ISSUE 2 / AUGUST 2018
PRESS
‘Ear, You Can Still Join The Earwig Press.... EARWIG was a community pamphlet for Thamesmead 3 - The Moorings. It was produced by residents, for residents, between 1975 - 1977. THE EARWIG PRESS has been set up by artist Verity-Jane Keefe, as a way to celebrate the local place, share information & provide space for comments & thoughts on your area: looking at the past, present and future. A publication, a group and an outpost for residents voice. Founded in April 2018 this is your second issue. This is a reminder of the invitation to residents of the Moorings, to join the new EARWIG press, forming the editorial group with Verity. We will meet every six weeks to discuss and shape content, produce future issues, talk about the local area, regeneration, community and more to be decided by the group. If you are 14 and over, and live or work within the Moorings area you can join! No need to worry about having enough experience, all that’s required is enthusiasm and a curiosity to get involved. An updated map is included to show the area covered. Our first meeting is scheduled for 30th August - 6.30 - 8pm Get in touch with Verity and she’ll give you all the information you need, and answer any questions you might have. Text or call Verity on 07817 302637 Email theearwigpress@gmail.com
THAMESMEAD 3 THE MOORINGS AREA
An updated map following conversations with residents....
AY L W OA D RA T YR N C E W N E R S WAY E TA SA
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JUBILEE CENTRE
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HAWKSMOOR PRIMARY SCHOOL
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HAWKSMOOR YOUTH CLUB
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TITMUSS AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
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ST MARGARET CLITHEROW RC PRIMARY SCHOOL
DISRAELI CLOSE
WATERWAYS CHILDREN’S CENTRE
BIRCHMERE COMMUNITY HUB
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WINDRUSH PRIMARY SCHOOL
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WOOLWICH POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL
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TITMUSS AVENUE
HEALTH CENTRE ST PAUL’S CHURCH
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What’s On THE EARWIG PRESS would like you to submit any activities, groups and events that are happening within the Moorings area so that we can share these out amongst residents. For example, Coffee Mornings, Church Groups, Basketball Groups, Dance Clubs, Walks - you name it, we want to list it! From regular meeting groups, to one off events. Email listings to theearwigpress@gmail.com with event/group name, when (times), where (address), what it is, if it’s for a particular age group, and whether it is free or charged and we’ll do the rest. If your group or event is happening just outside the area shown on the map, submit it anyway, as we may include it, depending on how much space is available.
Regular groups Titmuss Avenue Garden Association (TAGA) Titmuss Avenue Come and join us. Grow your own vegetables and flowers. For more information please visit us in the garden (between 12 noon and 1:00p.m. most days). The Community Growing Together. Contact Ron Russell / 07975 946 439. Moorings Resident’s Community Group / Tea & Coffee Morning Every Monday (term time only) 9.30 - 11am Hawksmoor Youth Hub, Bentham Road All welcome for a coffee and chat, find out what’s happening in your local area. mooringscommunitygroup17@outlook.com Seniors in Touch / Exercise and Lunch Club for the over 50’s Every Tuesday 11am - 2pm Jubilee Community Centre, Lytton Strachey Path off Titmuss Avenue, SE28 8DU Our aim is to reduce loneliness, social isolation and promote healthy living for the over 50’s. Fun exercise to music, making friends, games, health talks and more. Entry fee (includes lunch): £3.00. Enjoy the exercise free of charge without lunch. Contact Lara Alibi / Seniorsintouch@yahoo.com - 07957727955
Safety Net / Community Café Every Thursday 11am - 2pm, rain or shine Birchmere Community Hub in Birchmere Park, off Disraeli Close & Byron Road A place to relax, with games, conversation or a cup of tea. A Community Café run by and for people affected by mental ill health. All welcome. The Good Life Garden / Drop in gardening group Every Thursday 10am - 4pm (Unless it’s raining) Birchmere Community Hub, off Disraeli Close Learn about growing food, plants and wildlife - right on your doorstep in this hidden oasis. Contact Bryan, through the green gates at the garden.
Events Monday Fun Days / Free summer fun days Birchmere Community Hub, off Disraeli Close Monday 13th & 20th August, 10am - 12pm followed by lunch Come along and take part in arts and crafts alongside music. Free event with free food. Contact Christine / christine.carrasco@peabody.org.uk - 020 3828 4683 Greenwich Dance / Free dance classes Friday 17th August, 11am - 12.30pm Arch 16, Byron Close Learn how to perform street and hip-hop dancing. Suitable for ages 5 - 10 years. Booking is essential. Contact Christine / christine. carrasco@peabody.org.uk - 020 3828 4683 Moorings Summer Festival / Claridge Way, outside Hawksmoor Youth Hub Contact / Claire at Hawksmoor Youth Hub / 020 8310 9754 Volunteer days / Help build temporary street furniture Monday 13th August, 2 - 5pm, Tuesday 14th - Fri 17th, 10 - 5pm Open to all local people 13 years and over. Young people who aren’t members of Hawksmoor Youth Hub must be supervised by their parents or guardians. No experience or registration needed. Improve your DIY skills: painting, woodwork and textiles. FREE with drinks and snacks provided at lunch.
Free fun day / Saturday 18th August, 1 - 4pm Claridge Way, outside Hawksmoor Youth Hub An afternoon event including games, food, music, market, sports, radio, gardening and arts and crafts. Free, all welcome. Jubilee Community Centre, Lytton Strachey Path off Titmuss Avenue, SE28 8DU Wednesday Club / Activity sessions Most Wednesdays, 6.30 - 7.45pm (from 12th September) Have fun playing games, taking part in art and craft, box games, table tennis, days out & loads more. 5-11 year olds. £1 per session. Contact / 07790 962474 C.L.A.Y Praise Party / Saturday sessions Saturday 15th September and 10th November Come and join us taking part in different activities such as cooking, art, games and singing - 5-11 year olds The Moorings Neighbourhood Forum / Tuesday 11 September, 6 - 8pm The Moorings Neighbourhood Forum has been meeting throughout the year with an intention to establish itself as a recognised constituted group that has a voice on local development issues in the future. If you would like to be involved, it isn’t too late to come along to the next meeting, talk with your neighbours and find out more about how you could represent the Moorings community. For further information contact Giles Piercy / gilespiercy@localitymatters.co.uk - 07710 381 436. RTM (Radio Thamesmead) / Launch Programme 19th October - 16th November TACO!, 30 Poplar Place TACO! is launching a new community radio station for Thamesmead. RTM is seeking proposals for programmes and content for the station. Visit www.RTM.FM to submit your ideas. TACO! is working with Ravensbourne College, BBC producers Reduced Listening, and community radio expert Andy Sayers to offer free training in broadcast production between 28th August and 15th November and are open to everyone. Contact TACO! at info@taco.org.uk
Some examples of what might feature... Gardener’s Club The Moorings is VERY GREEN. With green open spaces, gardens, foraging, allotments and TWO community gardens it seems only right that a gardeners corner could feature - sharing recipe suggestions from the growers at the Good Life Garden, seasonal tips from other growers and much more..... It could be Bryan & Beryl’s Rhubarb and Ginger Jam or Crab Apple Jam recipes - all grown and made locally. Delicious. Let us know your thoughts, comments and tips...
From the archives...
A photograph showing the GLC (Greater london Council) model for Thamesmead 3, showing the southern part of the Moorings - Owen and Disraeli Close and Harold Wilson House in the top right corner. This photo is from the collection of Stephen Mooring, GLC architect of Harold Wilson House, the Social Club and surrounding shopping area, taken in 1973. The Moorings Social Club, and Moorings area following this, was named after Stephen as a thankyou by the local community...
‘Ear, ‘Ear THIS SPACE IS STILL RESERVED for your contributions to the THE EARWIG PRESS, ideas and suggestions can be put forward to the group for publication, An archive photograph, a poem, piece of writing about the local area, a drawing, a comment etc. The readers space. This was a feature of the original EARWIG, the drawing below is a reworking of a sketch that featured in the first issue published October 1975.
Guest features THE EARWIG PRESS will invite contributions from people that have a wider connection and interest in the Moorings and Thamesmead. These might be other artist’s or writers on London, one of the former Greater London Council architects who worked on Thamesmead 3 or previous tenants. These will feature in the first few editions as the new group finds it’s feet.
And finally All contributions, comments and feedback on any of the content in this second issue are welcome. If you are a teenager, what would you like to see in here, likewise if you have just moved here, or have lived here for 40 years - how can we make this relevant to you? Remember, without you the EARWIG is nothing.
The Moorings Residency.... Verity-Jane Keefe is a visual artist. She is currently artist in residence for The Moorings, commissioned by Peabody in 2017. She is interested in the relationship that people have with place, and how by setting up structures, engagement and print, residents can have voice within broad regeneration contexts. She has been working across Outer London for the last 14 years, and has worked in Thamesmead on commissions from 2009 to now. Alongside THE EARWIG PRESS, Verity is making a new filmwork about the Moorings and is setting up The Moorings Archive - an online collection of historic material, ephemera, found objects, local folklore and legend celebrating everything that makes The Moorings, what it is, everyday brilliance and more. Thamesmead Stage 3 was built a little later than Stages 1 and 2. The Moorings, stands strongly, surrounded by waterways with a well used shopping centre in Arnott Close. It is not perfect, but where is? It represents a brilliant slice of life.. www.themooringsarchive.co.uk
The Moorings Social Club + The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has granted Peabody £1.15m through the ‘Good Growth Fund’ towards a new £2m community and enterprise hub in Thamesmead. The Good Growth Fund aims to support growth and community development in London. The project will include the refurbishment of the former Moorings Social Club, convert a set of 3 under-road arches in Byron Close and improve the landscape and public realm in Byron Close connecting the two refurbished spaces. These spaces will provide flexible areas for; community meetings, activities and events, flexible and affordable enterprise space, and a skills, training and enterprise programme to be delivered by Peabody’s socioeconomic team. Verity is artist on the design team, working to ensure that the local community can feed into the design and programming of these spaces. There will be plenty of opportunities to be involved in this at different stages, watch this space…