Lambeth Archives open day 25 September 2010

Film screenings, talks, exhibition and workshops
52 Knatchbull Road
London SE5 9QY
Phone 020 7926 6076
Admission FREE

Saturday 25 September 2010
10am – 5pm

The theme of this year’s Archives open day is film

• Talks and films
• Exhibition of original art and photographs
• Children’s activities
• Archives enquiry desk
• Refreshments
• Local societies’ stands
• Book stalls

Talks and films in the Michael Church

10.30-11.45am
In the Shadow of the Lamp: Irish nurses in 1950s Lambeth
Anne Ward, Lambeth Archives

11.45am-12.30pm
The making of Black Joy: the 1979 film that helped redefine Brixton as the centre of Black London
Sally Shaw

12.30-1.15pm
The history of home movies: how amateur film makers represent their communities
David Cleveland

2-2.45pm
Stories from the Stockwell war memorial
Naomi Klein

2.45-3.30pm
Brink of Change - Unsung Heroes: lives on the Clapham Park Estate
Charlotte Bill

3.30-4.15pm
The Ladies Bridge: the story of the women who rebuilt Waterloo Bridge
Karen Livesey

4.15-5pm
Going to the pictures: a local history of the cinema
Robert Holden

Workshops and theatre in Lambeth Archives

12.30pm
Tracing your Lambeth house history
Len Reilly, Lambeth Archives

1.15pm
Me, Myself and Miss Gibbs
One-woman drama about Edwardian life in South London
Written and performed by Francesca Millican-Slater

2pm
How to look after your home movies
David Cleveland

2.45pm
Tracing your Black family history
Kelly Foster, Black Cultural Archives

3.30pm
Children’s activities

For more information visit www.lambeth.gov.uk/archivesopenday
or contact Archives@lambeth.gov.uk
or phone 020 7926 6076

Bolney Meadow Community Fun Day 4 September, 12noon

Bolney Meadow Estate is having a Community Fun Day on Saturday 4 September between 12noon and 4pm on the communal grassed area between Ibberton House and Melbury House, just off Meadow Road, (near the junction with Dorset Road, London SW8). There will be food, music, and plenty of free activities.

The fun includes
Face painting
Bouncy castle
Tai Chi
Mini Farm
Bolney's Got Talent
Henna and threading
Street dance
Raffle
DJ

For more info, contact Aledina Miah on 020 7749 5180 or aledina.miah@olmec-ec.org.uk

Victoria Line closed this weekend 29 and 30 August

No service on the entire line due to line upgrade work on Saturday and Sunday 29 and 30 August 2010. Replacement bus between Victoria and Brixton.

Royal Mail Sorting Office: New model of Stockwell landmark

Kingsway Models, who make - among many other objects of wonderment - the fantastic card kit of Stockwell Bus Garage, have alerted me to their latest product of local interest to Stockwellians (not to mention Wandsworthians).

It is the Postal Sorting Office at the junction of Lansdowne Way and Wandsworth Road.

John Howe says:

"Based on a still-existing building in Wandsworth Road, South London, this postal delivery office is modelled completely. The length of the sorting hall has been slightly reduced but with the extra walling included a yard can be added in which to display the range of Royal Mail vehicles now available. The building (without the yard) measures approximately 11.5 inches by 7 inches."

It sells for a mere £14 including first class postage within UK.

Stockwell Festival and Expo: 25 September 2010

Saturday 25th September 2010
Larkhall Park
Courland Grove
London SW8 2PX
1–6pm

Stockwell Festival, produced by Stockwell Partnership in association with Lambeth Council, is an annual highlight of the South London cultural calende. 2010 marks its 10th anniversary and this year an Expo is included in the event.  This year's theme, delivered in partnership with local service providers, local organisations and community groups is COHESION, CREATIVY & WELLBEING. 

Highlights include

The Pineapple Stage
A vibrant line-up with local street dancers Dance Starz, Stockwell Good Neighbours Choir, acrobatic cheerleaders Fyer Flyz and South London’s very own 2008 X Factor boot camp contestants RTI (Reach To Inspire). Plus professional swinging sounds from Kingsize 5 and Congolese favourites Grupo Lokito

Children’s Village
There’s face painting, arts and craft workshops, Punch and Judy shows, magic and circus workshops, interactive drumming workshops with Lambeth Music Service plus Bureau of Silly Ideas’ Pineapple Car is back to take you on a hair-raising ride around the park! 
Celebrating 10 years, local artists, Art 4 Space invite you to make ‘A Wish For Stockwell’ - watch out for the giant birthday cake. 
Jump on board Oasis Go Karts’ pedal cars for some relay racing fun or enjoy creative environmental activities with Oasis Nature Gardens.
Later in the afternoon, Lady Pineapple leads the Pineapple Parade around the park with an array of pineapple puppets, masks and hats culminating in a performance from the Fyer Flyz on the main stage.
 
Wellbeing Zone
Trust Art Project invite you to join them for The Big Tea - have a brew and a slice of yummy cake and enjoy the exhibition and art workshops.
Lambeth Community Health trainers will be sharing wellbeing information and offering health checks all day. 
Plus massage or reflexology treatment. Local therapists are on hand to treat you.

Peace Zone
Meet your safer neighbourhood police team, their dogs and horses and find out all about local safety.   The Fire Brigade will be there between 2 and 4pm

Stockwell EXPOsed
Find out what’s available on your local doorstep as organisations and Council services offer a one-stop shop of information. Including chance to meet your local councillors and put your burning questions to them or simply browse around the many arts and craft stalls selling their wares.
DR BIKE – Get your bike fixed for FREE! Lambeth’s Sustainable Transport team offer advice and mechanical know-how.
Friends of Larkhall Park exhibit the latest park developments.

If you’d like to get involved, have a stall or volunteer contact Anna at agodsiff@hotmail.com or call 07973 711173.

For Grupo Lokito photograph please credit Cesar Rodriguez-Duran.

Stockwell toilets

Ian Cameron, the long-time Stockwell campaigner for toilet provision, has commented on Lambeth's plans to increase the number of "public" toilets available - that is the Community Toilet Scheme (CTS).

If you pop into Stockwell Tube Station the ticket barrier duty person will give you a free booklet entitled Welcome to London and on page 17 is a short specific para on LONDON toilet provision.  It states that superloos are available across London. It is worth seeing. Since the failure of Stockwell Labour Party to get any CENTRAL STOCKWELL takers for the Council Community Toilet Scheme in January/February (2009). I made repeated requests in writing to local councillors to provide at least an automated loo on Stockwell Green none of them have ever on any occasion even acknowledged or replied....

The community toilet scheme premises referred to by Alex Bigham in his blog post are NOT CENTRAL STOCKWELL - the major problem is central stockwell - there is NO provision in central stockwell as he very well knows. And where there are CTS premises I have raised that the signage is not sufficient or not adequately displayed - again my communications have been absolutely ignored on this topic.

Ex-teacher Jeff Morrell gets three and a half years

Jeff Morrell, a 65-year-old former teacher at Stockwell Manor School, has been jailed for sexually assaulting two teenage schoolboys during the Seventies. The boys were kept in for "detention" but found themselves locked in Morrell's office (he was head of year).

More at The Evening Standard

More on the Richbourne Terrace cannabis factory

The Met have published this on their website:

Officers from Lambeth Borough Police attended an address in search of a wanted man, only to uncover a cannabis factory.

On Sunday 15 August officers went to an address in Richbourne Terrace, South Lambeth, SW8 looking for a man who was wanted. The door was answered by a 35 year old Vietnamese woman, who appeared nervous and evasive when questioned about the wanted man. Officers entered to search the premises. They discovered that one room had been fitted with artificial lights and was being used to cultivate in the region of 70 cannabis plants.

EDF Electricity were called to the address to ensure that wiring to the additional lights within the premises was safe.

The 35 year old woman was arrested and has been bailed to return to a South London police station.  

The man sought by police was not found.

South London Press: Stockwell stories

Triangle campaigner Jim Clancey in court battle over plans to close the Kennington playground (page 10, with picture)
Alleged cannabis factory in Richbourne Terrace (page 17)

Stockwell Park Estate draws top graffiti artists

The Evening Standard has an article today on the graffiti of Stockwell Park Estate and the involvement of artists Solo-One, along with Bonzai and Lovepusher, in channelling creativity into art and away from vandalism.

Stockwell "to get more toilets"

A Keep Britain Tidy survey has shown that the public feel Stockwell does not have enough public toilets ie too much public urination.

Lambeth Council says it is "working with local businesses to to increase toilet provision in the area" and spins this on its website as "Stockwell to get more toilets" - er, not quite the same thing, Lambeth.


Stockwell businesses currently in the scheme are Berlengas on Wandsworth Road and Machico Tapas Bar on South Lambeth Road. Of course, the toilets are only open while the business is open.

Mobile phone and battery recycling at Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's stores throughout Lambeth are hosting temporary recycling collection points for unwanted mobile phone chargers until 28 August 2010.

Batteries that power many household WEEE items can be recycled at any of the libraries in the borough and at a range of high street shops.

This service is in addition to the Lambeth recycling and reuse facilities where you can take your phone chargers and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) all year round. These centres also now take old-style light bulbs.

Stockwell athlete Aisha Naibe-wey aims for 2012

The Straits Times has an article on Stockwell's 17-year-old 400m hurdler Aisha Naibe-wey is volunteering at the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore despite having missed out on a place in the team. She joined her air cadet organisation's 100-mile march in Nijmegen, Netherlands in order to raise the £500 she needed. Aisha trains with the Herne Hill Harriers and has her sights set on the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Cycling on the pavement: a lesson

An email from the communitysafe people tells me that on Monday 9 August at about 11:30am a 16-year-old cyclist was stopped by PCSOs on the pavement South Lambeth Road and arrested on suspicion of going equipped to commit burglary.

Clue: bolt cutters in his bag.
Problem: no reasonable explanation. 
Also: suspicion bike was stolen.
Bike: property marked.
Outcome: bailed pending further enquiries.

Sergeant Sacre from the Oval SNT said: “This is a good example of local officers knowing local people, and the merits of property marking.  Hopefully we can now reunite the bike to its rightful owner.”

More details on Jason McIntyre rape conviction

The Sunday Sun (a north-east regional paper) has more on the rape case in which Jason McIntyre, 35, lately of Stockwell Road, was convicted. He will be sentenced on 17 September 2010.

South London Press: Stockwell stories 6 August 2010

Today's Stockwell stories in the South London Press:
Homeless charity to be made homeless: the eviction of Local 33 Church Triumphant Housing Co-operative from Mayflower Road property, page 4 (picture)
The fight for the Triangle Adventure Playground, page 8 (picture) - see also Lurking About SE11

Boris's bikes - a review

Andrew Orange at Tradescant and South Lambeth blog has reviewed the new London bicycle scheme.

Cavendish Arms launches new networking night

Tristan, the new manager of the Cavendish Arms in Hartington Road, London SW8 2HJ,  tells me that he is launching a weekly networking night for performers of all descriptions - "Monday Night Unplugged". It all kicks off on Monday 9 August.

The Cavenish is on the lookout for

• acoustic acts or bands who play acoustically or who want try an unplugged set
• writers, readers, poets, rappers, storytellers

All acts get 10 - 15 minutes on stage.

In exchange for free entry - and the opportunity to showcase your talents of course - they ask acts to bring at least one friend along and to stay and support the other acts.

Contact tristan@thecavenidisharmsstockwell.co.uk.

Streets Ahead email newsletter

If you live in Liberty Street, Morat Street, Hackford Road, Isabel Street or Caldwell Street - or indeed in any of the surrounding areas -  Elaine Kramer of the Streets Ahead group produces an email newsletter just for you.

You can read more about the group, which aims to make the area "a safer, nicer and greener place to live", at Project Dirt.

Email streetsaheadenews@gmail.com to join the mailing list.

The latest edition has items on

• local consultation on Caldwell Street development
• Lambeth Open Event on 2 and 3 October 2010
• The renaming of Spring Gardens
• Special interest short courses at Lambeth College
• and others

Stockwell man guilty of rape

Jason McIntyre, 35, of Stockwell Road, London, has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of raping a woman at an address in Watford on 28 February 2010. He will be sentenced on 17 September. More details at Watford Observer.

September 1939: Evacuation from Stockwell

This Pathé newsreel starts with clear shots of children and their mothers in Garden Close in Stockwell in September 1939, when children were evacuated out of London in anticipation of widescale bombing by the Nazis.

The film shows the street sign "Garden Close, S.W.9." This narrow street - which on my 1913 map looks more like an alleyway - ran off Stockwell Road, between Combermere Road and Stansfield Road, opposite Rumsey Road, and has now disappeared. It had a school on one side and deep front gardens on the other.

Bob Smith, who was evacuated from Stockwell as a seven-year-old, says:

That shot of Garden Close was taken by a movie camera with a large telephoto lens and films across Stockwell Road into Rumsey Road and you can see my house up on the right-hand side. Garden Close ran alongside Stockwell Road School turning into a little alley which I think was Garden Row into Burgoyne Road. I see that Garden Row Is now Romero Close. Why?

Bob has vivid memories of evacuation.

I was not one of the first lot of evacuees to go from Stockwell Road Infants School, but I knew something was up when classmates would disappear and the classes were getting smaller and buses in Rumsey Road were taking them away. At that point I didn't understand what was happening.

It was early in 1940 that my father took me over to the school with my suitcase where a label was tied around my neck and some sandwiches were given for the journey. Then I remember saying goodbye to my father and boarding the bus with the rest of the children and going away to a place somewhere for some reason which I didn't understand. It was then that I became confused and frightened about what was happening and I was already missing my parents, but I cheered up a bit when somebody said that we were all going to the seaside. We went to Paddington Station where we boarded a train to a place called Highbridge in Somerset.

The journey was long and tedious and somewhere en route we were given mugs of water. On the forecourt of the station we were herded into a large group and people started selecting the children they wanted and eventually a Mr and Mrs Crandon choose me.

Life with a strange family is very confusing, especially when you are just seven years old. The Crandons were a lovely couple who had two daughters who were a lot older than me and whose names I cannot remember.

Things I can remember seventy years ago:
The village school in Highbridge, with locals and also evacuees. I remember being hit by a boy with a large stone and watching him being caned afterwards.
Going to church on Sunday mornings.
Mr Crandon was in the Home Guard and kept a Sten Gun in the front room which was always kept locked.
Dunkirk survivors staying at the house.
Watching a German bomber crashing to the ground, seeing bomb craters in fields.

While I was away in Highbridge my mother had been seriously ill in St. Thomas's hospital in London at the height of the Blitz, and when she came out she wanted me back home in Stockwell so she came down and brought me back in early 1941 - just in time for the end of the Blitz, and then the V1 flying bombs and V2 rockets.

Looking back over those years I often think of the good times and the bad.

One striking thing about the film is that there is little, if any, emotion on display from either the children or their parents. Older siblings shepherd younger ones. No one is protesting. I am not sure the same would pertain in a similar situation today.

I wonder if anyone in the area can recognise themselves or their families in the footage.

Watch the archive newsreel of children being evacuated here.