Issuu

Autumn 2026

Issue 29

the golden age SIMON THE TANNER GOES BACK TO ITS ROOTS WITH FOCUS ON INDEPENDENT BREWERIES

INSIDE: Beneath the Thames in the Brunel Museum

The duo behind Druid Street Saunas

From Tobruk to Peek Frean’s

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AMBITION • COMPASSION • RESPECT

CONTENTS

AUTUMN 2026

About us ―

Proudly independent journalism get in touch to support what we do and promote your local business We created the Bermondsey Biscuit and Rotherhithe Docker in 2018 with support from sponsors including Sellar, Grosvenor, British Land, and many other local businesses. Our ﬂagship weekly newspaper, the Southwark News launched in 1987 and is now London’s only independent, paid for newspaper.

Pop in and see us in Bermondsey Square! Group Editor

Kevin Quinn

Editorial Manager

Katherine Johnston

Writers

Evie Flynn, Michael Holland, Debra Gosling, Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

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Dan Martin, Ann Gravesen,

Marketing

Clarry Frewin, Katie Boyd

Media Partnerships

Anthony Phillips

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Emrah Zeki

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Chris Mullany and Kevin Quinn

We also publish the South Londoner each month, and the Greenwich and Lewisham Weekender and South London Weekly every week. We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer. We use 100% recovered paper from the Ortviken paper mill in Sweden, a green energy provider who use biofuel instead of oil and provide heat for 10,000 single family homes.

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Contents ― 5-22

14 -17 FOOD & DRINK Sushi Revolution opens venue in SE16, Giggling Squid deliver to Bermondsey, Five Feet Pizza inTanner Street, The Chop at London Bridge, Simon the Tanner relaunched 25

enquiry@bermondseybiscuit.co.uk 020 7231 5258 BermondseyBiscuit @bermondseybiscuit www.bbandrd.co.uk

Printed by Ilif fe Print Published by Community Matters Media Ltd

WHAT’S ON Garden Museum late, Ministry’s 35th, pop-up fair at Corner Corner, beneath the Thames in the Brunel Museum, Theatre Peckham at Canada Water, World Press Photography

WELLBEING The duo behind Druid Street Saunas

28-29 COMMUNITY Stage Door Choir in Bermondsey, Borough Market’s greasy spoon 34-35 MEMORY LANE Frank Clough-Turner - from Tobruk tanks to Peek Frean’s 37-38 HISTORY Old Father Thames’ secret

What's On 2026

Box office 020 8463 0100 • blackheathhalls.com •

Masters of Melody

EMMA SMITH

A thank you to our sponsors We'd like to acknowledge all our sponsors and supporters for helping us bring the

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AUTUMN 2026

HOME SECRETARY q Brunel performance © Marc Gascoigne

q Clare Woods RA at Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh. © Phil Wilkinson

Home Secretary GARDEN MUSEUM LATE CELEBRATES NEW EXHIBITIONS AND TAPESTRY: The Garden Museum will host an evening of exhibitions, live music and creative activities on Friday 9 October. Visitors will be among the first to see new exhibitions by German artist Sabine Moritz and Clare Woods RA, alongside the return of the museum’s 17th-century Mortlake Tapestry following a year-long restoration. The evening will also feature drop-in textile and printmaking workshops, with access to the museum’s galleries and café. Friday, October 9, 6.30pm–8.30pm Garden Museum, Lambeth Palace Road, SE1 Tickets £10, £7 for Young Fronds gardenmuseum.org.uk

TATE MODERN FESTIVAL SHOWCASES NEXT GENERATION OF ARTISTS WORKING WITH TECHNOLOGY:

Evie Flynn and Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

q Ministry of Sound 35th Birthday

CELEBRATE MINISTRY OF SOUND’S 35TH BIRTHDAY, ELEPHANT AND CASTLE: Ministry of Sound will celebrate its 35th birthday with a special night of house music featuring DJs Kerri Chandler and Moodymann. The Hard Times event will take place on Saturday, October 3, with doors opening at 2pm. Kerri Chandler will join Detroit house legend Moodymann and the pair will soundtrack an evening celebrating Ministry of Sound’s 35 years of music and dancefloor moments.

A candlelit classical concert will take place in the underground chamber of the Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe. The evening will combine live classical music and storytelling, with visitors able to explore the museum’s rooftop garden during the interval and chat with the musicians. The concert takes place inside the historic Thames Tunnel, the first tunnel built beneath a navigable river. Thursday, October 15, doors open at 7:00pm. Concert 7:30–9:30pm Brunel Museum, (Rotherhithe / Canada Water) Tickets from £20 debut.org.uk/whats-on/

Saturday, October 3, from 2pm Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt Street, SE1 6DP Tickets from £30.39 ministryofsound.com

POP-UP FAIR AT CORNER CORNER, CANADA WATER:

Tate Modern will host a free festival showcasing students, researchers and innovators exploring how technology is changing artistic practice. The Evolving Studio will feature a marketplace, panel discussion, performance lecture and a cinematic demonstration inspired by the current Julio Le Parc exhibition. The event runs from 11am to 8pm, followed by latenight music from DJ Bongo in the Corner. Saturday, September 26, from 11am Tate Modern, Bankside, London SE1 9TG Tickets are free tate.org.uk

SECRET CONCERT AT BRUNEL MUSEUM, ROTHERHITHE:

A new monthly makers market is heading to Corner Corner monthly from November 14. The Craft & Flea pop-up indoor market will feature 80 small brands and emerging artists selling things hand drawn artwork, handmade jewellery, vintage and slow fashion, ceramics and homeware, bag charms, spicy sauces, vegan skincare and more. Starting on Saturday, November 14 and continuing monthly throughout 2027. Corner Corner, Canada Water, SE16 7LL Free to attend @thecraftandflea

p Corner Corner Fair. © www.harbinson.uk

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WHAT’S ON

AUTUMN 2026

Beneath the Thames Evie Flynn

BRUNEL MUSEUM IN ROTHERHITHE HAS BEEN AWARDED DESIGNATED STATUS BY ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND FOR ITS THAMES TUNNEL COLLECTION

he Brunel Museum, on Railway Avenue near Rotherhithe station, has been recognised as being of “exceptional significance” to Britain’s cultural heritage. The Thames Tunnel Collection tells the story of the world’s first successful underwater tunnel, which opened in 1843 and connected Rotherhithe and Wapping. Named after father-and-son engineers Marc and Isambard Brunel, the museum is housed in the historic engine house and entry shaft built during the construction of the Thames Tunnel. The tunnel remains one of Britain’s most remarkable engineering achievements. The collection features objects original drawings, models and materials from the tunnel’s construction. It also captures how the project was communicated to the public, providing an important record of both

the engineering behind the Tunnel and the ambition required to make it a reality. The recognition comes as the Museum prepares for its autumn programme of talks, comedy and interactive experiences, inviting visitors to explore the stories, people and pioneering ideas behind the Thames Tunnel. Highlights include The Lost Boy (18th September), Underground Comedy (23rd September), Underground Pub Quiz (7th October) and the Halloween ghost tours in The Dark Side of Rotherhithe (31st October), A new Caisson Interactive installation, exploring the watertight structure used to help build the Thames Tunnel, will also open in the museum’s main gallery. Katherine McAlpine, Director of the Brunel Museum, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have our Thames Tunnel Collection recognised as nationally significant. “The Thames Tunnel was an extraordinary feat of engineering that changed what was thought possible, and its influence can still be seen in the tunnels and underground networks used around the world today. “This award recognises not only the importance of the collection itself, but the enduring legacy of the people, ideas and innovation behind the Thames Tunnel. We look forward to continuing to share this story with visitors and ensuring its significance is understood by future generations.” Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said: “The infrastructure we use as part of our everyday lives, whether it’s bridges, trainlines or tunnels, can often feel like it was always there – a fact of life we rarely think about. “Collections like the Thames Tunnel Collection ask us to think again; that these achievements are not a given and often come from innovative ideas and hard work. Congratulations to all involved for their award of Designation. For more events at the Brunel Museum, visit: thebrunelmuseum.com/events/

IN ASSOCIATION WITH TEAM LONDON BRIDGE

LONDON BRIDGE COMMUNITY

London Bridge celebrates 1,000 years of health, science and medical history Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES WALKING TOURS, TALKS, WORKSHOPS, PERFORMANCES AND ACTIVITIES

ondon Bridge will celebrate more than 1,000 years of medical and scientific history this October with a programme of free events exploring the area’s links to health, medicine and research. The Medi-Culture Festival, a bi-annual event taking place across London Bridge, will bring together universities, hospitals, museums, businesses and other local organisations to explore the area’s remarkable medical heritage. The programme includes walking tours, talks, workshops, performances and activities, with a particular focus on healthy streets, as well as poet John Keats and his medical training at Guy’s Hospital.

Science Showoff with Steve Cross, Wednesday, October 28, 6pm–8pm The Hive, TLB Offices, 8 Holyrood Street, SE1 2EL Science meets stand-up comedy in an evening of humorous medically themed stories hosted by science communicator Steve Cross. The event will feature some of London’s science community sharing stories and bringing their subjects to life through comedy. Keats at the Kirk – John Hegley and Friends at

Guy’s Chapel, Thursday, October 29, 6.30pm–8pm Guy’s Chapel, King’s Campus, London Bridge, SE1 1UL The birthday of poet John Keats will be marked with a special performance by poet and comedian John Hegley, a former poet-in-residence at Keats House. The event will explore Keats’ poetry and personality while looking back at his time training at Guy’s Hospital as an apothecary and surgeon. In Sickness and in Health Walking Tour, Saturday, October 31, 11am–1pm City Information Centre, Saint Paul’s Churchyard, London, EC4M 8BX Visitors can explore London’s history of medicine, disease and healing on a guided walking tour of London Bridge and the City led by City of London guide Sarah Williams-Robbins, also known as Mrs Londoner. The tour will explore the area’s medical history, from the role of monks, nuns and early hospitals in caring for the sick to the development of modern healthcare. The tour will then go into the area’s history of herbs and natural remedies as well as the Thames’ association with illness and disease. But there’s still more... The festival’s wider programme includes: • A street photography walking tour • Fertility and reproductive health sessions with Bits and Bobs at the Florence Nightingale Museum • The Snowsfields and Newcomen Street Healthy Street Campaign • A Halloween Museum Late at the Florence Nightingale Museum • Reading the Dead - Forensic Anthropology and the Search for Truth, featuring Dame Sue Black, in partnership with London Month of the Dead • Physical wellbeing activities including Pilates and spin classes All events are free, although booking may be required for some activities. The organisation is also behind Medi-Culture Conversations, a podcast series exploring the ideas, research and stories behind the festival programme. The full programme and booking information can be found at www.mediculture.co.uk

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WHAT’S ON

AUTUMN 2026 q Theatre Peckham Malvolis Masquerade 2026 - © Vivid Squad

Theatre Peckham to bring local talent to Canada Water Theatre Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

As part of Theatre Peckham’s 40th anniversary celebrations, 13 productions will take place across Theatre Peckham and Canada Water Theatre between October 1 and 30

heatre Peckham has been reappointed by Southwark Council to manage Canada Water Theatre, expanding its work supporting young and emerging artists across South East London. The theatre, which has spent the past 40 years nurturing young and emerging talent, will use the Canada Water venue as a space for artists to develop new ideas, showcase work and connect with audiences in the local community. The organisation works with children and young people aged three to 29 through a year-round programme of artist development, productions, workshops and festivals. Theatre Peckham CEO and Artistic Director Dr Suzann McLean MBE said: “From a three-year-old taking their first steps in our Academy to a young artist presenting new work, Theatre Peckham creates opportunities for people to discover their talent, build confidence and find their voice. “For 40 years we’ve seen the difference that sustained creative opportunities can make to young people’s lives and to the creative industries. At Canada Water, we’re bringing that same commitment to artists, young people and audiences, creating a theatre that is genuinely rooted in and shaped by its local community.” Theatre Peckham works with organisations including the National Theatre, Poetic Unity, Mountview, Young and Talented, Step Out Mentoring, AKTA, Words of Colour and the Black Cultural Archives to help young creatives develop their skills and ambitions. Its Young Peckham programme also provides opportunities for early-career artists to develop and showcase new work, including through Peckham Fringe and the organisation’s year-round performance programme. More than 24,000 contact hours of creative activity are delivered by Theatre Peckham each year, with thousands of children, young people, artists and local

residents engaging with its programmes. Former participants include actor John Boyega, although Theatre Peckham says its work extends beyond preparing young people for careers in the creative industries. The organisation aims to equip those who come through its doors with the skills, confidence and opportunities to shape their own futures, regardless of whether they pursue a career in the arts. The Canada Water Theatre takeover will give Theatre Peckham another space to develop artists and present new work, while providing Southwark audiences with greater access to performances and cultural activity. One of its first major programmes at the venue will be the Young, Gifted and Black 2026 season, Theatre Peckham’s annual celebration of young Black British talent. The season brings together spoken word, performance and cultural exchange, with a programme of work exploring the richness and diversity of Black British life and culture. As part of Theatre Peckham’s 40th anniversary celebrations, 13 productions will take place across Theatre Peckham and Canada Water Theatre between October 1 and 30. Tickets start at £10. Theatre Peckham’s latest programme at Canada Water Theatre is available here: www.theatrepeckham.co.uk/canada-water-theatre/

 Canada Water Theatre Peckham exterior 2026- © Vivid Squad

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AUTUMN 2026

FOOD & DRINK

apanese-inspired restaurant Sushi Revolution is preparing to open its third and biggest London site in Canada Water this October, following the success of its restaurants in Shoreditch and Brixton. The restaurant is aiming to open its doors on October 19 at 3 Dock Office Gardens, Deal Porters Way, after delays to the building work pushed back the opening. Sushi Revolution was founded by co-owners Aidan Bryan and Tom Blackshaw, who met eight years ago while working at Sticks’n’Sushi. During lockdown, the pair began developing an idea for a restaurant that would bring together what they believed were the best parts of hospitality, eventually turning their plans into Sushi Revolution. The new Canada Water restaurant will be the largest of the trio and is particularly significant for Aidan, who has lived in the area for nine years. “I can’t describe the feeling of being that local and invested in the development of our new Canada Water site. It is pretty exciting,” he said. The pair want to combine the quality associated with high-end restaurants with the relaxed atmosphere of a local sushi restaurant, with an emphasis on attentive service, fresh ingredients and accessible prices. The restaurant’s interiors have been designed to reflect its Japanese influences, including kintsugiinspired tables which celebrate the idea of repairing broken objects rather than hiding their imperfections. The three Sushi Revolution restaurants are designed to share the same identity, with matching interiors, menus and the same good natured staff across the three sites. The menu combines traditional sushi favourites with

Roll with it

Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

SUSHI REVOLUTION SET TO OPEN ITS BIGGEST RESTAURANT YET IN CANADA WATER p

the restaurant’s signature ‘Revolution’ dishes, alongside hand-rolled, ingredient-led creations. Dishes include panko popcorn shrimp with shaved parmesan, soft-shell crab rolls made with kimchi hummus and buttery aubergine served with a sweetened beetroot sauce. The signature Revolution Roll combines seared fish, cucumber, mangetout, avocado, spicy mayonnaise, teriyaki and sesame, with six pieces priced at £9.40. Their £2.75 miso brownie bites are a wonder of chocolatey goodness with just enough of an umami kick to balance out the rich palette to finish off the meal. The restaurant prides itself on making all of its produce fresh to order and with their high quality sourced ingredients their dishes are bursting with a rich flavour that stays with you long after you have put your

Aidan Bryan in Shoreditch Sushi Revolution

chopsticks down. Prices start at £3.20 for miso soup, while the sea bass ceviche with canchas and chive oil is £13.50. Sushi rolls range from around £9 to £15.50, with sharing plates also available. The restaurant also offers its Sips & Sushi bottomless brunch from 12pm to 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The 90-minute experience includes unlimited drinks and sushi for £60 per person. Sushi Revolution hopes the Canada Water restaurant will become part of the area’s growing community, with plans to introduce a children’s menu and potentially family-focused bottomless brunches. “I am excited to build a community with other businesses in the area of Canada Water and invite people to our biggest venue yet,” Adrian said.

As the restaurant grew out of the lockdown era, takeaway food became an important part of its business, and the founders say they have worked to ensure the food travels as well as it is served in the restaurant. “The food is light, vibrant and fresh and we aim to wow you with our function and feel of the place,” the founders said. The Canada Water restaurant will be open from 12pm to 10pm seven days a week. “We are not revolutionising the world over miso soup but do hope to bring back what good hospitality should be for our guests” Adrian said. Sushi Revolution, 3 Dock Office Gardens, 3 Deal Porters Way, London, SE16 2FR. For more information, visit sushirevolution.co.uk

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AUTUMN 2026

FOOD & DRINK

q Konditor

Bitesize Evie Flynn

KONDITOR, LONDON BRIDGE: A new bakery selling cakes, brownies and other sweet treats is now open opposite The View from the Shard as you exit London Bridge station. Konditor Bakery is making the move from Borough Market to what is known as the Shard Quarter in the tunnel by London Bridge station. It sells personalised cakes, intricate ‘showstopper cakes’ and brownies, alongside coffee and hot chocolate. 26 Joiner Street, SE1 9BZ @konditorcakes

FIVE FEET PIZZA, TANNER STREET:

A new independent pizzeria is coming to 4 Tanner Street, just off Bermondsey Street. The restaurant is a collaboration between Jay Patel, co-founder of Luna and Legare, Roland Home of WatchHouse, and Jack Ellingham, former chef and baker at Dusty Knuckle. Expect pan pizzas made with heritage-grain dough, including hot sausage with vodka sauce, pickled chillies and hot honey; pepperoni with fior di latte and Parmesan; and white potato with caramelised onions, scamorza, aged Cheddar and white sauce.

Coppa Club Photo - Tony Mitchell

4 Tanner Street, Bermondsey, SE1 3LE Opening September 2026, exact date tbc. @fourfeetpizza

Weirdough

WEIRDOUGH, CANADA WATER:

GIGGLING SQUID NOW DELIVERING TO BERMONDSEY: Thai tapas restaurant chain Giggling Squid is now delivering to Bermondsey via a new Deliveroo kitchen, which opened in late August. Thai lunch boxes are just £9.95 and you can choose from sticky chicken, pad thai, chicken stir fry, thai green curry, lamb massaman and roasted duck noodles. Or from £14.95 choose a ‘lunch set’ offering a main, rice and side. Delivering to Bermondsey via Deliveroo. @gigglingsquid

THE CHOP, LONDON BRIDGE: A new salad bar has just opened on Weston Street opposite London Bridge station. The Chop will serve made-to-order, grab-and-go chopped salads, as well as deli sandwiches, and crispy cheese-coated wraps for just £6. 40 - 46 Weston Street, SE1 9GP @thechopsalad_

COPPA CLUB, LONDON BRIDGE:

Weirdough Bakery has just opened its doors at Corner Corner, opposite Canada Water station. Freshly baked bread, pastries and coffee will be served at Weirdough Bakery, now open every day from 8am. The new bakery is serving vegan cinnamon buns, savoury pasties, sausage and chorizo rolls, quiche and loaves of sourdough to take away. Founded by Daniel, Unai, Josh, Gabriel and Clement, Weirdough Bakery has expanded south from Walthamstow, bringing its freshly baked treats to Corner Corner.

Coppa Club’s fourth London restaurant opened at the end of July with riverside views over the Thames. The menus feature seasonal food and British produce, from creamy Burrata served alongside prosciutto, courgettes, summer peas to roasted venison steak served with spiced flatbread.

Corner Corner, Maritime Street, Canada Water, SE16 7LL @weirdough__bakery

2 More London Place, SE1 2JP @coppaclub.londonbridge

FOOD & DRINK

‘IT IS MY BIGGEST JOY SEEING THE COMMUNITY GET TOGETHER’ GENERAL MANAGER KUNDAI CHAKONDA

Simon the Tanner returns to its roots with beer, music and community Myfanwy Fleming-Jones

ong Lane’s Simon the Tanner is celebrating two years since its relaunch, bringing the Bermondsey pub back to its roots with good beer, food and a focus on the local community. The pub, which dates back to at least 1780, has drawn on its history and the area’s former leather tanning industry for its latest chapter, with a focus on independent breweries, relaxed surroundings and bringing locals together. Its weekly programme includes pub quizzes every Tuesday, while Sundays offer a roast from £20 with seasonal vegetables, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and gravy, with gluten-free and vegan options available. General manager Kundai Chakonda joined the pub two years ago and has been working to restore the lively atmosphere the venue has long been known for.

“At that point in time the gastro concept was being pushed, so we decided to go back in time to its roots and make it about the beer,” he said. Originally from Zimbabwe, Kundai came to the UK to study before building a career in the UK hospitality industry. With cocktails priced at £12 and a food menu including dishes such as herb-crusted cod and beef Lindström, it is no wonder this new version of Simon the Tanner is so popular. Beer is at the heart of the pub, with its taps featuring products from UK breweries including Anspach & Hobday, Super Cute Brewing and Bianca Road Brewing. Kundai has also focused on creating a food menu that puts a modern twist on traditional pub dishes

while keeping the ingredients and presentation straightforward. He said: “I think we have stayed true to what the building is. There is no fake branding and it is true to the street and honest to the industry that gave it its meaning, the tanning industry.” The pub’s earliest recorded history dates back to 1780, when it was known as Simon of Joppa the Tanner, reflecting the area’s long association with leather production. For Kundai, the community is now one of the most rewarding parts of running the venue. “Being involved in such a community and such a place means more than I thought it would. When you drink at a local pub it is one thing, but when you are running a local pub it is something else. “It is my biggest joy seeing the community get together and that we are able to provide a nice place and spot for them to interact. It is more than just the drinks, they are just the vehicle and the backing of the atmosphere. To watch it play out is unreal.” The pub’s approach is centred on creating an informal place where locals can meet, whether over a pint, a pub quiz, Sunday lunch or live music. Simon the Tanner is open Monday to Thursday from 4pm to 11pm, Friday and Saturday from 12pm to midnight, and Sunday from 12pm to 10.30pm. Simon the Tanner, 231 Long Lane, SE1 4PR. simonthetanner.co.uk

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AUTUMN 2026

World through photos Evie Flynn

42 IMAGES RECOGNISED IN THE 2026 WORLD PRESS PHOTO CONTEST ARE ON DISPLAY ON BERMONDSEY STREET

Gunpowder’s Daughters by Chantal Pinzi-Panos Pictures

Aid Emergency in Gaza © Saber Nuraldin, EPA Images

q MPB Gallery

warehouse on Bermondsey Street has become a window into some of the world’s biggest stories, seen through the eyes of photojournalists. Held annually since 1955, the World Press Photo Contest recognises the best photojournalism and documentary photography produced over the previous year. Each year, the recognised photographs are part of a global tour, with London’s exhibition being held at the MPB Gallery at 42-44 Bermondsey Street. The Bermondsey Street exhibition offers a rare chance to see the work of 42 winners, whose stories are told through their cameras. The photos are chosen by an independent jury of 31 professionals from the media industry, who then select one overall winner and two runners ups. The World Press Photo of the Year was awarded to Carol Guzy for a poignant image titled Separated by ICE. The photograph was taken inside one of the few US federal buildings where photographers were granted access. The image, produced for the Miami Herald, captures a moment when a family is separated following the detention of Luis, an Ecuadorian migrant, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents after a court hearing. It leaves his wife, Cocha, and their three children, aged seven, 13 and 15 months, without the household’s main provider. Upon winning World Press Photo of the Year Guzy said: “This award highlights the critical importance of the story worldwide. We bear witness to the suffering of countless families, but also to their grace and resilience that transcends adversity that has been quite humbling. “The courage to open up their lives to our cameras allowed us to tell their stories. And certainly this award

belongs to them, not me.” One of the two finalist places was awarded to Saber Nuraldin for a photo titled Aid Emergency in Gaza, depicting Palestinians climbing onto an aid truck as it enters the Gaza Strip in July 2025. The jury commented that the image displays the ‘scale and urgency of famine’ in the second year of the war in Gaza. The other finalist was The Trials of the Achi Women by Victor J. Blue, telling the story of a group of Indigenous Maya Achi women in Rabinal, Guatemala. The photo is framed around Doña Paulina Ixpatá

Continues on page 22 21

WHAT’S ON

AUTUMN 2026

q Desperate Plea Tyrone Siu for Reuters

Alvarado, a plaintiff who was held captive and assaulted for 25 days in 1983 during Guatemala’s civil war. In the photo, she stands with fellow Achi women outside a Guatemala City court, on 30 May 2025. That afternoon, three former civil defence patrollers were sentenced to 40 years in prison for rape and crimes against humanity. The panel commended the photo for its portrayal of ‘collective strength’, which they said gave the female subjects ‘dignity and authority’. The World Press Photo is a non-profit organisation committed to press freedom. It was q

started by a group of Dutch photographers with the aim of introducing their work to a global audience. 71 years on, the 2026 contest received over 57,000 entries from 3,747 photographers, spanning 141 countries.

Tickets cost £17.50 on the weekend and £13.50 Monday – Friday. The exhibition is currently open daily. Visit worldpressphoto.org for more details MPB Gallery, 42-44 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3UD

Photo of the Year winner Carol Guzy © Andrea Pritchard

MPB Gallery, 42 - 44 Bermondsey Street

SOUTHBANK ADVERTORIAL q Playing with Fire Photo: Michaël Jan

Autumn at the Southbank Centre Join us in September & October for more art, classical music, immersive experiences, talks and debates, family fun, free events and delicious food and drink.

 Free events at the Southbank Centre. Photo: Cesare De Giglioi

We’re the largest arts centre in the UK and we’re celebrating our 75th anniversary this year! On the beautiful South Bank of the River Thames, we’re just a short bus or train ride away. Our top picks this autumn include; the new Classical Music Autumn/Winter 2026/27 season, a stunning virtual concert to experience at Playing with Fire (Until Sunday 3 January), talks and interactive debates addressing the issues of today at Letters to the Future (Friday 18 – Sunday 20 September) and the return of London Literature Festival (Tuesday 20 October – Sunday 1

 Seventy5th Balcony Bar Photo: Cesare De Giglio

November), this year curated by Dua Lipa. Looking for family fun this October half-term? Go on an out-of-this-world adventure with The Smeds and the Smoos (Wednesday 28 October – Sunday 1 November). Plus, there’s plenty of free public art and exhibitions throughout autumn, including the new exhibition Koestler Arts: Rock, Paper, Scissors (Thursday 15 October – Sunday 29 November), and a new batch of free Open Doors events. Head to the Hayward Gallery for your final chance to catch Anish Kapoor (until Sunday 18 October), the hugely popular exhibition showcasing the artist behind London’s Olympic Park sculpture, ArcelorMittal Orbit, and Chicago’s Cloud Gate (‘The Bean’). Kapoor’s exhibition fills the entire gallery building with a series of works which press against the gallery walls and floors or descend from the ceiling to create an uncanny sensation of awe and wonder. We’ve made it easy to bring the whole family too. Under-12s go free, and if you’re aged 18 to 30, you can grab half-price tickets by joining our Under-30s Scheme.

lots of foodie destinations to complete the perfect autumn day out. Head down to the Queen’s Walk for a vibrant selection of food and drink pop-ups (until Sunday 20 September). For dreamy rooftop sunsets, head to the Seventy5th Balcony Bar for epic views above the bustle of the city. Don't forget to catch the Southbank Centre Food Market for a huge choice of delicious street food and drinks. Visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/autumn to find out more about what’s on this autumn at the Southbank Centre

If all that fun makes you feel hungry, we’ve got

 Installation view of Anish Kapoor, 2026 Photo: Madison Phipps

 Dua Lipa

Photo: Madison Phipps

1 - 30 October 2026 A season celebrating Young Black British Brilliance

40 Years of Theatre Peckham

#YGB26

WELLBEING

AUTUMN 2026

“

We wanted to not only build a business but also a place of community and connection that wasn’t orientated around alcohol”, says Druid Street Saunas co-founder Olly. Druid Street Saunas is a new community-based sauna and cold dip studio which opened in an arch on Druid Street at the end of June. University friends Theo Hunt and Olly Crole, aged 26 and 27, had lived in the nearby area for around three years when they began noticing a gap in the local wellness scene. “We moved to the area by chance when a flat came up right next to Maltby street market. We found ourselves right in the middle of this vibrant cultural area, right next to Maltby Street Market, and soaked in the atmosphere,” Olly explained. After discovering a shared love for saunas, including positive mental and physical benefits, the concept behind Druid Street Saunas began to take shape. Knowing the customer base and area inside out, the pair started imagining their ideal sauna space. “A year ago I couldn’t have imagined opening a sauna business, but we started going to saunas and found it odd that there was nothing nearby”, Olly said. After signing the lease for the arch in March this year, the duo enlisted the help of their friends and family to transform the space before a soft launch in June. The studio features four traditional Finnish style saunas, including a circular design for group sauna sessions and a large communal sauna that reaches over 90 degrees. The space also has three state-of-the art cold plunge pools which can be set as low as three degrees. In the sauna foyer, the space features a cafe selling fresh coffee and smoothies, and a chill-out area ideal for hosting events and community gatherings. “We would love to work with the local wellness community. There is a gym next door and loads of local run clubs,” Ollie said. “Saunas are a great post-workout activity.”

Hot stuff Evie Flynn

MEET THE YOUNG DUO BRINGING SAUNA CULTURE, COLD PLUNGES AND COMMUNITY TO DRUID STREET

Olly and Theo have already hosted a brunch with a local Pilates studio and worked with local running club London City Runners to give members a special discount code. Looking ahead, the pair are excited to host a collaborative music and beer-tasting sauna event with Jubel in October and launch guided sessions with Emma, a trained sauna master, in September. Olly and Theo are also gearing up for the winter season, thinking about new offerings and looking at introducing essential oils to ritualise the experience. Druid Street Saunas have two types of self-guided sauna sessions: off peak (50 minutes) and peak (1 hour 50 minutes. Off-peak sessions run between 7am and 6pm on weekdays and cost £14. Peak sessions are £20 and run between 6pm and 9pm on weekdays and all throughout the weekend. druidstreetsaunas.co.uk Druid Street Saunas, 132 Druid St, SE1 2HH

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COMMUNITY

AUTUMN 2026

Singing without pressure Katie Dunkerley

Evie Flynn

THE BERMONDSEY LOCAL PUTTING THE FUN BACK INTO PERFORMING

“

If we can bring a positive change to someone’s week, then we’re doing our job,” says Katie Dunkerley, founder of the Stage Door Choir. After moving to Bermondsey in 2014, Katie wanted to take her long-standing love of performing and singing to a new level and eventually turned that passion into a choir of her own. Teaming up with talented West End musical director Oliver Payne, Katie has created a welcoming environment where members request songs, learn them and have opportunities to perform, all in a zero-pressure environment. The non-audition musical theatre choir now meets once a week in Greenwich or Wimbledon, with all levels and abilities welcome. The choir mainly sings musical theatre songs, with a recent performance of ‘You Will Be Found’ from Dear Evan Hansen leaving the founder in tears. Singers are regularly encouraged to request songs, with favourites including ‘Shallow’ from A Star Is Born and ‘Dancing Through Life’ from Wicked. “I had always gone to choirs myself and listened to the feedback of people walking through the doors,” Katie explains. “Anxiety was the biggest feeling for people. It’s so common and very easy for someone who is trained in singing to say, ‘you’ll be fine’. “That’s why it was so important for my own choir to

“We might stay small and local, but we may grow bigger and become known for being a place for people who want to come and sing or be part of a community.” The Stage Door Choir runs on a termly schedule, with membership costing £100 for 10 weeks, or £25 every month to spread the cost across three terms. Membership also includes access to the ‘member area’ on their website, where Katie and her team have created useful resources for singers, including tips on how to read music and lyric sheets. Throughout September, potential members can attend a free taster session at either the Greenwich or Wimbledon venue. have no expectations. We have loads of opportunities for members to perform but there’s no obligation to do so.” But members often surprise Katie, with three singers requesting a solo at Merton Pride this year, including a woman in her 70s who sang Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love’. “Singers vote for all the songs as if people like what they’re singing, they have more energy and more fun,” Katie explains. “We do a poll halfway through the term, then look for licensing and rights, then present to singers and vote for what they are singing in the following term. The musical director, Oliver, researches arrangements and

takes inspiration and creates something bespoke to our choir.” “It’s so fulfilling. Every singer has their own individual vocal journey and we want to celebrate that,” Katie says. “We look at every member individually and take on board their own journey.” Looking ahead, Katie hopes the choir will continue to grow and open more venues. But she says it’s important for her to know everyone by name and not lose the personal element. Katie continues: “It’s so special as members hug me and tell me it’s the best part of their week. It makes me want to deliver more of the good stuff.

Greenwich: Every Monday during term time, 7:30pm - 9pm James Wolfe Primary School, Randall Place, SE10 9LA Wimbledon: Every Wednesday during term time, 7:30pm - 9pm Hillside Church, 37 Worple Road, Wimbledon, SW19 4JZ For more information visit openthestagedoor.co.uk

COMMUNITY

Maria Moruzzi

The story of an old-school Borough Market cafe p Darius

Evie Flynn

An institution once known as Borough Cafe, the greasy spoon was established in 1961

or more than six decades, Maria’s Market Cafe has been serving up full English breakfasts, fish and chips and its famous bubble and squeak to traders, locals and visitors at Borough Market. Located in the heart of the bustling tourist attraction, the café is a reminder of a very different Borough Market that existed long before it became one of London’s best-known food destinations. Once known as Borough Cafe, the greasy spoon was established in 1961 by the parents of Maria Moruzzi when the market, in the shadow of Southwark Cathedral off Borough High Street, was a wholesale fruit and veg market. Known for its well-loved traditional food, reasonable prices and friendly staff, the cafe was originally set up to serve full English breakfasts to market traders and wholesale workers but has since become a popular spot for regulars and tourists alike. The cafe is now owned by Mark Aldridge, a trusted friend of Maria’s and the owner of a local construction business. He took over the café from Maria in 2021 after she retired. He said: “I made a lasting commitment to Maria when I took the mantle and continued the legacy.” Today, the café is facing an uncertain future. Its five-year lease came to an end this summer, prompting the team to launch a campaign to save the business. Their petition has reached nearly 2,000 signatures so far, with strong support from the local community. The petition reads: “Unfortunately, despite our deep roots and continuous dedication to the market community, we have been informed that our lease will not be renewed. “This sudden decision threatens not only a family-owned business but also a piece of London’s vibrant history.” The cafe has even played host to the current King and Queen when they visited in 2013 and

p Maria Moruzzi

p Lucy

The King and Queen visit Maria's p Joanne

p The King and Queen visit Maria's

had a traditional cup of builder’s tea made by Maria herself. Mark’s partner Emma, who is responsible for the café’s marketing, told us they could not say too much about their discussions with Borough Market but she still hopes they can work together to keep the café alive. She said: “Maria sold it to Mark because she didn’t want to see it become a faceless chain. Mark agreed to purchase it and from then it has done nothing but grow and bloom.” Maria visited the café last week to show her support for the campaign. Emma said: “She was such a character, I’ve heard so many stories from back in the day.” Neighbouring trader Darius, who has worked at Furness Oyster Bar for four years, shared how the cafe is always bustling with customers, who he can see from the stall he works at.

He said: “Maria’s is a staple of the market. A lot of traders, locals and tourists are always looking for an English fry-up. Within the market, Maria’s is the only one. “I’m always here from five or six o’clock in the morning. With those early hours, I get a lot of people asking for breakfast, so the best place to send them is to Maria’s.” Lucy, who manages Pimento Hill next to Maria’s, said the possible closure highlights the importance of old-school institutions. She said: “A lot of the traditional old London stuff is going – the things tourists come to see. “Most people who come to Borough Market are tourists. They want to come and have a traditional greasy spoon English breakfast.” A spokesperson for Borough Market said: “As a responsible landlord, we follow all legal requirements when dealing with our tenants on

issues relating to their occupation at the Market. “As you’d expect, we treat the details of anything business related with any of our traders as confidential and do not feel it is appropriate to comment further at this stage while discussions are still ongoing.” In the face of an uncertain future, staff member Joanne told us: “Initially I was worried about my job, but since I have been thinking about it, I realised it’s more than that. Maria’s is a really special place to a lot of people. “All of the staff members love working here – it’s personal and they give their all. I would say it’s a labour of love. We are all invested.” Sign the petition here: Sign the petition here: change.org/p/save-marias-market-cafe-from-closure And find Maria’s at 9 Stoney St, SE1 9AA

Finnish church in London. 33 Albion Street, SE16 7HZ

Come and join our regular free events, open to all and bursting with creativity Discover all Open Doors events

Bringing Bri rin ri ing ngi gin ing ng each c student ch stu t de tu d nt to t the t e fullnesss th f lllln fu lness sss ss ss of o life lillifife fe through t ro th r ug ugh gh education edu d ca du c titiioon

Open Event Monday 28th September: 9.30am to 11am AND 4:30pm to 7:30pm Tuesday 29th September: 9:30am to 11:30am Wednesday 30th September: 9:30am to 11:30am Please visit the college website for further information: www.stmichaelscollege.org.uk Please note there is no parking on site or in the near vicinity. Therefore, public transport is recommended.

Type: T Ty pe: Academy in the St Benedict Catholic Academy Trust

Tel: 020 7237 6432 Web: www.stmichaelscollege.org.uk

Bringing Bri riinng ri ngi gin ing ng each c student ch stu t de tu d nt to t the tthe fullnesss f lllllnness fu sss ss ss of o life fe through t rroug th ugghh education edu d ccatitio du ion llilifife Please visit the college website for further information:

6th Form Open Event Thursday 19th November 4:30pm to 7:00pm

www.stmichaelscollege.org.uk Please note there is no parking on site or in the near vicinity. Therefore, public transport is recommended.

St Michael’s Catholic College, Llewellyn Street, Bermondsey, y London SE16 4UN y, Tel: 020 7237 6432 Web: www.stmichaelscollege.org.uk

Type: Academy in the St Benedict T Type: Catholic Academy Trust

ADVERTORIAL

AUTUMN 2026

Kingsdale Foundation School First Class and Top of the Class

ons Applicati orm F for Sixth e now r courses acepted being ac

Amazing A Level Examination Results at Kingsdale Foundation School in 2026!

We are delighted to announce that our students have excelled once more with some exceptional individual and group performances including 11 students who achieved at least 3A* grades each! At Kingsdale this year over 50% and more than 350 of all grades achieved at A level were graded A*/A and more than 80% were at A*-B. 75% of our graduate applications to higher education institutions have been accepted at prestigious Russell Group Universities such as Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, King’s College London, Leeds, Liverpool, London School of Economics (LSE), Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Sheffield, Southampton, University College London (UCL), Warwick and York as well as at least 11 securing places at Oxford & Cambridge. Students have also secured places at many other top universities including Bath, Loughborough, Reading, Royal Holloway and Sussex and Swansea to do well-regarded, competitive and demanding courses such as Astrophysics, Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Economics, English, Mechanical Engineering and Sport & Exercise Science. Our gifted and talented creative and performing artists will be attending highly esteemed conservatoires and institutions such as the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Surrey University (Tonmeister degree), as well as the University of the Arts London, the Slade School of Art, Goldsmiths and Glasgow Universities. We are once again incredibly proud of how students, staff and parents have collaborated and supported each other to produce another set of amazing A Level results. We pay tribute to all of our students whose endeavours, resilience and hard work have enabled them to pursue their chosen exciting pathway of choice.

Sixth Form/Year 12 Open Day Dates

Wednesday 23rd September 2026 4.30-7.30pm / Wednesday 14th October 2026 1.30-6.30pm Wednesday 4th November 2026 4.30-7pm / Wednesday 25th November 2026 4.30-7pm

Visit www.kingsdalefoundationschool.org.uk, call 020 8655 9723 or email sixthform@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk for a Prospectus 32

MEMORY LANE

AUTUMN 2026

q As an RAF policeman

From a Tobruk tank farm to Peek Frean’s Michael Holland

would be by coach. Living in a small village meant going to the theatre was a treat: ‘Each Christmas we would visit Swansea to see the pantomime at the Grand Theatre, or variety shows at the Empire Theatre.’ Summers were spent helping out on the local farms: ‘One of the jobs was to ensure that bottles of cider were placed in the hedgerows for the farm workers to drink whilst gathering the harvest. I also helped the local farmer on the Saturday milk round.’ On leaving school, Frank began as an office boy at Burgess & Co Ltd, a shipping agency whose main trade was with oil tankers - ‘with a wonderful reputation’. Within six weeks, this enterprising young man had been promoted to the Marine & Customs Department. Frank remembers, ‘Here I dealt directly with the ships’ captains and officers.’ During the Suez Crisis of 1956, ‘we were looking after the needs of fifteen vessels that were ready to sail to war if needed; these ships were loaded with every kind of war supply.’ In quieter times, the teenage Frank would be dealing with the Blue Funnel Line and the Ellerman Group of Shipping Companies. But this seventeen-year-old saw National Service on the horizon, and having his fill of boats, he volunteered for three years instead of the obligatory two, in order to get into the RAF. ‘After initial ‘square-bashing’, I trained as an RAF Policeman.’ What followed was a posting to RAF Wilmslow, a Basic Training Camp, then to RAF El Adem in

rank Clough-Turner was born at 3, Balaclava Road in May 1939. Not the Balaclava Road down The Blue but the one in Glais, a small village that straddled the borders of Swansea and Glamorgan. It would be later that Frank became a Bermondsey Boy. His arrival rounded off the family of Hannah, his mum, Ann, his 10-year-old sister, and a father employed by London, Midland & Scottish Railway as a Ganger Platelayer responsible for the track in the Ystradgynlais area. He sadly died in 1953. Frank attended the local youth club, the local chapel, and, of course, the local school where he obtained a scholarship to Dynevor Secondary Grammar School in Swansea. From that establishment, he achieved GCEs in Welsh and Geography. Like most villages in Wales, there was a rugby team: ‘The primary school had a good team,’ Frank remembers, ‘I never played but I do follow rugby as a sport.’ Welsh chapels once had a strong influence in the Valleys, and Glais had a Church and a Welsh Methodist Chapel, but Frank was baptised into the Peniel Welsh Baptist Chapel at the age of 15. ‘There would be Whitsun parades in Glais, followed by a service,’ he says. ‘They provided days out for the congregation.’ Frank recalls annual visits to Mumbles, by a double-decker tram ‘running on the oldest passenger rail system in the UK - in its earlier form, it was drawn by horse,’ he adds. There would also be trips to either Barry Island, Porthcawl, or Tenby, but those

MEMORY LANE

Libya, and then to Royal Army Service Corps HQ in Tobruk. ‘I was there until April 1960.’ Looking back, Frank says that if he had been posted elsewhere, and not as ‘security for “The Tank Farm” where aviation fuel, petrol, and diesel was stored, I may have stayed in the RAF.’ Soon after leaving the armed services, Frank joined the staff of Peek Frean’s as one of the 22 Works Policemen on the biscuit maker’s Bermondsey site. His first home was in Fort Road, then Cadbury Way. During the firm’s reorganisation in 1965, when the security detail was reduced to just nine gatekeepers, Frank transferred to the company’s Fire Brigade. He remembers that ‘it was a little difficult because of having to learn the complicated water supplies systems.’ But learn them he did and Frank eventually became Chief Officer. q

In his years at the iconic Bermondsey firm, Frank took advantage of the many sports and social activities the company was famous for providing for its staff. ‘This included playing badminton, hockey, running marathons (Frank ran in the very first London marathon),… I was concussed three times playing hockey in Holland - twice as a spectator! On the other occasion, because I was wearing a face mask, my life was saved but I still suffered a broken nose and a fracture of the cheekbone.’ Such was the camaraderie and friendship with the Dutch hockey team, Frank had his retirement and 80th birthday parties in Holland. (Southwark was twinned with Deventer, in the Netherlands) Plus, there was socialising closer to home: ‘When possible, I would join some of the evening shift workers in a Friday visit to some of the local pubs, including the

q Photo taken about 60 mins after being hit on face mask when playing against the team from The Dutch Naval Academy

At a Fire Brigade Association dinner in full regalia

‘We were looking after the needs of ﬁfteen vessels that were ready to sail to war if needed; these ships were loaded with every kind of war supply.’

Blue Anchor, Foresters, The Concord, The George, The Fort, and The Samson, amongst others. But all good things must come to an end, and Peek Frean’s closed in 1989. ‘On leaving,’ he begins, ‘I was recruited to serve in the newly formed Fire Protection Engineering Department of London Underground - created after the devastating Kings Cross Underground fire of 1987.’ And this is where Frank stayed until his retirement in 2004. But life stayed just as busy for the man who had been working since he was a boy. ‘I’ve always enjoyed travelling overseas. I’ve been to China three times; America nineteen times, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Norway, and the Netherlands (initially to play hockey but now to visit friends), and I have been a member of the RAF Police Association since 1984.’ But Frank will now be known to all those who have visited the Peek Frean Museum, in the old biscuit factory, where he and local man, Gary Magold, welcome groups and solo visitors and give talks about the collection of Peek Frean memorabilia. ‘We have

had over 2,000 visitors,’ says Frank proudly, ‘despite the fact that we do not advertise and we open by appointment only.’ His double-barrelled name came about when his pay packet was mixed up with another F. Turner at the biscuit firm. ‘As I was the junior employee, it was agreed that I should have to alter my name, so I became Clough-Turner. No paperwork was signed, but my passport still states Frank Turner.’ These days, Frank occupies his time with the museum, plus he is a member of several associations connected to the RAF and the Fire Service, who have dinners and galas that he attends in full regalia. He now lives in the RIBA Award-winning Appleby Blue Almshouse, where he is very happy: ‘Compared to my former apartment, the Almshouse is a totally different world,’ he declares. ‘I do not have a regimented life but do things that I want to do.’ Frank ended with praise for the people that made him welcome 66 years ago: ‘The friends I have made over the years, in Bermondsey, have been true friends.’

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AUTUMN 2026

Old Father Thames’ secret Debra Gosling

 Carriage on Tower subway

shields to cut through the mud and clay of Old Father Thames. Lessons had been learned from Brunel’s tunnel and safety measures were in place. A 1,340-foot-long (410 m) circular tunnel was dug out and it only took a year to do! To begin with, the Tower Subway had lifts carrying passengers down into the void, whereupon a steam-driven cable car would scoot them over to the other side. But tragedy struck so quickly when passenger Thomas Francis Janning was killed in a terrible accident on the Bermondsey side. His head was crushed between the top of a moving lift and the edge of the ground floor. If that wasn’t enough the cable car system continually had breakdowns, fuelling bad publicity. In December 1870 the whole system was scrapped and replaced with spiral staircases and a popular pedestrian toll walkway. But reports of the tunnel experience gives a glimpse of what the public thought of it all. The Italian writer Edmondo De Amicis (1846–1908) gave a description of a passage through the subway in his Jottings about London: “As I was thinking of these things I disappeared from the world indeed, going down a lighted spiral staircase which buries itself in the earth on the right bank of the Thames, opposite the Tower. I went down and down between two dingy walls until I found myself at the round opening of the gigantic iron tube, which seems to undulate like a great intestine in the

q Tower Subway

his is all a bit James Bond - in Tooley street you will find an inconspicuous grey metal box that is kept locked. You will see stairs running down into it. It is your mission to find said box and discover its secret. There is a clue in this text. Well I’ve found it, M! And it’s super creepy. In 1869 a subway tunnel was built to connect Tooley Street to Tower Hill. At that point the only convenient way of getting across the water was London Bridge, which was always crowded and congested with carts, horses and city gents. Tower Bridge was just a twinkle in the eye of Horace Jones, so someone was required to address the need for an alternative route. A tunnel beneath the Thames! The Brunel boys had already undertaken this need down in Rotherhithe but something more utility and less grand was wanted nearer The City. Peter Barlow and his apprentice James Greathead were the men who used pioneering cast iron tunnel

HISTORY

Continues on page 38 37

HISTORY

AUTUMN 2026

 Tooley Street tunnel

“When then you have reached the middle and no longer see the end in either direction, and feel the silence of a catacomb, and know not how much farther you must go...”

enormous belly of the river. The inside of this tube presents the appearance of a subterranean corridor, of which the end is invisible. It is lighted by a row of lights as far as you can see, which shed a veiled light, like sepulchral lamps; the atmosphere is foggy; you go along considerable stretches without meeting a soul; the walls sweat like those of an aqueduct; the floor moves under your feet like the deck of a vessel; the steps and voices of the people coming the other way give forth a cavernous sound, and are heard before you see the people, and they at a distance seem like great shadows; there is, in short, a sort of something mysterious, which without alarming causes in your heart a vague sense of disquiet. When then you have reached the middle and no longer see the end in either direction, and feel the silence of a catacomb, and know not how much farther you must go, and reflect that in the water beneath, in the obscure depths of the river, is where suicides meet death, and that over your head vessels are passing, and that if a crack should

open in the wall you would not even have the time to recommend your soul to God, in that moment how lovely seems the sun!” Bermondsey Recorder editor Josiah Watson recalled he “passed up and down the corkscrew wooden staircases and passed along the granite flooring, damp with the water that percolated through the joints of the iron facing of the structure. The atmosphere too, was possessed of an asphyxiating quality , derived from the presence of a line of gas jets which destroyed a large proportion of the oxygen which struggled for an entrance into the tunnel. Complaints were not infrequent of rowdyism being displayed and robberies taking place therein , during the later years of its public use. Nor was this surprising, since the men in charge of the turnstile were placed at the Tower Hill entrance and the Vine Street entrance was left to take charge of itself. Yet many were willing to risk the danger of assault in order to save a long detour by London Bridge”.

All of this came to a halt in 1894 when the most beautiful bridge in the world opened. Architect Sir Horace Jones and civil engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry ensured their exquisite Tower Bridge rose up from the river like a beautiful mermaid, dazzling all who beheld her. It was free to cross, no toll, so why would anyone want to risk it beneath the waves? The tunnel closed in 1898. During the Second World War a bomb exploded in the Thames which damaged this mouldy old structure - but credit due to Barlow and Greathead as it did not collapse. Instead it got squashed ,so the middle part is probably best accessed by munchkins these days. The tunnel is still there, lurking under the Thames but now it serves as a utility facility for water pipes and fibre optic cables. It is currently owned by Vodaphone. I really do not envy the engineer who has to make the descent for communication maintenance. That would leave me both shaken and stirred.

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THE SET MENU

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