ISSUE 3 / DECEMBER 2018
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The Earwig Press is go.... 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 this 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 third issue. Verity has been joined by 5 residents so far, taking the EARWIG PRESS editorial group to 6 - more information on us can be found on the back page. You’re not too late to join the EARWIG press - we meet monthly to discuss and shape content, talk about the local area, regeneration, community and more. 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. Our next meeting is scheduled for 7th January - 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 * A Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year from THE EARWIG* THE EARWIG is shaped, made & managed by residents, for residents
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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HAWKSMOOR PRIMARY SCHOOL
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ST MARGARET CLITHEROW RC PRIMARY SCHOOL
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WATERWAYS CHILDREN’S CENTRE
BIRCHMERE COMMUNITY HUB
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What’s On Submit your Moorings related activities, groups and events to THE EARWIG PRESS, so that we can share these amongst residents. For example: Coffee Mornings, Youth Clubs, Church Groups, Dance groups, Car Boot Sales, 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 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. 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 (includes lunch): £3.00. Enjoy the exercise free of charge without lunch. Contact Lara Alibi / Seniorsintouch@yahoo.com - 07957727955 Moorings Resident’s Community Group / Tea & Coffee Morning Every Monday (term time only) 9.30 - 11am Hawksmoor Youth Hub, Bentham Road, SE28 8AS Coffee Mornings for parents and other residents. An opportunity to socialise and find out what is happening in the area. Refreshments are provided & children are welcome. For more information contact / Penny 07400 353315 - Lisa 07930 338 571 / or Hawksmoor Youth Club - 020 8310 9754
Safety Net / Community Café Every Thursday 11am - 2pm, rain or shine Birchmere Community Hub, 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. Pop in Parlour / Over 60’s group Wednesdays & Fridays, 11am-1pm Lakeview Court, Central Way, Thamesmead, SE28 8GL Group for the over 60’s offering quizzes, bingo & coach trips away. Enjoy freshly cooked meals & a cup of tea/coffee amongst a group of friendly faces. Contact Daniel Browne / 0203 828 3888 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.
Events Moorings Community Christmas Party / Friday 21st December, 5 - 7pm Hawksmoor Youth Club, Bentham Road, Thamesmead, SE28 8A There will be Christmas art activities, tree decorations, lanterns and glitter pictures, meet Santa, hot dogs, burgers, disco, dancing and biscuit decorating. Everyone is welcome. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Thamesmead Parents Forum / Saturday 19th January, 12 - 1pm - Birchmere Community Hub Monday 21st January 9.30 - 11am - Hawksmoor Youth Club Wed 23rd January 10.45 - 12.15pm - Waterways Children’s Centre An opportunity to find out about what is happening locally, tell us what really matters to you and how living in Thamesmead can be better for children and families.Meet other parents and begin to develop ideas, plan projects and activities together. For further information contact Rachel Wicks / rachel.wicks@peabody.org.uk - 0203 828 3525.
Thamesmead Business Forum / The Link, Bazalgette Way, Thamesmead, SE2 9BS Monday 7th January, 4 - 6pm Find out how your business can access the potential growth opportunities in Thamesmead. Open to all individuals, start-ups, or established businesses looking to start, develop or grow. Free. Contact / madeinthamesmead@peabody.org.uk Pop Up Market / The Link, Bazalgette Way, Thamesmead, SE2 9BS Friday 8th February, 11am - 3pm Come along to our business pop up markets, purchase new items, try new items and meet with local entrepreneurs and business people. Free. Contact / madeinthamesmead@peabody.org.uk Over 50’s Keep Fit / FREE Exercise class Jubilee Community Centre, Lytton Strachey Path, SE28 8DY Tuesdays, 11.30am - 12.30pm Over 50’s Seated pilates / FREE Exercise class Lakeview Court, Central Way, Thamesmead, SE28 8GL Fridays 11.30am - 12.30pm Aged 50+ and love Zumba, keep fit classes or pilates? We offer it all! Contact us for info on other classes across the area. Now’s the Time to get active / ntt@Peabody.org.uk - 020 3828 4920 Exercise, play, training, advice / Various activities Waterways Children’s Centre, Southwood Road, SE28 8EZ Pop into to see us to find out about the range of FREE activities, events and training for families with children under 5. Some universal activities are 50p which contributes towards resources. For more information contact / waterways@gll.org - 020 8311 5491 Your Moorings / Monthly Drop-in session Tump 53, Water Lily Walk (off Claridge Way), SE28 8AS 12th January 11am - 3pm 9th February 11am - 3pm 9th March 11am - 3pm Monthly drop-in sessions to see progress on the former Moorings Social Club and Byron Close landscape scheme. Free and open to all residents, old and new. Contact / hello@verityjanekeefe.co.uk - text 07817 302637
What’s in a name... Having lived in the Moorings for over three decades, I have often wondered who the streets are named after. What’s in a name will be a regular feature sharing research on this with you.... Bentham Road / Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was a philosopher, jurist & social reformer, seen as being a political radical. Booth Close / Charles Booth (1840-1916) was a Social researcher and reformer, best known for his work in documenting working class life in London at the end of the 19th century. Titmuss Avenue / Richard Titmuss (1907-1973) was a pioneering social researcher, historian and teacher. He founded the academic discipline of Social Administration, now largely known as Social Policy.(Rosa)
News from the Tump...
When the wind is calm this is a very peaceful time to be at Tump 53. The whole woodland is slowing down now to protect itself through the harsh Winter weather. Leaves are falling and the birds and squirrels are frantically eating as much as they can whilst the berries are still out. The dragonflies and bees are fewer and fewer each day now as the air cools down and insects are moving further and further under and into rotting logs to escape the first frost. The Kingfisher is still seen from time to time from the Classroom windowsswooping down to the water from the top of theTump wall.
From the archives... The Moorings Social Club under construction with Simon Court and Chadwick Court behind, 1975. Share your archival photographs with us to feature in future EARWIG issues Keep an eye on: www.themoorinsarchive. co.uk
Moorings Neighbourhood Forum.. The Moorings Neighbourhood Forum has been meeting throghout 2018 with the intention to establish itself as a recognised constituted group that has a voice on local development issues in the future. At the last meeting, the forum appointed members to formal roles to represent the forum. Those appointed are: Chair / Deborah Frimpong - Secretary / Patricia Reilly Treasurer / Sue Pollack - Publicity & Public Relations officer / Titilope Durojaiye Over the last 12 months, these aims have been developed: 1 / Bringing local people together so residents can have a much greater say in what happens now, and what will happen, in the future in the Moorings. 2 / To formally establish the forum early next year as a constituted body recognised by the Royal Borough of Greenwich. *The MNF is open to all those who live or work in the Moorings*
Social Isolation & loneliness: RTM.fm Radio Thamesmead (RTM) was the first community radio station to air in the U.K. in 1978 - 2009. October 19th saw the relaunch of RTM with a mixture of old and new presenters and production crew. My cousin Ken Murray was one of the people who helped launch it when he was 14, so I was keen to be involved. Community Connections is a talk and music show , co-presented by me, Tricia, and Deborah. It focusses on a variety of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care issues which affect our community. Loneliness is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day. According to Age UK, The Moorings is one of the worse affected areas in Greenwich for residents experiencing loneliness. This affects all ages and is not limited to older people. We interviewed local people and organisations to discover if they were aware of these issues, finding out about the wonderful work they were doing to make a difference in our community. You can listen to the shows on www.rtm.fm by searching for Community Connections on the home page and then pressing the play button. Let us know what you are going to do to help to reduce social isolation and loneliness in Thamesmead. (Tricia)
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
Meet your EARWIG PRESS We are THE EARWIG PRESS: a group of residents, working with Verity on establishing the publication and leading it into the future. We will have a digital presence, with issues being available at www.themooringsarchive.co.uk for now, and we will be on social media. Watch this space. Here’s an introduction from each resident member: Bridget / Mother of four, interested in journalism and wants to give back to the community David / Interested in the project and cares about the Moorings, was involved with former Gallions Residents Board Diana / This seemed like the perfect opportunity to get involved with the community. Wants to learn more about Thamesmead- has lived here for more than 10 years and only knows the bus stop! Rosa / Long term Moorings resident. Wanted to be involved in a community newspaper or pamphlet Trcia / Does everything elsewhere but sleep, so thought it was time to change that.