.

The Wheelybug Bees will be delivered for Christmas complete with activity sheets designed to encourage children from a young age to develop an appreciation of the humble bumble and the vital role that bees play in our lives.

The Bee Wheelybug retails at £59.95 (suitable for ages 1-3) and £69.95 (suitable for ages 2-5) and is available from www.hippychick.com.

London parents more likely to ask for advice Four out of five parents (80 per cent) in London have sought advice on parenting, the joint highest number in any region of the UK, with only the South East matching it, according to a survey published today by Action for Children. This compares to two in three parents (67 per cent) in Yorkshire and Humber, the lowest.

Nationally, parents who use children’s centres are more likely to seek help, with 86 per cent of them saying they have looked for information compared to 62 per cent of parents who have never visited a children’s centre.

Emma Horne, UK South Operational Director at Action for Children, said: ‘Parents face many challenges so it’s important to know where to seek help. If you’re looking for information on issues like your child’s behaviour, routines or relationships, the parenting courses at our children’s centres can help - parents who use them are overwhelmingly positive about the difference they make.

‘Getting help early for difficulties affecting your family can stop them developing into bigger problems, so don’t feel embarrassed or scared to ask. Staff at our children’s centres work with mums and dads to support parents, not judge them.’

For more information, visit actionforchildren.org.uk

Learn Through Play Play helps young children to learn and develop their physical, social, emotional and intellectual skills through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think.

It is also how they learn to socialise, as children engage in learning experiences with other children and adults.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is a play-based framework that childcare providers use as a tool to ensure that children from birth to five years are developing and learning to their full potential. Providers plan and provide a range of play activities, which help children to make progress in each of the following areas of learning and development:

& This hugely successful pre-school nursery is proud to continue serving the local residents of Blackheath & surrounding areas - 13 years’ experience and still going strong.

Staffed by the most experienced nursery assistants that who are committed to maximising your child’s development, places are flexible and very competitively priced.

‘Children very much enjoy their time in the setting. They feel safe, have a strong sense of belonging and have formed very caring relationships outside the family home’ - Rated Good during Ofsted inspection 2011 Just Two’s is happy to announce the opening of our new pre-school room Just Three’s, from January 2015. This will be open to children who are three years old and upwards.

Come and look around at this exciting new room. Running from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday at a competitive fee per day, with no minimum days required, it serves as a perfect solution to your childcare needs.

Personal, social and emotional development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement.

Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Communication and language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

It’s never too early to socialise your baby/toddler by joining a baby/toddler group, toddler gyms or even baby swimming lessons. It will also give the parent(s) an opportunity to socialise as well, which is just as important, as new mums can feel isolated in the early stages.

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All Bar One at the O2 Tucked neatly into the side of the cavernous entrance to the O2 centre is a well run All Bar One that manages to buck the trend of other bars in what can often seem like an aircraft hangar by feeling intimate and friendly. The bar still covers a large amount of floor space but its three levels are well designed and the decor and lighting add to the warm ambience.

Food News and Reviews

The Everest Inn Yadav Bhandari talks to Meridian about the Everest Brand and what it entails.

Sharing plates and cocktails were the order of the day with 5 recommended as enough for two people at £26. All the plates are good amounts of high quality food and the variety of choice is excellent. We settled on confit cherry tomato and asparagus risotto, crispy calamari, halloumi skewers, mini Thai crab cakes, and tempura prawns. All were perfectly cooked and managed to avoid the standard bar food downfall of being battered to within an inch of their lives. The risotto was particularly good; richly flavoured and perfectly sticky and the delicate tempura prawns were demolished in nanoseconds, which is always a good sign. There are such a wide variety of choices that I’ll need to return for the meatballs and chorizo and tomato bruschetta another day.

This is a good spot for a catch up; you can watch the comings and goings in the O2 on the outside terrace or relax inside. The staff are friendly and efficient and if you arrive ahead of your friend like I did, they are kind and chatty to lone travellers! The cocktails were excellent, dangerously good in fact. Once the barman had confessed that the espresso martini was his favourite to make that had to be ordered alongside a salted caramel martini. All the drinks were delicious and dangerously potent so I’d recommend coming to All Bar One after your film and not before at the O2, if you were planning on remembering any of the plot! Tasmin Steer All Bar One, Unit 2, The O2, Greenwich, SE10 0DX. Tel: 0208 305 9522.

The Honor Oak Returns to Its Glory Days

The Everest Inn, Blackheath is part of a family enterprise that includes two restaurants in Kent (Hythe and Ashford), and more recently, they have opened a restaurant in Perth, Scotland.

Recently reopened, The Honor Oak, a British Gastro Pub has been taken back to its former glory days as a popular community hub in south east London following a £600,000 refurbishment. Notable additions include a Whisky Room with hundreds of different varieties; a specially commissioned and specific and labeled for The Honor Oak branded Brut Champagne at £6.95 per glass and £39.50 a bottle; over 30 fine wines and the All-Malt British Beer – The Governor, created by Marco Pierre White and JW Lees Brewery.

The award winning restaurants are owned and run by two brothers, Yadav and Pashupati Bhandari and the team. The first restaurant to open was the Hythe branch and it’s very special to them as it marked the beginning of their successful relationship with the local communities. Everest Inn even has a fair trade store in Ashford selling products imported from Nepal.

There will also be an emphasis on local produce including craft ales and locally sourced ingredients for its gastro pub food, which will include homemade scotch eggs & pork scatching’s, ploughman’s lunch, to a wide variety of grill steaks, homemade pie’s, an abundance of traditional ‘British dishes’.

Other notable additions will be multi-purpose function rooms, which will be used for a variety of different activities including: “City Speed Dating” nights; whisky tasting evenings; cheese and wine parties; quiz nights; private functions and lots more.

Open 7-days a week for Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Mon-Wed: (10am to 12 midnight); Thurs-Sun: (10am to 1am).

The Honor Oak, 1 St German’s Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 1RH. Tel: 0208 690 9222. www.thehonoroak.co.uk

Meantime Brewery Meantime have turned a construction site next to the Thames into the first permanent hop farm in London in over 100 years. In September the hops will be harvested and used to make a beer that reflects a true flavour of the capital.

The urban farm, which can be viewed from the Thames pathway, is part of Meantime’s ongoing commitment to engage people with the art of British brewing. The brewery – named due to its Greenwich location - has built the farm on the Meridian Line on Greenwich Peninsula, next to The O2 and across the river from Canary Wharf.

Designed by landscape gardener Kate Lonergan and her team, a total of 48 hop roots have been planted into 12 handcrafted wooden planters. The urban space has been transformed from construction site into an attractive hop garden featuring hops plants, colourful marigolds, wood-chip flooring, and hay-bale seating and empty beer kegs. They have also commissioned renowned street artist, Xenz to transform the wooden planters into beer-themed works of art.

It is hoped that the plants will produce around 9lb of hop buds in their first year, enough to brew a 10-hectolitre batch. The beer will then be ready to drink in the autumn.

Yadav, manages the Blackheath restaurant and has been involved in the hospitality business since his student days when studying IT and business at Greenwich University, holidays were spent working in restaurants; it became ‘his passion’, and then his career. For five years, Yardav was employed as Manager of Chapter II before opening the Blackheath branch. Putting to good use his business acumen to create the Everest Brand.

Keeping it in the family, the award winning executive chef Shanker Panday regularly visits Nepal to source new dishes as he believes in creating truly authentic flavours that ensure satisfied diners return, time after time.

The menus are full of choice and have weekly specials to add more appeal. Each restaurant has it’s own signature dish, at the new restaurant in Perth, its Haggis Pakora. Everest Inn Group are incredibly proud to present MAKARA beer, as a premium, uncomplicated smooth beer inspired by the spirit and beauty of Nepal.

For two years running, Everest Inn has won the Asian Curry Awards for ‘Best Nepalese Restaurant in the UK’. As well as national awards, Everest Inn award their staff with in-house awards for their talented staff and this is repaid with loyalty and happy staff.

Everest Inn also play a large part in community affairs with support for the Ashford Cricket team, charity fund raising and the Blackheath branch supported a special trip for 18 people including young children from The Jimmy Foundation to Nepal in memory of schoolboy, Jimmy Mizen.

The Blackheath branch also occasionally host the Blackheath Luncheon Club for local businesses and has an outside catering side to their restaurant business that can offer a range of dishes and canapés, with vegetarian options, from an intimate dinner for two to a wedding celebration for up to 100 guest at the restaurant. They can also cater for up to a staggering 1000 guests for large corporate functions with their outdoor caterring team.

The Everest Inn rewards loyalty with its club card and offers discounts for returning diners.

The Everest Inn, 41 Montpelier Vale, Blackheath SE3 0TJ. Tel: 020 8852 7872. www.everestinn.co.uk

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Gallery News - Whats On And Where?

THE GREENWICH GALLERY – IMAGES SUPP The Season of Street Photography continues with two exhibitions:

5 – 17 September Nicholas Sack has been photographing in the City of London and Docklands for more than thirty years. His themes include the human figure in public places and the subtle visual rhythms of the street.

19 September to 1 October Norman Smith LRPS says ‘I like my pictures to amuse, to provoke questions in the mind of the viewer and ultimately to be worth looking at again and again. The images on show are a collection of moments from other people lives when they have been intently going about their business.

Enter the competition to win inclusion of your own photographs on the screen at these exhibitions. One overall competitor will win two weeks solo exhibition at the gallery in 2015.

For competition details see www.thegreenwichgallery.com or www.award.io/onourstreets

BLACKHEATH CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY

Throughout September A collection of works from local artists on view in this pop-up gallery. 07929 632 277.

3 Blackheath Village, Blacheath SE3 9LA (Opp. The BR Station).

THAMES BARRIER IMAGE SUPP Throughout September

New printmaking courses for Autumn/Winter Choose from a fantastic range of courses for absolute beginners and experienced printmakers including: etching, linocut printing, screenprinting on paper, repeat pattern printing on fabric, aquatint secrets, and Indian block printing on silk. Something for everyone!

Materials and a delicious lunch included in the price and we have a concession rate for Greenwich Borough residents.

Full details and online booking available on our website. Come on down to the riverside and get printing!

Thames Barrier Print Studio, Unit 4 Harrington Way, SE18 5NR. 020 8316 5522 www.thamesbarrier-printstudio.co.uk. enquiries@thamesbarrier-printstudio.co.uk 020 8316 5522

GREENWICH PRINTMAKERS

Until 5 Oct Current Exhibition. Featured artist: Martin Mossop (until 14 Sept), Steve Edwards (16 Sept – 5 Oct). Tues-Sun, 10am-5.30pm. 020 8858 1569. Greenwich Printmakers Gallery, 1A The Market, SE10 9HZ.

TERRY SCALES 1-29 October

London City Of Music & Other Delights. In this show of recent paintings Terry Scales pays homage to his native city. ‘Over the last decade my paintings have been increasingly inspired by the performances of the Trinity Laban students.’

Artist in gallery to discuss paintings on Saturday 4 and 12 October 2-4pm.

Blackheath Concert Halls. Blackheath Village London SE3.

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Art

Deptford X is excited to announce that Bob & Roberta Smith returns for a second term as Lead Artist for Deptford X 2014, which will take place from 26 September to 5 October. This year artists respond to Bob & Roberta Smith’s new provocation: WHAT IS THE VALUE OF ART? with exciting visual arts projects happening in a diverse range of venues across Deptford, South East London.

Find out more at www.deptfordx.org

Open Studios Annual Open Studios at APT is when our forty studios will be open and you are able to meet with the artists and buy artworks at studio prices. This year we are pleased to welcome five new A.P.T artist-members, along with six guest artists and curators.

Our newly finished Welding Shed Studios will be open accessible studios. Comprising six fully accessible studios, this capital building project marks an important milestone in A.P.T’s history.

Details of our Open Studios programme, artist, including talks, tours, directions and transport links, can be found at www.aptstudios.org/openstudios Friday 26 September from 6 to 9pm, Saturday 27 September from 2 to 6pm and on Sunday 28 September from 2 to 6pm.

As part of Deptford X Art Hub Gallery showcase the work of contemporary artists and designers will feature in the exhibition PRECIOUS. The show is a direct response and exploration of the main theme of the festival set by lead artist Bob and Roberta Smith - What is the Value of Art? Visitors are invited to take part in a collaborative art project and give their response to the theme.

The gallery is within the Art Hub studio building opposite APT - a short walk

from Greenwich on Creekside. Always challenging and often surprising, the Art Hub group collaborate to create beautiful and thought-provoking work that is well worth the visit.

Everyone is welcome to the Art Party in the gallery on Friday 26 September from 6pm, celebrating the opening night of Deptford X. PRECIOUS will then be open to the public on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 September 1 – 5pm

A Participatory Experience in Recycling Rubbish As part of the festival there will be two exhibitions; The Living Taking and Giving Back Library, a participatory experience by Margaret Jennings and The Orchestrated Waste Procession. Anyone can participate in The Orchestrated Waste Procession, just bring along some rubbish, and make sounds as you join in the procession. The procession will be filmed, and become part of the exhibit in the gallery space at MMX. It also offers the participants the opportunity to create a sponaneous sculpture in the park with the rubbish people bring along. The sculpture (one of two to be created) will take the shape of a world globe, and will stay in the park, additional pieces of rubbish can be added to at any time until the end of the festival on the 5 October.

The Living Taking and Giving Back Library. A Participatory Experience offers the opportunity to revalue and reassess the found Deptford Rubbish under a fresh, newly and uniquely catorgorised library system. Here image photo documents for library users are lodged for reference and inspiration - to offer ideas as to how rubbish maybe transformed/reused/recyled.

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Dover Castle

Leisure

Experience the Poignant Story of War and the Horse One hundred years ago, the First World War was already a month old. Soldiers and horses had landed on foreign shores ready to fight for King and Country. Now, the poignant story of the horse’s role in the First World War, made popular by the adaption for stage and screen of Michael Morpugo’s War Horse, will be brought to life in a new event at Dover Castle this September Saturday 20 and Sunday 21.

The Great War marks a turning point in the supremacy of the cavalry on the field of battle and this transformation will be vividly charted in a series of arena displays featuring cavalry horses and their riders.

The show opens, and it’s early Autumn 1914. Confidence abounds as the cavalry, bold and proud, perform a skill-at-arms show to display their prowess on horseback and discipline as a fighting force.

Later in the day, as the war progresses, the mood of optimism gives way to dogged resilience and the cavalry adopts the sombre khaki colours, now so resonant of this ‘war to end all wars’.

War and the Horse will take visitors on an engaging journey back to 1914, shedding light on some fascinating but less well charted aspects of the war.

Dr Kate Vigurs, will bring to life the extraordinary story of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry in a live first-person interpretation about this group of gallant society gals who were trained to rescue the wounded on horseback, shedding light on what they really did during the Great War. A stunning and meticulously crafted replica bi-plane will take centre stage and the story of the war in the air will be told with the help of falconry displays.

Kids can have a go at making early twentieth century toys in the toyshop. A recruiting station, as well as musical favourites from the time, will evoke the spirit of the early days of the war, while Time Will Tell theatre will perform a new play entitled ‘Letters from the Front,’ which uses original, unpublished letters and eyewitness accounts to commemorate a day-to-day story of ordinary heroism.

War and the Horse combines all these aspects of the home front and battlefield to represent the bittersweet intensity of love, loss, patriotism and heroism experienced by families across the land, 100 years ago this year.

A family ticket to War and the Horse costs £48.10 for nonmembers and £2.60 for English Heritage members and includes admission the castle and grounds as well as the Secret Wartime Tunnels. Further information about ticket prices and opening times can be found at www.english-heritage.org.uk/dover

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This month’s listings ONGOING

8Art, Drama, Music, Language & Wine courses. One-to-one instrumental & vocal tuition for all age groups, plus a range of courses. The Conservatoire, Lee Road Blackheath, SE3.

Info: 020 8852 0234 or info@conservatoire.org.uk 8Blackheath Decorative & Fine Arts Society.

Stimulating lectures and intriguing outings.

Fourth Thursday of the month except Aug and Dec 2.30pm. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk St Mary’s Hall, Cresswell Park, Blackeath SE3.

8Greenwich Decorative & Fine Arts Society.

Monthly lectures at King William Court, Room 315, University of Greenwich, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, SE10. 8pm on 2nd Monday of the month, except April & August. Refreshments from 7.15pm. 020 8852 6248 or www.gdfas.org 8Greenwich Market. Tues - Collectables & crafts. Weds - Food market with local producers & organic produce. Thurs & Fri - Antiques, arts & crafts. Weekends & Bank Hols Arts & Crafts & Food. 10am-5.30pm, 020 8269 5096. www.shopgreenwich.co.uk Greenwich SE10.

8Guided Walk in Maryon Wilson Park. With an animal park & deer enclosure. Tours held at 1.30pm every Wednesday, meet by the deer pen, limited to the first 50 people. Free. Maryon Wilson Park, Thorntree Road, Charlton, SE7.

8Kids Knitting & Crochet Workshops. Every Fri & Sat 11am-1pm. Special discount £8/2h session (quote:MERIDIAN) Book online at www.knitshop.co.uk or call 020 8144 4523, Boutique Outlet, 326 Lee High Road, SE13 5PJ. 8Learn Tarot Cards. Develop your intuition and communication skills. Private tuition and workshops with an experienced reader. Email: marieclaire@tarotgift.com, www.tarotgift.com Tel: 07791 139 380, 020 8293 1737.

EVERY MON

8Rotary Club of Lewisham & Penge. Local businessmen and women giving help locally, national and internationally. We meet at 7pm for a dinner, with speakers on a variety of subjects.

Contact Peter Earll 020 8303 3361 or Alan Davis 020 8467 2032. Bromley Court Hotel, Bromley.

8Live Music & Open Mic. Jive jazz hosted by Dave Silk (bass) fusing legendary and experienced musos together with first time and amateur performers. In relaxed candlelit setting. Bar opens 8pm. £10 on the door. www.jazznights. co.uk. Mycenae Road, Blackheath SE3 7SE.

2ND TUES OF EVERY MONTH 8The Blackheath & Greenwich Amnesty Group. Monthly meetings. 8pm. St. Margaret’s Church, Lee Terrace, Blackheath SE3.

EVERY WED

On stage Greenwich Theatre’s Artistic Director, James Haddrell

Marking The Centenary Of The Great War

The Trench This year marks 100 years since the outbreak of World War I, and around the world centenary events are being planned to mark the anniversary. The First World War Centenary Partnership, led by the Imperial War Museum, already has over 3000 not-for-profit organisations from 50 countries planning events, and here in Greenwich plans are likewise underway to be a part of this incredible international programme.

At Laban, UK leading aerial dance company Gravity & Levity are set to perform Rites Of War, a passionate and moving performance exploring the impact of war on the lives of ordinary men and women from the trenches of World War I to the streets of present-day Afghanistan.

In Woolwich, Greenwich & Lewisham Young People’s Theatre are reuniting with Teatro Vivo for a moving new adaptation of Brecht’s Mother Courage And Her Children, telling a remarkably relevant story of loss, courage and cruelty and balancing the realities of modern day conflict with humanity’s remarkable determination to carry on regardless of what is thrown at it. This promenade production will unfurl down the Royal Arsenal’s dramatic parades, once home to the world’s largest arms and munitions factory, bringing the site to life with original music, unexpected humour and extraordinary characters.

Here at Greenwich Theatre we are proud to present two very different productions to commemorate the centenary. First up is The Muddy Choir, the new play by acclaimed writer Jesse Briton, which sees a trio of soldiers in the trenches earning the attention of their commanding officers with their passion for singing, but whether it will offer them a ticket home or not is yet to be seen. Then, in The Trench, the true story of a miner trapped in a collapsing tunnel is brought to life, as the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur in his search for escape.

Aqua Comp

8Keep Fit & In Shape + Line Dancing. 10am 12 noon. Donation £5 to Cancer Research UK. 020 8852 7127. Kingswood Hall, Kingswood Place, off Dacre Park, Lewisham SE13.

8Woolwich Singers. A community choir. No audition required to join. The aim is to sing together and have fun! £2 per week, refreshments provided. 6.30pm-8pm. Call 07812 477 775 The Clockhouse Community Centre, Defiance Walk, Woolwich Dockyard, SE18 5QL.

There can be no doubt that the First World War represents the kind of conflict that the world will never see again, a war that affected a whole generation, fought with bodies and minds more than technology. These events are not a celebration of a war – they are a celebration of the people who fought for a country or a set of beliefs, and of the people left at home who fought their own battles for survival, and they are part of a determination to ensure that no matter how many generations pass, the sacrifices, the heroism and the humanity of the war are never forgotten.

EVERY THURS

5-21 Sep: Royal Arsenal - Mother Courage And Her Children - www.glypt.co.uk 020 8854 1316

8Blackheath Morris Men. Practice 8.45-10pm.

St Marks Church Upper Hall, Greenwich South Street SE10. Free. Contact John on 020 8461 2440. www.blackheathmorris.com 8Rotary Club of Greenwich. For like-minded business people to meet & help the community.

Fred Nunn 020 8858 6410. Charlton Football Club, Floyd Rd; Charlton SE7 8BL.

22-24 Sep: Greenwich Theatre - The Muddy Choir www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk 020 8858 7755 20 & 21 Oct: Greenwich Theatre – The Trench www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk 020 8858 7755 11 Nov: Laban - The Rites Of War www.trinitylaban.ac.uk 020 8463 0100

EVERY FRI

8Lunchtime Concert. 1pm – 2pm. Free 020 8856 3951.Charlton House, Charlton Rd; SE7 8Tangoworkout. Classes connecting Tango with health and well being, for men and women.

7.15pm - 9.15pm. Beginners and intermediate classes. £7. West Greenwich Community Centre, 141 Greenwich High Road, SE10 8JA. 8Bromley Green Gym. Meeting weekly to carry out wildlife gardening tasks to bring back some of the site’s heritage, and transform the space for the benefit of wildlife and the local community. www.tcv.org.uk. Free. 11am-2pm. 07740 899 689. College Green & Slip, West Street, Bromley, BR1 1PA. 8Charlton Judo Club. Judo training sessions for anyone aged 10 years and over. If you do not have a judo suit wear baggy t-shirt and old jog bottoms. From beginners upwards.

8.15-9.30pm. £3 per session. Call Lorraine on 07932767385 or email lollyjudo1975@aol.com.

NCCA Community Hall, 217 Maryon Road, Charlton SE7 8DB.

EVERY SUN & 2ND TUES

8Blackheath Quakers. Meeting for worship.

10.30am-11.30am every Sunday, and 1.30pm on 2nd Tues of each month. Visitors welcome. For more details, including room hire on 07908 587 695 or email quakerhall@aol.com. Quaker Meeting House, Lawn Terrace, Blackheath SE3 9LL.

UNTIL 13 SEPT

8The Picture of Dorian Gray: A Restoration.

The Alchemic Order present a new adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic gothic fable and invite you to join the inner circle of Wilde’s most decadent characters. The piece is set in a private townhouse in Greenwich, which will be transformed into a 19th century salon. Guests will be immersed in a theatrical evening of art, intrigue and distant pleasures. 7pm (Sat/Sun 2.30pm). £25.

Book tickets and more info www.brownpapertickets.com/event/766139. Dorian Gray’s Townhouse (Address revealed upon booking).

UNTIL 15 SEPT

8Books About Town. The National Literacy Trust is working with Wild in Art to bring Books about Town to the streets of London in summer 2014. Trails of benches shaped as open books, decorated by professional illustrators and local artists, will appear for the public to enjoy. Free. ww.ornc.org. Old Royal Naval College Greenwich SE10 9NN.

UNTIL 27 SEPT

8What did you do in the War? Exhibition looking at the impact of the First World War on local life and on Bromley’s role in caring for casualties. Free. 01689 873826. Bromley Museum, The Priory, Church Hill, Orpington, BR6 0HH.

UNTIL 31 OCT

8Ping! A street Ping-Pong project, which provides people with opportunities to play social and competitive table tennis. Free. Bats and balls form the Old Brewery. £10 or bankcard as deposit. The grounds of the Old Brewery, Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich SE10.

UNTIL 4 JAN 2015

8Longitude Punk’d. The Royal Observatory celebrates the creations of wacky inventors, stargazing scientists and extremely elegant explorers of the 18th century. 10am-5pm. Included in Royal Observatory admission price. Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park SE10.

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Listings continued UNTIL 4 JAN 2015

8Ships, Clocks & Stars: The Quest for Longitude. To mark the 300th anniversary of the passing of the Longitude Act in July 1714, this landmark exhibition tells the extraordinary story of the race to determine longitude (east-west position) at sea.10am-5pm, open till 8pn Thurs.

Book online now: £8.50 combined adult ticket includes entry to Ship, Clocks & Stars and Longitude Punk’d. www.rmg.co.uk. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich SE10.

Last Chance…

8WED 10, 17 & 24 SEPT Tapestry Group. Enjoy sewing and would like to get involved with this project at St.Alfege. 10am1pm. Caton Room, St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

FRI 5 -9 SEPT

8Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival. Welcome over 50 majestic tall ships to Greenwich as they complete their journey from Falmouth. Having raced from Falmouth to the Isle of Wight, the ships then cruise to the capital where they berth along the River Thames. You’ll be able to admire the imposing vessels up close and take part in various activities. Join the crews for trips along the river as they show off the beautiful working crafts. 10am-9pm. Greenwich Waterfront.

FRI 5 – 7 SEPT

8POP Up Cinema. Picture the scene… sunny summer evening, cold beer in one hand, tasty burger in the other, your favorite classic movie on a big screen, surrounded by friends. Fri – Fight Club, Sat – Moulin Rouge & Sun – American Beauty. It goes without saying there’ll also be a fully stocked bar and it just wouldn’t be cinema without popcorn and sweets. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.popupscreens. co.uk for £10, or a weekender pass to see all three films at any one location is £24. Manor House Gardens, Lewisham SE13.

SAT 6 – 7 SEPT

8HMS Belfast: Totally Thames – Cracking Codes. The Mayor’s Totally Thames Festival will take place throughout the whole month of September. As part of this, HMS Belfast will have family drop in activity sessions where you can intercept messages, map hazards and even make up your own codes. (Cost included in admission) 11am-12.30pm & 2-4pm. Ship open 10am-6pm.

Adults £15.50, Child under 16 free. HMS Belfast, The Queen’s Walk SE1 2JH.

SUN 7 SEPT

8Guided Bird Walk. Joseph Beale will be leading this walk. There is no need to book, just turn up at the official meeting point near the Blackheath Gate. Free. Having binoculars will greatly add to the pleasure. 9am. Greenwich Park.

MON 8 - 21 SEPT

8John Lewis: How We Live Today. An exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the opening of the first John Lewis store on Oxford Street. From washing machines to radios, clothes to kitchen utensils- how have innovations in commercial design changed our lives. 10am-5.45pm. £12.40, students/conces £9.30, members Free. The Design Museum, Shad Thames. SE1 2YD.

WED 10 SEPT

8The Queens Orchard. A garden with educational value, to show people how to grow a wide range of vegetables and also to grow older varieties of fruit trees to reflect the historic nature of the site. Four beehives will be added at the far end of the orchard, with plans for beekeeping demonstrations. The Field Studies Council will be working with local schools on the vegetable plots whilst anyone who would like to volunteer to

work on the plots can just come along at 1.30pm.

North eastern corner of the Park, near the Maze Hill entrance, Greenwich Park.

8Tea Dance. Spend a magical afternoon in the friendly atmosphere while you try sequence dancing, quickstep, cha cha cha and many more, compared by Mr. Wonderful Dancing. 2-4.30pm. £5 incls light refreshments. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

Book your tickets for OnBlackheath, the brand new music festival with a difference. Headlining the event on Saturday 13th September Massive Attack with punk folk rocker Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls on Sunday 14th September.

For the complete line up and tickets visit www.onblackheath.com

8THURS 11 SEPT Lunchtime Recital. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance – Joanna Arnold and Melanie Jones. Programme includes songs by Mahler, Mozart and Britten. 1.05pm. Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ. 8FRI 12 SEPT Kasia Kowalska & Wilki. Two Polish musical icons for the first time on one stage in London. 6.30pm. £23.20 - £33.60. indigo at The O2, Millennium Way Peninsula Square, SE10 0AX.

SAT 13 SEPT

Help turn Greenwich’s Borough Hall into a Fun Palace.

Greenwich Dance is transforming its home, the iconic Art Deco Borough Hall in Greenwich town centre, into a Fun Palace on Saturday 4 October.

Part of a free, nationwide celebration of arts, culture and sciences, Fun Palaces 2014 marks the 100th birthday of Joan Littlewood, one of the Twentieth Century’s most significant cultural innovators.

It will be a creative experiment and Greenwich Dance is inviting local individuals and organisations to take over the hidden spaces of its home and share your knowledge, skills and passion with your local community.

To find out how to get involved All ideas, big or small, are welcome! www.greenwichdance.org.uk or 020 8293 9741.

Music Appreciation Classes The 20th Century concerto (1900-1950).

The concerto is here examined decade by decade. This vast project remains underwraps but it will cover the last of the romantics (Elgar & Rachmaninov); the neoclassical (Stravinsky and Poulenc); the jazz age and more. £80 for the course.

Mondays from 10am-12noon. Sept 22 & 29, Oct 6,13 & 20, Nov 3,10,17, & 24 and Dec 1. The Recital Room, Blackheath Halls.

For further details contact Lionel Lewis on 020 8297 1075 or email ljl@lioneljlewis.org.uk.

8Moonlit Walk. A night-time 10km marshalled circular walk that starts and finishes at Bexleyheath Broadway Centre to raise funds for the Greenwich & Bexley Communtity Hospice charity.

Special guest Jo Brand at the start and live music from the Rock Choir. registration £15 in advance or £25 on the night per person and includes a branded sash and a medal for every walker. www. communityhospice.org.uk. 10pm. Broadway Shopping Centre, Bexleyheath, Bexley DA6 7JJ. 8Lochaber Table Sale. A good chance to start buying autumn clothes for children. 3-5pm. Lochaber Hall, 2 Manor Lane Terrace, Hither Green, SE13 5QL. 8Concert. Kantanti – Sondheim: Sweeney Todd (semi-staged concert performance). 7pm. Free.

St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

SUN 14 SEPT

8Dog Day- Sponsored dog walk through the park - if you take part you get a doggie bag and the person who gets the most sponsorship will win a portrait of their dog by local artist Bill Simkin.

Doggie bags can be bought for £2 (include a tennis ball, treats etc) Stalls: RSPB, Barrier Animal Clinic offering free microchipping, Reptile Roadshow, craft stall, face painting, doggie bric-a-brac, ice cream, burgers and refreshments. 11am 3pm. Start/registration at the deer pen. Maryon Wilson Park, Charlton.

MON 15 SEPT

8Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society. Members’ Autumn Flower Display & Vegetable Competitions. 7.45pm. £1visitors. Charlton House, Charlton Road SE7 8RE.

THURS 18 SEPT

8Astronomy Photographer of the Year. The annual exhibition opens at the Royal Observatory, displaying the spectacular winning images from this year’s competition. Runs until Feb 2015.

10am-5pm. Free. Astronomy Centre, Royal Observatory, Greenwich.

8Lunch Time Recital. Trinity Laban. 1.05pm.

Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

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Listings continued FRI 19 SEPT

The Great War.

FRI 19-21 SEPT

Bringing to life artillerymen of different nations, through extracts from their diaries, letters home and photographs.

World War 1, the Great War, The War to End All Wars was indeed the Gunners War and therefore, the war of the gun.

There had never been a war like WW1 and hopefully there never will be again.

8Concert: St Paul’s Sinfonia. Mozart: Magic Flute overture, Strauss: Horn Concerto, and Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.5. £12, £10 conces.

St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ.

8Grill ‘n’ Chill. For fans of all things VW, a weekend of classic car shows, live music, food, stalls and more. From £10. www.hopfarm.co.uk.

The Hop Farm, Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, Kent TN12 6PY.

SAT 20 SEPT

8Ramble. A 6 ½ mile walk taking in part of the North Downs Way. Meet either at Waterloo main line station under the clock at 10am for 10.15 train to Guildford or at Guildford Station at 10.55am. Goldsmiths Rambling Club. Contact Rona Sullivan on 020 8850 4417 for details. New members welcome.

8Make a Meadow. Local residents are invited by the Hither Green Assoc. and FUSS to transform the rather untidy entrance to Hither Green Station.

The new meadow habitat planned will attract butterflies and bees and create a more attractive area for everyone. 11am-2pm. Over 18’s only, Boots and all equipment plus lunch will be provided. Meet at Main Forecourt, Hither Green Station, Staplehurst Road.

8Lunch Time Recital. River City Saxes. 1.05pm.

Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ. 8Tea Dance. Whatever the dance style, there is live music and a bar. Come on your own , with a partner, or a group of family and friends – just don’t miss the party. 2-4.30pm. £5. 020 8293 9741. Greenwich Dance, The Borough Hall, Royal Hill, SE10 8RE.

SAT 20 & 21 SEPT

8Open House. A great opportunity to see, explore and learn about amazing architecture and design in your area and across London over one weekend. More than 800 buildings of all kinds will open their doors across London, alongside a programme of neighbourhood walks, engineering and landscape tours, cycle rides and experts’ talks - all for free. www.open-city.org.uk or www. openhouselondon.org.uk.

MON 22 SEPT

8Blackheath Halls Lunchtime Recials. Charlotte Derry, Lyric soprano & Horacio Lopez Redondo, piano. Songs by Barber, Argento, Floyd, Nicolai, Mozart, Strauss & Debussy. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

WED 24 SEPT

Spoken Word. Naomi Wood’s novel Mrs. Hemingway tells the story of how it was to love and be loved by the most famous writer of his generation. 8pm. £10 includes a glass of wine.

Over 18s. Recital Room, Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

THURS 25 SEPT

8Lunch Time Recital. Trinity Laban. 1.05pm.

Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ. 8Blackheath Decorative and Fine Arts Society.

2pm Annual General Meeting followed at 2.30 pm by a court room drama “A Pot of Paint in the Public’s Face,” the story of one of the art world’s most notorious libel cases, Whistler v Ruskin.

By 1914, man found that he had the weapons, technology and ability to kill, maim and destroy on an industrial scale. For the first time man fought in the sky, on land, on the sea and below the waves. It was a war that touched everyone, including civilians and at its end there probably wasn’t a town, village or family that hadn’t in some way been affected by this war’s cruelty.

“In Their Own Words” brings to life Gunners from different nations, separated 100 years ago by their country’s political ideology, the colour of their uniforms, or skin. Now 100 years on, as we look back upon their history and read their words, we realize that they are all united in the fact that they are all Gunners; this is their museum.

We also pay tribute to the women of WW1 who as nurses, munitions workers, or in a myriad of other roles helped shape the future of this country.

Opening Times – Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 (last admission 16:00) Admission - £5.30 Adults £4.60 Concessions £12.50 Family £2.50 Child Firepower – The Royal Artillery Museum, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, SE18 6ST. Tel – 0208 855 7755 www.firepower.org.uk

More Friends Needed…

The Friends of Rangers House came into being in 1987 to support English Heritage in preserving this fine house (c1700) with its interesting history. At that time it contained the famous Suffolk Collection of Jacobean portraits (now at Kenwood House). The House now displays the fabulous Wernher Collection.

With regular monthly meetings, find out more about this amazing house.

Visit www.friendsofrangershouse.org.uk to find out more about joining.

The Greenwich Show The Greenwich Show - a new hyper-local TV programme about the borough of Royal Greenwich. The exciting, new, half-hour community programme, broadcasting on the first Monday of the month at 9.30pm on Information TV (Sky 212, Freesat 401 and online) Episode 1 will feature; an award winning vintage car club event, a restored Gothic castle, a preview of the Tall Ships Festival and a feature on The Thames Watermen.

Who won? Find out at St Mary’s Church Hall Cresswell Park SE3. Visitors £5. www.artsinblackheath.org.uk.

8JC & The Imaginary Bipolar Band. Formed by Jeremy Clark with five imaginary musicians. A distinctive fusion of blues, jazz, classical and funk.

7.30pm. £10. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to the charity Bipolar UK. Recial Room, Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

FRI 26 – 27 SEPT

8POP Up Cinema. Classic movies on a big screen. Fri – The Goonies, Sat – Forrest Gump. Tickets can be purchased in advance at www.popupscreens.co.uk for £10 per screening. East Greenwich Pleasaunce, Greenwich SE10.

SAT 27 SEPT

8Lunch Time Recital. Shir Levy, violin and Joseph Havlat, piano. Programme include Darius Milhaud Sonata No. 2, op. 40. Francis Poulenc Sonata for violin and piano and more.1.05pm.

Free. St Alfege Church, Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich SE10 9BJ. 8‘Drop In’ at the Wildlife Centre. Organised by the Friends Wildlife Group on behalf of The Royal Parks, the Centre is opened regularly on the last Saturday of the month. Watch any wildlife that is passing by. Information on wildlife in Greenwich Park and wildlife-related craft activities for youngsters. Guided tours of the Nature Trail and Deer Hide. 1- 4pm. Free. near the south end of the Lake in the Flower Gardens, Greenwich Park.

SUN 28 SEPT

8Nikolao Demidenko. Renowned for his authorative performances of Russian concerto repertoire.

Glinka, Kalinnikov, Blumenfeld and Chopin. £14/£123 concs. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

MON 29 SEPT

8Blackheath Halls Lunchtime Recials. Anna Cashell, violin & Chihiro Ono, violin/viola. Ligeti, Prokoviev & Bax. 1.10pm. Free with retiring collection for the benefit of Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

WED 1 OCT

8Tea Dance. Spend a magical afternoon in the friendly atmosphere while you try sequence dancing, quickstep, cha cha cha and many more, compared by Mr. Wonderful Dancing. 2-4.30pm. £5 incls light refreshments. Great Hall, Blackheath Halls. 23 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ.

SAT 4 OCT

8Autumn Wild Flowers. An introduction to wild flowers, this practical day will help you identify some of those found in Greenwich Park. John Swindells is Chairman of The Wild Flower Society and Vice President of London Natural History Society with a particular interest in urban wild plants. For further information on the course or to book your place call 0203 1300469. Places are limited, book early to avoid disappointment.

9.30am - 4pm. £35. Greenwich Park.

SAT 4 - 5 OCT

8Family Fun Weekend:Port of London. The Cutty Sark visited London more than any other port in the world. Help create a modern Port of London with famous buildings. 11.30am-1.30pm, 2-4pm.

Suitable for all ages. Price included in admission.

Sammy Ofer Gallery, Cutty Sark, Greenwich.

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The River Thames and East London

Transport News

Why do we need more river crossings?

The River Thames is a natural barrier to travel in London. People and businesses must cross the river every day for work or leisure to make London work.

There are only two crossings in east London however, at Blackwall and Woolwich. This lack of connections causes problems throughout the area. London’s population will grow in future and if nothing is done to increase the number of river crossings in east London, these problems will only get worse.

20 years, with the majority of growth expected in east and south east London.

‘No new road capacity has been developed in east London since the opening of the southbound Blackwall Tunnel in 1967,’ she said.

‘To the west of Tower Bridge there are 22 road crossings in Greater London, to the east there are just two.’

Emirates Air Line opened in June 2012, in time for the Olympic games and creates the connection between North Greenwich and the Royal Docks as well as spectacular views along the river.

Thames Clippers are projected to carry 3.6m passengers in 2014 and demand could reach 8m passengers by 2021, according to TfL model projections.

Over the last 20 years, Transport for London have invested a great deal in cross-river public transport capacity, including through the extension of the Jubilee line, DLR network, improvements to the East London Line and introduction of the Emirates Air Line.

The first Crossrail trains will enter service in late 2018.

There are tunnels at Rotherhithe and Blackwall and, to the east of London, the Dartford crossing connects Essex and Kent - with southbound traffic using a bridge and northbound traffic two tunnels. Vehicles can also cross the Thames on the Woolwich Ferry.

Nevertheless, there will always be a need for some journeys to be made by road, including by bus or for freight and provision for road transport across the Thames has remained largely unchanged over this time.

The Transport for London consultation last year found the idea of a bridge at Gallions Reach - to be built by 2021 - was supported by 71% of respondents, compared to 52% who backed a ferry.

The company has a significant role to play in East London to meet the needs of local river crossing movements. In particular the growth in riparian residential schemes such as those on the Greenwich Peninsula, Isle of dogs, Royal Docks, Royal Wharf, Leamouth South, City Island will increase the desire for cross river trips. New piers and / or enhanced river services in strategic locations such as this will complement the package of river crossings planned for the area and provide interchange with the current fast river bus service running into central London

East London will need a number of new road-based river crossings between now and 2050. This is in addition to the Silvertown Tunnel, which will provide extra capacity and resilience at Blackwall Tunnel, and the new Lower Thames Crossing, which will provide additional capacity at the Dartford Crossings.

Locations that we have assessed as being suitable for new river crossings are Woolwich, Gallions Reach and Belvedere.

A spokeswoman for the Mayor of London said: ‘The Mayor has been a strong and vocal supporter for more river crossings in east London and is pushing them ahead as fast as national infrastructure processes allow.

Thames Clippers have just commissioned the build of one new vessel for delivery mid 2015, providing up to an additional 300,000 capacity per year. Further boats will be planned, subject to sustained growth in passenger demand.

‘He has already built the Emirates Air Line which has carried 3.4 million passengers and is pressing ahead with the Silvertown Tunnel in order to double capacity of Blackwall by 2022.’

TfL’s River Crossings programme seeks to make it easier to cross the Thames by road between east and south-east London. They have undertaken separate consultations on the proposed Silvertown Tunnel to access the public’s views on a revised set of options for new river crossings further to the east.

For commuters, there have been improvements since the days when a black cab was hardly seen south east of the river, it was a almost a no go area, with only the overground railway and buses providing transport links.

Geoff Symonds, Chief Operating Officer - ‘We believe a package of river crossings will be required to meet the significant growth in East London. Whilst the River Bus will not be the greatest carrier compared with long distance road and rail options, it certainly has a major part to play in supporting localised cross river trips and providing fast connections into central London. We look forward to working with all stakeholders to maximise these opportunities and enhance the transport offer’

Bridge preferred to ferry - A spokeswoman for the Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the city was expected to grow by 1.5 million people over the next

The arrival of the Jubilee Line at North Greenwich and the DLR at Woolwich Arsenal has improved connections with Canary Wharf and the city. The

Change will come to the area, it has too, but it is important that we have our say in how those changes are implemented.

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Noble Living at Bellway’s Platinum Riverside Boasting breath-taking views across the River Thames, Bellway Homes’ stunning riverside development, Platinum Riverside at Greenwich Peninsula, offers buyers contemporary, high specification homes with some of the best connections in central London.

Platinum Riverside is a collection of studio, one and two bedroom apartments and stunning three bedroom penthouses on the banks of the River Thames in the historic Royal Borough of Greenwich.

The bold modernity of contemporary architecture at Platinum Riverside contrasts against the undulating flow of the great river. The development takes full advantage of its location; every apartment has a private balcony or terrace, and a number of the apartments and penthouses have both, giving panoramic views throughout the home towards Canary Wharf and the City.

Finished to the highest standard, the homes at Platinum Riverside are fully fitted with all the modern conveniences you could need, including integrated stainless steel appliances, coolly designed bathrooms with crisp white sanitary ware and generous fitted wardrobes in the master bedrooms.

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The large living areas have a spacious kitchen/dining room, which are perfect for hosts who love to entertain but don’t want to be shut away from their guest. All the master bedrooms have built-in wardrobes and en suites, while the majority of penthouses benefit from an additional en suite in the second double bedroom, ideal for busy families or visitors who like their privacy. A large family bathroom and plenty of additional storage space makes this an attractive home in a well-connected location.

With top of the range facilities including concierge, gym and roof terraces the apartments at Platinum Riverside fulfil today’s expectations for city living.

For the city worker, Platinum Riverside couldn’t be more convenient. Just a short walk from home commuters are

served by North Greenwich station on the Jubilee Line, with frequent services to Canary Wharf taking just two minutes or Stratford in eight minutes. The tube to London Bridge for the City takes only 9 minutes, with connections to Bank, the financial heart of London.

Prices at Platinum Riverside will be released at the launch. To register your interest and to be kept up to date with information about the launch, please call 01689 886 400 or visit www.bellway.co.uk/new-homes/thamesgateway/platinum-riverside.

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