Southwark Life Spring 2011 edition

Life
Southwark
Spring 2011
Declare your
independence
Silver festival plus tips
for staying well
Fairer future?
We quiz council leader
Peter John
Your magazine from Southwark Council
Easter treats
On your doorstep
www.southwark.gov.uk
Your letters...
We want to hear your views about the
magazine, the council or any aspect of life in
Southwark. See the contact us box opposite
for details of how to get in touch.
Breast cancer support
what is normal for
them so they can
spot any unusual
changes and report
them to the GP
immediately.
Your readers may have seen the recent
news that a woman’s lifetime risk of
developing breast cancer has risen
from one in nine to one in eight.
As ambassador of leading support
charity, Breast Cancer Care, I want to
reassure any of your readers who are
worried or confused by what these
shocking statistics mean for them,
their friends and their family.
Breast cancer is an extremely complex
disease and we still don’t know exactly
what causes it. Every person’s risk of
developing it is individual and will
largely be affected by things outside
of their control. Lifestyle choices like
drinking alcohol or not taking regular
exercise can slightly raise your risk
of developing breast cancer but the
biggest factors are still two things
you can’t change; getting older and
being female.
As more and more people are
diagnosed with the disease each
year, it’s vital that all of your readers
are breast aware – getting to know
2
Breast Cancer Care
is just a phone
call or mouseclick away for
anyone affected
by this news
and for anyone
dealing with a
diagnosis. Our
free helpline and informationpacked website are there to help
your readers learn more about
breast awareness or to answer
any questions they may have. For
anyone who is already coping
with the devastating impact of a
diagnosis of breast cancer, their
face-to-face services can be a
lifeline, providing emotional and
practical support in your local
area whenever you need it most.
When I was diagnosed with
breast cancer in 2002, Breast
Cancer Care was there for me
and my family every step of the
way, so I know first-hand what
a difference the charity makes.
I urge any of your readers who
need support to contact Breast
Cancer Care on freephone
0808 800 6000 or visit www.
breastcancercare.org.uk.
Amanda Mealing
Ambassador, Breast Cancer
Care, SE1 0NS
What rubbish
I write regarding the
‘how to beat the pests’
feature in February’s
issue. I have or
wheelie bin and
if black sacks are
put out the front of in the garden they
are attacked by foxes. This results in a
mess and my having to do lots of first
aid on sacks. It is very hypocritical of
Southwark to say dispose of all rubbish
in wheelie bins.
Linda Smithson, SE15
Our waste and recycling partner
Veolia Environmental Services
responds: “Wherever possible,
we will provide a bin for refuse,
however, in some areas there is
nowhere to store the bins or they
cannot be collected safely. In these
circumstances we provide black
bags instead. While we are not able
to offer residents using a black
bag service an additional storage
container, we can collect black bags
from a small dustbin if the resident
wishes to provide one.”
Common gulls
I live within a stone’s throw of Peckham Rye
Common, every autumn a phenomenon
occurs. Either the second or third week in
September a large flock of seagulls arrives
over the common and they stay until March.
What they find to eat there is a mystery but
it is a wonderful sight and the regularity of it
begs belief. I am really proud to have lived
here since 1965.
Madeline Drayton, SE22
More on trees
I was pleased to read
about the views of
other folk (February
issue). We need
to preserve trees;
after all, trees and
wildlife were here
before us.
Miss J Marchant,
SE19
Intro
Contents
Focus
4
Acting our age Silver
festival, plus how things are
changing for older people
7
News waste pilot continues,
Olympic legacy fund and more
8
A fairer future now
council leader Peter John on
cash, cuts and big changes
Life
10 Chocoholics’
Southwark Easter treats
around the borough
12 Events Dulwich Festival,
Miró at Tate Modern and
more
14 Sporty Southwark
meet Olympic athlete Samson
Oni
16 Royal Southwark our
regal connections
Info
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
welcome...
This edition of Southwark Life celebrates
Easter, chocolate, Southwark’s royal
connections and older people in our borough. A
real mix, but one which does reflect the diversity of
our borough!
And we launch the health factor challenge
– part of our preparations for next year’s London 2012
Olympics. If you feel like getting fit as part of a
mentored programme, then please do take the time
to apply. Those chosen to participate will be setting a
real example across our borough.
Our Silver festival offers older people the
opportunity to participate in activities, talks,
learning and dance. With an increasing older
population in Southwark it is vital that we all do as much
as we can to ensure that older people stay active for
longer. And that is just what the Silver festival does. So do take
advantage of the great programme which is on offer.
Southwark Life will be reducing to four editions per
year from now on. But you can always find out what is going
on in our brilliant borough by visiting any library or logging on
at www.southwark.gov.uk.
18 Tying the knot weddings
explained
20 How to ... get ready for
exams
Peter John
Leader of Southwark Council
Contact us
The Southwark Life Team
Do you have something to say about Southwark
Life? Write to: Your Letters, Southwark Life,
Communications, Southwark Council, PO Box 64529,
SE1P 5LX or email [email protected].
We will print a selection of letters but will edit those
that are long. We won’t print anonymous letters but
can withhold your name and address if you request
it. We print letters of a general nature. If you have
a specific query or problem with a council service,
contact our customer service centre – see page 22
for details.
Editor Elizabeth Thompson
Contributors Nazarine Aiken, Nicola
Fulton, Louise Grace-Timms, Claire
Hughes, Rebecca Spencer
Photography Nicola Fulton, Claire
Hughes, Jody Kingzet
Design Whatever Design Ltd
Print Headley Brothers
Distribution London Letterbox
Printed on 100% recycled paper
Like to take part?
Southwark Life is now a quarterly
magazine with the next issue due out in
the summer. You can contact the magazine
as usual at southwark.life@southwark.
gov.uk. For more regular updates on
council news and events sign up for our
enewsletter or to receive info on Facebook
and Twitter by visiting www.southwark.
gov.uk/enews.
3
Silver
celebrations
As Silver, Southwark’s major festival for
the over 60s, gets going we look at the
way things are changing for the borough’s
older residents
T
he UK’s ageing
population has been well
documented; medical
advances mean people are
living longer and current
projections show that the number of
Southwark residents aged over 85
will grow by 17% during the next
ten years.
4
While for some people advancing
age means health issues and the
need for added support, for others
it is a positive period when they
can use their time and experience
to beneficial effect. According to
Ray Boyce, head of older people’s
services in Southwark: “We need
to challenge the views that many
people have about older age. Older
people are fiercely independent and
want our support in staying active
and healthy and many volunteer in a
wide range of organisations well into
their 70s and beyond. They want to
participate in their communities and
live life to the full.”
This is borne out in a survey for the
council by the think tank Demos
among people who receive social
care services, many of whom are
over 60. The results showed a desire
for independence; for people to be
able to get out and about, socialise
and meet new friends. They also
want the support to do ordinary,
Focus
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
Euphemia
I joined Southwark Circle to go to
the events and meet new people.
I’ve loved going out for dinner
and have got some great deals on
tickets. I recently got a hand from
a neighborhood helper when I
needed some computer advice.
everyday activities like visiting
cafes and libraries, shopping and
taking exercise.
But in an added twist, as the
population ages, the amount of
money available to the council is
shrinking. Government cuts mean
that the council needs to save
around £80m over three years.
You have to be active in life. Every day
I do all my own housework, cooking
and cleaning. I get all my own shopping
and carry it home. I eat full balanced
meals and eat my five a day. I go to
clubs and to bingo five days a week
and walk there and back. I sing at our
club at Blackfriars Settlement. I recently
performed at Waterloo carnival holding
a bowl of fruit on my head the whole
way and I did a burlesque show at the
Young Vic where we sang and danced in
all the gear.
▲
Southwark, like councils across
the country has had to look at the
services on offer to older people and
consider whether they will meet
everyone’s needs as well as whether
they are value for money. This is
already happening with the
Alice
5
Bridget
proposed remodelling of services,
such as day care and lunch clubs, to
make them more self sufficient.
Launched in 2009 Southwark Circle
is a good example of a membership
organisation aimed at helping
residents share their skills and make
friends. Southwark Circle members
receive a monthly newsletter and
calendar, full of opportunities to
meet other members and take part in
activities; from a bite to eat to a West
End show or a museum. Members
can also buy tokens to get help from
reliable neighbourhood helpers
with things like gardening, DIY and
technology. Some members help out
fellow members and can earn tokens
for doing so.
The introduction of personal budgets
is a crucial aspect of the way things
are changing. People who need
support to live independent lives
are now allocated their own budgets
to spend on the things that will
make their lives easier, planning
themselves how the money is
spent. A personal budget can pay
for a wide range of things such as
employing a personal assistant to
provide care, buying services from
a voluntary sector organisation or
transport to enable them to take
part in leisure activities.
April sees the annual Silver
festival for the over 60s; three
weeks of arts, culture, learning
and social activities in a great
expression of older people living
life to the full. These don’t stop
when the festival ends on 24
April; adult education services,
leisure centres, libraries and
galleries all have special sessions
and activities year round. And
buzzing with life and laughter
Blackfriars Settlement hosts
groups and activities including
the Nightingales singers, arts
and crafts, computer skills, and
wellbeing programmes.
NEED TO KNOW
l People aged 18 and over with support needs may be
eligible for a personal budget. For more information please
call 0845 600 1287
l To join Southwark Circle as either a member or a helper or
find out about events for Silver call 0800 112 3441, or visit
www.southwarkcircle.org.uk
l For Blackfriars Settlement call 020 7928 9521
l For full details of Silver pick up a brochure from libraries,
call 020 7525 2000 or visit www.southwark.gov.uk/silver
6
When I was a child me and my
sister joined Irish dancing at
school. I used to do shows around
Ireland. When I came over to
England I carried on. I still do
Irish dancing. I like to do drama
with the club. I have performed
at Young Vic and Southwark
Playhouse. I take lots of walks
through the park and do lots of
art and poetry.
Silver
This year’s Silver festival got
started on 8 April but there are
still plenty of events and activities
to enjoy before the festival ends
on the 24th. Take a musical
walk with acclaimed songwriter
Nigel of Bermondsey, learn
photography, jewellery making,
researching your family history
and more. Dance to live jazz,
reggae and salsa, tour Dulwich
Picture Gallery or the Millwall
Den. Plus get ready to waltz your
way through an outdoor tea
dance in Southwark Park.
And this year Southwark Circle
is inviting everybody taking part
in Silver to come along to their
events including Southwark
Swing, at the Rivoli ballroom
where the South London Jazz
Orchestra will be performing.
Focus
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
News...
Thumbs up for food waste scheme
Southwark’s pilot food waste collection service is set to
continue after an overwhelmingly positive response from
residents. The pilot started in October covering 10,000
properties. In a survey of those taking part, 96% of the
people who responded thought the service was a good
idea. It is estimated that 887.5 tonnes of additional
recyclable waste has been diverted from landfill in the
first six months of the pilot scheme, saving more than
£75,000 of public money. Work is now underway to assess
whether and how the scheme can best be rolled out to
other areas.
Tune to
Reprezent
Create an Olympic legacy
Sports groups and residents are
invited to help create a lasting legacy
to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic
games by bidding for cash for local
projects. A £2m council fund has
been set up for projects that improve
participation in sport so whether
you’d like to set up an outdoor gym
in your neighbourhood, refurbish
a sports ground or you have other
ideas, get in touch by 29 April. Visit
www.southwark.gov.uk to find our more or call 020 7525 1289.
And the winners are ...
More than 200 pupils
and teachers attended
an awards ceremony to
celebrate Southwark’s Eco
Oscars. Held at City Hall in
March, the event celebrated
schools’ environmental
achievements, awarding
projects aimed at saving
energy and water,
promoting green travel and improving school grounds.
Winners included Spa School, Peckham Park primary and
Nell Gywnn nursery. Hanako Harvey (aged nine) from
Charles Dickens Primary School received an award for the
best contribution by an individual pupil.
Youth radio station Reprezent
hit the FM dial last month. The
station is run by local young
people and has been broadcasting
online for over two years. Ofcom
recently awarded a five-year
community licence to the project,
which has over 100 volunteers and
provides free training for 13 to
25-year-olds. Tune in on 107.3FM
or at www.reprezent.org.uk.
Election
result
Mark Williams
was elected
councillor for
Brunswick Park
ward, Camberwell at a byelection held on 10 March, by a
majority of 1,351 votes.
Cemeteries
consultation
Southwark, like many other councils in the
capital, is facing the growing challenge of how
to find enough burial space in the borough.
At current rates the little remaining space
the council has will run out, and we need to
explore all options available to us.
We will shortly be carrying out a full review and
as part of that the council would like to hear
your views. Visit www.southwark.gov.uk to find
out more and comment.
7
O
ver the next few
months, the council
will be asking some
big questions on how
we can give more
control to residents and businesses
and what role the community should
play in developing and delivering
services. Council leader Peter John
tells us more ....
What are the council’s priorities
for the year ahead?
Continuing to get regeneration
moving forward and delivering on
our fairer future promises to make
every home warm, safe and dry,
double recycling rates and roll out
free healthy primary school meals.
It was important that we set a
three-year budget, so we took a
longer, strategic view. This required
some very tough decisions but it
does mean that we are not facing
agonising choices year after year,
and helps people understand what is
coming next.
A fairer
future now
We ask council leader Peter John what
the future holds for Southwark
8
How will the council change?
The council will slim down, and in
some areas will be enabling rather
than directly funding or providing
services. For instance, with some
of the day centres and lunch clubs
we’ve been supporting financially in
the past, we will have to develop a
different relationship with providers.
Beyond the impact of the cuts,
there’s a more fundamental question
about what the council does and how
we work with the community and
voluntary sector more effectively.
For instance, with the work around
cleaner, greener, safer there could be
a greater role for community groups
in not only coming up with great
ideas but also delivering them.
Focus
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
Rising to the
community
challenge
How have the community
influenced your decisions?
Everybody who contributed to our
innovation challenge and budget
consultation had their views taken
into account. It’s amazing all the
really good ideas and experiences
people told me about. It would be
a terrible missed opportunity if
we weren’t able to harness all that
information and knowledge.
We heard that people wanted
spending maintained for older and
younger people’s services; those
areas have had fewest cuts. There are
some specifics. Somebody suggested
we should have differential charging
for second and third cars and for
high emitting vehicles. We are
introducing that. People wanted to
see parks improved, and so it’s good
news we’re doing so much at Burgess
Park, so people from all over London
can enjoy it.
How can local people get involved
in shaping Southwark’s future?
We know that our role will have
to change over the coming years,
due to spending cuts and changing
resident needs. In order to do this,
local communities must have a
greater say in and control over the
future of the borough.
That’s why we’ve started our ‘rising
to the community’ challenge debate.
Southwark has a vibrant voluntary
and community sector and a proud
history of community involvement.
Harnessing the talents and releasing
the potential of the whole community
will be the key to getting through
the challenges that lie ahead and
building a fairer future for all.
What are the plans around
working with community groups?
There have been a lot of discussions
about how people connect with their
local council and what the role of the
council should be. At the moment
people tend to see the council or a
government agency as their first
point of contact. There’s a question
as to whether people could get
the services they need through an
alternative route; people in your area
might know better what you need
and a community group might be
able to deliver that.
For example, we have to find big
savings on libraries and I would be
interested to know what local groups
think they can do to help make those
savings? And with the community
games, we have lost government
funding; again is there a role for local
people in picking some of this up?
We want to hear your views on
how we can run services in the
future:
Specifically, we would like you to
think about:
●● How can we give residents, or
businesses, more control over
services
●● What role could the community
play in helping to develop and
deliver services
●● How should we measure
success and how should we
communicate our progress
You can also get involved by
attending community council
meetings and our themed debates
at our new look council assembly
meetings. The next one will be in
July.
For more info and to take part
in these discussions, visit www.
southwark.gov.uk/fairerfuture.
What happens next?
With changes to day centres, lunch
clubs and a review of libraries all on
the agenda, a conversation will be
taking place over the next six months
on what these services might look like
in the future. What is important to me
is that we have a real dialogue about
how we can best mitigate the effects
of budget cuts with the groups who
are going to be affected, and work
together to create the fairer future for
Southwark we all want to see.
9
Chocoholics’
Southwark
If you’re a chocolate lover, Easter is possibly
your favourite time of year. To help you
indulge we’ve selected some of the
borough’s top chocolate stops
A
symbol of new life,
the egg was adopted
by early Christians
as a sign of the
resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Going even further back it
was a pagan symbol of the start of
spring. As many Christians give up
sweet creamy treats for Lent, the
six weeks before Easter, chocolate
Alajandra
Easter is when Jesus rose again; I
learnt that at church and school.
I like having chocolate. My
favourite is white chocolate. I
hate dark chocolate.
10
has become the most popular way to
break the fast and celebrate.
With this in mind we’ve had a look at
some of Southwark’s more quirky
choco-connections. From a Peckham
chocolate maker to a former factory
making the stuff, check out some of our
highlights. Plus we asked around to find
out what makes Easter special for you ...
Egg-tastic!
Head for your
local library
for lots of
free activities
on an Easter
theme. Solve
the puzzles
at a cracking
Easter egg
hunt at Brandon Library on 23
April. Join Easter-themed stories
and rhymetimes at Rotherhithe
Library, where you can also make
nests and bonnets at sessions
throughout the holidays. Or get
crafty at Nunhead Library’s bunny
making afternoon for the over
threes. For info on these and
many more activities, visit www.
southwark.gov.uk/libraries or call
020 7525 2000.
Check out a
chocolate factory
Former 19th century chocolate
factory the Menier has fast
become an award winning fringe
theatre, restaurant and gallery.
Enjoy a candle-lit meal against the
backdrop of the renovated factory
or treat yourself to one of the plays.
Performances this spring include
‘Losing It’, staring Ruby Wax and
Judith Owen, and ‘Smash’ a comedy
by Jack Rosenthal. For further details
visit www.menierchocolatefactory.
com or call 020 7907 7060.
Focus
Life
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
Home made heaven
Fancy trying your hand at the
chocolatier’s art? Melange Chocolate
shop in Peckham holds regular chocolate
making workshops and chocolate
and wine tasting events too. Melange
specialises in flavoured chocolate bars and
truffles made from natural ingredients
created by artisan chocolatier Isabelle.
Or call in for a cup or hot chocolate or a
cake. Find it at 184 Bellenden Road, SE15,
www.themelange.com.
Borough
Rotherhithe
Bermondsey
Just Divine
Camberwell
For a fairtrade Easter, hunt
down an egg by Divine
Chocolate. With its HQ in
SE1, Divine one of the only
chocolate companies in
which cocoa farmers benefit
from the profits. For stockists
and recipes visit www.
divinechocolate.com.
Best of British
If you like your chocolate
with a hint of retro, Hope
and Greenwood on North
Cross Road, SE22 should bring
back a few sweet memories.
Look out for white mice,
chocolate brazils and organic
chocolate fudge cake bars,
ww.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk.
True meaning
of Easter
Peckham
Nunhead
Aliyah
East Dulwich
Dulwich
I get very excited at
Easter it reminds me
of Easter eggs and
rabbits.
Southwark
Cathedral
will be
holding
services
throughout
the Easter
period with
some being
broadcast on BBC1’s Songs of
Praise, cathedral.southwark.
anglican.org. Visit www.
southwark-rc-cathedral.org.
uk for services at St George’s
Roman Catholic Cathedral.
Gracie
I like making baskets
and chickens with
my mummy and
granddad and then
we go looking for
eggs. When I find
them I eat them
straightaway!
11
Events calendar
Spring 2011
Theatre, music and film
Family events
Macbeth
Build a bird house
Date: to 16 April
Time: 8pm
Venue: Blue Elephant Theatre, 59a
Bethwin Rd, SE5 0XT
Admission: £9.50 for Southwark
residents
Tel: 020 7701 0100
Web: www.blueelephanttheatre.co.uk
Info: Ambition, violence, tyranny and
evil... an explosive and bloodthirsty
production by Lazarus Theatre
Company of one of the most iconic
plays ever written.
Date: 12 to 14 April
Time: Six to eight years 10.30am to
12.30pm, nine to 11 years 2.30pm to
4.30pm
Venue: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery
Road, London, SE21 7AD
Admission: £27
Tel: 020 8299 8732
Web: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
Info: Come and make a designer bird
house using recycled materials and the
architecture of the gallery as a starting
point with resident artist Erica Parrett.
Tender Napalm
Date: 19 April to 14 May
Time: 7.45pm and 9.30pm
Venue: Southwark Playhouse,
Shipwright Yard, SE1 2TF
Admission: £8 to £18
Tel: 020 7407 0234
Web: www.southwarkplayhouse.co.uk
Info: An explosive, poetic, brutal and
ultimately redemptive exploration
of the universe that is a relationship
between a man and a woman.
Rhythm of London
Date: 19 to 21 April
Time: 12noon until 2pm
Venue: The Scoop, More London
Riverside, SE1 2DB
Admission: Free
Tel: 020 7403 4866
Web: www.morelondon.co.uk/
thescoop
Info: Free lunchtime concerts
showcasing the skill of London’s young
musicians and the vibrancy of the
capital’s music scene.
12
Drum
Date: 19 April to 8 May
Time: varies check website
Venue: Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley
Street, SE1 2HZ
Admission: £12 per child and carer
Tel: 020 7645 0560
Web: www.unicorntheatre.com (no
online bookings)
Info: Listen and watch the big bass
drums as magical shadows dance across
them. Feel the rhythm and hear the
beat on this wonderful new adventure.
Multisensory production for the under
11s with performances suitable for
children with learning disabilities and
for those on the autism spectrum.
The Three Musketeers
Date: 2 April to 8 May
Time: varies check website
Venue: Unicorn Theatre, 147 Tooley
Street, SE1 2HZ
Admission: £8 to £19
Tel: 020 7645 0560
Web: www.unicorntheatre.com
Info: Often hilarious and always
thrilling, this explosive tale of kings
and queens, diamonds and swords
is full of romantic heroes and
swashbuckling heroines. Join the
Unicorn Ensemble as they tumble,
chase, rage and gleefully flirt their
way through Alexandre Dumas’s
magnificent novel at breakneck speed.
Super shoes
Date: Tuesdays and Thursdays during
the Easter holidays
Time: 2.30pm to 4pm
Venue: Cuming Museum, 151
Walworth Road, SE17
Admission: Free
Tel: 020 7525 2332
Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/
cumingmuseum
Info: Family activities from storytelling
to making your own dressing up
shoes. Part of the Walking in my Shoes
exhibition at the museum which runs
until 23 April.
Marathon 2011
Watch the runners tackling this year’s Virgin London
Marathon on 17 April as they make their way across
the capital. There are plenty of good viewing spots in
Southwark whether you’re cheering on friends, spotting
celebrities or marvelling at the elite runners. Visit www.
virginlondonmarathon.com to check out the route and
plan your day.
Focus
Life
Museums and galleries
Spring 2011
Get involved
Youth panel open day
Photo: Joan Miró May 1968 1968–1973 © Joan
Miró and Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona
Miró
Date: 14 April to 11 September
Time: 10am to 6pm Sunday to Thursday,
10am to 10pm Friday and Saturday
Venue: Tate Modern, SE1 9TG
Admission: £15.50/£13.50
Tel: 020 7887 8888
Web: www.tate.org.uk/modern
Info: Renowned as one of the greatest
Surrealist painters, Joan Miró filled his
paintings with luxuriant colour in a rich
variety of styles. This is a rare opportunity
to enjoy more than 150 paintings,
drawings, sculptures and prints from the
six decades of his extraordinary career.
War stories
Date: to 30 October
Time: 10am to 6pm
Venue: Imperial War Museum, Lambeth
Road, SE1 6HZ
Admission:£5.95/£3.95
Tel: 020 7416 5000
Web: london.iwm.org.uk
Info: Major new exhibition that delves
into the pages of well-loved books,
bringing five stories of war to life.
Crossing centuries
Date: to 19 May.
Time: 1.30pm to 5pm
Venue: ASC Gallery, 128 Erlang House,
Blackfriars Road, SE1 8EQ
Admission: Free
Tel: 020 7525 3415
Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/
celebratingwomen
Info: Works by women artist from
1830 to 2000 from the Southwark art
collection, including works by Barbara
Hepworth and Tracey Emin.
Date: 30 April
Time: 2pm to 4pm
Venue: Cuming Museum, 151
Walworth Road, SE17
Admission: Free
Tel: 020 7525 2332
Web: www.southwark.gov.uk/
cumingmuseum
Info: Meet new people, learn new
skills and have new experiences. Make
a real impact in your local community
by joining the new Cuming Museum
youth panel. Come along to this open
day to find out more. Open to young
people who live, work or study in
Southwark and are aged 14 to 19.
Learn British Sign
Language
Date: Starts 9 May, every Monday for
30 weeks.
Time: 6pm to 8.15pm
Venue: Signamic, Unit 41 St Olav’s
Court, Lower Road, SE16 2XB
Admission: £420 plus £60 exam fees
Tel: 020 7231 6990
Web: www.signamic.co.uk
Info: Learning BSL is fun, can increase
work opportunities and enable you
to start communicating effectively
with deaf people. Signamic is a deafled training provider that has built a
reputation for delivering excellence in
training. Discounts available for groups
and community organisations.
www.southwark.gov.uk
Community councils
Come along to your local
community council and help
improve your area. For more info
and agendas visit www.southwark.
gov.uk/communitycouncil
Camberwell
Date: 20 April
Time: 6pm
Venue: TBC,
check website
Nunhead and
Peckham Rye
Date: 27 April
Time: 7pm
Venue: TBC,
check website
Peckham
Date: 12 May
Time: 7pm
Venue: Harris
Academy at
Peckham, 112
Peckham Road,
SE15 5DZ
Rotherhithe
Date: 27 April
Time: 7pm
Venue: TBC,
check website
Borough and
Bankside
Date: 3 May
Time: 7pm
Venue: Charles
Dickens School,
Toulmin Street,
SE1 1QP
Bermondsey
Date: 3 May
Time: 7pm
Venue: TBC,
check website
Walworth
Date: 28 April
Time: 7pm
Venue: TBC,
check website
Dulwich
Date: 28 April
Time: 7pm
Venue: East
Dulwich
Community
Centre, 46 to 50
Darrell Road,
SE22 9NL
Coming up ...
It’s festival time in Dulwich
from 6 to 15 May. This year’s
highlights include an artists’
open house, a whole host of
walks and an evening with this
year’s Costa biography awardwinner, Edmund de Waal. Free
family fun will abound on 8 May
at the festival fair on Goose
Green and again on 15 May with
the Dulwich Village family fun
day and the Dulwich Park fair.
The day will see fancy dress pram
races, music and more. For info
visit www.dulwichfestival.co.uk.
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Sporty
Southwark
Professional athlete Samson Oni is busy training for the
2012 Olympics as part of team Great Britain, but the UK’s
No1 ranked high jumper is finding time to get involved in
Southwark Council’s health factor challenge
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Focus
Life
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
“I’ve always loved the diversity you
get in Southwark”
You live in Peckham Rye but were
brought up in Brixton, what made
you move to the borough?
I think the area, near Peckham Rye
Park, is a lovely, calm spot to live.
I have two kids aged eight and two
and it’s great for them. I also train
in Dulwich, which is just down the
road. And I work in and around
Southwark. It just made sense to
have my training, home and work
within minutes of each other.
Where in Dulwich do you train?
At Dulwich College. I’ve been
training there for 13 years, since
I was 16.
How did you get into high jump?
Quite early, while I was at secondary
school, probably aged 15. It’s a
funny story actually because I was
too short for the team at school.
One day I snuck into training, did a
jump and the coach realised I had a
talent. I haven’t looked back since.
But I didn’t really break onto the
international scene till I was about
17 or 18. That’s when I started high
jumping for the British youth team.
My international experience started
from there. After that, when I was
19, I joined the Great Britain team.
You’ve competed at the
Commonwealth Games and other
international competitions. Which
sports achievement are you most
proud of?
Probably, so far, making the team for
the Commonwealth Games in India
last year. My highest jump so far is
2.31m and since getting funding last
year from the National Lottery to
become a full-time athlete, I’ve been
stepping up my training to improve
this for the Olympics next year.
You live, work and train in
Southwark. What is it you like
about the borough?
I’ve always loved Southwark. I used
to come here a lot as a child, with my
mum shopping and to visit friends.
I’ve always loved the diversity you
get in Southwark. In one part of the
borough you can enjoy the markets
then you can move to another part
and see great views of the City and
the river Thames. It’s so versatile in
that respect.
The health factor challenge
launches next month. How did you
get involved in that?
It started because of my links with
Southwark Council. Until April
this year I worked as a sports
coach. I got the job in 2006 and I’ve
always combined that with being
a professional athlete so getting
involved in the challenge seemed
like the right thing to do.
SAMSON’S
SOUTHWARK
Peckham Rye
It’s a great open space that gives
so much to the local community. I
love taking my kids there and it’s
right next to my house too.
The Shard
I love that whole area around
Tower Bridge. It has nice
restaurants and bars.
East Street Market
It’s just got so much history. It’s
been there for so many years and
I’ve been going there since I was
a boy. I used to go there with my
mum and most of the time I’d just
be hanging behind her holding
her bag.
What will it involve?
People will take part in a
programme; a combination of
physical and nutritional activities
helping them improve lives through
use of local facilities. It’s all about
encouraging and helping people in
the borough to jump on board and
stay healthy and fit.
Southwark Council’s health factor
challenge launches in this month.
For more information see pages
23 and 24.
15
King Edward VII visits Camberwell for the laying of the foundation stone of King’s College Hospital, 1909
Royal Southwark
To mark William and
Kate’s big day on 29
April we delve into
the royal connections
in Southwark’s past
W
ith no royal palaces,
parks or gardens,
Southwark’s links to
the monarchy aren’t
always obvious, but
a bit of digging into our rich history
reveals plenty of royal connections.
Many areas of the borough were
villages owned by the monarchs of
medieval times. Dulwich is first
mentioned as far back as 967 when
King Edgar gave the area to Earl
Aelfheah and in the 12th century
Peckham was owned by King Henry I.
King Edward II owned a house called
the Rosary adjacent to Tooley Street
in the 14th century, under what is
now the More London development.
16
His son Edward III had a property
in Rotherhithe, the remains of
which have recently been excavated.
In 1412 Henry IV also stayed in
Rotherhithe ‘whilst he was cured
of leprosy’. It was hoped the sea air
would help his complaint. He arrived
by river, sailing down the Thames
from the Palace of Westminster.
Edward III gave the manor of
Kennington to his oldest son Edward
the Black Prince in 1337. The prince
built a large palace which remained
a royal residence until the time of
Henry VIII.
Southwark was home to the bear
pits and theatres of Tudor and
Stuart London. Both Henry VIII
Focus
Life
Apr 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
The Cuming’s royal collection
Henry Cuming was proud of his collection of royal
memorabilia which includes gloves and shoes owned
by Queen Victoria, a fragment of tapestry from the
bed of Mary Queen of Scots and a piece
of Edward VII’s wedding cake. Many
of the objects can be viewed at
the Cuming Museum, 151
Walworth Road (open
Tuesday to Saturday 10am
to 5pm).
Hannah
and Elizabeth I were bear baiting
enthusiasts and Edward Alleyn,
the founder of Dulwich College was
at one point ‘master of the King’s
games of bears, bulls and dogs’ with
a bear garden in Southwark. And
Honor Oak is said to be so called
because Elizabeth I dined beneath
the shade of a large oak tree during a
horseback excursion from Greenwich.
Some of the most
interesting and ghoulish
objects in the Cuming’s
collection were connected
to King Charles I. They
include a fragment of a silk
waistcoat he wore and a
locket containing a ceramic
skeleton on a bed of woven
hair said to come from the
head of the beheaded king.
Hannah Guthrie,
Cuming Museum
Charles II famously travelled down
the Old Kent Road on his route back
to London following the restoration
of the monarchy in 1660. Denmark
Hill was formerly known as Dulwich
Hill until it was renamed in honour of
the husband of Queen Anne, Prince
George of Denmark, who lived there
before his marriage in 1683.
Southwark has received many
royal visits from the 19th century
to the present day. One of these
was in 1848, when Queen Victoria
visited the Royal Surrey Zoological
Gardens, Walworth’s famous 12 acre
zoo which housed exotic species
including lions, tigers and giraffes.
17
Top tips
on tying
the knot
The eyes of the world will be on
London on 29 April for the royal
wedding. If you’re tying the knot this
year too, follow our quick guide to
stress free wedding planning
18
Info
Marcia
As a Southwark registrar with 17 years experience,
Marcia Mitchell loves her job which allows her to take
part in some of the most special moments in people’s
lives. “It’s just seeing the look on their faces as they
take their vows” says Marcia. “I know I have been
able to make a real difference in their lives.” Marcia’s
advice to couples preparing for their ceremony is to,
“make sure you discuss your day with your registrar,
so they understand the day that you are planning.
They’ll be sure to help calm your anxieties and prepare
you for your special day. We also have a live webcam
set up at the Town Hall so your family and friends who
can’t make it can still watch you take you vows.”
S
outhwark has a wealth
of fantastic venues
licensed to hold marriages
and civil partnership
ceremonies, with new
venues being added all the time.
They include the swanky Oxo Tower,
bright and airy Jerwood Space and
Vinopolis, city of wine. You can get
married afloat on HMS Belfast or
the Golden Hinde or at a landmark
building like Tower Bridge or
Shakespeare’s Globe. Or choose
the Southwark register office, a
listed building on Peckham Road
with a beautiful enclosed garden
that’s perfect for your photos. Make
sure you plan ahead, especially
if you want your ceremony at a
weekend, Southwark’s register
Apr 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
Jill &John
office takes all bookings up to
twelve months ahead.
Unless you’re being married by the
Church of England, you need to
give notice at the register office in
your borough at least 15 days, but
no more than 12 months, before
your wedding or civil partnership.
Call the Southwark register office
for an appointment. You will need to
bring a passport or birth certificate
and proof of address. You must book
your venue before you give notice
at the register office. If you or the
person you wish to marry are subject
to immigration control, you must
attend together and you can only
give notice at a specially designated
register office (ie, Southwark’s).
Jill and John have been
together through thick and
thin for the past 16 years and
are getting ready to marry
at Southwark register office.
John took Jill by surprise by
proposing to her as she was
about to leave for work. Says
John: ‘I knew it would make
her happy and after all these
years of being together she
deserves to be my wife.” With
the date set for August, Jill is
already on top of arrangements
for their 1950s rockabilly
wedding. And her tip for a
stress free wedding? “Keep it
simple; decide on your theme,
book the date, venue and give
yourself plenty of time to get
all the details right.”
NEED TO KNOW
For more info and a list of venues in
Southwark call the registrars on 020
7525 7651, visit www.southwark.gov.
uk/marriage or www.southwark.gov.uk/
civilpartnership or call at the register
office at 34 Peckham Road, SE5 8QA.
19
How to ...
get ready for
your exams
With end of year
exams looming,
check out our guide
to cutting the stress
and being prepared
T
he stress and anxiety of
thinking about taking
exams can be enough to
make you want to tear your
hair out. Planning your
revision helps to manage your stress
as well as prepare for your exams.
Many people feel really overwhelmed
throughout the exam period, worrying
if they are studying enough, feeling
nervous about the examination day
and whether or not they’ll be able to
remember everything they’ve learned.
Taking the time to organise and
prepare properly is the key to keeping
20
your exam anxieties at bay. As
headteacher at St Michael's Roman
Catholic School Mrs Grabowski
said: ‘Make a timetable of all the
exams you will be sitting, allocating
revision time for each subject.
Identify the key facts you need to
know and reduce them into note
form or simple mnemonics.’
Remember to think about what
your other commitments are; if you
have a part time job or duties at
home make sure you include these
in your timetable. This will help
you see how much time you are
spending revising.
Info
Spring 2011
www.southwark.gov.uk
Our advice...
Revision
1
2
3
4
5
Make sure you have a quiet place to revise; whether it’s your
room, a library or at school. Remember to turn off your phone
so you don’t get distracted.
Mind maps
Create a mind map; a drawing showing the different areas
to remember and how they connect. Our brains often retain
images with words better than words alone.
Study partner
Try finding a revision partner or group to study with. Test each
other and see if you can teach a friend what you have learned.
Past exam papers
Practise with past exam papers from your school and stick to
the time limits.
Rest
Remember to include breaks. Revising and sitting exams is a
really tiring experience and your mind and body need time
to rest.
Exam day
Paige
Make sure you have a good breakfast and give
yourself plenty of time to get to where the
exam is being held. Once you’re in the exam try
not to think about what
anyone else is doing or
writing, concentrate on
your paper and read the
questions carefully before
you start answering.
I get worried before exams
but I always look through
the paper before I start and
that makes me feel like,
‘yes, I can do this’. Make
sure you revise and look
through your old school
books. Even if you think
something won’t be in the
exam, read it anyway just
in case!
21
Getting in touch
Your guide to contacting Southwark Council
Our top numbers are:
Main switchboard number............................... 020 7525 5000
Textphone/Minicom.......................................... 020 7525 3559
Housing repairs................................................. 0800 952 4444
Council tax ........................................................ 020 7525 1850
Council tax and housing benefits ................... 020 7525 1880
Elections, registration and voting.................... 020 7525 7373
Land charges...................................................... 020 7525 7392
Registrars........................................................... 020 7525 7651
Culture (events, arts, film, tourism),
libraries and museums...................................... 020 7525 2000
Antisocial behaviour reporting line................. 020 7525 5777
Environment and leisure: (waste collection,
recycling, parks, environmental health).......... 020 7525 2000
Education . ........................................................ 0845 600 1284
Adult education................................................ 020 7525 2000
Family information service............................... 0800 013 0639
Building control and planning......................... 0845 600 1285
Social services for adults................................... 0845 600 1287
Social services for children................................ 0845 600 1286
Adoption and fostering.................................... 0800 952 0707
By post Southwark Council, PO Box 64529,
London, SE1P 5LX
Face to face visit one of our one stop shops.
Walworth one stop shop
Wansey Street SE17
Peckham one stop shop Ground Floor, Peckham
Library, 122 Peckham Hill Street, London SE15
Bermondsey one stop shop
17 Spa Road, Bermondsey, London SE16
By email [email protected]
Online visit www.southwark.gov.uk to find out about
services, pay bills and check out the latest news and events.
southwark life in other languages
Bengali
Spanish
Esta es Southwark Life, la revista del Municipio de Southwark
que se distribuye a todos los residentes de la zona. Si usted desea
ayuda para comprenderla en su propio idioma llévela a uno de
los puntos de informacíon abajo mencionados y solicite el servicio
llamado Language Line.
Turkish
French
Bu, bölgedeki bütün sakinlere da_ıtılan, Southwark
Belediyesi’nin magazini Southwark Life’tır. E_er kendi ana
dilinizde anlama için yardıma ihtiyacınız olursa, onu yukardaki
listede yazılı one stop shop’lardan birine götürünüz ve
Language Line isimli servisi isteyiniz.
Ceci est Southwark Life, le magazine de la Mairie de Southwark
qui est distribué à tous les riverains de l’arrondissement. Si vous
voulez qu’on vous aide à le comprendre dans votre langue,
apportez-le à l’un des one stop shops indiqués ci-dessus et
demandez le service Language Line.
Vietnamese
Chinese
Somali
Kani waa Southwark Life, wargeeyska Guddiga Southwark oo
loo qeeybiyo dhammaan dadka deggan degmadaan. Haddii aad
u baahan tahay in lagaa caawiyo sidaad u fahmi laheeyd isagoo
luqaddaada ku qoran, ula tag mid ka mid ah xafiisyada u adeega
dadweeynaha ee liiskoodu kor ku xusan yahay adigoo codsanaaya
adeegga lagu magacaabo Language Line.
Arabic
If you would like a copy of Southwark Life in large print
or audio format please ring 020 7525 7048 or visit
www.southwark.gov.uk/southwarklife
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