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Burke talks through Millwall comeback
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February 9 2023
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bishop flogging fake covid kits sentenced
jaw-dropping discovery
Mudlarker unearths the remains of a ‘lost soul’ on banks of the Thames in Southwark
2 NEWS
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Contents NEWS Pages 2-18
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
What’s in Southwark’s budget? Roads and pavements
OPINION Page 16-17 Arts Pages 19 VALENTINE’s DAY Pages 20-21
Adult social care
Family announcements Page 21
Health
Public notices Pages 23-26
Housing
Jobs Page 26 SPORT Pages 26-32
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By Herbie Russell
new financial pressures mean it is “no longer sustainable to hold this position”. New Measures • Southwark Council will raise council tax by 4.99 per cent • For Band D properties, this would mean a council tax bill rise of approximately £1.15 per week. • The Greater London Authority gets a share of council tax and has plans to increase its portion by 9.7 per cent. • If approved on February 23, this would mean Band D properties’ council tax bills would go up by £1.89 per week.
herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Southwark has put forward a budget that will see a council tax rise, cuts to adult social care and increase the fees for numerous services.
It’s the council’s attempt to balance the books after central government’s £162.4m settlement, announced in December, left them with a £6.3 million initial gap to plug. Cllr Stephanie Cryan, Southwark’s finance chief, has insisted that the budget “protects the most vulnerable residents” and core services. These are the Labour council’s final recommendations but they still need approval from the Council Assembly on February 22, where the Lib Dems will suggest changes. So what’s in the budget, where are the savings being made, and what might this mean for household finances?
Adult Social Care Cuts and Children’s Services Children’s and adults’ services make up a whopping two-thirds of the council’s budget and are undergoing serious restructuring. The government’s 4.99 per cent council tax rise demands that 2 per cent is reserved for adult social care - but the council says this isn’t enough. • Respite care services, which support disabled and vulnerable adults, are being cut by £600,000. The council originally proposed a £1.1 million slash but diluted the proposal following outcry from Lib Dems and its own Labour councillors.
Council Tax Rise The government has allowed local authorities to increase their council tax by 4.99 per cent, up from the previous limit of 2.99 per cent. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s claim that the settlement increases authorities’ core spending power by 9.7 per cent presumes councils will take full advantage of the new limit. From 2008 to 2019, Southwark froze its element of council tax increases but says
Issue 1619
Editor: Kevin Quinn Deputy Editor: Katherine Johnston Reporters: Herbie Russell; Isabel Ramirez Sports Editor: John Kelly Sports reporter: Alex Jones Arts Correspondent: Michael Holland Media Partnerships: Anthony Phillips Advertising: Clarry Frewin, Sophie Ali Design: Dan Martin, Hakob Muradyan Finance: Em Zeki - Tel: 0779 883 3758 Subscriptions/Announcements: Katie Boyd Managing & Commercial Director: Chris Mullany Managing & Editorial Director: Kevin Quinn Published weekly on a Thursday at: Unit A202, The Biscuit Factory, Drummond Road, Bermondsey, London SE16 4DG. News and Sport: 020 7231 5258 Advertising: 0792 203 4598 News: news@southwarknews.co.uk Advertising: ads@southwarknews.co.uk Finance: em@southwarknews.co.uk Printed by Iliffe Print. Tel: 01223 656500 www.iliffeprint.co.uk
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February 2 2023
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BENNO RECALLS DEADLINE DAY DRAMA
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EXCLUSIVE
WHAT’S BEYONCE’S DAD DOING IN SOUTHWARK?
SHOCK VERDICT FORFormer COVID HERO Rotherhithe shopkeeper
loses hearing in his bid to stay in the country EXCLUSIVE See page 4 Easter Holidays 1st - 15th April 2023
• • •
Four fewer ‘step-down’ flats, which ease people’s transition to normal life after operations, are being commissioned, saving £38,000. Families suffering mental health crises and children with behavioural issues will have less clinical support to the tune of £140,000. Youth offending services are set to receive £110,000 less money this year.
Fees and Charges Charging residents for parking, waste disposal and other services are important sources of revenue for the council. While many of the charges are going up roughly in line with CPI inflation - 9.2 per cent in December - some of the increases go beyond that figure. • Bulky waste charge, currently £25 for up to ten items, is set to increase to £35, a 40 per cent increase. • Household garden waste collection will rise from £40 to £60 under the proposals, a 50 per cent increase. • Monthly residents’ parking permits, which are more common after the expansion of controlled parking zones, would soar from £16.40 to £27.90, a 70 per cent surge.
Housing Housing is less impacted compared to other departments and the council has said its budget will allow it to “build new council homes at council rents” and “deliver consistently highquality services”. As a demand-driven service, the council has said it would struggle to make savings without negatively impacting residents - but there is one huge ‘efficiency saving’ for temporary accommodation. • The council is reducing temporary accommodation contingency funding from £2 million to £1 million - a pot of money that helps temporary accommodation tenants in emergencies. • The housing department will also be saving £40,000 by “rationalising” application processes.
Health While NHS funding is done separately, some health services, like those provided in schools, are the council’s responsibility and are also subject to savings. • Fewer employment contracts, worth an £863,000 saving, will be handed to school nurses, which the council says reflects falling pupil admissions. • Despite having one of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections in London, core sexual health services will receive £540,000 less. Road and pavement maintenance The management of Southwark’s highways is a constant source of political dispute but the council is preparing to make some significant changes. • It will save £500,000 by focussing its cleaning on the dirtiest areas and town centres with the highest footfall. • Highway maintenance will receive £50,000 less money this year, made possible by better upkeep of the public realm and tree stock last year.
Weird changes The council’s budget also reveals efficiency savings in a couple of unexpected areas. • The Mayor of Southwark has had a £70,000 yearly budget for a chauffeur who drives him or her to civic events. This is being reduced to £20,000. • The charge for removing dead animals from properties, like foxes, is set to go from £61.50 to £100, a 62.6 per cent increase.
The Southwark News is proud to be the only independent, paid for newspaper in London Southwark News started life as the Bermondsey News in 1987, as an A-4 photocopied sheet of paper and rapidly grew to cover the entire borough and the surrounding area. As the borough grew, so did the newspaper. It is owned and run by Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn. Former reporters for Southwark News, they bought the title in 2002, after the founder Dave Clark died suddenly from cancer four years earlier. Both directors live in the borough. A dedicated team of staff work tirelessly to cover as much of what is going on as possible and strive to ensure that a community-led, independent newspaper can survive and excel in a market dominated by national and multinational media groups.
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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NEWS 3
Mudlarker makes jaw-dropping discovery Exclusive
By Herbie Russell
herbie@southwarknews.co.uk
A mudlarker has found a human jaw bone on the Thames which could date beyond the 17th century.
Amy Sinden, 38, found the mandible on a portion of the bank within Southwark on Thursday, January 26. Dozens of curious dentists and archaeologists have been speculating about its origin on social media. Some believe it could belong to a convict from one of the Thames’ 18th-century prison hulks. Amy, a primary school art teacher, said: “It was only the second time I’d been on this particular area of the foreshore… I looked down at my feet and saw it. “I recognised what it was straightaway because it was quite distinctly human… I was a bit in shock. “I had this understanding that this was a person - a genuine person - and I’m glad to have found them. They’re no longer a lost soul on the Thames.” Amy did not disclose the exact location of the find for fear people will go there without a licence and get swept away by the tide. All human remains must be reported to the police and crime scene investigators were at her house within hours. A police investigator reportedly told Amy that they believed it could date back to the 17th or 18th century. Police confirmed that no criminal investigation was underway and further tests are being conducted to establish the bone’s age. There are clues about the artefact’s origin. The bone’s dark colouration and evidence of fossilisation suggest it’s been in the Thames soil for a very long time. The presence of large erupted molars suggests it belongs to an adult, as does the size of the bone. The good condition of the teeth could also indicate the owner was living in Britain prior to the widespread consumption of sugar in the mid17th century and 18th century. Hundreds of human remains have been recovered from the Thames over the last two hundred years, often through historical dredging activities. Last year, a graphic designer found a remarkably
intact 5,000-year-old leg bone while rowing. Amy, has only been mudlarking for nine months but already has an impressive find portfolio. Astonishingly, she found a leather Roman horse harness mount just ten minutes before discovering the bone. One of her favourite finds has been a flint blade from the Neolithic period. She often finds Cretaceous Bivalvia fossils - distant cousins of shellfish such as muscles. She started mudlarking in May last year as a way to distract herself from the dehabiltating effects of long-covid, from which she is gradually recovering. “My health really deteriorated and couldn’t walk far and struggled with breathing and there was no park nearby I could walk to. “But the tube station is a few metres down the road from where I live and, from there, I could easily get to St Paul’s. It meant I could have a little look around the river and have a bit of fresh air and activity. “It’s opened a whole new world I never knew about.” Her find has been reported to a Museum of London find liaison officer (FLO) who will keep track of any new information. Mudlarkers must get a licence from the Port of London Authority, because there are risks involved like getting caught up in the tide.
Beyonce’s dad gives local artists a reality check News page 7
Main; Amy Sinden Above left; The jaw bone Bottom right; A leather Roman horse harness mount
4 NEWS
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By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Councillors have agreed to demolish Bermondsey’s Maydew House amid suggestions that a new block could be built in its place.
The council has not confirmed that it plans to replace the 144 flats being bulldozed but a council officer indicated it was being considered. Demolition means the council is ditching its renovation of the 26-storey block, which has already cost it over £15 million. At the council meeting on Monday, February 6, housing boss Cllr Darren Merrill explained that rising construction costs meant the block’s refurbishment would now cost an unviable £69,644,677. As recently as 2019, officials estimated the renovation would cost just over £42.1 million. Cllr Merrill said the council had “done everything we can looking at saving or refurbishing this estate” but inflation meant it was “impossible”. The refurbishment, planned since 2012, would have meant five new floors of 24 flats on top of Maydew and complete makeovers for existing flats. The original plans also included new rooftop homes for other Abbeyfield Estate blocks like Thaxted and Damory House. In its report, Southwark Council argued that money spent on refurbishment to date had not been wasted. Completed works like a ‘soft strip’ of the building, demolition of the podium, and heating infrastructure diversion, are all necessary for demolition, it argued.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Until now, the estate’s Bede Centre, a charity for young people with learning disabilities, was set to be given a new home in the lower section of the refurbished block. Its future is now uncertain. Bede Centre director Mahua Nandi said the centre should remain on the Abbeyfield Estate. She said its location meant it was accessible and well-known to the local community and that service users were able to travel there independently. The council has not explicitly said that a new residential block will be built once Maydew is demolished, but a council officer indicated this was a prospect. The officer said refurbishing the building would mean it being “knocked down within a generation” because “it wouldn’t last”. “So that’s why we’ve gone for the approach of demolition and rebuilding,” he said. He added: “The rebuild gives us a modern building at modern fire standards, everything already built into it, with a much-extended life span on that basis.” The officer also indicated that Thaxted and Damory could eventually be demolished, an idea never previously touted. Cllr Stephanie Cryan stepped in to say: “You were talking about demolishing Damory and Thaxted which isn’t mentioned… in this report…the residents in Damory and Thaxted are saying we don’t want to demolish.” Council Leader Kieron Williams affirmed that those blocks would only be bulldozed and redeveloped if residents voted for it in a ballot. Southwark Council will now begin consulting residents on the future of the Abbeyfield Estate.
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New year, new horizons? How about a rewarding career in social care?
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It’s a new year and there are new career opportunities available within adult social care. You don’t need specific qualifications to get started – on job training is provided – and you can build a meaningful, rewarding career that can be flexible to fit your lifestyle. Care worker Danielle and care recipient Patrick have formed a successful partnership during three years together. Danielle, who is 35 years old, started work in domiciliary care as a teenager and 28-year-old Patrick, who has a condition called Global Development Delay, has lived in supported housing since 2013. Speaking about Patrick, Danielle said: “It’s all about his life and his routine so that includes shopping, budgeting, cooking, hobbies and connecting with friends and family. “My day starts with Patrick getting ready. He can wash himself but I’ll support him when he’s shaving, choosing clothes and getting dressed as well as having breakfast, hopefully making healthy diet choices. “I’m there to support Patrick to ensure he can live independently in his home.” Danielle explained what she enjoys most about the job: “Patrick lives with two other men, who also have their own carers, so it can
get really lively and sociable here, which is great fun. “Patrick leads a very full life and loves a laugh and joke so I find it really rewarding to play such a big part in enabling him to enjoy his life.” Danielle continued: “It’s so rewarding. I go home with a smile on my face knowing I’ve given 100 per cent to my job, which is like a home from home for me. That makes me feel I’m getting it right. “It’s a very flexible job and would fit in with most people’s lives and families. “It’s important to remember that a huge variety of people need different types of care. You’re trained and supported on the job and are made to feel very much part of a team.” Patrick’s condition
It’s so rewarding. I go home with a smile on my face
Care worker Danielle
To find out more about fulfilling opportunities in adult social care near you, visit
adultsocialcare. co.uk
Care worker Danielle and care recipient Patrick Pictures: Ben Gregory-Ring
impairs walking, talking, movement skills and learning as well as interacting with others socially and emotionally. He commented: “I really enjoy my life to be honest and I feel very comfortable living
here, which I can do because Danielle supports me. “I like cooking with her. Everyone gets on well and we have a laugh. “I’ve been here ten years now and she helps me do everything I want.”
6 NEWS
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
350 women built waterloo bridge during the war Now young inspiring female scientists are set to march over it
By Isabel Ramirez isabel@southwarknews.co.uk Waterloo Bridge, which is thought to have been built by a majority-female workforce who still fail to get recognition today, will host a march next week to raise awareness about the need for women scientists to be included in the UK school curriculum.
Stemettes - a national organisation that helps young women and non-binary people get into science-based careers will be leading a march. This comes after a new survey revealed
one in three young people say they haven’t or don’t remember being taught about a woman scientist in the past two years. On Monday, February 13, local young people and families will join Stemettes to march across Waterloo Bridge, where speakers will raise awareness about the issue. Stemettes provide free support to anyone who is curious about exploring a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM.) The choice to march on the bridge is due to the fact 350 women are believed to have rebuilt a large part of the bridge
in the 1940s - which is why it is often known as ‘Ladies’ Bridge.’ The women were not recognised at the time for their contribution - at the opening of the bridge only the ‘fortunate men’ were praised. The bridge was rebuilt between 1941 and 1944 and it is estimated that during the war some 25,000 women were involved in the construction industry in the UK. Although archives have been lost it is believed that 65 per cent of the workforce for Waterloo Bridge were women. In 2015, a campaign was launched for the women to be recognised for their efforts with a blue plaque, but this is yet to be done.
The march will also mark ten years since the Stemettes started. Participants will hear from a keynote speaker and CEO of Stemettes, Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE and Dr Laura Norton, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the IET, about the systematic exclusion of women role models who continue to be erased and excluded from textbooks and lesson plans. Dr Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, Cofounder and CEO of Stemettes and former arithmetician on Channel 4’s Countdown said: “Ten years of work has helped so many to make informed decisions about their futures - across our events,
and Southwark Heritage Association tried to find a way around English Heritage’s strict criteria, that a building must be standing and the person dead for them to qualify. The latter was not really a problem, but the idea that so much of our rich heritage could not be recognised because a building was no longer there was not acceptable to us. Much of our physical heritage was destroyed in the Blitz, but it is perhaps the 1960s and ‘70s architects who did the most damage. So, we invited Southwark Council to join us in drawing up our own Blue Plaques and getting local people to vote. There are now well over 50 blue plaques across the borough. To vote for Dr Elsie Widdowson or any of the nominees for a Southwark Blue Plaque, please email isabel@southwarknews. co.uk or admin@southwark.org.uk with the name of the person you want to nominate. Voting closes on Thursday 1st June.
Main: Dr Elsie Widdowson
programmes and platforms we’re shifting the social norm on women and the STEM & STEAM fields. “I’m proud of the future we’re creating and what we’ve been able to achieve so far in partnership with industry, academia and entrepreneurs. Here’s to a maximum of ten more years of work needed from Stemettes and a plethora of systemic changes to ensure this is a problem of the past.” They will meet on Waterloo Bridge at 12 pm on Monday, February 13 and then take part in a reception at the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). It will go on until 4 pm and is open to all.
Southwark Blue Plaque nominees: Dr Elsie Widdowson, nutritionist who influenced ‘healthiest’ diet in Britain
By Isabel Ramirez
isabel@southwarknews.co.uk A dietician, whose work in nutrition influenced what has been called ‘the healthiest diet Britons have ever had’, has been nominated for a blue plaque.
Dr Elsie May Widdowson CH, CBE, who grew up in Dulwich, was a pioneer in the field and often experimented on herself. After the First World War, her family lived on Melford Road in East Dulwich, and in 1924 they moved to Underhill Road. She attended Sydenham County Grammar School for Girls (now Sydenham School) and won prizes and scholarships. Elsie studied chemistry at Imperial College, becoming one of only three women in 100 students in her year. She took her BSc within two years but had to wait until 1928 before being awarded it, becoming one of Imperial’s first women graduates. Widdowson then studied the biochemistry of animals and humans at Middlesex Hospital and a postgraduate diploma in dietetics at King’s College Hospital, studying how cooking affected food compositions. In 1936 the 29-year-old sailed to the United States to tell them that they were calculating nutritional values incorrectly, which she ended up being right about. In 1938, she joined the Department of Experimental Medicine at Cambridge University with her scientific partner, Robert McCance, where they
experimented on themselves. One day this resulted in them becoming ill and passing out - but on this occasion, they collected the samples and produced a ground-breaking paper. Widdowson and McCance analysed the effect of different foods on the human body and in 1940, they published The Chemical Composition of Food. Their work became of national importance during World War Two when food imports became limited. They wanted to see how far food produced in Britain could meet the population’s needs. They experimented on themselves again in 1939 when they started a near-starvation diet of bread, cabbage and potatoes combined with rigorous exercise. This led them to steer the government’s wartime food rationing diet - which has since been acknowledged as the healthiest Britons have ever had. This was just part of the legacy she would leave behind. In 1979 Elsie was awarded a CBE and was made a Companion of Honour in 1993. She continued her work and was involved in scientific research until her death aged 93. The British Nutrition Foundation has said, “there is no branch of nutrition science, past or present, that has not been influenced in some way by the results of her pioneering work.” For the past nineteen years the News is proud to have been one of the founders of the Blue Plaque scheme here in Southwark and nominations are now open for next year. The scheme came about after the News
Above: Elsie (second in from the left) getting her Companion of Honour in 1993
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
www.southwarknews.co.uk/news
NEWS 7
Beyonce’s dad and former manager gives local students a reality check about the music industry Exclusive
By Isabel Ramirez isabel@southwarknews.co.uk Beyoncé’s dad and former music executive, whose label has sold over 450 million records worldwide, led an exclusive workshop for aspiring musicians at a Southwark-based college - and he didn’t hold back.
Last week, the London College of Creative Media (LCCM), based in Southwark, hosted a special two-day free event with Mathew Knowles - a music business mogul most famous for managing Destiny’s Child, and his daughters Beyoncé and Solange. His label, Music World Entertainment, has sold over 450 million records worldwide, including releases by Chaka Khan, The O’Jays and Earth Wind and Fire. In his own words: “People in the audience may not know who I am - but almost everyone in the music industry does,” Dr Knowles said in a backstage interview with the News. LCCM specialises in music so the room was full of aspiring artists and managers, who were eager to hear what such an influential individual had to say. One music business management student, Junadé, said as she waited: “I’m hoping to gain any kind of knowledge that could help us career-wise in the
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southwarknews.co.uk music industry. “He’s Beyonce’s dad so he must have some secrets,” she added. The workshop was over two days. The first day saw him give a live open lecture which involved him bringing individual artists from the audience up on stage and getting them to imagine they were in a record label meeting. He didn’t hold back with the advice he dished out to
Mathew Knowles with News journalist Isabel Ramirez the students, even getting some of them to ‘sing him something’ acapella, on the spot. One young woman said if she got signed she would sing in multiple different languages and when asked, didn’t have a clear genre of music she wanted to make. After giving her time to explain and guiding her through what mimicked ‘a chat on the sofa with a label
executive’ - Dr Knowles told the room: “I’ve got to be honest, if this meeting was real, I wouldn’t sign her.” Backstage he later said: “I wanted people to hear that many artists... I won’t say most, but many artists - don’t know who they are as an artist. “They don’t know what genre, they don’t know the imaging or the song. We heard all kinds of stuff in there today -
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and I wanted the room to understand, that artist development is not done by record labels. “So either managers have to do it, or you find it at schools like LCCM, which is giving folks the opportunity to experience these kinds of workshops.” He may have been direct, but everything he had to say had substance, and students were able to walk out with some practical advice from an expert. On the second day, Dr Knowles invited a vocal coach to work with the students on things such as how to hold a microphone correctly, and how to use a mirror to master their connection with the audience - simple things that he said are crucial to artist development. After the lecture, Delio Lima, 31, who also studies music business management at LCCM, said he felt “privileged” to be at one of the lectures. “The atmosphere he brings really does inspire you and his approach to business and music oozes star-birthing quality,” he added. “We believe in experience. If someone has done the work - you can learn from it. “It’s good to have some sort of access because these people are so big you don’t usually get access to them,” he added. On Saturday, February 4, there was due to be a talk open to the public, but it was postponed to a later date due to train strikes. The full interview with Mathew Knowles is available on YouTube - Southwark News 2.
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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Joey essex urges fans to watch ‘grief and me’ where he revisits his family home in bermondsey By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Bermondsey-born reality tv star Joey Essex has taken viewers on a trip around SE16 in an emotional documentary about growing up without his mother.
Photo: Instagram
In a recent Instagram post, Joey urged his followers to watch the re-run of ‘Grief and Me’ which is available on BBC iPlayer. In the documentary, Joey returns to the Bermondsey home where he grew up, as he opens up about losing his mum to suicide aged ten. Joey explained: “Today I’m going back to my old house, back to Bermondsey. I lived in Bermondsey from when I was born until maybe seven or eight, then I moved to Chigwell.” “All I can remember in Bermondsey is just smiling, being happy, no worries… it was just happy times. It just felt like everything was perfect,” he said. In 2001, his mum Tina took her own life after battling depression, something which Joey says he had never come to terms with. In the documentary, Joey speaks to a therapist and finally begins addressing his trauma by revisiting the home he shared with his mum. He told the camera: “We’d all just sit here like this. You can imagine the mum in the middle and us two
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sitting here. “I just knew exactly how it would make me feel, it makes me feel this is the closest I’ve ever been to a feeling like that little boy again.” Joey moved from Bermondsey to Chigwell, Essex, after his mother’s death and left school with just a handful of GCSEs including a U in Drama a C in Art and a D in Wood Technology. But a leading role in the reality tv show ‘The Only Way is Essex’ propelled him to stardom where viewers fell in love with his cheeky chappy attitude. Despite his fame, Joey has never forgotten his roots and has often dropped hints about his connection with southeast London. In April 2019, he posted a photo of his muchyounger self wearing a designer t-shirt which was tagged in South Bermondsey (see insert left). “Wearing a designer T-shirt alongside the caption: “When I was just a South London kid reppin #moschino,” he wrote. Love Island winner Jack Fincham commented “SE1” to which Joey replied “Ya Dunno Fam”, confirming he comes from south of the river. He has also starred on ‘I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ and has most recently been figure skating on ‘Dancing on Ice’, where he has quickly commented himself as a fan favourite.
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10 NEWS
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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NEWS 11
Photo: Rainbow Rubbish Removal (Creative Commons)
Exclusive By Herbie Russell
herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Residents will pay more for bulky waste collection if Southwark approves plans to increase the fee from £25 to £35.
The council is recommending the pricier charge in its yearly budget as it tries to balance the books amid rising inflation. It’s a useful source of revenue for the council, bringing in about £1.2 million between 2015 and 2021. Southwark Council has long argued that the charge is fair and comparable to other London boroughs. The charge is for up to 10 items. Lambeth charges £31.78 to collect 1 to 3 items and £52.28 for 4 to 6 items. In Lewisham, it’s £20 for every four items except for fridges and freezers, which cost £30 for collection. Critics say charging people to dispose of their large waste encourages flytipping, and is unfair during a cost-ofliving crisis. In 2021, Southwark was revealed as the eleventh-worst local authority for fly-tipping. The council has previously said it ranks highly because it logs all fly-tipping, not just incidents reported by the public. In December 2021, Southwark Lib Dems put forward a motion to scrap the
Photo: Google Streetview
Southwark Council set to increase controversial bulky waste charge
Teenage girl charged over estate stabbing in Dulwich By Herbie Russell
herbie@southwarknews.co.uk A teen has been named and charged following a stabbing on Dog Kennel Hill Estate in East Dulwich.
bulky waste charge altogether. While participating in Southwark News’ Soapbox show, local Lib Dem candidate James Gurling said people would “work with the system”, if the fee was scrapped. “If fly-tipping is an issue you want to tackle, charging for its removal is not going to help, particularly as times get harder and people’s available cash gets lower,” he said. Lib Dems have argued against the latest proposed increase and still say,
in the long-term, they’d like to see it scrapped altogether. Southwark Liberal Democrats Leader Cllr Victor Chamberlain said: “Increasing waste collection fees at this time will only exacerbate the fly-tipping chaos we already suffer from and hurt the poorest residents hardest. It will also cost the Council even more in the long run when we’re having to clean up even more fly tipping from our streets.” Southwark Council was approached for comment.
Eighteen-year-old Princess OwusuAnsa of Royston in Hertfordshire, was charged on Sunday, February 5, with causing grievous bodily harm with intent, criminal damage and theft. She will appear in custody at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today
Firefighters warn about the dangers of candles after Camberwell blaze By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Firefighters have reminded residents not to leave candles unattended after a flat fire on Warner Road in Camberwell.
Police believe a tealight candle set fire to the ground floor flat of a fivestorey residential building around 1.52pm last Sunday, February 5. A man suffering from smoke inhalation left the property before the brigade arrived and was rushed to hospital by the London Ambulance Service.
Warner Road
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “Candles, incense sticks and oil burners are one of the most common causes of fire. It’s really important that you never leave a candle unattended and keep them away from anything that can easily catch fire. “You should also ensure they are in a heat-resistant holder and placed on a stable surface, so they won’t be knocked over.” Four fire engines and roughly 25 firefighters from the New Cross, Lambeth, Clapham and Old Kent Road fire stations had brought the blaze under control by 2.34pm.
Photo: Google
Cinema closed despite outcry to keep it going
(Monday, February 6). Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to the estate after reports of a stabbing at around 11pm on Thursday, February 2. A woman was hospitalised with stab injuries which were assessed as non-life-threatening and non-lifechanging. Police are aware of videos circulating online which are informing their enquiries. Police have asked people to stop sharing footage of the incident to avoid distressing the victim.
News page 14
Firefighters’ candle safety tips • •
Make sure you put out anycandles, incense and oil burners when you leave the room and especially before bed. Place candles, incense and oil burners in heat-resistant holders and placed on a stable surface where they won’t be knocked over.
• • •
Keep them away from materials that might catch fire - that’s things like curtains, furniture, clothes and hair. Be aware that tea lights get very hot and without proper holders can melt through plastic surfaces like a TV or bath. LED candles can be a great alternative - they’re safe even if you fall asleep or forget to blow them out.
12 NEWS
www.southwarknews.co.uk/news
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Advertorial
The Economy, Recession and Immigration With the UK economy on the up after a very prolonged COVID, and with coming to terms with the war in Russia-Ukraine that sent inflation rocketing, 2023 however, seems to be the year to work on rebuilding.
have UK visa fees associated with every application as well as the charge for the Immigration Health Surcharge, where contribution by every individual is required including children. To consider:
We have seen constant challenges faced by residents in the United Kingdom over the last 12 months. With this we had our Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick saying “the UK is essentially full”. This suggests clearly that the UK has lost sight of growth. At ICS Legal, we are not supporters of any political party, but one in Government must think of improving an economy, where that is based on growth. Also, to note the recent interest rate hike to 4% (Announced: 2nd of February 2023), the Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey outlined that we may be now over the worst, where inflation is coming down. This makes us realise the world is at a constant change and this impacts our everyday lives, where we see living costs rising constantly. Businesses on the other hand remain optimistic and continue to shuffle workforce to ensure one, the business can sustain itself and second growing the existing business is prioritised.
The Guardian reported recently that Rishi Sunak isn’t considering the UK’s shortage of a skilled work force, in order to improve and create a more competitive market. Rishi Sunak’s political statement is to restrict boats to the UK, does demonise migrants to the UK. We have seen the JCWI actively stress the request to Airlines to stop the transit of refugees to Rwanda which is extremely unfair. Our Lawyers have seen continued obstacles where employers face when recruiting a non-resident national. Whilst the media sets out the negativity impact to immigration, it’s not the true picture of how good immigration is beneficial to us. We work with both enterprises and private clients on immigration programs, that truly benefits our growth. This starts from sponsor licence applications made by enterprises to skilled worker visas to investment visas. The
expansion of the global talent visas and investor visas to name some of those immigration visa categories, does truly benefit our economy. We remain positive of UK Immigration, with the continued investment made into the economy, local community, this is good immigration. For example, in the NHS we see nationals from all over the world contributing to the betterment of patients. With that in mind, when individuals apply for family members, the Home Office of course
It can be said that we are in a time where Global Immigration is necessary, where nationals in specialist fields require to travel to different places in order to manage customer needs. At ICS Legal, we work on initial entry clearance applications, leave to remain matters including the Fiancé, Partner, Marriage/Spousal Routes, as well as other dependent routes. Residency leading to Indefinite leave is averagely based on a 5 Year – 10 Year timeline.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
www.southwarknews.co.uk/news
NEWS 13
Disabled Bermondsey lad lands ‘brilliant’ job after hundreds of rejections Cameron outside the Premier Inn with his new colleagues Roxana (left) and Gladys (right)
Exclusive
By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk A young disabled man who applied for over 300 jobs without success has finally landed a permanent role.
After attending dozens of job interviews and sending stacks of CVs, Cameron O’Connor, 20, is the new receptionist at the Premier Inn by Southwark Station. Cameron said: “It’s brilliant. I’m looking forward to earning my own living so I if I want something I can say ‘I’m gonna buy it’.” In October last year, the News reported how Cameron, a double amputee from Bermondsey, was desperate for stable work. The former Bacon’s College student was feeling isolated because he didn’t
have enough money to afford holidays and nights out with mates. “If my family’s going out for a meal, I know they’d pay for me. But I wanted to be able to say ‘I can pay for this, I’ve earned it’,” Cameron said. He lost his legs after contracting meningitis at the age of one. He spent years fighting to keep them but, aged ten, doctors recommended amputation to avoid future health complications. A keen basketball player, between September 2021 and June 2022, he did a youth coaching apprenticeship at Salmon Youth Centre, where he earned an apprentice wage of £4. Meanwhile, he picked up extra shifts as a seasonal temp at Tesco. The problem was these jobs were temporary, so didn’t give Cameron the stability to plan for the future. His new job at the Premier Inn is a
permanent contract, finally allowing Cameron to invest in his long-term happiness. He has already booked a holiday to Egypt and is set to book driving lessons. Cameron said: “I’ve noticed that some disabled people say ‘I need to make some money’ but, a few months down the line, I’m seeing they’re in the same position. “I’ve even got mates who are ablebodied saying they can’t get a job but if I can get a job, then you can get a job!” A spokesperson for Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn, said: “At Whitbread we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive environment for everyone to thrive in – a place where there are no barriers to entry or limits to ambition. We are really delighted to welcome Cameron to Southwark Premier Inn – and hope he will be a fantastic addition to the team”.
By Herbie Russell
herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Gender neutral toilets are coming to Waterloo Station to “improve inclusivity”
A balanced number of new male and female loos will also provide relief to the station’s estimated 41 million yearly visitors. Construction, which includes new baby changing areas, will begin in February ready for completion in the summer. Cem Davis, Network Rail’s London
Waterloo station manager, said: “We’re pleased that passengers and station users at London Waterloo station will soon be able to benefit from new and improved toilet facilities which will make their journeys a lot more pleasant and comfortable. “One of the main benefits is that we’ll be introducing gender neutral toilets which will improve inclusivity across the station. The refurbishments are due to start in mid-February through to summer 2023.” While the works are underway, commuters can use facilities at The
Sidings and Cab Road by the station reception. Cycle storage facilities on Cab Road will be removed to make room for temporary toilets during this time. Network Rail used to charge 30p to use its Waterloo toilets but scrapped this in March 2019. Its toilets, used by more than 1.5 million people every year, have previously been dubbed ‘the UK’s busiest loos’. There are also plans to replace the station’s 100-year-old roof and improve information systems and shops.
A computer-generated image of the new entrance.
By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Surrey Quays station has taken a major step towards its long-awaited revamp after a main works contractor was appointed.
Morgan Sindall will take the lead on the station’s improvements, which include step-free access, a new entrance north of Lower Road and a customer bridge. It will improve accessibility for local residents, including those living in properties on the under-construction Canada Water Masterplan site. Currently, the only entrance is on the south side of Lower Road meaning residents on the new housing scheme on the north side would have to cross a busy road to get there. The new entrance will save residents the trouble and provide better access to the Surrey Quays shopping centre. A spacious ticket hall and a new gateline are part of the new entrance. It is expected to welcome 60 per cent of station users when the improvements are completed in 2026. The customer bridge, with stairs leading to platforms, will provide
a useful alternative to the narrow staircases that get congested at peak times. The redevelopment of Surrey Quays station is part of an array of improvements for this London Overground route. The scheme is funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as part of its Housing Infrastructure Programme with a contribution from British Land, the developer of the Canada Water Masterplan Development. Cllr James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency & Sustainable Development at Southwark Council, said: “We are delighted that a more accessible, better connected Surrey Quays station will benefit people living, working and visiting the area. “Our new town centre at Canada Water will have something for everyone, from thousands of new homes, particularly hundreds of much-needed social rent homes, to new shops, offices, open spaces, and a brand-new public leisure centre. Future-proofing the transport links like this is essential.” Enabling work is expected to start on-site in this summer with the main works expected to start by the end of the year. Photo: Tom Morris (Wikimedia Commons)
Gender neutral toilets coming to Waterloo Station
Photo: Transport for London
Surrey Quays station selects contractor for long-awaited revamp
14 NEWS
www.southwarknews.co.uk/news
By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Three south London cab drivers are facing “waves as big as bungalows” in their transatlantic rowing expedition.
One month into their 3,200 mile charity voyage, Stuart Lockhart, from Rotherhithe, and fellow cabbies Daren Parr from Backheath, and Bob Barber from Sidcup, are finally halfway to Antigua. They’ve dealt with dehydration, blisters and a “ground hog day” of relentless rowing and choppy seas that feel like you’re being “t-boned by a Ford Escort”. The team wrote: “We’re not going to lie but there’s not much enjoyment out here at the moment. The relentless rowing regime that we have made up for ourselves is taking its toll. “Trying to rest on your time off is an ordeal in itself. The thin mattress, one inch thick, lies on a hard surface. Combined with the violent rocking of the boat, it makes it very hard to relax and sleep. In the end, exhaustion takes over and you just switch off. “Muscles that don’t usually get used a fraction of the way they have been are screaming out for a rest but, deep down, we know that rest means more days at sea so you just keep going.” They set off from Lanzarote on January 3 in their ocean rowing boat in aid of the Stroke Association, the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, and the Huruma Orphanage in Tanzania. Since then, they’ve travelled over 1,600 miles, heaving their oars against giant swells and waves that “block out the skyline”. On January 16, the team wrote: “The waves are the biggest we’ve seen yet, blocking the skyline. When you are at the foot of the swell, when one of those breaks just at the wrong time, it’s like a transit van rear-ending the boat.” “Get the wave wrong and it hits from the side like being t boned by a Ford Focus. But get them right and it’s like being on a roller coaster but with no rails or brakes. Your heart is pumping full of adrenaline. It scares you, but you sort of like it.” On January 22, they had a close shave when they almost collided with a 229-metre cargo ship, narrowly avoiding a watery fate thanks to the onboard alarm system. While they’ve been fantasising about “double pie and mash with chilli vinegar”, dehydrated food and protein shakes provide sustenance. The team is doing the voyage
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
HALF_WAY: The team’s progress so far
Stuart Lockhart from Rotherhithe
Taxi drivers halfway through ‘crazy’ Atlantic rowing voyage
‘Waves like transit vans’ The row in taking its toll on their hands
‘unsupported’ meaning they are alone in the ocean, with emergency medical support sometimes a five-day wait away. Possible dangers include capsizing if the boat’s self-righting system doesn’t work, injuries and ‘marlin strikes’. Marlins are 16ft-long fish with spearlike snouts that can pierce hulls with their bills while hunting fish, skewering sleeping crew members at 80mph. In one video, a particularly wild-eyed Daren said if anybody asked him why he did it, he’d say “because it makes me feel alive”. To donate visit: www.gofundme.com and look for cabbiesdoatlanticrow
Bob Barber (left) and Daren Parr (right)
Bermondsey’s Kino Cinema closes amid public outcry By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Kino Cinema in Bermondsey has closed after its owners failed to reach a compromise with their landlord last week.
Local councillors and former MP Sir Simon Hughes are still urging Oval Real Estate to consider reducing the rent hike. But a ‘goodbye’ message in the cinema window, and the Bermondsey branch’s removal from the official Kino website, suggest the closure could be permanent. A Kino staff member told the News they’d heard nothing about a potential reopening. Neither Oval Real Estate nor Kino have responded to requests for comment. Refusing to give up hope, London Bridge and West Bermondsey
councillors Sam Dalton, Emily Hickson and Southwark Mayor Sunil Chopra wrote a letter to Oval Real Estate, imploring that it reconsiders the rent increase. The councillors said they understood that rent was going up by 21 per cent over the next two years and service charge had doubled, bringing the total yearly cost to £86,000. The News has not been able to verify whether these figures are correct. In their letter, written on Tuesday, January 31, they said the rent increase was “unsustainable for a business that has suffered the severe consequences of the covid pandemic”. “As well as being a great loss to the community, the closure is deeply harmful to the cinema’s staff, who will be out of a job at extremely short notice,” they said.
Oval Real Estate has previously said that it is not to blame for the rent increase. Asset Manager James Rose said the lease agreement was signed in 2014, before Oval Real Estate bought Bermondsey Square, where the cinema is based, in May 2022. He said that Kino Bermondsey was aware that rent was set to increase in line with inflation, as agreed in the lease. Mr Rose also said that the service charge increase was “marginal” but would not say the exact figure as it was commercially sensitive. On Twitter, dozens of local film buffs shared their dismay at the loss of the “community asset”. “I’m so, so sorry you had to close. I loved the Kino. A beer and a film on my doorstep was the height of luxury. Lots of memories,” said one Twitter user.
On Saturday, January 28, Simon Hughes tweeted saying he was “still trying to make this au revoir and auf wiedersehen and not goodbye.” First opened in 2009 under the name Shortwave Cinema, the 48-seat venue
and bar is regarded an important centre of independent arts culture. A new three-screen cinema is being established in the former Thorowgoods building on the west side of the Blue in Bermondsey.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
www.southwarknews.co.uk/news
NEWS 15
Camberwell Bishop who flogged covid ‘protection kits’ is handed one year suspended jail sentence Climate Wiseman leaves Inner London Crown Court after his first appearance their last year
By Herbie Russell
herbie@southwarknews.co.uk Camberwell’s Bishop Climate has received a one-year jail sentence, suspended for two years, after the News revealed he was flogging coronavirus ‘plague protection kits’.
Climate Wiseman, of Kingdom Church on Camberwell Station Road, told people they could ‘drop dead’ if they didn’t buy the £91 mixtures consisting of oil and red string. On Monday, February 6, Inner London Crown Court also ordered him to do 160 hours of unpaid community service and pay £60,072 in court costs. After this paper broke the story on March 31, 2020, BBC began its own investigation. Their secret phone recordings and testimony were used as evidence in court to secure Wiseman’s conviction. Astonishingly, during the trial Wiseman testified that his kits, made from cedar wood, hyssop oil and olive oil, had cured at least ten people who had the virus.
According to national media, some ten witnesses from his congregation, including nurses, said they were cured or prevented from getting covid-19 after using the oil by steam inhalation or rubbing it on their skin. The self-styled prophet had denied fraud and two alternative counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. In court, Wiseman’s defence argued he should be free to practise his religion and that he hadn’t been “dishonest” or “acting in a deceitful way”. Defending her client, Nargees Choudhary also said he was not an “anti-vaxxer”, demonstrated by his double vaccination status. During the media storm that followed the story, Wiseman convinced his congregation that news outlets were the “antichrist” launching a “smear campaign”. In a YouTube video conference entitled ‘Update From Prophet Climate About The Evil Accusation Going Around On Media’ he warned followers to ignore stories about him. “It’s a smear campaign that’s been run
The fake covid protection kits
by not any other than the secular, I’m talking about the secular movement … people that hate God,” he said. At his trial, demonstrators wearing matching red t-shirts held banners and placards declaring: “Southwark Labour councillors are anti-christ and faith haters”, ‘Bishop Climate is the true
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prophet”, “we need freedom of faith”, and “there is healing power in divine cleansing oil”. They blew whistles, while one member climbed on top of a phone box and led chants through a megaphone of “freedom” and “leave us alone”. Following his conviction in December,
Southwark Council said Wiseman “preyed on people from the start of the first lockdown, a time when most of us were scared and worried about coronavirus and what the future held”. “We are delighted with this guilty result, it shows that no one is above the law,” it added.
16 OPINION
www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Comment ‘Are leaseholders getting the support the government has given on energy bills?’
T
his winter too many people in Southwark have faced desperately hard decisions between food and heating in the face of soaring energy bills.
A UK survey showed almost a quarter of adults planned to keep the heating off this winter and as many Southwark residents are on low incomes it means that here that figure is even higher. This Government is insisting that they’ll let energy companies put up prices again in April and end their energy support for businesses. And even the Government Energy Bills Relief Scheme is not working properly for many people in Southwark. In particular those who live in flats and get their heat from a communal boiler. They have got almost none of the Government’s promised financial support. Many on communal boilers have seen their bills go up a staggering 900%, more than
4.5 times the already crippling rise in the prices for people not on those systems. The problem is that while the Government has given some financial help to Housing Associations, constituents tell me that Housing Associations are not passing on that help to the leaseholders that are actually paying the bills. I’m pressing the Government to ensure that the help reaches those leaseholders who are entitled to it. I have written to the Hyde Housing Association but have yet to receive a reply. And while people struggle with bills the Government is standing by while the energy companies make huge profits because of the energy price increases caused by Putin’s attack on Ukraine. On 2nd February Shell announced its highest profits in 115 years, reaching $39.9bn, double their profits the previous year. And Shell is not the only one. Everyone faces an increase of 40%
in their energy bills in April. The Government should put in a proper windfall tax on the energy companies and backdate it to 2022. Though they made profits of $39.9bn Shell paid only $134m in tax, 0.3% of their total profits.
The country is fighting against inflation above 10%, five times the Bank of England’s target, and higher than any other major Western economy. Interest rates are the highest since 2008 making mortgages unaffordable. The impact on Londoners’ lives could be devastating, families are in danger of losing their homes. People are being forced to borrow the money to afford three times their previous mortgage payments per month for new deals, or gamble on variable rates. Ministers must get a handle on inflation, set out a support plan and help our economy recover. I will continue to fight for fair pay and working conditions for Londoners in my role as London Assembly Labour’s Economy lead. Ministers are
holding down pay for nurses, teachers, paramedics, firefighters, and many other public sector workers while big business rakes in record profits something is clearly broken. As a last resort, thousands of NHS staff have gone on strike this week, the biggest strike in the health service’s history. Teachers, Post Office workers and bus and train staff have all been forced into strike action after being offered pay rises well below inflation. Ministers have been repeatedly urged to re-open pay talks but have flatly refused. The government need to get round the table and negotiate, it is the only way we can prevent more strike action. I have been continuing my work on the London Assembly Police and
harriet harman
MP for Camberwell & Peckham The problem is that the Prime Minister is too weak to stand up for the British people. Labour would stop energy prices going up in April. It cannot be right that companies make unexpected windfall profits from the effects of
‘Interest rates in the UK are higher than any other major Western economy - we need a support plan’
I
nflation is up, energy and water bills are up, food bills are up, but pay hasn’t gone up to match. Londoners are facing extreme financial pressures.
While people struggle to heat their homes and feed their children, energy companies make record profits. Shell announced the biggest profits in its 115-year history - £32 billion. It is scandalous. British Gas - whose profits are up 700% - are breaking into vulnerable people’s homes to install prepayment meters. Shame on them. I urge the government to bring in a proper windfall tax on energy giants’ profits. It could stop the energy price cap going up again in April and prevent more families being pushed into poverty.
an illegal war in Ukraine. It will need Labour in Government to sort out this unfair mess, to tackle the cost of living crisis now, deliver a long term plan to cut bills for good and make Britain a clean energy superpower.
marina ahmAd
GLA Member for Southwark & Lambeth Crime Committee scrutinising the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. We must see evidence of the steps being taken to restore Londoners’ trust and confidence in
the force following further revelations of horrendous police behaviour. I will monitor the progress being made and continue to campaign for better police resources for Southwark, and London.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
www.southwarknews.co.uk/letters
OPINION 17
There’s still time to improve the budget
W
ith the local government settlement published on December 20, Southwark Council has had just over a month to plan its finances for the next year. It’s a monumental task, made more difficult by inflationary pressures.
The good news is Southwark has balanced the books. Avoiding bankruptcy may not sound like an achievement, but some local authorities are still in the red. Croydon, for example, is increasing its council tax by a staggering 15 per cent, after estimating it would need to reduce spending by £130m to balance the budget. Meanwhile, Thurrock and Slough councils have also had requests approved to raise council tax by 10 per cent. The bad news is that Southwark has had to make significant cuts to keep itself solvent. Most concerning are the £600,000 cut to respite care, the £1 million less awarded to temporary accommodation emergencies and the reduced funding for children’s and families’ services. This isn’t the budget’s final iteration and councillors still have a chance to submit amendments at Council Assembly next month. If the Lib Dems and Labour put their heads together and come up with some creative ways of generating income, it could help to soften the blow of a tricky budget.
Why are disabled people with qualifications still being kept out of the workplace?
W
e would like to offer a huge congratulations to Cameron O’Connor, who has secured his first permanent job after having over 300 job applications rejected. While it’s great news, Cameron is an excellent candidate and you have to wonder why it’s taken him so long.
After all, according to the statistics, there are plenty of jobs out there. In October, the Office for National Statistics said unemployment in the UK fell to 3.5 per cent, the lowest level since February 1974. Hiring may have slowed down slightly in recent months, but in November there were still 3.8 job vacancies per every 100 employee jobs. This is one of the highest vacancy rates in the last twenty years. Yet Cameron, a qualified youth coach, with customer service experience, has found it nigh-on mpossible to get a job. He told us that he knew of disabled people who had given up their job search altogether because it was so difficult. By keeping these people out of work, we’re shooting ourselves in the foot. Skill, talent and dedication are spread evenly across our society, regardless of physical disability. Cameron is a shining example of that.
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Clues Down 2 To a different type of corn (3) 3 A piano is excellent for yielding sound (5) 4 It will make me sure to start again (6) 5 Sounds as if this will be prickly (7) 6 An adjacent spectacle can cause myopia (4,5) 7 Female supporters? (11) 8 It’s respectful to face round the fee mixed up with the rent (11) 12 He ought to be well equipped (9) 15 Trod forcibly nearly caused a beastly rush (7) 17 One keeps one’s ear close to the place of worship (6) 19 Code for the majority round head of state (5) 21 Paid shortly about nothing for the case (3)
Clues Across 1 Overgenerous (47) 9 Long fish (3) 10 Expedient (9) 11 Ends (5) 13 Letter (7) 14 Waterlogged (6) 16 Calm (6) 18 Unaffected (7) 19 Attacked (5) 20 Transport for the wounded (9) 21 Kind of vegetable (3) 22 Indicating dissent (47)
Clues Down 2 Lubricate (3) 3 Snares (5) 4 Grudges (6) 5 Pause (7) 6 Makes hostile (9) 7 Emotional (11) 8 Showing deep respect (11) 12 Touchy (9) 15 Came with a crash (7) 17 Settle conclusively (6) 19 Fracture (5) 21 Peg of wood or metal (3)
Solutions to last week’s crossword Cryptic Across: G Defect 7 Actress 8 Largess 9 Needs 10 Chartered 12 Lee 13 Etch 15 Adenoid 17 Earl 19 Sea 21 Summonses 22 Renew 23 Realism 24 Avenges 25 Demean Down: Delicate 2 Formal 3 Crested 4 Stand 5 Resent 6 Uses 7 Astronomers 11 Real 13 Eden 14 Horseman 16 Isolate 18 Render 20 Aspire 21 Swigs 22 Road
Quick PUZZLE Across: 1 Assign 7 Amateur 8 Teenage 9 Latin 10 Rigmarole 12 Ear 13 Slab 15 Dynamic 17 Dune 19 Nap 21 Integrate 22 Ripen 23 Cheetah 24 Clerics 25 Asides Down: Asteroid 2 Sledge 3 Granary 4 Table 5 Lentil 6 Iron 7 Aeronautics 11 Made 13 Scar 14 Breeches 16 Ingress 18 Nephew 20 Parted 21 India 22 Race
18 NEWS
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Betty’s dream role isabel@southwarknews.co.uk A ten-year-old girl from Borough, who has been dancing since she was four, has landed her first dream role alongside professional dancers for the English Youth Ballet.
Betty Little was attending the London Russian Ballet School in Clapham before it permanently closed last July. After taking part in a competitive online video audition process, she was selected to be part of the cast of the English Youth Ballet’s (EYB) production of Coppélia. This means she will be performing alongside international professional dancers at The Beck Theatre in Hayes on February 26. Betty said this part will be her “greatest achievement” and she’s very excited. “I feel very grateful for the opportunity and I’m pleased that years of practice have led to such amazing recognition,” she said. “I think it’s my greatest achievement so far and I’m looking forward to being part of the production.” When asked how she celebrated, the 10-year-old joked: “With ballet splits!” Her mum, Anna, said: “She’s auditioned before, but this is the first time she’s been offered a role. “I think it’s nice to know after so many years of consistently going to ballet that there are results.” As well as landing her dream role, Betty is currently awaiting the results of her 11+ exam, which she hopes will get her into one of the schools of her choice. “School work has been challenging this past year with 11+ prep and exams,” she said. “Managing time for it all was difficult.”
By Isabel Ramirez
isabel@southwarknews.co.uk Applications are now open for the second round of funding that will see local not-for-profit groups given a share of £50,000 for projects focused on young people and training, health and well-being, cost of living and sustainability.
The Elephant and Castle Town Centre team and Get Living have announced the launch of the second year of the Inspiring Elephant Community Fund. The £50,000 a year fund provides grants to local groups, supporting shortterm projects, and contributing to longerterm initiatives in the community. The fund was first launched last year and saw 12 local community groups receive grants of between £2,500 £4,950 to help support local initiatives, fight inequality and promote positive ageing in the area. Each application should seek to focus on one of the following key areas - health and wellbeing, young people and training or cost of living and sustainability. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, March 21 at 5.00 pm. In addition to last year’s funding, over the next four years, the Elephant and Castle Town Centre team will distribute £200,000 to the local community. Local organisations are able to apply for multiyear grants of up to £5,000 and a panel of local community leaders including members of Southwark Council, Get Living and members of the Community Hub will consider all applications.
She added her favourite thing about dance is discipline. “It keeps me fit, that’s for sure,” she said. “I like the discipline of dance and that it can also be relaxing at the same time, especially after a busy day at school.” Since her Clapham school closed, which still remains close to Betty’s heart - she has been dancing at Central School of Ballet, in Waterloo. Her parents, who have lived here since 2006 and are active members of the community, are immensely proud of her. They also praised her teacher, Sophie Richardson, saying: “It takes people like that who don’t give up on the young girls. “They inspire them to carry on.” EYB Principal – Lyndsey Fraser will be starring as Swanhilda in the production. Before joining EYB she danced with the Vienna Festival Ballet. She said “I wish I had danced with EYB when I was young. The dancers learn so much about performance skills and the artistry of ballet. “The sets and costumes in the production are superb and the whole experience is one the young dancers, and the audiences will never forget!” There are two performances of Coppélia on Sunday, February 26: a matinee at 2:30 pm and an evening one at 7 pm. Scan the QR code to get tickets.
Photo - Ben Garner
By Isabel Ramirez
£50,000 available for local community groups in Elephant and Castle
Diana Barranco, Community Director at Elephant and Castle Town Centre said: “We are delighted that the second year of our Inspiring Elephant Community Fund is launching today to deliver greater social value for local residents and the local community. “The award builds on the initiatives led by the Community Hub and we hope that local people will have a variety of opportunities to make friends, support
each other, and come together in Elephant and Castle. To apply to the Community Fund organisations must: Be a not-for-profit organisation that is formally constituted (have a signed governing document in the organisation’s name)* Have good financial management procedures, including a record of income and expenditure (Applications from
organisations that have a financial deficit will not be considered) Have a bank account set up in the organisation’s name, with at least two unrelated cheque signatories Be connected with and meet the needs of the local community in and around Elephant & Castle Town Centre – specifically the Elephant and Castle opportunity area Delivering activities that either take
place within the Elephant & Castle area or activities that directly benefit people who live, work or study in the area. Scan QR code to apply.
*This includes unincorporated associations and community groups, registered charities, social enterprises, schools, Community Interest Companies (CIC), Charitable Incorporated Organisations (CIO), companies limited by guarantee and faith groups where the project clearly does not promote a particular religious or political view.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Jasper Finds His Horn
Jasper opened the trapdoor and climbed up into the attic of his exwife’s house where he once lived. Now a divorcee, he was there to collect his remaining possessions to take to his cheap little flat. A Kevin & Perry teenage son, Dan, played Gangsta Rap downstairs as Jasper came across his old French Horn that had been in its box for 39 years. Thus began the journey of I Found My Horn, writes Michael Holland.
Jasper, played by Jonathan Guy Lewis, gave us some facts about the horn bringing down the walls of Jericho in some biblical myth, and of it being the most difficult instrument to play. To prove that point, he pursed his lips
and gave us a blast - or tried to - but the noise that emanated from that gleaming contraption convinced me that it was. Jump to a meeting with Dave Lee of the British Horn Society who he tells of his plan to play a solo for the society members. Jasper gives Dave another blast and is promptly told that he needs to practise. A lot. Day and night, because the audition for the concert is one week away. Jasper’s quest to find a new love to replace his lost love has given him a purpose. Dan, the son, calls him an idiot and says his mum was right to leave him. Harsh. Jasper, nevertheless, gets stuck in to his uphill task with gusto, his
White Bear Theatre, 138 Kennington Park Road, London, SE11 4DJ until 11th February. Times: Tues-Sat 7.30pm. Admission: £17, £12. Booking: www.whitebeartheatre.co.uk
Lemons is really, really good
In a Twitter-Hellish near-distant future no one is allowed to use more than 140 words per day so people have to pretty much stereotype themselves in order for others to see who and what they are quickly, which takes out a lot of what goes in to making a relationship, writes Michael Holland.
Sam Steiner’s Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, Lemons, allows us to observe a couple dealing with all the ups and downs of meeting, falling in love and living together using an impossibly small amount of words. Surrounded by a compartmentalised set of their life and accumulated belongings, everything organised and tidy, Bernadette (Jenna Coleman) and Oliver (Aidan Turner) are given to us in short scenes, some less than a minute, bursts of energy where the wheat of words is separated from the chaff of chatter, leaving us with just the bare essentials of communication. Time is forgotten and sometimes out of whack as we whizz through their time together, rapidly going from always saying ‘I love you’ to always saying ‘Sorry’. We see them go from idyllic to train wreck in seconds as they look lovingly into each other’s eyes and then gaze suspiciously. They argue over class, and politics and going on demonstrations. Musician Oliver’s insecurities come to the fore over lawyer Bernadette earning more than him. Each scene begins with them saying how many words they have left when they arrive home from work. Should they waste any on, ‘How was your day?’
enthusiasm was infectious as he prepares to get a place in the orchestra. After the audition he is placed on a list and then informed that the concert is a year away, leaving time for the intrepid musician, who was trying to salvage something of his life, to attend Horn Camp where he met and played with Kelly-Ann, a nun, and Herman The German, the teacher who was going to get them up to scratch. During the time taken to get concertfit, Jasper picks up tips and knowledge to motivate and encourage from all the people who works with, and when the big day comes, well, no spoilers here, but the denouement had a nice little twist. I Found My Horn is a true story and is adapted by Jonathan Guy Lewis and Jasper Rees from Rees’ book. It is a one-man show with Lewis, remarkably, playing everyone that he meets and in accents that range from German, Yorkshire, Mississippi and Teenage Grunt. And, also remarkably, playing the horn. There are a lot of musical terms used that go over most people’s heads, but this does not take away from the sheer enjoyment of it all. I Found My Horn is a winner.
Photo - Johan Persson
Photo - Max Hamilton-Mackenzie
what’s on
Perhaps they could drop saying ‘I love you’ if it’s been said so many times before. And cutting out saying ‘Really’ as a prefix would help. We see them working out a more minimal way of communicating: ‘Does ‘can’t’ count as one word?’ And why does he keep wasting words on mentioning his ex…? They try morse code by banging on the floor, which dies at the first dash. A favourite scene of mine was when they argued and Oliver ran out of his daily quota, leaving Bernadette room to verbally come out with both barrels blazing. And in between the awkward moments, there are the loving times as we run through the whole gamut of two people being together. And there is comedy: Just before Oliver
goes out to protest against the ‘Hush law’ he says, ‘They will hear us marching in space!’ Bernadette, the sensible one, reminds him that, ‘There’s no one in space.’ Lemons is not an easy watch, its fragmented and scrambled text often confuses, and at one point gave me a flashback to throwing a William Burroughs book at the wall in frustration. But once you understand the concept and wonderful direction by Josie Rourke, it all gels with Steiner’s script. Plus, Turner and Coleman give outstanding performances. Harold Pinter Theatre, Panton Street, SW1Y 4SW until 18th March. £15 - £150. Booking: www.haroldpintertheatre.co.uk - 03330 096 690
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ARTS 19
in Southwark
Baker on tour
I was bingeing Danny Baker at Blackheath Halls over the weekend with Saturday spent at his From Cradle To Stage show, followed by Good Time Charlie’s Back on Sunday, both evenings being a humorous look inside the world of Bermondsey’s greatest showman, writes Michael Holland.
Anyone who has read the books or listened to any of his radio shows will have heard many of the stories he recounts on stage, but that does not lessen their hilarity. Hearing him tell about being shot in the bum in a drive-by incident has tears rolling down my face every time whether I’m reading about it in Going To Sea In A Sieve or watching him re-enact the scene in a theatre. A Danny Baker show is not the slickly performed and timed affair you will see a stand-up comedian do, where every ad-lib has been painstakingly rehearsed and the act, for that is precisely what it is, ends right on the button with a wave goodbye as they exit the stage. There is no encore. That is it. Goodnight. With Baker, he can talk and talk and talk with just a projected photo prompt to set him off. Many an audience member has missed their last train home because of a show over-running or had their car locked in the car park. He is a tad more disciplined these days and has a clock guiding him, but the show is punctuated with so many diversions as his racing mind takes off on another entertaining tangent, the finale is often a rush through of the remaining photoprompts. From Cradle To Stage is basically a journey through his life from growing up on Silwood Estate in Rotherhithe to him now sharing all his thrills and spills on stages around the land; something that he never planned to do but now loves. And especially at Blackheath Halls as, ‘it’s the only gig I’ve ever done where I can walk to work!’ He enters at a pace and immediately spends the first 30 minutes talking about a family photo on a screen, and every so often reminding us - and himself - that he is already falling behind time. He patrols the stage, going from left to right, never stopping walking and talking, which was murder for me in the front row as it was three hours of non-stop neck-turning, like watching tennis at Wimbledon, but with laughs instead of breaks every few minutes. This man of many talents worries not about dressing up. He sports a shirt that only one button can find its matching buttonhole, and explains it away with him doing a lot of sitting around during the pandemic. His trademark Fez is
headwear that very few people could get away with. He is not trying to create an image of fame and stardom, he is just being Danny Baker. He is still surprised at all the famous people he has met or worked with and laughs at his luck. Danny caries a pool cue as a pointer to show who is who in each image and could do a whole show on each and every aunt, uncle, grandparent or sibling, which is why he sidetracks a lot. But it is Danny’s dad, Fred ‘Spud’ Baker, who is the foundation of most of the anecdotes, or the reason for the diversions. The son’s love for his late father shines through the comedy, although that is not what the show is about, it just happens that way. The following evening - Good Time Charlie’s Back - was introduced by an old 1930s’ song, Who’s Been Polishing The Sun, that tells of a life getting better and better after a man meets the love of his life. This sets the stall out for the night’s entertainment. Mr Baker then began with a 20-minute recap of what went on the previous night before taking us back to his schooldays then leaving at 14 to work in a record shop. Nothing too exciting about that except this shop was where the biggest stars of the day came in to buy obscure imports: Jagger, Bolan and Elton John were regulars. As that job came to an end so a former classmate asked if he would help him write a Punk music fanzine - Sniffing Glue - which led on to being head-hunted by the NME, who sent him all around the globe interviewing the planet’s biggest artists, which opened the door to television, which had radio calling… Of course, each section was accompanied by a trove of tales and photos. Tonight’s show, although supposed to be about Danny Baker’s life in the limelight, I think we all came away feeling the love he has for his wife, for his family, for his background and for the work he has done. His life got better and better. Yes, he had the good fortune to be in the right place at the right time, but he had to say yes to those opportunities and then had to produce the goods to make a success of what he was expected to do, and he did that every time. The final photo was of a forlorn Fred Baker looking over the demise of the docks just before the developers moved in, while Danny Baker gave us a rendition of, ‘All My Life I Wanted To Be A Barrow Boy’. Endings don’t come much better than that.
See website for tour details: www.dannybakerstore.com
20 VALENTINE’S DAY
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Advertorial
Close Shave with Love
Bermondsey based old school barbers Castro’s Barbershop have launched their luxurious classic hot towel wet shave service just in time for you to treat that special man in your life for Valentine’s Day.
overpower them. Throughout the ages the fashions of facial hair have fluctuated along with men’s sartorial style and for a time men moved away from the art of the wet shave.
The resurgence of barbering sparked an inevitable interest in the stately practice of the gentlemanly wet shave. Men don’t always have, or feel comfortable about, the rituals of self care and legitimate self indulgence and having a leisurely hot towel shave is a way of treating oneself and finding a brief respite from the pressures of the everyday world.
Based on an authentic vintage service, this experience is true to the way wet shaves were performed from the late 19th to mid 20th centuries. It’s approximately 75 minutes of unashamed pampering encompassing pre-shave, shave and post-shave stages with two hot towels and various delicious lotions, potions and soothing techniques. The end result is skin softer than a baby’s derrierè and a feeling of utter relaxation.
Alexander the Great stipulated that his soldiers should be clean shaven in battle to limit the possibility of opponents grabbing their beards to
Photos by Angelo Zappone
Pogonotomy (derived from the ancient Greek “pốgôn” meaning beard and the suffix “tomie” meaning removal or section), or cutting one’s beard, is nothing new. Since the Stone Age men have attempted to remove their facial hair by various methods, including using clam shells to pluck hairs and flint blades for a rudimentary shave.
The service will be performed by either Leo Castro, the eponymous coowner of the Barbershop and a master of vintage hairstyles or talented vintage specialist and enthusiast, James Berry. Castro’s Barbershop is open seven days a week and booking is available via online booking app Treatwell. Book a Castro’s luxury wet shave: https://www.treatwell.co.uk/place/ castro-s-barbershop/ Castro’s Barbershop online: www.castrosbarbershoplondon.com
Valentine’s messages Jamie Forder Happy Valentines Day ain’t you lucky to have a woman like me I’m just the best haha love you xxxx
Wayne Brightwell, It’s always been you. Love you Love from Kelleigh X
Johnson. Have A Magical Valentine’s Day. Love You More Today Than I Did Yesterday, And I’ll Love You More Tomorrow Than I Do Today. Always And Forever. Chrissie. xxxx
To my Wonderful Wife Corazon lots of love, and best wishes from your hubby Jason! X
Sparrow. Our love will be stronger than ever after your battle. Love you not just Valentine’s but evermore. Your Lump xxx To lump Got me own back again thank you for all your support and love your sparrow xxx To Mikki happy Valentine’s Day all my love Jo Xxxxxx
Ruthiebaby GCR. FLM. X. Happy Valentine’s Day to my Best Friend, Lover and Wife, Chrissie Love You All The World Always Viking XX
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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Birthday
VALENTINE’S DAY/FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS 21
Memorial
Look who’s 30 George Quinn
Forever young Announcements must be placed by 4pm on the Tuesday before Thursday’s publication
Congratulations on your 30th Birthday (9th February) Lots of Love from All the Family XXXXX
Jackie Brindle and Brother Gerry were Churchgoers, and, we are told “Those with good hearts and minds, will never (in Heaven) grow old” But, although they both died young. And being well-liked are missed, big smiles, have Family and Friends .. after trips, to (top) spiritualist? Billy Brindle (Brother) Feb ‘23
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (WESTON STREET, CLEMENTS ROAD, DRUMMOND ROAD, WESTCOTT ROAD, THERAPIA ROAD, GREAT SUFFOLK STREET)
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (MELON ROAD, SUMNER ROAD, SUMNER AVENUE) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS)
(TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC 1.
The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out, it made, an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads.
2.
Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Weston Street, between St Thomas Street and Snowsfields (b)Clements Road, at all junctions with Drummond Road (c) Drummond Road, all junctions with Clements Road (d) Westcott Road, at it’s junction with Chapter Road (e)Therapia Road, between Homestall Road and Scutari Road (f) Great Suffolk Street, between Union Street and Dolben Street
3.
The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) as indicated by the signs displayed (2b & 2c) Jamaica Road, St James Road, Southwark Park Road (2d) Cooks Road, Kennington Park Place, De’Laune Street, Braganza Street. (2e) Scutari Road, Mundania Road, Homestall Road. (2e) Scutari Road, Mundania Road, Homestall Road. Scutari Road, Marmora Road, Homestall Road. (2f) as indicated by the signs displayed Chapter Road, will be made ‘two-way’ between Westcott Road and Braganza Street, for access and egress purposes
4.
Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.
5.
The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.
6.
The works will be in operation for (2a) 18th – 19th February (2b) 20th February – 6th March (2c) 20th February – 26th April (2d) 20th February – 7th March (2e) 21st February (2f) 19th February
7.
Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk
Dated this 9th February 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Regulatory Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 6369/LBSCR12770- NTS (2b)6272/SEC50/CLEMENTSROAD-veolia (2c) 6326/SEC50/DRUMMONDROAD-veolia (2d) 6377/00010753-00000013-lanes (2e) 6316/67771549conway (2f) 6380/LBSCR12853NR-AinscoughCrane-connect
1.
NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN that to enable development works to be carried out by Bouygues or it’s appointed contractor, the Council of the London Borough of Southwark and in consultation with Transport for London, made, an order the effect of which would be to temporarily :
2.
Prohibit vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists from entering: (a) Melon Road, from Peckham High Street to its blocked end. (b) Sumner Road, from Peckham High Street to its blocked end, including the footway and cycle path located between Sumner Road and Jocelyn Street (c) Sumner Avenue, between Peckham High Street to its blocked end, including the footway and cycle path located between Sumner Avenue and Jocelyn Street
3.
The Order would come into force on the 17th February – 3rd August 2023
4.
The alternative route for affected pedestrians and cyclists will be via Peckham High Street, Peckham Library Square, Jocelyn Street. A diversion for vehicles for (2a)&(2b)&(2c) will not be applicable. The leisure centre car park entrance will be accessed via: Peckham Hill Street, Commercial Way, Sumner Road, Jocelyn Street.
5.
Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.
6.
The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform. Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk
Dated this 9th February 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Regulatory Services Environment and Leisure 160 Tooley Street PO Box 64529 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 5773/LBSHO11878
23rd February 2023Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we Oliver Man Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of 100 Druid Street, SE1 2HQ The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are Days
Start time
Finish time
The retail sale of alcohol:
Monday to Sunday
10:00
22:30
Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday
10:00
23:00
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SECTION 14(1) (BORLAND ROAD) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF TRAFFIC 1.
2.
PUBLIC NOTICES 23
The Council of the London Borough of Southwark hereby gives notice that to enable various works to be carried out, it intends, to make, an order, the effect of which will be to prohibit vehicular traffic from entering part of the above named roads. Whilst the works are in progress, or whilst the authorised traffic signs/road markings are displayed, no person shall cause any vehicle to enter, proceed, stop, wait, load or unload at any time in: (a) Borland Road, south side of carriageway, between Reynolds Road and Hichisson Road.
3.
The alternative route for affected traffic (2a) Cheltenham Road, Hichisson Road
4.
Exemptions will be provided in the Order to permit reasonable access to premises, so far as it is practical without interference with the execution of the said works.
5.
The restrictions will not apply to any vehicle being used in connection with the said works, or for fire brigade, ambulance or police purposes or anything done with the `permission or at the direction of a police constable in uniform.
6.
The works will be in operation for (2a) 28th February – 15th April 2023.
7.
Further information may be obtained by contacting Road Network Management at ttmo@southwark.gov.uk
Dated this 9th February 2023 Ian Law Traffic Manager London Borough of Southwark Network Management Environment, Neighbourhoods and Growth 160 Tooley Street PO Box 6452 London SE1 5LX Ref: (2a) 6389-6340-06
Access all published notices: w w w. s o u t h w a r k n e w s . c o . u k / p u b l i c - n o t i c e s
A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below. Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. Date of application: 1st February 2023
24 PUBLIC NOTICES
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK TOWN & COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 (as amended) PLANNING (LISTED BUILDINGS AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990 (as amended) The planning applications listed below can be viewed on the planning register at https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/online-applications/ You can use facilities at your local library or 'My Southwark Service Points' to access the website. How to comment on this application: You should submit your comments via the above link. Comments received will be made available for public viewing on the website. All personal information will be removed except your postal address. Online comments submitted without an email address will not be acknowledged and those marked 'confidential' will not be considered. Written comments can be submitted to; Southwark Council, Chief executive's department, Planning division, Development Management, PO Box 64529, London SE1 5LX. Reason for publicity. The applications are advertised for the reasons identified by the following codes: AFFECT - development affecting character or appearance of a nearby conservation area; OR development affecting setting of a nearby listed building(s); DEP - departure from the development plan; EIA - environmental impact assessment (these applications are accompanied by an environmental statement a copy of which may be obtained from the Council - there will be a charge for the copy); MAJ - major planning application; STDCA - development within a conservation area; STDLB - works to or within the site of alisted building; 40-44 BERMONDSEY STREET VINEGAR YARD WAREHOUSE 9-17 VINEGAR YARD AND LAND ADJACENT TO 1-7 SNOWSFIELDS LONDON SE1 (Ref: 19/AP/0404) Refurbishment and extension of existing Vinegar Yard Warehouse (equivalent of 7 storeys and 26.188m AOD), demolition of 42-44 Bermondsey Street and retention and extension of 40 Bermondsey Street to form two buildings (equivalent of 12 storeys and 50.425m AOD) to provide office space (Class E); retail space (Class E); new landscaping and public realm including a new pedestrianised route through the site; vehicular access; associated works to public highway; ancillary servicing; plant; storage and associated works. The application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement submitted pursuant to the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017. Non-Technical Summary available free of charge, CD of the full ES available for purchase by contacting: Savills on 020 7499 8644. All major planning applications are usually accompanied by a large amount of supporting documents and scheme drawings. These are available in full on our planning portal. In order to provide a succinct overview of this scheme the developer has provided a short summary document that outlines the key elements of this planning application. A copy of the summary can be found at the following links: https://communitystream.co.uk/en/projects/ bermondsey-yards-1 www.communitystream.co.uk/en/projects/b ermondsey-yards-1 https://planning.southwark.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTa b=documents&keyVal=ZZZV0NKBWR602 (Within: BERM CA) Reason(s) for publicity: EIA MAJ AFFECT EIA AFFECT MAJ AFFECT EIA MAJ MAJ AFFECT EIA (Contact: Terence McLellan 020 7525 5365) 34 SHAD THAMES LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2YG (Ref: 23/AP/0236) Retrospective planning application for the
installation of Air Conditioning Unit. (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Agneta Kabele 07548097486) ROOM 1 46 TRAFALGAR AVENUE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 6NR (Ref: 23/AP/0285) The proposal in to brick up two openings that lead onto a flat roof. Currently they appear to be the only properties on the street that have the addition of two openings. This is a proposal that is being advised as there is refurbishment works being carried out to the property (Within: Trafalgar Avenue CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDLB (Contact: Eleanor Heagney 020 7525 5403) BUTLERS AND COLONIAL WHARF SHAD THAMES LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2PX (Ref: 23/AP/0042) Display of three non-illumination painted signs (Within: Tower Bridge CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose ) 57 OAKHURST GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE22 9AH (Ref: 23/AP/0277) Proposed replacement of existing windows & rear door (Within: The Gardens CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Janey Zhao 020 7525 1258) 13 COURT LANE GARDENS LONDON SOUTHWARK SE21 7DZ (Ref: 23/AP/0014) New constructed basement with a front and rear light well, with the rear light well having a external staircase leading from basement level to garden level. (Within: Dulwich Village Dulwich Wood CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Samuel Hepworth 020 7525 5465) 42 SCOTTS SUFFERANCE WHARF 5 MILL STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 2DE (Ref: 23/AP/0281) Conversion of the unused loft above Flat 42 into additional habitable accommodation, including altering the roof from hip-to-gable, installation of dormer
windows and additional rooflights on the north and south-facing roof slopes, and solar PV panels on south-facing roof slope. (Within: St Saviours Dock CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453) FLAT 3 AND 4 97 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8JH (Ref: 23/AP/0282) Replacement of existing windows at first floor (flat 3) - W1, W2,W3, W4, W5; and at second floor (flat 4) - W6, W7, W8, W9 and W10 with painted white double glazed heritage timber windows (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Anna Poulose ) 17 CAMBERWELL GROVE LONDON SOUTHWARK SE5 8JA (Ref: 23/AP/0290) Demolition of the existing roof structure and the erection of a single-storey mansard roof extension to provide an additional bedroom and en-suite at 3rd floor level. (Within: Camberwell Grove Conservation Area CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Michèle Sterry 020 7525 5453) WOOLPACK 98 BERMONDSEY STREET LONDON SOUTHWARK SE1 3UB (Ref: 23/AP/0269) Erection of single storey rear extension and a mezzanine terrace with retractable roof; the replacement of an acoustic screen, installation of new bin stores and external bar; updated landscaping; alterations to the fenestration on the rear elevation and the installation of 1x new chiller condenser unit and the relocation of existing plant. (Within: Bermondsey Street CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Hajnalka Kurti 020 7525 3701) 114 BELLENDEN ROAD LONDON SOUTHWARK SE15 4RF (Ref: 23/AP/0320) replace existing single storey extension and extend across to party wall (Within: Holly Grove CA) Reason(s) for publicity: STDCA (Contact: Louise Dinsdale 07513137967)
Dated: 07 Feb 2023 - comments to be received within 21 days of this date. STEPHEN PLATTS - Director of Planning and Growth
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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THE LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK (ELEPHANT AND CASTLE TOWN CENTRE) COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER 2023 COMPULSORY PURCHASE ORDER OF LAND AND NEW RIGHTS IN ELEPHANT AND CASTLE, SOUTHWARK Notice is hereby given that the London Borough of Southwark (“the Acquiring Authority”) has made on 2 February 2023 the London Borough of Southwark (Elephant and Castle Town Centre) Compulsory Purchase Order 2023 under section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and section 13 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. It is about to submit this order to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities for confirmation, and if confirmed, the order will authorise the Acquiring Authority to purchase compulsorily the land and the new rights described below for the purpose of facilitating the carrying out of development, redevelopment or improvement on or in relation to that land, namely a mixed use town centre redevelopment scheme including residential, retail, offices, education, assembly and leisure, a new station entrance and station box for use as a London Underground operational railway station, nightclub, commercial, business and services, access and highway works, public realm and landscaping, car and cycle parking, plant and servicing and associated and ancillary works and structures. A copy of the order and of the accompanying map may be seen at the places and times specified below: (a)
the Acquiring Authority’s offices at 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH on Monday to Friday between 9am to 4pm;
(b)
Southwark Heritage Centre and Walworth Library, 145-147 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW on Monday to Friday between 10am and 8pm, on Saturday between 10am and 5pm, and on Sunday between 12pm and 4pm; and are available for inspection on the following website: https://gateleyhamer-pi.com/engb/elephant-and-castle
Any objection to the order must be made in writing to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Planning Casework Unit, 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham B2 4BH before 5pm on Friday 10 March 2023 and should state the title of the order, the grounds of objection and the objector's address and interests in the land. DESCRIPTION OF LAND AND THE NEW RIGHTS Land to be acquired Land and property at Elephant and Castle within the London Borough of Southwark including: an area of Oswin Street and hardstanding and structures to the north-west of London College of Communication; two electricity substations within the London College of Communication; an area of hardstanding to the immediate north of Pastor Street which forms part of the southern access into London College of Communication; areas of hardstanding and structures to the north, north-west, west and south-west of Elephant and Castle railway station, Elephant Road; railway arch premises 113a and 120 and 113b and 121 Elephant and Castle Arches, Elephant Road; areas of hardstanding and structures to the immediate west of the railway arch premises 4 and 5 Farrell Court, Elephant Road; railway arch premises 4, 5, 6 and 7 Farrell Court on Elephant Road (and the fire escape route which bisects 4 and 5 Farrell Court); and an area of hardstanding and structures to the immediate west and south-west of railway arch premises 2 and 3 Farrell Court, Elephant Road (but excluding the railway viaduct and the Thameslink railway). New rights to be acquired New rights are being sought over land and property at Elephant and Castle within the London Borough of Southwark including over: a half width of Oswin Street; parts of St George’s Road, Elephant and Castle highway, Brook Drive and the entirety of Pastor Street; part of Perronet House; part of the Metropolitan Tabernacle; land to the north of St Gabriel Walk; part of The Castle Centre on Brook Drive; parts of the railway viaduct and railway arch structures on Elephant Road (including those which enclose railway arch premises 113a and 120 and 113b and 121 Elephant and Castle Arches, and those which enclose railway arch premises 4, 5, 6 and 7 Farrell Court); and areas of hardstanding and structures to the west of Elephant and Castle railway station, Elephant Road (but excluding the Thameslink railway). By way of summary, the rights being sought include (but not necessarily at each property) the right to: Oversail and/or sail a crane or cranes, loaded or unloaded, through the airspace over the land Enter upon the land to (among other things) demolish, construct and remove buildings which abut the land and the right to manage access to such parts of the land, and to enter onto land and buildings to carry out protective or reinstatement works to building facades Erect, use and remove scaffolding and/or hoardings (including signage) on the land In respect of certain parts of the railway viaduct and railway arch structures, carry out various works (as more particularly described in the order) which will facilitate (i) the creation of a public realm route through railway arch premises 6 and 7 Farrell Court and (ii) the refurbishment and conversion of use of railway arch premises 113a and 120 and 113b and 121 Elephant and Castle Arches and 4 and 5 Farrell Court
LONDON BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK SCHOOL STREETS PROGRAMME: BATCH 2 - ADYS ROAD The London Borough of Southwark (Pedestrian and cycle zones) (School Streets B2) (No. 2) Traffic Order 2023 1. Southwark Council hereby GIVES NOTICE that on 9 February 2023 it has made the above Order under sections 6 and 124 of and Part IV of Schedule 9 to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended. 2. The effects of the Order are to introduce a pedestrian and cycle zone in ADYS ROAD, in the vicinity of St John's & St Clement's Primary School. All motor vehicles except permit holders would be prohibited from entering or proceeding in the part of Adys Road which lies between the north-western kerb-line of the northernmost north-east to south-west arm of East Dulwich Road and the north-western kerb-line of Amott Road (which includes the part of Amott Road which lies between the south-western kerb-line of Keston Road and its junction with Adys Road, and the part of Ondine Road which lies between the north-eastern kerb-line of Muschamp Road and its junction with Adys Road) between 8.30 am and 9.15 am and between 3.00 pm and 3.45 pm (Monday to Friday, during school term time, as determined by St John's & St Clement's Primary School). Permits allowing vehicles to enter the ‘School Streets’ pedestrian and cycle zone described above will be available to residents of premises located within the zone, to registered carers or residents of premises located within the zone, to disabled person’s blue badge holders who are school staff, carers or dropping off and/or collecting pupils to the school and to SEND vehicles, by application to the Council. Exemptions would also apply in respect of emergency service vehicles. 3. Copies of the Order, which will come into force on 13 February 2023, and of all other relevant documents are available for inspection at Highways, Southwark Council, Environment and Leisure, 3rd floor hub 2, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH, by appointment only. E-mail traffic.orders@southwark.gov.uk or call 020 7525 3497 for booking details. 4. Any person desiring to question the validity of the Order or of any provision contained therein on the grounds that it is not within the relevant powers of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 or that any of the relevant requirements thereof or of any relevant regulations made thereunder has not been complied with in relation to the Order may, within six weeks of the date on which the Order was made, make application for the purpose to the High Court. Dated 9 February 2023 Dale Foden - Head of Service - Highways, Environment and Leisure
LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR GRANT OF PREMISES LICENCE The Thirsty Farrier Ltd has applied to the London Borough of Lambeth for the grant of a premises licence, in respect of the following premises: The Thirsty Farrier at Southbank Centre, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 8XX which would authorise the following licensable activities: Supply of Alcohol Monday - Sunday 11am - 11pm The record of this application may be inspected during normal office hours by an appointment at the Licensing Section, London Borough of Lambeth, 3rd floor Civic Centre, 6 Brixton Hill, London, SW2 1EG, or via the licensingauthority’s website, at www.lambeth.gov.uk/licensing A responsible authority or any other person may make representation to the licensing authority in respect of this application. Representations must be made in writing, either by post to the above address, or by email to licensing@lambeth.gov.uk and must be received no later than 23rd February 2023 It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with a licensing application, and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction for that offence shall not exceed level 5 on the standard scale (£5,000). 23rd February 2023Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Please take notice that I / we Huddha Raj Thulung Rai Have made application to Southwark Council for a new Premises Licence in respect of Former Cafe, SE16 3LL, Bermondesy trading estate The relevant licensable activities and proposed times to be carried on, or on from the premises are
Enter upon the land to carry out, repair and maintain hard landscaping works for public realm Gain pedestrian access to and egress from the adjacent Elephant and Castle town centre development, including to and from the Elephant and Castle railway station
Doreen Forrester-Brown, Director of Law and Governance, London Borough of Southwark Dated 2 February 2023
To place a notice, please email: em@southwarknews.co.uk Cut off is 2pm Tuesday
PUBLIC NOTICES 25
Days
Start time
Finish time
The retail sale of alcohol:
Monday - Wednesday Thursday - Sunday
11:30 11:30
22:30 23:00
Opening hours:
Monday - Sunday Thursday - Sunday
11:30 11:30
22:30 23:00
A register of all applications made within the Southwark area is maintained by: The Licensing Service, Hub 1, 3rd Floor, 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH A record of this application may be inspected by visiting the office during normal office hours by appointment on 020 7525 2000; details are also available on our website at http://app.southwark.gov.uk/licensing/licenseregister.asp It is open to any interested party to make representations about the likely effect of the application on the promotion of the licensing objectives. Representations must be made in writing to the Licensing Service at the office address given above (or by email via licensing@southwark.gov.uk) and be received by the Service within a period of 28 days starting the day after the date shown below. Note: It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application. A person guilty of such offence is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. Date of application: 23rd January 2023
26 PUBLIC NOTICES/RECRUITMENT/SPORT
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Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015 NOTICE UNDER ARTICLE 15(3) OR ARTICLE 16 OF APPLICATION FOR PLANNING PERMISSION ACCOMPANIED BY AN ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Application Number: 22/03045/VAR Proposed Development at: London City Airport, Hartmann Road, Silvertown, London I give notice that Quod acting on behalf of London City Airport Limited is applying to the London Borough of Newham for planning permission for the proposal below: Section 73 application to vary Conditions 2 (Approved documents) 8 (Aircraft Maintenance) 12 (Aircraft Stand Location) 17 (Aircraft Take-off and Land Times) 23, 25, 26 (Daily limits) 35 (Temporary Facilities) 42 (Terminal Opening Hours) 43 (Passengers) and 50 (Ground Running) to allow up to 9 million passengers per annum (currently limited to 6.5 million) arrivals and departures on Saturdays until 18.30 with up to 12 arrivals for a further hour during British Summer Time (currently allowed until 12.30), modifications to daily, weekend and other limits on flights and minor design changes, including to the forecourt and airfield layout attached to planning permission 13/01228/FUL allowed on appeal APP/G5750/W/15/3035673 dated 26th July 2016 which granted planning permission for; “Works to demolish existing buildings and structures and provide additional infrastructure and passenger facilities at London City Airport” This application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement for the purposes of Environmental Impact Assessment under The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 (as amended) Members of the public may inspect copies of; • •
The application The plans
• •
The environmental statement And other documents submitted with the application
Online at: www.newham.gov.uk/pa or at Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, E16 2QU (London Borough of Newham) by prior appointment only: email Liam.McFadden@newham.gov.uk. Hard copies of the ES (Volume 1), Technical Appendices (Volume 2) and Transport Assessment (Volume 3) can be purchased at a cost of £300 each (excluding postage and packaging) or on CD Rom/USB for a cost of £15. These documents can be obtained on request to Pell Frischmann the address below: Pell Frischmann, 5th Floor, 85 Strand, London, WC2R 0DW Anyone who wishes to make representations about this application should do so online at www.newham.gov.uk/ pa or write to the Council at Newham Dockside, 1000 Dockside Road, E16 2QU (London Borough of Newham) within 30 days of the date of this notice.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
‘Midnight Train’ could face rematch against Brit rival for title By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk RICHARD RIAKPORHE’S next fight could be a rematch against a domestic rival for a world title.
Walworth’s ‘Midnight Train’ Riakporhe extended his unblemished professional record to 16-0 when he stopped Krzysztof Glowacki in Manchester last month. That set him up for a title shot, with Chris Billam-Smith hoping for another chance against Riakporhe, who handed him his only professional defeat on a split-decision in July 2019. Jai Opetaia, the IBF cruiserweight champion, hasn’t fought since last July due to injury and if he can’t make a mandatory defence then the title could become vacant. Poland’s Mateusz Masternak is the mandatory challenger. Ben Shalom, who promotes both English fighters via BOXXER, explained the state of play. “We are waiting to see if Opetaia is going to be able to defend his belt against Masternak,” Shalom said on Sky Sports. “I know it’s supposed to happen in February or March. If it goes to early April then the IBF might not let that go through. “We’re monitoring that Opetaia situation very carefully and closely and he’ll need to fight very, very soon for that title not to become vacant. “I think this week we’ll know what will happen with Jai and then we can make the decision with Richard and Chris. “If Opetaia has to do his mandatory, we could look at a big British fight for Richard against Chris or Lawrence [Okolie]. Lawrence has got his mandatory and then will want to unify.
Chris wants his world title shot as well. It’s all there for them. “All of them will have their chance to fight for a world title this year. Provided they stay fit and healthy, they’re all going to have that chance. “They’ve both come on so much since their first fight, now it’s a completely different fight with guys who have progressed to world level. It’s a massive fight. “But again, we’re just going to wait on that Opetaia situation and we’re going to make the fights we need.” Billam-Smith added: “Masternak sits in the way of the ideal fight, which would be me and Richard fighting for it. “It’s definitely a possibility and I think that’s a huge, huge fight, me and Richard for a world title. Both of us want to fight for a world title next and what better way to do it than against each other. “We’re intertwined in our careers anyway. It’s going to happen at some point. So why not for a vacant world title? That would be phenomenal.”
Richard Riakporhe, left, defeated Krzysztof Glowacki last month
www.bedehouse.org 0207 237 3881
Bede House, 351 Southwark Park Road, London, SE16 2JW Registered charity no. 303199
Bede House Association is a multi-purpose charity working with the local communities of Bermondsey and Rotherhithe in the London Borough of Southwark. We are looking for support workers to join our Learning Disabilities team Support workers are part of a flexible team working with adults who have learning disabilities, who use the Bede Centre in Bermondsey SE16.
Midday Meal Supervisor x3 Start date: ASAP London Living Wage: £11.05 per hour Hours: 7.5 hours per week 12.30pm to 2.00pm Monday to Friday, Term Time, 38 weeks per year We are looking for 2 Midday Meal Supervisors to join our current team at this 11-19 comprehensive school for girls. Duties will include supervision of students both indoors and around the school grounds. You will need to be an enthusiastic, motivated and committed individual with good communication skills to join our team. You will be working in a friendly and vibrant environment. You will, as part of your role ensure the security, welfare, safety and good conduct of our students during the midday break. You will need to have a confident and positive approach to dealing with students of secondary school age. Shortlisted candidates invited for an interview will be given the opportunity to experience a lunchtime session first-hand. The closing date for all applications is Friday 17th February 2023 Interviews will be held w/c: Monday 20th February 2023
Our school is committed to the safeguarding of students so all our appointments are subject to medical clearance, two references and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check. We are a London Living Wage employer and we are committed to Equal Opportunities.
We are growing! Come and join us. We work in a person-centred way to enable people with learning disabilities to become as independent as possible, to make their own choices and to be fully part of the community. We do this by supporting them to develop and maintain skills, try new opportunities, make and maintain friendships and spend their time in ways valued by them and the community. We work in partnership with other local charities, to provide as many social, volunteering and work opportunities as we can to the people that come to Bede. We are looking to people that can work a variety of shifts, including full-time, part-time or flexible sessional cover. Our core service runs Monday-Friday, 9:30am-3:30pm, and we also support other projects and social clubs in the late afternoons. You can see more information about the service at https://bedehouse.org.uk/programmes/learning-disabilities/. Please visit https://bedehouse.org.uk/staff-vacancies/ for details on how to apply, or contact Gwen Green (020 7237 3881) or by email at gwengreen@bedehouse.org. You do not have to have previous experience of this type of work to do it well, but we are looking for people that are able to do the job as outlined, and who share Bede’s person-centred approach and values. We will provide full training and support to the right candidates. Deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 12th February 2023. Interviews will be held on Thursday 23rd February 2023. Bede works with children and adults at risk of harm, and we have Safer Recruitment policies and procedures in place to ensure that they are protected from abuse. These roles are subject to an enhanced DBS with a possible barred list check.
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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SPORT 27
dulwich hamlet fc
johnk@southwarknews.co.uk DULWICH HAMLET ended a fourgame losing streak as they drew 1-1 at Taunton Town in their National League South clash at Wordsworth Drive on Tuesday night.
George Porter gave the visitors the lead in the 35th minute but they couldn’t hold on to it as the hosts levelled through Dave Sims-Burgess in the 58th minute. Cameron Thompson had Dulwich’s first chance of the game as he flicked wide in the fifth minute. It was a scrappy game of few chances and Ross Stearn couldn’t test Hamlet goalkeeper Charlie Grainger before Zack Smith fired wide on 24 minutes. Dulwich’s Dominic Odusanya went into the referee’s notebook two minutes later and the Hamlet finally tested Jack
Bycroft who batted away Nana Owusu’s shot. Paul Barnes’s side took the lead five minutes later after Bycroft again denied Owusu but this time the ball fell kindly to the Dulwich player who set up Porter to score. Sims-Burgess went close to an equaliser in the 39th minute but could only find the side-netting at Grainger’s near post. Dulwich were last to threaten before the end of the half when Thompson took aim from 30 yards to force Bycroft into a save low to his right. Will Wood had the first attempt for the away side after half-time but his effort was off target before Grainger made a save from Stearn at the other end. The Peacocks were getting closer to a leveller and Jay Foulston almost got it in the 50th minute only for the woodwork
Fish hammer local rivals to reach last four By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk FISHER MADE it six wins in their last seven games with a sensational 7-1 victory over local rivals Stansfeld to reach the semi-finals of the SCEFL Challenge Cup at St Paul’s on Tuesday night.
Visitors dig in to fend off Taunton onslaught By John Kelly
Photo by Rob Avis
Hamlet end losing streak
George Porter gave Dulwich the lead
to save Dulwich. Two minutes later, the home side should have been level as Stearn only had Grainger to beat but missed the target. The goal was coming and Taunton got it just before the hour when Sims-Burgess finished a cut-back past Grainger, to the delight of the majority of the 687 in attendance. Things were getting intense for the Hamlet as Joe Felix was booked and then the visitors got away with conceding another as Nathaniel Jarvis’ shot came back off the crossbar. It was all Taunton pushing to take the lead and this time Grainger came to his side’s rescue with an excellent save from Jake Wannell’s shot. Barnes introduced Andre Blackman for Owusu and Danny Mills for Thompson to try to give his side fresh impetus.
But the tide was still going one way and the busy Grainger saved from Nick McCootie with seven minutes left. Taunton had the last chance with two of the five added-minutes gone when Dylan Morgan set up Lee Lucas whose attempt deflected behind and Dulwich successfully defended the corner. It was a welcome point for Dulwich after four straight losses. Last weekend, Weymouth came from behind to hand the visitors a 2-1 defeat at the Bob Lucas Stadium last weekend. Johl Powell put Dulwich in front in the seventh minute but a brace from Ahkeem Rose either side of the break clinched the points for the hosts. Dulwich are seventeenth in the table with 32 points from 28 games. The Hamlet are back at Champion Hill this Saturday. Tonbridge Angels are the visitors for a 3pm kick-off.
Eni Amgbaduba led the way with a hat-trick, in the 20th, 35th and 55th minutes. Cedric Nganga (41 & 70) got a brace and Michael Sarpong (76) and Lewis Duberry (90) were also on target. Ryan Fowler got a goal back for the visitors after the break but that only made it 3-1 and Ajay Ashanike’s side found another gear as they romped home. Amgbaduba completed his treble when he headed home Billy Brown’s brilliant cross. Fisher will be aiming to reach their first final when they play their lastfour tie. The Fish won 3-2 at Sutton Athletic in the SCEFL Premier Division last weekend. Jacob Katonia, Sarpong and Nganga scored for the visitors. The Fish host Hollands & Blair in the league this Saturday. Kick-off in Rotherhithe is 3pm. Last weekend, the Stans had to settle for a point at home against Deal Town in their SCEFL Premier Division clash. Stansfeld have dropped to eighth in the table, with 36 points from 23 games. They are five points and three places above Fisher. The Stans travel to Phoenix Sports this Saturday. Kick-off is 3pm. In the SCEFL First Division last weekend, Bermondsey Town lost 2-0 at home to Lydd Town. Ryan Philpott scored in the 42nd minute and Luke Burdon two minutes later. Bermondsey travel to AFC Whyteleafe on Saturday for a 3pm kick-off as they aim for a second league win of the season.
Photo by Mark Sandom
Curran takes red-ball break for ‘body and mental health’ By John Kelly johnk@southwarknews.co.uk TOM CURRAN thanked Surrey for their “support and understanding” as he announced he was taking a break from red-ball cricket.
Tom Curran in action last season
Curran, 27, said it wasn’t an easy decision but is the “right decision for my body and for my mental health”. Curran isn’t ruling out a return to red-ball cricket at some point, and he is determined to contribute to the Vitality Blast campaign with Surrey in the summer. ““The last couple of years have not been easy for me. I have had a lot of time and this isn’t a decision that I’ve taken lightly,” Curran said. “Some choices in life I don’t think you will ever be 100 per cent sure and this
is definitely one of those. But where I find myself at this exact moment, I feel like it is the right decision for my body and for my mental health. “I’m definitely not ruling out playing red-ball cricket again in the future, and I feel like I have unfinished business in this format for both Surrey and England. But until I can feel 100 per cent committed and confident in my body to be performing day in and day out for Surrey in the County Championship, I feel that putting all my time and focus into on our Vitality Blast campaign this year is the right thing to do. “I know it is not ideal news for everyone at Surrey and our fans. But I wanted to say a truly heartfelt thank you to Alec Stewart for the support and understanding of my decision. Surrey
has given me everything and is my home. I love it very much and my hope is everyone else will see and understand my decision as he has done.” “I look forward to being back at The Kia Oval in the Summer for the Vitality Blast.” Director of cricket Stewart added: “Obviously when you lose a player of Tom’s quality from your County Championship squad it is a blow, but I have spoken to him at length about his decision and understand why he has made it. “He has suffered with injuries in recent years and if this can help strengthen his body and keep him on a cricket field more regularly over the coming years, I fully support the decision. “I look forward to seeing him back in May for our own T20 season.”
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Cooper’s flick earns Millwall a point at The Den championship report Millwall - 1 Cooper 59’; Sunderland - 1 Cirkin 81’ Referee: Thomas Bramall Attendance: 18,524 (2,813 away) Man of the Match: George Honeyman
By Alex Jones at The Den alexj@southwarknews.co.uk
Sell-out crowd witness hard-fought draw against the Black Cats
MILLWALL PLAYED out a 1-1 draw against play-off rivals Sunderland on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions were out for revenge for their 3-0 loss at the Stadium of Light in early December, a result which remains their heaviest defeat of the season so far. A crowd of 18,524 supporters took to South Bermondsey over the weekend, selling out The Den and registering the club’s highest home attendance since 1995. They were incredibly unlucky not to lead in the third minute of the game after Tom Bradshaw picked up a long ball and spun past his man. He was brought down in the box by Aji Alese, but the referee waved play on. Just a minute later, George Honeyman found space down the right and set up Mason Bennett in the middle, but his weak effort bobbled past the post. The Lions suddenly lost their momentum and Sunderland gained some control. The home crowd started to become frustrated as the visitors’ wide men exploited huge gaps and continued to threaten as the half wore on. Millwall’s biggest threat came from set pieces, but they failed to really test goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. However, just before the half-hour mark, they did find the back of the net when George Honeyman fired the rebound from a parried Zian Flemming shot into the goal. The Den erupted before referee Thomas Bramall consulted with the linesman, who ultimately decided to rule the goal out as George Saville obstructed the view of the goalkeeper. The half ended with a furious home crowd as the referee continued to give decisions in favour of the visitors, damaging the flow of the game. The Lions managed to create the better chances, although Charlie Cresswell’s miss from
Championship preview
By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL’S 2-0 defeat to QPR has been one of their biggest low points so far this season.
The Lions had a torrid August against some incredibly tough teams, but it looked like they managed to turn things around early in September when they beat Cardiff City at The Den. All of that optimism evaporated just four days later when the R’s arrived in SE16, leaving with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Chris Willock and Stefan Johansen. Millwall were out-thought and outfought, leaving their London rivals in a fantastic position to kick on and secure a play-off spot. Since then, it has all gone wrong for QPR, especially after losing manager Michael Beale to Rangers. Beale, who initially turned down Premier League outfit Wolves to stay at Loftus Road, couldn’t resist the chance to return to Glasgow and rejoin the club where he
Millwall dropped points from a winning position for the first time this season point-blank range just before the half-time whistle should have given them the lead. In the final seconds of the half, Bennett went down grabbing his right leg. The referee was determined to play on until both sets of players had to call attention to the situation. The half-time whistle was subsequently blown, allowing medical staff to treat the forward on the pitch during the break before stretchering him off. Rowett brought Duncan Watmore on as his replacement, allowing the new signing to make his debut against his former club. He was in the action immediately when he was played into the box down the left flank, but Patterson rushed out to push the ball
away from danger. Fans were desperate for a penalty, but the referee said no once again. The Lions injury woes looked to worsen in the 52nd minute when Honeyman was wiped out while challenging for a ball. A clash of heads saw the Sunderland academy graduate requiring treatment before returning to the pitch, with Murray Wallace clipping the crossbar from the resulting corner. Millwall piled on the pressure. Honeyman tested Patterson with a wicked shot from the edge of the area, forcing an incredible save from the goalkeeper. He couldn’t save the Lions’ corner that came just before
VS
QPR Millwall
the hour-mark, however, as Jake Cooper flicked the ball into the back of the net off the crossbar to finally give Rowett’s men the lead. Sunderland threatened without really piling pressure onto George Long, but they found their equaliser with 81 minutes on clock. Alex Pritchard’s free-kick was whipped into the box for Dennis Cirkin, allowing the substitute to flick his header into the net off the post. The defender was knocked out cold in the process and had to be substituted less than 20 minutes after coming on, but it was clear he did enough to give his side a huge point on the road.
Millwall looked the more likely to score as the clocked ticked into stoppage time, but they were unable retake the lead as Sunderland held out for a draw. Millwall: 4-2-3-1: Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Saville; Honeyman (Burke 84’), Flemming, Bennett (Watmore 46’); Bradshaw (Voglsammer 84’)
Sunderland: 4-2-3-1: Patterson; Hume, Ballard, Batth, Alese (Cirkin 67’, Ekwah 85’); Neil, Michut (Anderson 85’); Roberts, Amad, Clarke (Pritchard 63’); Gelhardt (Ba 89’)
Loftus Road. Saturday, February 11th. Kick-off: 3pm
Confident Lions target more derby day delight Millwall looking to down London rivals and avenge their defeat at The Den
worked as an assistant to Steven Gerrard. QPR moved to appoint former Neil Critchley as his replacement but their results have been far from acceptable to a large portion of the fanbase, piling pressure onto the former Blackpool boss. The R’s have won just one game in all competitions since October 22nd, beating Preston North End 2-1. They have lost eight and drawn six of their fifteen matches since then, dropping to 14th in the table. It gives Millwall a fantastic chance to get revenge for their embarrassing defeat at the start of the season and close the gap on the top six, with the chance to move up to fifth if they win on Saturday and other results go their way. Manager Gary Rowett is determined to stay grounded, however, pointing out that
QPR are still a threat despite their atrocious run of form. “They’re playing a different formation,” he told the News. “They’re playing in a different way and they’ve got a different head coach in Neil. “Obviously Michael Beale isn’t there anymore and they’ve brought a few different players in. “I think, what you find, is that it’s still the same type of thing. It’s always a tough game away at QPR, the atmosphere is always good because we’ll always take 3,000 fans, which is an incredible amount of fans to take there. “It’s a compact ground where it feels a little bit like The Den in terms of the atmosphere, it feels like it’s got a little bit of an edge to it, which is great. It’s a great challenge for us regardless of QPR’s form or whatever
people’s opinion of them is. “They’re a good team, they’ve got good players and they’ve got a good manager in Neil Critchley. We’ll have to go there and perform really, really well. “That’s what we are as a team, we’re respectful, we always know what we’ve got to do and we never think we can just go somewhere and win the game, we’ve got to work hard and perform really, really well. “If we do, I think we can certainly be very, very competitive like we have been in a lot of the recent away games.” Millwall will be without long-term absentees Mason Bennett [ankle], Shaun Hutchinson [groin] and Callum Styles [calf], while Tyler Burey [hip] and Aidomo Emakhu [quad] are still working to return to the squad in the coming weeks.
Millwall have only beaten QPR once in their last nine attempts
matCh details Possible Millwall starting XI: 4-2-3-1
Long; McNamara, Cresswell, Cooper, Wallace; Mitchell, Saville; Honeyman, Flemming, Watmore; Bradshaw
Match odds:
QPR 8/5 Draw 11/5 Millwall 7/4
Last meeting:
Championship (September 14th, 2022): Millwall 0-2 QPR (Willock 54’, Johansen 71’)
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023 EXCLUSIVE By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk
www.newsatden.co.uk
LIONS boss delighted as trio receive award nominations
The Dutchman is still Millwall’s top scorer with ten league goals
THREE MILLWALL players have been nominated for awards based on their impressive performances in the Championship.
Zian Flemming and Billy Mitchell have both been highlighted by the London Football Awards, with the former in contention to win the English Football League Player of the Year and the latter aiming to pick up the Men’s Young Player of the Year. Mitchell in particular faces incredibly stiff competition, with Arsenal trio Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba also nominated alongside Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise. Manager Gary Rowett is delighted that the duo have been recognised for their efforts so far this season, highlighting the fact that both can reach the highest level of the game if their careers maintain the same trajectory. “Take Zian first and foremost, to have been nominated. He’s had a fantastic season so far, not least because it’s his first season in English football, his first season in the Championship and his first season at Millwall. “He’s been excellent so far, and when you work with him day-to-day you also see what a diligent, professional player he is. I’ve got no doubt that he’ll go to the top one way or another. “We’re enjoying having him as part of our team at the moment, and that award really shows the progress that he’s made. We’re hoping that he can show a similar level of progress in the second half of the season. “Billy is a young player in good company in terms of the other players who’ve been nominated for the award. It might be a tough one for him to win it, but it shows that progress and his level of maturity. “He’s almost one of the first names on the team sheet at the minute. That shows that, as a manager, I trust him, but it also shows the progression he’s made. “I still think there’s more to come, but I think he’s moving forward really, really nicely as an all-round, box-tobox midfielder that can do a bit of
MILLWALL 29
Zian Flemming one of three to be recognised for Championship performances everything.” Striker Tom Bradshaw has also been nominated for the Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month award for January, having found the back of the net three times in just three games, including a brace against Rotherham United and a
crucial winner against Cardiff City. He is up against Kieran Dowell [Norwich City], Ian Maatsen [Burnley] and Antoine Semenyo [Bristol City], with the winner set to be announced on Friday, February 10th. “Bradders is the same, what an invaluable member of the team,”
Rowett added. “He works so hard and comes in with a smile on his face. He’s added those regular goals to his game over the last period of games, he’s up there on seven for the season and could’ve had a few more. “He’s certainly tried to claim a few
more, I know that much! He’ll claim anything, Bradders. “He’s been brilliant. He plays for the team, runs, chases, presses, does everything with everything he’s got and has added those skilful finishes to it. The nomination is very much deserved.”
Lions’ squad set to stay the same
Millwall unlikely to add free agents despite failing to sign a striker EXCLUSIVE By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT does not expect Millwall to use the free agent market after failing to sign a striker in January.
Tom Bradshaw is the only senior striker at the club after Benik Afobe and Isaac Olaofe departed last month
One of the Lions’ play-off rivals, QPR, signed Chris Martin on a free transfer after he was released by Bristol City last month. It prompted some supporters to ask whether Rowett could look to strengthen his squad in the same way, especially since their move for Hibernian’s Kevin Nisbet fell through late on. However, Millwall are unlikely to make a move for a free agent given the small
size of the market and the fact that most new additions would likely need a number of weeks to get up to speed before being able to contribute to the club’s play-off push. “I think that’s quite a difficult one,” Rowett told the News. “Someone like Chris, he’s a top striker, I’ve worked with him. But if you’re bringing someone in that hasn’t played that much football and hasn’t started regularly, you know you’ll have to build that fitness level up and get them up to a point where they can go and start and impact games. “For us, we know where we are, we know what we’ve done. We couldn’t get the type of striker that we wanted, which is the case in a lot of windows, you can’t always get what you want.
“We don’t just want to take a different type of striker that doesn’t necessarily fit what we want to do. We don’t want to take someone who’s a striker and just a striker, we want to take someone that fits our profile and fits what we want to do in the long-term. “I believe that we’ve got goals in the forward line, I believe we’ve got different options in the forward line. I spoke about it after the window, and we’ll have to find those ways of trying to win games. “Regardless of whether we go and find someone as a free transfer, we’re still going to be sitting here asking whether we scored enough goals and whether we won enough games. I don’t think there’s an easy answer to that other than waiting until the end of the season and seeing where we finish.”
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Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
Burke talks through His Millwall comeback Scottish forward admits he just couldn’t resist returning to the Den in January
EXCLUSIVE By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk OLIVER BURKE remembers the moment clearly. It’s August 20th, 2022. Werder Bremen are level at 2-2 away to Borussia Dortmund going into stoppage time after Niklas Schmidt’s 93rd minute equaliser. Referee Florian Badstuebner is about to blow his whistle, but there’s still one last chance for the visitors to push forward. A slick pass from former Bayern Munich defender Mitchell Weiser plays Burke in between the two centre-backs, allowing him to use his pace and shift the ball down the right side of the box, where he unleashes a fierce shot that rifles past Gregor Kobel and into the back of the net in front of the notorious ‘Yellow Wall’ at the Westfalenstadion. “It was obviously history for the club and an amazing feeling for me,” he told the News. “All of our goals that day were great, and to get that winner was amazing. I thought that set my time off really well, it’s just unfortunate for the lack of game time opportunities, to be honest. “There’s some good memories, but that was amazing. Especially being away at Dortmund, that was even sweeter.” Flash forward to February 2023 and Burke is back at Millwall, the club where he spent last season in a promising yet injury-hit spell on loan from Sheffield United. The Lions had pushed to re-sign him
on a permanent basis over the summer and were in advanced negotiations to do so, but Werder Bremen swept in to bring him back to Germany for the second time in his career. Burke’s previous stint in Germany was with RB Leipzig, who paid £13 million to sign him from Nottingham Forest in 2016 and set the record for a transfer fee involving a Scottish player. It’s fair to say that it didn’t work out in Saxony, but the forward was determined to give it another go in the Bundesliga when the opportunity arose. “I guess you could say there was a little bit of unfinished business,” he admitted. “Everyone knows how big a club Werder Bremen is. It’s top-flight, Bundesliga football. “Still, at the time, it was a very difficult decision for me to make because I loved my time at Millwall. I was actually more in favour of coming back here because I knew I was gaining that momentum and that flow of football. I was feeling very comfortable and at home. “A lot of different aspects come into things in football and it was a fantastic move for me as a player, considering how big a club Werder Bremen is as well. “That’s not disrespecting Millwall at all, I just wanted another chance in the Bundesliga and see how it goes.” The move back to South London, albeit temporary, was stressful. The decision was made late on in the transfer window, and all parties were keen to get the move sorted before the deadline. “It was very last-minute, but I think I’m used to that,” Burke claimed. “I’ve had a
few very last-minute ones. “I’m very happy to be back here, I loved my time here last time. The boys are great here, the staff, everybody. I’m delighted. “At Werder, I probably wasn’t getting enough game time in my eyes. For a young player, you need to look at getting that match fitness, and that comes with games. There’s only so much training and things like that you can do. “For me, I’m really at a stage where I want to start playing games, and at the last minute we thought ‘yeah, we should look to go on loan’, and there couldn’t be a better club for me.” That familiarity is crucial for Burke, who is desperate to play consistently at a high level. Competing at the top end of the Championship certainly ticks that box, and the Scottish international is used to his surroundings in SE16. “For me, it makes things a lot easier because I’ve been here before. I really enjoyed my time last time and I felt like I was starting to perform well here and getting my match fitness back and everything. “It was an easy decision for me and the gaffer is obviously a massive factor for me coming here. He knows me as a player and he’s amazing to work with. I really like working with him. “I think it makes things a lot easier if you come back to somewhere you know. I can hit the ground running straight away and I understand what’s required here.” Like teammate Andreas Voglsammer, Burke has now experienced the Bundesliga and the Championship and is able to draw key comparisons between
the two, albeit that he admits his German still needs some improving. “My stints there haven’t been long enough,” he laughed. “I picked a few things up and I could understand the training and a few bits they said, but a lot of the boys there spoke English. They made me feel welcome there and it was all good. “Obviously the language change is difficult, that makes things completely different. “You have to adapt very quickly and try to learn your position in a more focused way. You have to make sure you’re 100 percent ready when you’re given the opportunity.” Voglsammer picked out some important differences on the pitch too, highlighting that German football is more tactical and fast-paced while English football has more individuals that can create moments of magic from nothing. Burke doesn’t entirely agree with this, although he admits to learning a great deal from his time at RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen. “Germany is more tactical, but I feel like everywhere is getting more tactical these days. “Wherever you go, everyone is looking at the little details and the finer edges to win a game of football. That’s all it really takes is one set piece or one moment of individual quality. “There’s lots of talented individuals in the Bundesliga that can win games and do things, so there isn’t that much difference in that aspect. “The style of football, the different
culture, every manager is different as well. You come up against different teams, everybody plays their different formations. They can be defensive or counterattacking, every game is different. “Obviously I know the Championship, it’s a tough, tough league, probably one of the toughest out there. There’s a high demand and a lot of games, which was a big factor in me coming here. “I want to get a lot of games under my belt and help the team because we’re in such an amazing position in the league. When I was here previously, we were very close as well, so there’s a real feel-good factor to this place. “I think everybody is really focused and determined to have a really good go.” That team spirit is crucial when the club is pushing hard to finally bridge the gap to the top six, something which they have threatened to do for a number of seasons. Millwall’s recruitment and their impressive performances in the Championship has fans dreaming of promotion to the Premier League, and Burke is fully on board with trying to take the Lions there this season. “Everybody’s fighting, everybody wants to push for that promotion spot and do whatever we can. “I think we stand a massive chance to do that, we’re in a great position. Even in the last game against Sunderland, we showed so many glimpses of great football and I think the fans can see that as well. “The fans are getting excited, which is great, and I’m very happy to be a part of it. “I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
Southwark News, Thursday February 9 2023
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MILLWALL 31
Dunc’s deadline day drama
Millwall’s newest recruit Watmore discusses his injuries, experience and education after his late move to the Den EXCLUSIVE By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk DUNCAN WATMORE is normally quite relaxed on transfer deadline day, but January 31st was a different story.
For the first time in his career, the forward was set to move just hours before the end of the transfer window after being allowed to leave Middlesbrough on a permanent deal. Michael Carrick’s side were waiting to confirm the arrival of Aston Villa youngster Aaron Ramsey on loan until the end of the season, pushing Watmore’s move to Millwall into the latter stages of deadline day. “It was interesting because I’ve never really experienced that deadline day feeling,” he told the News. “Sometimes you have to wait for all the paperwork to be done and you’re going to and from places, but it worked out all in time, so I was very excited about that. “I think Middlesbrough were working on signing a replacement, but it was a few days before that we found out about the interest. It kind of progressed from there. “It just got pushed back a few days until deadline day, but thankfully everything was sorted on time!” Watmore became aware of Millwall’s interest the week before after the club found out that he was available for transfer, sparking a series of conversations with manager Gary Rowett about why the move would be the best decision for everybody involved. “They just showed their interest in me and how much they wanted me,” he revealed. “They laid out their plans, how the team is doing and how they see me fitting in. I was really interested and excited by the challenge and the opportunity. “It was one of those things where I spoke to the manager, and I knew a few of the lads as well like George Honeyman and Sav [Saville], and George Evans. It’s good when you know people, and everyone spoke about what a brilliant club it is.” The 28-year-old was a regular starter in the early stages of his time at the Riverside Stadium, and he was repaying that faith with a healthy goals tally. However, this season has been different, especially after Middlesbrough sacked Chris Wilder and replaced him with Manchester United legend Carrick in late October. He was limited to short cameo appearances off the bench as a result, and it became clear that a move would be ideal in order to secure regular game time at a fellow play-off contender. “I think, at my age, you want to be playing regularly,” he admitted. “As I’ve said before, I loved my time at Boro, it’s a brilliant club. It wasn’t a case of forcing my way out, I was very, very happy there. “As soon as the Millwall interest came
Manager Gary Rowett didn’t expect Duncan Watmore to become available in the January transfer window in and the opportunity to play more, I think it became clear it would work for all three parties to be honest, Boro included. “It’s one of those things where I knew what I had to do, and now I’m looking forward to getting as much game time as I can, but obviously that depends on my performances which I completely understand.” The lack of game time didn’t make the move a foregone conclusion, however, especially given the fact that Watmore has spent the last decade living in the North East. His transfer to Millwall has seen him move down south for the first time in his career, and he considers London living to be a totally unique experience compared to everywhere he has played in the past. “It was difficult to move in some respects because I’ve been there for so long, but it also offers a completely new challenge. “I know quite a lot of people in London, friends and family, so it’s actually quite
nice to be closer to them. “Millwall offers something completely different for me, and it’s a challenge that I’m really excited for. “I definitely haven’t acclimatised to living in London yet! I think it might take quite a bit of time to get used to that. “It’s brilliant, and I also think that change can be really rewarding. Sometimes you’ve got to try different things and new experiences, that’s what life is about.” Fans got a brief taste of Watmore’s ability in his debut against Sunderland off the bench, where he replaced the injured Mason Bennett at half time to get his first minutes in a Millwall shirt. There was already a lot of excitement about his arrival, with many reading that Jermain Defoe likened him to Gareth Bale when the pair played together at the Stadium of Light in 2015. “That was taken out of context a bit,” Watmore laughed. “He was just talking about my running style when I was breaking through at Sunderland initially,
he wasn’t comparing me to Gareth Bale, thankfully. I couldn’t be dealing with that. “I see myself being direct and positive where I can while providing energy for the team. That’s how I see myself as a player, really trying to bring positivity where I can. “It’s something that I really value in myself, that I can bring that energy. It’s something that I enjoy doing as well.” The quote from Defoe came during Watmore’s time as a Premier League player, having amassed almost 40 topflight appearances in just two campaigns earlier in his career. As a result, there’s a drive and ambition to return to that stage while he’s in the prime of his career, and he believes that he can achieve that during his time at Millwall. “I was very fortunate to play in the Premier League earlier in my career before my injuries. “I’d absolutely love the opportunity to play there again, but we’ve got to take
each game as it comes. It’s a very hard league to get out of and we know that. “We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves and, it’s a cliché, but we have to take each game as it comes and that’s what we’re fully on board with. “We’ll try and get points that way and see where we are at the end, but I think everyone’s ambition is to keep winning games and keep trying to climb up there.” The aforementioned injuries have been a major concern for Watmore, although he has largely remained fit for the best part of three seasons. During his time at Sunderland, he managed to tear his anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] in both knees, ruling him out for a substantial period of time. Right now, however, he remains fit and healthy, and he’s determined to stay that way for as long as possible. “It’s been brilliant, because I had about three years where I didn’t play, but in the past three years I’ve been fit, touch wood. “It’s been nice to have that run of games and run of fitness. My body feels really good and hopefully it’ll continue that way. “I never really had any conversations about ending my career prematurely, I just didn’t know if I could get back to where I wanted to be because it was so long without playing. “I definitely had those doubts, but thankfully I had a lot of support around me and I got through it, and I’m still playing now.” His injury record is one of many reasons that he decided to undertake an undergraduate degree in economics and business management, graduating with first-class honours in 2015. Since then, he has taken his studies even further to assure that he will have a career after football, regardless of what that may end up being. “I started it in non-league where I was doing my first year at Manchester Uni before Sunderland bought me. “I was really enjoying economics, I always have, I always wanted to get a degree. I transferred my second and third year and got that done. “The year before last I finished my master’s degree in international business, leadership and management. Business management, strategies and economics, they’ve always been things I’ve been quite interested in. That’s why I did my studies and I really enjoyed them.” “It was tough, it did take a lot of sacrifice, but football is quite a unique lifestyle in the way that the days aren’t that long. “I had the time to do it, it just took a lot of focus. I’m glad I did it.” “I’ve seen the injury side of things where I didn’t think I’d play again for some time. It’s good knowing I’ve got a degree and something there that’s completely different. “I quite enjoy having something that’s completely different to football as well, so that’s another safety net.”
Gary Rowett will be without four first-team players during a hectic run of February fixtures
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Sport Southwark
hamlet end losing streak Page 27
‘Injury woes won’t derail Millwall’s season’ Lions boss remains confident of top-six challenge - despite knocks piling up
EXCLUSIVE By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk GARY ROWETT is not concerned about Millwall’s injury list despite a number of players being unavailable for the next few weeks. The Lions’ woes worsened over the weekend when Mason Bennett picked up a serious ankle injury in their 1-1 draw against Sunderland, while Shaun Hutchinson [groin], Tyler Burey [hip] and Callum Styles [calf] are all expected to miss a large chunk of games as well. It leaves them with a thin squad, something which they struggled with at the same stage of last season. Millwall
relied on youngsters such as Nana Boateng and Zak Lovelace to impact games off the bench, and they will have to do the same with the likes of Romain Esse between now and the end of the campaign. Despite this, Rowett is not concerned that the lack of options will derail his side’s promotion push, adding that there is more than enough quality in the squad to secure a top-six finish at the end of the campaign. “I think if you look at it, we’re in a fantastic position,” he told the News. “If you look at the league table after so many games, we have a game in hand or two on teams and we’re two on teams and we’re two points behind the majority of those players.
“You only have to go and put in one good performance in those two games and you’re in the top six, so for me, that’s a huge positive. “We know what we are, we always know we’re going to need a bit of luck, we’re going to need a little bit of fortune to keep players available. We always know that we’re two or three injuries away from the squad being a little bit thin, but that’s what we are and we understand that. “We haven’t got the riches and the resources of some of the other clubs in and around us, but we’ve got a hell of a lot of other things going for us. We’ve got a lot of fight, we’ve got great spirit, we’ve got players like Zian [Flemming] playing really well and I believe he’s got the
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ability to be as good as any of the players in those top six teams, like many of our players. “There are massive positives. You saw it at the weekend - Hutchy is out, Cressy [Cresswell] comes into the team and performs. That’s going to have to happen. “At some point, Shacks [Shackleton] will go into the team and Shacks will have to perform for us. Lenny [Leonard] will have to go in the team and perform. We’ve got Burkey [Burke], we’ve got [Duncan] Watmore. “We’ve got options and you’re only ever going to be as good as your squad. If our squad is good enough, then regardless of how many injuries we get, it’ll be good enough. That’s what we’re about, so we’ll stick together and keep fighting.”
Changes galore for Nugent’s young Lions EXCLUSIVE By Alex Jones alexj@southwarknews.co.uk MILLWALL’S UNDER-21 team have undergone a significant transition in the January transfer window. Isaac Olaofe, Hayden Muller and Besart Topalloj were surprisingly allowed to leave on permanent deals, joining Stockport County, Dundalk and Bromley respectively. In turn, the Lions added 18-year-old Frankie Hvid in the latter stages of last month, with the defender signing his first professional contract before joining up with Kevin Nugent’s side. First-team boss Gary Rowett explained the reasoning behind the decisions, explaining the “cycle” that young players go through at Millwall’s academy. “We had quite a strict process with our young players and our loans,” he told the News. “When we first came in, we said we wanted to try and strengthen the under-23 group. I think Nuge [Nugent] and Robbo [Robinson] would, at times, have six or seven players and sometimes no goalkeeper. It just felt like it was really hard for them to develop. “I think we’ve moved forward a lot in that department with a lot of work from everyone, we sat down and looked at what we needed to do. “We spoke about players at the latter stages of that under-23’s cycle, if they go out on loan we either need to keep them out on loan or bring them back to be part of the first team. “The likes of Bes, Hayden and Tanto were in that cycle, and when you get to the end, you have to make a judgement. The judgement for those three was to let them start their careers with regular football. “If they do really well, I’m sure there will always be a little benefit to us with the deals that have been done, but you have to let them go and progress.”
Millwall’s under-21’s still occupy second place in the Professional Development League The recycled paper content of UK newspapers in 2014 was 83.5%