Tate South Lambeth Library is looking for a good plumber

Tate South Lambeth Library is looking for a reliable local plumber to install a new toilet for the public to use.

Can you recommend a local plumber whom you have used yourself or whom someone you know has used?

Needs to be

• reliable and competent
• reasonably local
• ready and able to give a definite quote for the job (Council rules require three quotes)

Payment will be through the Council's invoice payment system.

If you can help with this, pass on the details to friendsoftsl@hotmail.com, which will forward them to the library.

Stockwell man on trial for West Dulwich murder

Kurt McLean, 26, of Stockwell, south London, and three others are on trial at the Old Bailey for the murder of Kenrick Wickham, 36,  a drug dealer of West Dulwich, in June 2010.

Safety review for Stockwell Gyratory cycle lane

More here -> Bike Biz

Blitz Walks - your chance to know more about WW2 in Lambeth

The Vauxhall Society are running two "Blitz Walks" led by professional guide Chris Everett.

From TVS's website:

8 July 1944: Fifteen fire engines fight the blaze as a V1 pilotless flying bomb scores a direct hit on a gasholder at Montford Place, Kennington Oval. Eight houses are demolished. Other properties damaged include Hayward’s Pickle Factory (now the Beefeater Distillery). Miraculously, nobody is killed, but it was not to be so on many other days and nights in wartime Lambeth. See and hear more of that terrifying time in local history by joining us on the Vauxhall Society’s new Blitz walks. They’re on Sunday 12 February and Friday 17 February, both starting at 11.00am. Meet at Starbucks, opposite Vauxhall tube and bus stations.

There's a £3 suggested donation, but that also gives you the chance to buy Vauxhall: A Little History, TVS Chairman Ross Davies' lively book about the area at a £3 discount.

Thusha trial: accused "tested gun 40 mins before shooting"

The jury at the trial of three young men for shooting 5-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran and 35-year-old Roshan Selvakumar in Stockwell Food and Wine in March 2011 has heard how the gun used in the incident was tested some time before, to test that it was working.

Thusha "died" twice during treatment - at the scene at in hospital - after she was shot. The prosecution allege that Kazeem Kolawole, 19, Anthony McCalla, 19, and Nathaniel Grant, 21, "whilst there was an intention to kill the suspected rival gang member, the gunman and his accomplices couldn't have cared less if someone else was shot too." The accused deny grievous bodily harm with intent.

More at BBC

Lambeth libraries consultation: the next stage

Lambeth Council have taken their consultation on libraries, who runs them and how they are run to the next stage and is asking for your input.

The following is information they have sent to me:

How can people get involved?

There are a number of ways that you can get involved.

1. You can complete a questionnaire

Read details of the proposals in the consultation information pack, and complete an online questionnaire from the council's website www.lambeth.gov.uk/cooperativelibraries

Paper copies of the consultation documents are available in all Lambeth libraries. You can complete the questionnaire and return it to the library, or send it back to the Freepost address given below. We can also send you a copy in the post if you ask us to.

2. Come along to a public meeting

We have organised a number of public meetings during February and March 2012. There is no need to book; you can simply turn up. If you have any particular communications or access requirements, please let us know in advance. Everyone is welcome.

Wednesday 22 February 2012, 6 to 9pm
Waterloo Action Centre, 14 Baylis Road, Waterloo SE1 7AA

Thursday 1 March 2012, 6 to 9pm
Assembly Hall, Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, Brixton SW2 1RW

Thursday 8 March 2012, 6 to 9pm
Elmgreen School, Elm Court Road, Norwood, London, SE27 9BZ

Monday 12 March 2012, 2 to 4pm
English Martyrs Church in Streatham, 2 Mitcham Lane, Streatham SW16 6NN

Further dates in libraries are being arranged. We will circulate information on them shortly and will also publicise in all Lambeth libraries.

3. Other ways you can tell us your comments, or get further information about the consultation:

Send an email to: CooperativeLibraries@lambeth.gov.uk
Text us on: 07772 103 628
Phone us on: 0800 013 1497 or 020 7926 6397
Write to us at:
Freepost RSKJ-YSKA-AUSA
ACS Consultation
Lambeth Adults' and Community Services
Phoenix House
10 Wandsworth Road
London SW8 2LL
Please let us have your comments by Friday 20 April 2012.

Win a beautiful bouquet with Andrew's flower delivery service

Local flower man Andrew Rogers is thinking of adding a second day to his Flowers for the Weekend delivery service, and wants to know which is the best day for you.

Complete his short survey - it's really really short and I'm not just saying that - and you could win a free bouquet (Andrew's got five as prizes). Just the thing for cheering up your home on a dreary winter's day.

Enter the survey here -> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PYG6JLQ

Stockwell film screening Sun 5 Feb: The Economics of Happiness

There's an opportunity to see The Economics of Happiness, a film by Helena Norberg-Hodge, Steven Gorelick & John Page, in Stockwell on Sunday 5 February.

The film features a chorus of voices from six continents calling for systemic economic change and shows shows that countless initiatives are united around a common cause: rebuilding more democratic, human scale, ecological and local economies.You can view the trailer at www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org.

Transition Town Brixton Centre
6-8 Robsart Street
London SW9 0DJ

Doors open at 6.30pm for 7pm start

Entry - £3 suggested donation

“‘The Economics of Happiness’ offers a unique global perspective on a movement that is often reduced as being too small. Not so. The film tells the story of a grassroots movement for localization that is bubbling up from the cracks of a faltering global economy, in every corner of the world. These are the real ʹgreen shoots’ to be hopeful about.” 

(Anuradha Mittal, Executive Director, The Oakland Institute)

Thusha shooting trial begins at Old Bailey

The trial of of three men for shooting five-year-old Thusha Kamaleswaran and Roshan Selvakumar, 35, at Stockwell Food and Wine in March 2011 has begun. The jury will be sworn in tomorrow and the prosecution's case will start later this week.

Kazeem Kolawole, 19, from Kennington, Anthony McCalla, 19, from Streatham, and Nathaniel Grant, 21, from Camberwell deny causing grievous bodily harm with intent and also deny the attempted murder of Shaun Bryan and having a firearm with intent to endanger life.


More details at Press Association

Watch out - there's a scam about

Tradescant and South Lambeth blog has a list of a number of local scams doing the rounds. "Let's be careful out there..."

The Vauxhall Society has details of the status of many possible developments proposed, and objections to them.

Great Gatsby at Stockwell's Lost Theatre: 27 and 28 Feb

Tour de Force Theatre Company is bringing its acclaimed production of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 classic The Great Gatsby to Stockwell's Lost Theatre on Monday 27 February and Tuesday 28 February at 7.30pm. Fitzgerald’s novel graphically portrays a society being destroyed by money and dishonesty, an American Dream of happiness and individualism degenerating into the mere pursuit of wealth. The cast includes John Berry, Sharlit Deyzac, Kathryn Duffy, Charlie Kerson and Andrew John Tait. The production has a capella jazz singing, which sounds intriguing...


Tickets £10, available from the Lost Theatre Box Office: 0844 847 1680 or www.losttheatre.co.uk
Lost Theatre
208 Wandsworth Road
London SW8 2JU

Man dies at Stockwell tube station

There was a "non-suspicious" death at Stockwell underground station today at 5.40pm. A man died after falling under the train on the southbound Victoria line on Platform 4. More information at Press Association.

Tickets for South Lambeth ceilidh now on sale

Awarded "Best Keep Calm Pun"

Andrew from Tradescant Road and South Lambeth has organised a ceilidh on Saturday 18 February 2012 from 7pm - 11pm at the Wheatsheaf Hall, Wheatsheaf Lane SW8 2UP (beautiful Grade II listed building - apart from anything I'm looking forward to having a nose around).

Tickets are £10 and MUST be purchased in advance. They are also very limited - most have already been snapped up.

To buy your ticket email tradescantroad@gmail.com or call Andrew on 07958 314615.

Stockwell cafe wants artists

Anna from Leila's Corner in the Stockwell Piazza (for anyone confused by this location, it is the three-sided square between the launderette and Gregg's on Clapham Road) is appealing for artists to hang their works on her cafe. She says:

"Hi everybody. I run a small, fun cafe in Stockwell with great wall space for artwork. There are some good pieces on already from my private collection but it is time for change so I want to invite local (and distant) artists to display, promote and sell their work plus could organize art evenings and stuff. Please come and see me in the heart of Stockwell at 294 Clapham road, London SW9 9AE. Alternatively, call me on 07432 624 551."

 Leila's Corner is clean, friendly and enticingly warm. I didn't eat when I visited yesterday, but I can attest that the latte is good. Nice atmosphere, and I would recommend it as one of the few relaxing places to hang out in Stockwell.

Your chance to contribute to Durning Library's future

The Friends of Durning Library (167 Kennington Lane) have launched a survey to gather views on the future of the service and of the building.

As they explain on their brand new website ...

"Lambeth Council is currently considering the future organisation of its library service.  We know that there are to be severe budget cuts and if the community does not step in, our library may not survive.  

"As the library’s Friends, we need your help to decide how best to plan for its future, and so we need to hear your views, whether or not you use the library. 

So please take a little time (it's really not long) to complete their short survey - available online and as a downloadable PDF. 

There will be a public meeting at the Durning Library on Monday 27 February to enable everyone to give their views and the results of the survey will contribute to this discussion. The deadline is Monday 30 January.

Carve Her Name With Pride - Simon Heffer discusses story of Stockwell's Violette Szaboon Radio 3

In episode 2 of his Radio 3 series The Essay - British War Films of the 50s, Simon Heffer talks about Carve Her Name With Pride, the British movie of 1958 which tells the story of Stockwell's wartime Resistance heroine Violette Szabo (played by Virginia McKenna). Read more at The Daily Mail.

Don't worry if you missed it... you can listen to the programme on iPlayer.

David Bowie's Stockwell schooldays - "defiance and brawling"

No 52 in The Mirror's "65 crazy facts and bizarre myths about David Bowie", published today on the occasion of the Thin White Duke's 65th (yes, really) birthday:

"A pupil at Stockwell Infants School in south London, he had a reputation for 'defiance and brawling'."

Slade Gardens playground is now open!

The Friends of Slade Gardens have announced that the new Slade Gardens playground is open and ready for play. They urge you to "go along and enjoy the new equipment. Take the children, grandchildren, neighbours' children...Or just go and have a look."

The regeneration of the space had help from SPRA (Stockwell Park Residents Association), CTH, as well as the Big Lottery and many individuals.

An official opening and a community planting day are planned.

Friends of Tate South Lambeth Library: free party to celebrate Rabbie Burns

The Friends of Tate South Lambeth Library are having a free pre-Burns Night party on Monday 23 January at 7pm.

On offer: culture (Scottish), haggis (including a veggie version), neeps, tatties, whisky, wine - and January's best party.

Meet fellow-Friends, bring some new members and - very important as the cuts in 2012 will be painful - find out the news.

Tate South Lambeth Library
180 South Lambeth Road
London SW8 1QP
020 7926 0705

New residents association for Tradescant Road

Launch of the Tradescant Area Residents Association (TARA)
Wednesday 11 January 2012, 7pm
Ruby Lounge
Upstairs at the Vauxhall Griffin
8 Wyvil Road
London SW8 2TH
To contact organisers email tradescantroad@gmail.com

Happy Christmas to you all

Let's hear it for Stockwell!