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HORSEPLAY HAS BECOME TOO COSTLY

Issue 166 ∙ 50p ∙ August 14th 2026 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

THEATRES AT RISK

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DWIGHT GLAD ALL OVER

Winger finally completes Palace move after February hitch

‘PEDESTRIAN PERIL PERIL’’ Blind groups blast Floating Bus Stops ‘where you have to dodge speeding cyclists’’

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The Theatres Trust has been publishing a Theatres at Risk Register for 20 years, which identifies theatres across the UK that require support to help secure their future. Joshua McTaggart, CEO of Theatres Trust, says that the buildings listed were “just the tip of the iceberg” and that “theatres built in the 1970s [were] now facing a higher likelihood of challenges that could lead to long term or even permanent closure.” He added that “this is a future we want to confidently avoid, and so Theatres Trust urges theatre owners, operators and local authorities to reach out to us before concerns become crises.” Streatham Hill Theatre, a Grade II building, was built in 1929 and designed by renowned theatre architect William George Robert Sprague. It has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2018. The theatre was hit by a V1 flying bomb during World War Two and rebuilt in its original design. It has also appeared on Historic England’s Heritage At Risk Register since 2021. Its future has been uncertain since 2017, when the bingo operator, which held a sub-lease on the building, stopped operating. The building was sold to Hold Land South East, before being sold on again by Ruach City Church for a reported £4 million. The church said it had invested more than £700,000 in repairs, including work to tackle flooding and damp, and to make the auditorium usable again for performances. However it still requires substantial repairs. Plans to convert the change of use of the building into a place of worship remain under consideration alongside another application which suggests a mixed-use alternative. Local campaign group The Friends of Streatham Hill Theatre remains proactive in supporting the theatre, both in fundraising and in galvanising the local community and creative industry to support it. Borough Hall in Greenwich, also a Grade II listed building, was built as part of the former Greenwich Town Hall complex. It opened in 1939 and was inspired by the

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architecture of Dutch modernist architect W.M. Dudok. The interior of Borough Hall in Greenwich Borough Hall was a popular venue for theatre, music and dance performances until 2018. It has been on the Theatres at Risk Register since 2022. The Theatres Trust says that the site needs significant investment in order to modernise, address maintenance concerns and bring it up to a standard where performances could once again take place. A concert at Borough Hall from when it was a popular music venue The Theatre was sold to developer Lita Homes in 2024, who have suggested their desire for the building to be redeveloped into a hotel. Since the launch of the Theatres at Risk Register in 2006, over 80 theatres have been restored.

Community matters

Issue 164 ∙ 50p ∙ August 7th 2026 ∙ www.southlondon.co.uk

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RUCK OVER ROCK

ALL BOARD DI’S SHIP

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Here is your opportunity to taste over 100 samples as the wine fest returns to Crystal Palace Park’s iconic ‘Laptop’ stage

THE SOUTH London Wine Fair is returning to Crystal Palace Park’s iconic ‘Laptop’ stage on Saturday, August 22, bringing wine makers and enthusiasts together for an afternoon of tasting.

SouthLondonWeekly. THE PM’S SOUTH LONDON PAST

THE SOUTH LONDON WINE FAIR WHERE YOU CAN ‘TASTE AS MANY WINES AS YOU LIKE’

By Evie Flynn

NEWS

STREATHAM HILL Theatre in Lambeth and Borough Hall in Greenwich have been named amongst the 39 theatres across the UK threatened by a risk of closure, redevelopment or severe decay.

fo r

Contents

HISTORIC THEATRES AT RISK

By Molly Hunt

NEWS 3

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TOP: The interior of Streatham Hill Theatre; TOP INSET: Streatham Hill used to be home to a bustling bingo hall; ABOVE: A concert at Borough Hall from when it was a popular music venue; RIGHT: The interior of Borough Hall in Greenwich

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Founded by South Londoner Tom Grater, the festival is back for its fourth year this year and there are over 20 exhibitors to choose from, which he sums up as: “an amazing way for winemakers to connect with the consumers.” Upon arrival, guests receive a glass and a wristband, before heading off to taste over 100 wines, made by wineries from all over Europe. Bottles will also be available to purchase – so guests can take their favourites home. “It’s definitely beginner friendly,” said Tom. “Most people coming to the fair are not wine experts. “Because it’s not an all-day event, it’s great for people who know a little bit about wine, enjoy wine and are keen to expand their knowledge – rather than it

being too information heavy.” Tickets cost £51.50 and there are three 1 hour 50 minute slots available throughout the afternoon. Tom, who was born and raised in Clapham and now lives in Crystal Palace, began his career importing Spanish wines into the UK before moving into hospitality. He later opened Crystal Palace Wine Club in 2022, followed by Brixton’s

Vining Street Wine Club in 2024. Alongside the bars, he and his wife now run regular tasting events across South London. The event takes place at the restored Crystal Palace Park Bowl ‘Laptop’ stage – a historic venue which previously hosted legendary artists including Bob Marley and Pink Floyd before falling into disrepair. The Crystal Palace Park Trust renovated the venue in recent

years as part of the park’s wider regeneration. The fair can welcome up to 450 guests across the day, with around 150 people attending each session. “It’s really gratifying seeing people discover wines through our bars and tastings, then come to the fair to meet the wine makers in person,” Tom said. Reflecting on past success, he said the standout wine from last year’s fair was

the London Literature Festival with my Service95 Book Club has been a true joy and I’m so proud of the programme we have created. “We’ll be joined by icons as well as emerging voices from across the arts

the world needs to know. “You will recognize some as friends of the book club, and others may be your first introduction, but ultimately, I wanted to create a space that brings together some of the most exciting

a sparkling Pinot Noir from the Mas de la Sabatera winery near Barcelona – the first time the wine had been tasted outside Spain. Once each session is finished, guests can use their provided wristband to receive 50 per cent off a glass of house wine at either of their bars: Crystal Palace Wine Club (44 Anerley Hill, SE19 2AE) and its sister venue Vining Street Wine Club (1 Vining Street, SW9 8QA). Date: Saturday, August 22 Time: Slots from 12–1.50pm, 2.10–4pm and 4.30–6.20pm Location: Crystal Palace Bowl, Crystal Palace Park, London, SE19 2BA Tickets: £51.50 each, available on southlondonwinefair.co.uk

Dua Lipa reveals line-up for Southbank’s London Literature Festival as tickets go on sale The events will run between 20 October and 1 November By Alex Orr THE PROGRAMME for this year’s London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre has been curated by pop star Dua Lipa.

The events will take place between Tuesday 20 October and Sunday 1 November in the venue’s 75th anniversary year, with tickets going on general sale last week. The singer will make an appearance

on the Southbank on Saturday 24 October at 3pm, discussing novelist Zadie Smith’s debut novel, White Teeth, with the author. Other events include talks from Noughts & Crosses author Malorie Blackman, American singersongwriter and poet Patti Smith and US-based author, activist and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates. Speaking about the line-up, Dua Lipa said: “Curating the line up for

writers, poets, and thinkers from around the globe.” She added: “I’m looking forward to being both in-conversation and taking my seat in the audience at this iconic venue.”

4 NEWS EXCLUSIVE By Alex Orr A RAT infestation in flats at the Guinness Square Estate in Bermondsey, is “out of control”, with some tenants unable to use their kitchens for weeks.

NEWS 5

BOROUGH MARKET CANCELS PLANNED PIGEON SHOOT AFTER ANIMAL WELFARE BACKLASH

‘RATS OUT OF CONTROL ON OUR ESTATE’

There are an estimated 3 million pigeons in the capital

EXCLUSIVE By Evie Flynn BOROUGH MARKET cancelled a planned pigeon cull on last week after an animal welfare campaign raised concerns about the plans.

Animal rights group Protect the Wild shared a Substack post on Sunday 2 August claiming Borough Market were planning an organised pigeon shoot the following morning, at 10am on Monday 3 August. The group launched a petition and called on the market to “cancel any planned cull immediately and commit to humane, nonlethal methods of managing pigeons at the site.” A Borough Market spokesperson confirmed the planned shoot did not go ahead on Monday, saying it was cancelled because it had become public knowledge, creating health and safety concerns. The spokesperson said the market has a responsibility to protect visitors, traders and staff from the public health risks associated with pigeon waste, adding that a shoot is only considered after “non-lethal deterrents” have proved insufficient. At Borough Market, Protect the Wild

The Guinness Partnership said temporary accommodation would be provided to affected residents

Sharon Brown © Tamieka Isaacs)

The estate by the Old Kent Road, just off Page’s Walk, is run by the Guinness Partnership, a large housing association that owns and manages more than 70,000 homes across the country. Residents told us that rats have been in the bin sheds of their apartment building for more than a month. But, over the last two weeks, they said the rodents have entered the bin chutes, quickly finding their way into pipes, the roof and individual kitchens, rendering them practically unusable. A spokesperson for the Guinness Partnership said pest control contractors visited last Thursday, baiting the kitchen of one of the flats and placing down rat traps. The housing association has also organised for two carpenters and pest control to attend the same address this Friday 14th August to remove the kitchen units and put down further treatment. But Tamieka Isaacs, daughter-in-law of Sharon Brown who lives in the affected flat, said Guinness’ response was not enough. She said they had tried to contact the housing association about the issue four times after Sharon heard noises in her kitchen on 10 July. According to Tamieka, staff at the Guinness Partnership promised to visit the flat on two occasions and never showed up, only arriving weeks later when Sharon saw 12 rodents running through her kitchen early one morning. Tamieka said: “I decided this is beyond out of control and something needs to happen.” She said she had planned to go on a beach holiday with Sharon on at the end of July, but her mother-in-law was too distressed to attend after encountering the rodents on the day of departure. “She didn’t end up coming on the trip with me because she was distraught, teary-eyed and crying.” Sharon, who is diabetic, felt unable to use her kitchen, meaning she could not access vital insulin stored in her refrigerator. After getting in touch with the Guinness Partnership’s 24-hour helpline, the family said they were told it was the resident’s responsibility to get rid of the pests, despite rats being present in communal areas. Tamieka said: “It was definitely known that they had rats. It was not a secret. But I believe they just didn’t take as much care or thought for the residents.” Sharon ended up paying £350 for a private pest control treatment out of pocket before staff from the Guinness Partnership arrived, bringing in pest control contractors to lay down traps and treat the area with rat poison. A spokesperson for the housing association has since said Sharon will be reimbursed for the cost of the private treatment, as well as for her food expenses for the period she was unable to use the kitchen. They confirmed the bin sheds would now be cleaned by the estates team on a daily basis, with pest control back on site yesterday on Wednesday 5 August conducting further inspections. Alternative temporary accommodation has also been offered to tenants affected by domestic infestations. But residents say the housing

called for improved waste management, securing food sources, the use of nonlethal deterrents and collaboration with experienced wildlife management organisations instead of “culling pigeons”. The planned cull comes amid wider debate over pigeon control in London, following reports that Transport for London (TfL) shot and killed more than 600 pigeons between March 2024 and March 2026. Similar to Borough Market’s approach, a TfL spokesperson previously said lethal control is only considered after “exhausting all appropriate non-lethal methods” to deter infestations. Reaction to Protect the Wild’s petition was mixed on Reddit, with some users arguing that pest control is necessary in busy food markets. One commenter wrote: “I mean, pest control is an unavoidable part of running a safe food environment. It’s not a bird sanctuary.” Another said: “Sorry but there are far too many pigeons about in general in London. So there needs to be a general cull like this to control numbers, especially in areas where they are pests like food markets.” London’s pigeon population is estimated to be close to three million, or around one pigeon for every three Londoners.

According to the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), an organisation that publishes advice on pest control, pigeons can carry a variety of diseases such as Ornithosis, Listeria and E-coli that can be transmitted to people “not only from the droppings but also the birds themselves”. The BPCA also recommends non-lethal control measures, including bird spikes, netting and other proofing methods to prevent pigeons from accessing buildings. A Borough spokesperson said: “We recognise the strength of feeling about how pigeons are managed across London and take concerns about animal welfare seriously. As a busy food market, we have a responsibility to protect our visitors, traders and staff, and to manage the food hygiene and public health risks associated with pigeon waste. We invest in a range of nonlethal deterrents to manage pigeon activity. However, these measures are not always sufficient in complex urban environments, and lethal control may be considered where there is an identified public health or safety need and other reasonable measures have not been effective. Any such work is carried out by specialist contractors and must comply with all relevant animal welfare and wildlife legislation.”

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Cllr David Noakes association’s response has been unacceptably slow, with rats now reported in three different properties. Anne Owen, who has lived on the estate since her 20s and in her current apartment since 1995, said rats had also taken over her kitchen in recent weeks, despite not living next door to Sharon. She said: “I’m terrified. I’m disgusted. They’ve eaten all my food, ruined my kitchen, broken the microwave, all sorts.” According to Anne, the housing association used to address issues quickly and efficiently, adding: “If you had a repair, they’d be out straight away.” But even though she reported the problem last week, she said no one from Guinness or their pest control contractors had been to visit her flat by Wednesday 5 August: “They’ve not even called me back to make an appointment.” Anne’s message for the Guinness Partnership was simple: “They need to look after their properties because at the end of the day it’s their investment and it’s our lives. I’ve got health conditions.

Sharon’s kitchen torn up by the rats I’ve got emphysema and COPD. If I get sick, then what?” David Noakes, Lib Dem councillor for London Bridge and West Bermondsey, said this was the worst pest problem he had seen in his career. “I’ve been a councillor for 21 years and certainly we’ve dealt with things like mice infestations and seen the odd cockroach infestation. But I’ve never seen a rat infestation on this scale.” Cllr Noakes added: “The fact that residents have been reporting this and Guinness has been treating it as a normal business response is totally shocking, in my view.” He called the situation “Dickensian”, saying it was “completely unacceptable”. According to Cllr Noakes, the only adequate solution to the issue would be a “full block treatment” of all the communal areas, refuse areas and roof space, as well as individual treatments of every flat. “If they want to get on top of this, that’s the only way that’s going to happen.”

Guinness Square Estate

He added: “People are super distressed and I do not blame them. I have no idea how a modern housing provider can allow residents to live in flats with active rat problems. “Personally I don’t think I could sleep in the flat if there were rats in my property. “The fact that Guinness have allowed that to happen and seem to be taking a pedestrian response to it is shocking. “And they need to raise their game, to be honest.” According to the councillor, residents are starting to see a response from Guinness, but he said the housing association’s approach to the issue had been “too slow”. “Not only is their reputation at risk, but I think their reputation with their residents is at risk. They definitely need to get their act together,” he said. “I will be on their case until this is resolved and the residents are happy.” Asked for comment a second time, a spokesperson from the Guinness Partnership said: “We are fully

committed to working with our pest control contractor and residents to address the issue with rats. “We are grateful to Councillor Noakes for the support he is providing to us and residents while the problem is treated.” They said there is an ongoing pest control programme on the estate, which includes routine inspections and baiting. The spokesperson noted: “Our most recent pest control report dated 20 July indicated minimal bait take, suggesting low levels of pest activity and certainly did not indicate an issue of the scale currently reported by residents. “We have intensified the pest control regime and are carrying out environmental cleans to all buildings on the estate. We are also surveying the whole estate to identify any further works required to limit rodent access.” They added: “Rats are a widespread problem across urban areas, not only on estates of social housing, and it takes some time to deal with problems of this nature.”

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6 NEWS

SOUTHWARK AND LAMBETH GANG CRACKDOWN: 297 ARRESTS MADE, 38 DANGEROUS WEAPONS SEIZED

Residents of Camberwell, West Norwood and Earlsfield were among those arrested

By Alex Orr THE METROPOLITAN Police has made nearly 300 arrests and seized 38 dangerous weapons in a week-long crackdown on gang violence in Lambeth and Southwark.

Adel Sineen

Isaac Bakoya

Julius George

Mohamed Osman

William Adebisi

By Alex Orr

bodies, including their genitals, adding a cigarette was stubbed out in one of their mouths. Stonecliffe described the victims’ experience as “cold, hard torture”, saying they were “bound with tape and cable ties and beaten”, told they would be forced to have sex with each other and threatened with having their genitals cut off if they did not hand over $150,000. According to the barrister, one of the victims was informed his girlfriend would be raped. The court was told the victims transferred $30,000 in cryptocurrency to the gang but, when no more was handed over, one of them was let go while the other was driven away, believing he had been “sold” to another gang, according to a recorded interview heard by the jury. Meanwhile, the defendants’ barristers said there was no kidnap attempt. They told the court the two millionaires had travelled to Shadwell to buy a large amount of cannabis and that the means used by their clients to get the two men to pay were “virtually all legitimate”. The gang was eventually traced by police through the phone of a friend of the victims, who had travelled with them to Shadwell but been dragged out of the car in the ambush. His phone remained in the car unnoticed, a court heard, meaning

police were able to trace the location of the offenders through the mobile’s GPS, after the friend persuaded a security guard at McDonald’s in Earl’s Court, West London, to make a 999 call. This friend and another female friend, both of whom had been staying with the victims, returned to their Earl’s Court Airbnb, where they started receiving calls from one of the gang members asking for the money to be transferred. The court heard officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad advised the pair on stalling techniques to give the police time to rescue the victims. To get the rest of the money, Yasir Mohamed drove from the flat where the victims were staying in Canning Town to the Earl’s Court Airbnb to gain access to another cryptocurrency wallet, the report said. There, Flying Squad officers were waiting for him, and he was arrested. The jury cleared Mohamed of conspiracy to kidnap, false imprisonment, possessing an imitation firearm and sexual assault, and could not reach a verdict on conspiracy to blackmail. The ordeal ended after the Met’s Flying Squad tracked the victims’ location, leading to a car chase of up to 70mph through residential streets in London. When one of the victims was pulled

from the offenders’ car, his hands were tied and covered in cigarette burns, the court heard. Three men from South London, who had been recruited to transport the millionaires from the Canning Town flat, were arrested soon after. They were present in the car during the police pursuit, which concluded with the driver, 18-year-old Adel Sineen from Camberwell, crashing into a lamp-post. The court was told West Norwood resident Isaac Bakoya, 18, was arrested in the car, with armed officers chasing down Sineen, and 22-year-old Julius George, of Earlsfield in Wandsworth, on foot. Bakoya admitted false imprisonment but was found not guilty of possessing a knife by the jury. Sineen admitted dangerous driving but was cleared of false imprisonment and found not guilty of possessing a knife. Meanwhile, George was found guilty of false imprisonment and also admitted carrying a knife, which he tried to throw away while being chased down by police on foot. The knife was found by police and a police dog called Sully in a front garden and linked to George’s DNA, the court was told. Further arrests were later made of those who had stayed in the flat, with 24-year-old Gerson Borges, of

Camberwell, and Mohamed Osman, 29, of Finsbury Park, found guilty of conspiracy to blackmail and false imprisonment. William Adebisi, 19, of Romford, Essex was also found guilty of false imprisonment, with the jury unable to reach a verdict as to whether he was also guilty of conspiracy to blackmail. According to the report, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is yet to decide whether it will try Adebisi again over the charges. The court heard that the gang operation had been controlled from overseas by leader Ibrahim Mohamed, known as “Nino” and saved as “Fatboy” in one of the offenders’ phones, who instructed the men through Whatsapp and Snapchat but remains at large. The Flying Squad’s operation to free the victims and track down the offenders, codenamed Operation Azawahk, relied heavily on mobile phone tracking and CCTV footage, which enabled the police to locate Borges, Osman and Adebisi. South London residents Borges, Bakoya, George and Sineen, as well as Osman and Adebisi, will be sentenced in September. Sineen has been on bail since his arrest, the report said, apart from when he was taken into custody for repeatedly failing to turn up to court. All of the other defendants remain in custody.

FOUR MEN from South London have been convicted after the capture and alleged “torture” of two cryptocurrency millionaires, according to the Daily Mail.

Last week, a court heard that a London gang held the two millionaires, who were visiting London from France, in captivity for more than two days and made them strip naked in an effort to blackmail them. According to the newspaper report, prosecuting barrister Heidi Stonecliffe KC at Inner London Crown Court said the millionaires had travelled to Shadwell, East London, to buy some cannabis, when they were ambushed by three masked men with a gun and knife who forced them back into their car, a rented black Mercedes. Stonecliffe said the car was then driven by a member of the gang, Yasir Mohamed, of Forest Gate in East London, to a flat in Canning Town, where the two victims remained for 52 hours. The court was told that, during this time, all the victims were given to eat was a single KFC spicy chicken wing, while the gang members ate the rest of a 20-piece bucket. According to the report, one of the victims claimed he was forced to drink toilet water, and both said they had boiling water poured over their

A seizure by the Metropolitan Police

The crackdown lasted a week and took place throughout the two boroughs

The Canning Town apartment block where the victims were reportedly held

Gerson Borges

CONVICTED AFTER CAPTURE AND ALLEGED “TORTURE” OF CRYPTOCURRENCY MILLIONAIRES

The operation saw a total of 297 arrests, resulting in 238 charges for different offences, including possession of dangerous weapons, possession and supply of Class A drugs and attempted murder. According to the Met, action was taken in Southwark and Lambeth due to a rise in gang-related tensions and a number of serious, high-profile incidents in recent months. Officers on patrol on Somerleyton Road in Brixton stopped and detained

a moped driver, who ran off but was chased by police on foot and ‘later found to have discarded a bag containing Class A drugs’. The man was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply and grievous bodily harm after he hit an officer in the face with a crowbar, according to the Met. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries. Meanwhile, on Tuesday 28 July, officers investigating a stabbing which took place on Albert Way, off the Old Kent Road, were able to arrest the prime suspect on suspicion of grievous bodily harm just hours after it was reported. The suspect has since been bailed pending further enquiries. In total, the police carried out 233 stop and searches, leading to 40 arrests, as well as 13 weapons sweeps,

which contributed to the seizure of 38 dangerous weapons, including knives and firearms. The Met said the operation was intelligence-led, with both plainclothes officers and firearms patrol units deployed throughout the week to track down and arrest offenders known for carrying weapons, dealing drugs and “fuelling” organised crime in the area. Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, who led the operation, said: “This activity is part of an ongoing campaign to drive down violence and make our neighbourhoods safer. That sustained approach is already delivering results, with knife crime down by 18 per cent across Lambeth and Southwark. “But we know that despite this success, gangs continue to do harm to London’s communities. In recent weeks

NEWS 7

A knife seized during the operation

and months, more families have had to endure the unimaginable pain of losing a loved one to senseless violence. “We do not want to see another life lost which is why we’re so determined to keep taking robust action.” She added: “Those driving serious violence across London should be under no illusion. We are targeting them relentlessly, and we will use every power available to take weapons, drugs and dangerous offenders off our streets.” Over the past 18 months, the number of the most serious violent offences has fallen by almost 20%, while lethal gunshot victims have reduced by 27%, according to the Metropolitan Police. They added homicides remain at their lowest per capita rate on record (1.1 per 100,000 people), significantly lower than other comparable cities.

Another seizure by the police

Police officer who shot Chris Kaba will not face misconduct hearing

The decision by the Independent Office for Police Conduct has been welcomed by the Met Comissioner By Alex Orr THE METROPOLITAN Police officer who shot Chris Kaba will not face a misconduct hearing, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has decided.

Sgt Martyn Blake, referred to as officer “NX121” before his identity was revealed, fatally shot 24-year-old Kaba in Streatham on 5 September 2022 after a police pursuit. Sgt Blake was found not guilty of murder in October 2024 after three hours of jury deliberation. It has now been confirmed by the IOPC that the officer will not face misconduct proceedings, with the Metropolitan Police welcoming the decision yesterday. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “Today’s decision finally brings to an end almost four years of uncertainty for NX121, his family and the wider firearms command, with all the

considerable worry and stress that has brought. “We also recognise the profound impact on Chris Kaba’s family, who continue to grieve their loss.” According to Sir Mark, armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, but police only fire shots on one or two occasions. He said: “It is undeniable that they are the most professional, most accountable and most cautious in their use of lethal force in the world.” The Commissioner called for the decision to be a “milestone moment” to reset a police accountability system that is “out of balance”. “No police officer is above the law but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken,” Sir Mark said, adding: “I worry about the lack of support officers face for doing their best, but most of all I worry for the public.

“NX121’s case is a high profile example of something that is all too common for front line officers. The consequence is that while officers’ physical bravery knows no bounds, too often they are hesitant because of the multiple legal jeopardies they face. “Criminals are held to account once by the courts – officers can be held to account four times through criminal, misconduct, civil and inquest processes that span years. That cannot be right.” After the news broke yesterday, a spokesperson for the Justice for Chris Kaba campaign said on Instagram: “For Chris’ family, this is devastating. But all of us should be seriously concerned.” She added: “This isn’t just about Chris Kaba. This is about police in this country wanting to have absolute impunity and expecting all of us to just live with it.” A coroner will now determine whether an inquest will be held into Kaba’s death.

Chris Kaba

8 NEWS By Alex Orr ANDY BURNHAM’S new Labour government has announced 11 new mental health sites in South London as part of an expansion of community mental health support in the capital.

Southwark and Lambeth will receive new community based mental health centres, converting existing sites run by South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust. Community based centres will also be opened on new sites in Croydon and Wandsworth, with a further four designated for the South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust, which covers Kingston Upon Thames, Merton, Richmond Upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth. Mental health emergency departments will be set up at Maudsley Hospital in Denmark Hill, Camberwell and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Bexley, while a new emergency site will be set up at St George’s Hospital in Tooting. The expansion is part of the government’s “multi-wave” mental health plan published yesterday, which will see 159 new sites set up across the country. The first facilities are expected to open from autumn 2026, with further sites opening from March 2027. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Nobody should be left to struggle with mental health alone. But every day, thousands of people are waiting months for help, then finding the only door open to them is a busy A&E. “These new centres will be a lifeline for so many.” Neil Coyle, Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, added: “The government is expanding mental health support to help young people in particular,” and condemned the new Green-Lib Dem Joint Administration for their decision not to back funding for The Nest, a youth mental health centre in Peckham, straightaway after learning their lease and funding had been allowed to end. Mr Coyle said: “The open access system is modelled on what Southwark Labour developed in our borough which was, as The News has covered, subject to potential cuts by the Lib Dem and Green

BURNHAM’S LABOUR ANNOUNCE 11 NEW MENTAL HEALTH SITES ACROSS SOUTH LONDON The first facilities will be open this autumn, with further sites expected to be up and running in March 2027 St George’s Hospital in Tooting Coalition running our borough. I’m glad the Government is expanding help.” The new administration denies any responsibility, with Southwark Council’s Strategic Director for Children and Adult Services confirming no provision had been made for an extension to the scheme by the previous Labour administration. Brian Dow, Deputy Chief Executive at Rethink Mental Illness, said: “Everyone should be able to access mental health support in their local community, when

Fire damage to Kynd cafe

and where they need it. “The expansion of neighbourhood mental health centres is a vital step towards making this a reality, building on the promising results of existing pilot sites. “By bringing together treatment and wider support services under one roof, these centres can transform experiences of care, helping people to access support earlier and preventing them from reaching crisis point.”

Sydenham’s Kynd Cafe launches fundraiser after “rogue” fire causes extensive damage The fire took place on Sunday 2 August By Alex Orr

THE OWNERS of Kynd cafe in Sydenham have started a Gofundme campaign after a fire caused “extensive damage” to their business.

The cafe, located on Newlands Park between Sydenham and Penge East railway stations, was hit by a fire that damaged the back of the cafe and destroyed the adjoining garden “in a matter of minutes”. The incident took place in the early afternoon on Sunday 2 August, with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) mobilising ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters from surrounding fire stations.

The fire is believed to have been accidental and caused by the unsafe use of smoking materials. Soon after the incident, Kynd owners Tatiana and Elena set up a Gofundme campaign to help pay for repairs to the cafe and wrote a letter to customers, saying: “While we’re incredibly grateful that our team and neighbours are all safe, the reality of what’s been lost is heartbreaking.” They added: “Kynd is a labour of love, made from scratch by us. Every decision we’ve made has been guided by the kind of space we wanted to create, something welcoming, community focused and mindful of its impact on the world. “Watching so many of you make Kynd

part of your daily lives has been the greatest reward we could have asked for.” Tatiana and Elena have raised more than £11,000 thus far, just over half of what they expect will be needed to cover repairs.

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By Cameron Blackshaw Local Democracy Reporter PLANS TO renovate a vacant Woolwich pub and turn it into an ‘aparthotel’ have been lodged with Greenwich Council.

WEIGHT LOSS TO MARATHON SUCCESS WITH NHS HELP A LONDONER has thanked Guy’s and St Thomas’ Healthy Weight programme for helping him to lose weight and achieve a lifelong ambition, of running the London Marathon.

61-year-old Noel Graffie, an events manager, struggled with losing weight and was referred to the 12 week Lambeth Healthy Weight programme by his GP in February 2025. Noel said: “I’ve gone from not being able to run for a bus to run 26 miles!” Noel joined a class on the Black Prince Estate in Vauxhall. However, there are other Guy’s and St Thomas’ programmes available for adults who meet the criteria across south east London, online and face to face. The Southwark Healthy Weight programme is a 12-week group programme for people living in or registered with a GP in Southwark.

Noel, who was over 15 stone when he joined the programme and is now 12 stone 10 pounds, said, “This group is particularly focused on Black men so, for me, it was a no brainer. We spoke about diet, we discussed what type of food you should be eating, and from an Afro Caribbean perspective. Other weeks were about the benefits of exercise, and one week we were playing 5-a-side football.” Noel explained how the programme motivated him to make lifelong lifestyle changes. He said: “I signed up to join a local gym afterwards and cut out or kept to a minimum all the things that are not good for you. “When I finished the course I started to learn to swim. Then I thought the biggest thing I could do was something I always thought was impossible, and that was to apply for the marathon.” Noel completed the London Marathon in 4 hours 30 minutes in April 2026. He said: “I would encourage people to

Celebrating long service

STAFF FROM Guy’s and St Thomas’ who have clocked up 700 years of NHS service between them have been thanked for their devotion at the Long Service Awards. The ceremony, which recognises clinical and non-clinical colleagues from across 5 hospitals and community sites, celebrated 28 people from a wide range of roles. It included an inpatient ward administrator, a lung cancer clinical nurse specialist, a consultant pharmacist for HIV and a switchboard team leader. One recipient was Vern Theresa Gentles, who joined the Trust as a housekeeping assistant in 2000 and now works at Guy’s Cancer Centre

in the Radiotherapy Village. Vern is known for her strong work ethic, integrity, and professionalism. Colleagues say Vern is “a true team player”, valued for her positive attitude and supportive approach. She is praised for being “proactive and courageous in speaking up when she feels standards may be compromised or when something is not right” and for “always striving to uphold the Trust’s values.” Guy’s and St Thomas’ Chairman Charles Alexander, said: “Our Long Service Awards are an important opportunity to thank and congratulate staff who have devoted so much of their working lives to the NHS. Their dedication, hard work and longevity is inspiring.”

actually go on the programme. It’s free and it does help you. “One of the things I’m thinking of doing is retiring soon and travelling the world and I can only do it if I’m healthy, and I want to be in the best of health.” Celine Causeret, community health improvement coordinator with Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “For Noel his goal was to run the marathon. The programme gave him the encouragement to work on his goal. Running a marathon is a very impressive goal. But for someone else it might be to walk every day, to do yoga, to swim or to eat more healthy. “The goal is whatever they feel comfortable with. Health is a priority and it’s never too late to start being healthy. By making small changes you can have a big impact.” Find out more at: www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/ healthy-weight-programmes

Noel Graffie

CLINICAL TRIALS AT GUY’S

Annual Public Meeting J OIN GUY’S and Thomas’ Annual Public Meeting on Wednesday 16 September, from 6pm until 7.45pm, to hear about its achievements over the past year, and priorities for the year ahead. Professor James Spicer

A NEW documentary about experimental cancer medicine trials at Guy’s Hospital was broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

“Floor 15” goes behind the scenes of the NIHR Clinical Research Facility’s Phase 1 Unit at Guy’s. It’s where patients take part in clinical trials of new therapies, including for treatments never tested on humans before. The one-off programme tells the stories of 4 patients with advanced cancer, their families and the staff caring for them. Floor 15 highlights the innovative therapies being developed and captures the experiences of those patients with few remaining treatment options. James Spicer, a consultant in medical

oncology at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine at King’s College London, leads the unit. He said: “In cancer and many other diseases, research is vital to improve patient care, and in this hospital we try to offer trial participation to as many patients as possible. We hope that this documentary will improve public understanding of clinical trials and help to demystify the subject for patients.” Floor 15 is narrated by the BBC’s Medical Editor Fergus Walsh, who said: “When it was founded 300 years ago, Guy’s was known as the hospital for the incurables. Today, on Floor 15 it’s continuing to push the frontiers of treatment, especially for cancer patients.” Listen to Floor 15 on BBC Sounds.

You will hear from the Trust’s leadership team, including Chairman Charles Alexander, Chief Executive Dame Amanda Pritchard and the Lead Governor. There will also be a series of short presentations from staff across the Trust showcasing the important work taking place at its hospitals and services. This is an opportunity to ask the Board questions. Attend in person at the Nevin Lecture Theatre at St Thomas’ Hospital or join online. Refreshments will be available from 5pm in Central Hall, ground floor, St Thomas’ Hospital. If you would like to receive meeting information, including the joining link before the event, email gstt.members@nhs.net by 5pm on Wednesday 16 September.

This is the second time a planning application has been submitted to convert The Lord Raglan pub at 158 Burrage Road, Woolwich, into an aparthotel – a serviced accommodation type that blends self-catered rooms with a hotel’s typical amenities. The previous aparthotel application was refused in April. Greenwich planners felt the proposed double-storey extension to the rear of the pub would “fail to respect the character” of the pub and its height would impose on three nearby homes. This new application has been reduced in scope from an 18-room complex to a 16-room one, but the applicant Raglan Woolwich Ltd still wants to build an extra floor on top of the two-storey pub, as well as reconfigure 160 Burrage Road to become a flat for the aparthotel’s eventual manager. The Lord Raglan would come back into use as part of the new plans. According to planning documents, the pub was on the market for 16 months but received no formal offers to take it over at a cost of £50,000 a year. One operator looking to establish a late-night shisha bar was interested in the property, but the landlord deemed it unsuitable due to the residential nature of the area. The pub “generally attracted” interest from parties looking to operate a smaller retail business, or redevelop the property altogether. The proposed change of use to an aparthotel would allow the pub to reopen. Pub property specialist AG&G director Michael Penfold said: “We believe that the proposed 18-bedroom aparthotel would enhance the appeal of the pub as it could help serve the aparthotel customers with a dedicated food and beverage offer. “We are advised by the landlord that the lack of living accommodation directly above the pub would be addressed by offering a two-bedroom house next door (160 Burrage Road, owned by the freeholder) for any ingoing pub tenant to lease.” In response to the previous application’s refusal, one of the first-floor extensions has been set back to lessen the impact on

LORD REGLAN COULD RETURN AS PUB COME ‘APARTHOTEL’

A CGI of what the new Lord Raglan would look like. Credit: Lewandowski Architects. 28 to 30 Raglan Road. Planning documents state: “Overall, it is considered that the proposal has positive merit. The local area study demonstrates that it is in keeping with other corner sites and sits comfortably within its surroundings. “Furthermore, the accommodation

Police appeal after “unprovoked” assault on Tube train between Stockwell and Vauxhall By Alex Orr THE BRITISH Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for witnesses to come forward after an “unprovoked” assault on a London Underground train between Stockwell and Vauxhall.

The incident took place at around 11.10am on 10 July on a Victoria line train, with a man repeatedly kicked in the legs, stomach and arms in what police described as a “serious assault”. According to the BTP, the suspect is described as South Asian, in his midto-late twenties and around six-feet tall. He is said to have been of medium build with a full black beard. The police said he was wearing a black baseball hat, a blue t-shirt, black shorts and carrying a black backpack and sling

NEWS 11

bang at the time of the incident. He was also accompanied by a woman. BTP Constable Robert Jeavons said: “This appears to have been an entirely unprovoked attack on a man who was just going about his day. “The injuries he sustained were so serious that he required surgery on his leg.” “There were a number of people inside the carriage at the time of the assault, some of whom thankfully intervened.” Constable Jeavons has asked anyone who intervened or witnessed the incident to get in touch with the British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 166 of 10 July. Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

provided will benefit the pub below, which will continue to operate as such, and will meet the local need for temporary accommodation for professionals working in the area.” The planning application can be viewed on Greenwich Council’s planning portal at reference 26/1669/F.

Police appeal for information after “unexplained” death of 60-year-old woman in Croydon By Alex Orr THE METROPOLITAN Police has appealed for anyone with information to come forward following the death of 60-yearold Nicole Beling in Croydon.

Nicole’s death is currently being treated as unexplained by the Met, and her cause of death remains under investigation. Officers were first called about Nicole’s disappearance at around 12:05am on Friday 17 July, when the woman was reported missing by a family member. She was then graded as a high-risk missing person by police, with officers attending her home on Dittoncroft Close in South Croydon later that

morning to conduct enquiries. During their search of the property, police said they discovered the body of Nicole, who was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Her family are being supported by specialist officers. A 61-year-old man was arrested at the scene on Friday 17 July on suspicion of murder and later released under investigation. The Met said the man was arrested again on Saturday 1 August and has been bailed while enquiries continue, led by officers from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command. Detective Chief Inspector Alison Foxwell, who is leading the investigation, said: “A formal murder investigation has not been launched at this time and we are keeping an

open mind as to the circumstances surrounding Nicole’s sad death. “We want to hear from anyone who knew Nicole or may have information that could assist the investigation - and help us find answers for her family.” She added: “My thoughts remain with Nicole’s family and loved ones.” The police have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101, quoting CAD 1695/17AUG26. Information can also be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

NEWS 13

DULWICH RIDING SCHOOL LAUNCHES FUNDRAISER TO KEEP GATES OPEN

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The GoFundMe has raised just less than half of its £4,000 target so far

By Alex Orr A FUNDRAISER has been launched to keep Dulwich Riding School affordable and ensure its gates stay open.

The horse-riding school, located at 37 Dulwich Common, first opened in 1961, but its staff have said it now faces an “unprecedented challenge”.

economic pressures.” Jaye said the baseline costs of running the school have skyrocketed over the past few years, with the price of horse feed, forage, bedding and veterinary care at “historic highs”. Fees from lessons can no longer sustain the overhead of caring for the horses alongside climbing utility bills and rising land maintenance costs, she

Manager and Proprietor of Dulwich Riding School Jaye Montebello said: “For over six decades, we have provided an essential green sanctuary in South London, introducing thousands of children and adults to the joy of horses, supporting mental well-being, and teaching vital life skills. “Like many independent establishments, we are battling severe

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Olu’s family from LONDON By Alex Orr THE METROPOLITAN Police has launched a murder investigation following the fatal shooting of a man in Clapham.

SCAN ME

it is calling for donations to deliver “immediate stability” in the short-term. In an appeal to the local community, Jaye said: “We are reaching out to you, our incredible community, to ask for your support in securing our short-term survival. “We are launching a fundraising campaign to bridge this gap and help us navigate these rising costs.”

new signange across the church to reflect the building’s history and the JJ Binns organ. Other examples of JJ Binns’ work across London include st Gabriel’s Church in Pimlico, St Stephen with St John in Westminster and Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church in the West End. Reverend Chris Hanning, the vicar at St John’s, said: “We are really excited that the Heritage Fund and other funders have seen the importance of restoring this wonderful instrument. “It has brought joy and music to our local neighbourhood and our community of Christ for over a hundred years. Now we can look forward to delighting future generations too.” St John’s want to use the Restore the Binns project to establish a network of churches working on similar projects

to share experience and offer a 12-month organ traineeship. Sola Ogun, Chair of the St John’s Organ Fund Steering Group, said: “We are delighted to have secured these grants and to be able to get started on this hugely exciting work. “Thanks to the help of the Heritage Fund and National Lottery players we have been able to appoint Mander Organ Builders to undertake the long hoped for restoration of our rare 1901 JJ Binns organ and look forward to engaging people in a rich programme of events and activities over the next 18 months.” The project has also been supported by the congregation at the church, Vinehill Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, Benefact Trust, ChurchCare, On Organ Fund and Metropolitan Public Gardens Association.

Appeal after man shot 125-year-old listed church organ dead in South London to be restored in Deptford Willington Road

Contact your local GP practice or visit www.nhs.uk/vaccinations to find out more

said. Jaye added: “We have always worked tirelessly to keep riding accessible and affordable for everyone. However, to ensure our gates stay open and our horses remain well-cared for, we must adapt.” The riding school is exploring structural changes to the business to stabilise its long-term future, but

A 25-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene, after the police and London Ambulance Service were called to reports of gunshots on Willington Road, near Clapham North station, on Monday 10 August. The incident is believed to have taken place at 9:55pm, with the police and ambulance services alerted two minutes later. The man passed away despite the best efforts of medical professionals, and his family continue to receive support from specialist officers. Shortly after the shooting, a 22-year-old man attended hospital with a “gunshot wound” and was arrested on suspicion of murder, according to the Met. He remains in hospital and the police are awaiting an update on his condition. Detectives are working to establish

the full circumstances of the incident, carrying out enquiries in the area around Willington Road and Landor Road. Detective Chief Superintendent Emma Bond, Central South Borough Commander, said: “We understand that incident will cause concern within the local community and an increased police presence will remain in the area throughout the day as our enquiries continue. Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family for their tragic loss. “Officers have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, and we are working tirelessly to establish what happened.” She added: “We are asking anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed the shooting to please contact us as soon as possible and support the ongoing investigation.” The police have encouraged anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact them on 101, quoting reference 8739/10AUG. Information can also be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A £459,399 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will see it returned to its former glory

By Evie Flynn NEARLY HALF a million pounds has been given to St John’s Church in Deptford to help restore a Grade II-listed organ.

The church’s organ was built by prolific organ builder JJ Binns in 1901 and a £459,399 grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will see it returned to its former glory. The money will go towards a twoyear ‘Restore the Binns’ project, which has an estimated cost of £562,000 and will see the full restoration of a “rare and largely unaltered” example of JJ Binns’ work. The programme will also deliver a programme of music performances and events, including a new church community garden. The church’s branding and website will get a makeover and there will be

14 NEWS

PLANS FOR future ‘floating bus stops’ in London must be scrapped to avoid any future tragedies involving cyclists colliding with vulnerable people, campaigners have said.

The bus stops, first introduced in 2013, involve a cycle lane running between a bus stop and the pavement which allows cyclists to continue riding while passengers board or alight, while pedestrians have to cross the cycle path in order to catch a bus. The Mayor of London, along with pro-cycling groups, has backed the schemes, saying that “protected cycle infrastructure, which separates people cycling from motor traffic…enables more people to take up cycling and enjoy its health and economic benefits.” Last year ministers announced a pause on the rollout of one type of floating bus stop called Shared Use Bus Border (SUBB) where the cycle lane runs across the front of the bus stop. However, it did not prevent future construction of bus stop bypasses (BSBs), where the bike lane runs behind the bus stop. Both these types make up around 1.5 per cent of the capital’s 19,000 bus stops. More than a year on, campaign groups representing blind and partially sighted people have called on the government to crack down further on this type of cycle infrastructure, claiming it presents a significant danger to vulnerable Londoners trying to use the bus. The Department for Transport (DfT) said they are now carrying out further research to “ensure accessibility is at the heart of these designs, and funding is available to help local authorities make changes to existing sites.” Sources in the Department told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that they did not want to put all types of floating bus stops on hold due to the negative impact this would have on delivering safer cycling infrastructure across the country. Figures from TfL suggest that between 2020 and 2022, there were six casualties at floating bus stops – 0.8 per cent of the 623 pedestrian casualties involving cyclists during the three-year period. Sarah Gayton of the National Federation for the Blind UK (NFBUK) suggested there are more accidents waiting to happen if significant reforms aren’t made to current designs. “They’re totally unsafe – they’re inaccessible,” she told the LDRS. “The bikes that people are riding, the e-scooters, the e-bikes and the illegal e-bikes, they’re absolutely coming down here at speed. “People can’t hear them, they can’t see them, and they can’t get out of the way. So designs like this is totally unsafe, totally inaccessible, and blind people will keep away from them. “There needs a complete halt on all of the floating bus stop designs, the SUBBs, the BSBs, and that’s actually what the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee advised central government. “They said to pause all of these floating bus stops back in August 2024 and again in October 2025. So that’s a statutory body and if they’re telling policymakers to pause them all until more research is done, well Sadiq Khan should actually be listening to that and say we halt all of them.” The LDRS joined Ms Gayton to observe a busy floating bus stop next to Blackhorse Road Station in Walthamstow. Over the course of two hours, several close calls with pedestrians were observed, cyclists

MAYOR REFUSES TO SCRAP FLOATING BUS STOPS

‘It is costing taxpayers on average £5,400 to ferry just 51 cyclists a day through the Silvertown Tunnel’

CGI of the Athletics Stadium

Despite blind groups telling him how they are unable to deal with speeding cyclists

By Kumail Jaffer

Adam Turk outside the Royal Courts of Justice

Local Democracy Reporter

Gary Wiggins, Waltham Forest Blind Association

Hyacinth Malcolm, NFB Member were seen travelling down the wrong track and multiple e-bikes and e-scooters didn’t skip a beat as they sped by. Gary Wiggins of the Waltham Forest Blind Association, who is partially sighted, said: “The bus stops are very dangerous for visually impaired people. “I’ve got off the bus just up the road at Walthamstow and one of these cyclists has like bumped into me, knocked me over and I got abuse from the person who was riding the bike – they blamed me. Well, I can’t see. So, that’s not my problem, is it? “When you you get off the bus, there’s a warning to passengers to be careful of the cycle lane. “Well, to me, people just want to get off the bus. They want to get to where they want to get to. They just want to get out, get off the bus, and go. “It’s not right that we’ve been put in this situation. It’s not right. I don’t use the the buses anymore, hardly ever at all now. If I go out anywhere, I use taxis. And that’s more money, more cost and all the rest of it. But I’d rather be safe than sorry to be to be quite honest.” Hyacinth Malcolm, who is fully blind, added: “Sadiq Khan and TfL keep saying that every journey matters – but it only matters if I can take the bus. The bus is my life and it’s the only way I can travel. “I have to take a taxi everywhere because I’m not sure if there will be a cycle lane when I step off the bus or not.” Sir Sadiq Khan has been challenged on the issue on numerous occasions by the London Assembly, but has been staunch in his defence of the concept of floating bus stops. Pro-cycling groups and City Hall see floating bus stops as a means to help the capital become more cyclist-friendly and inclusive. The Mayor of London wants to see 80 per cent of all journeys in the city being done on foot, bicycle or

public transport by 2041 – something that can only happen with expanded cycling infrastructure. Simon Munk of the London Cycling Campaign said: “Some campaigners claim floating bus stops are dangerous – the evidence clearly says they are no more dangerous than other stretches of road, pavement and cycle route. Some also claim floating bus stops are so difficult to deal with that a significant proportion of Visually Impaired people avoid using such stops. “While evidence on this is limited, it appears to show the opposite. “If you want more cycling and a wider range of people cycling, floating bus stops are a necessity. “Floating bus stops should be delivered in as high-quality and inclusive manner as possible, but nonstop calls for their removal, them being banned, isn’t coherent or safe for anyone, and would not deliver positive outcomes for inclusive mobility.” However, City Hall Conservatives Transport spokesman Thomas Turrell told the LDRS that they are “needlessly risky”. “Almost every disability group and charity I speak to raises how intimidating these floating bus stops are to passengers, especially visually impaired people,” he added. “They represent a legitimate risk to disembarking passengers who are placed directly into the path of cyclists, to the extent that TfL has to actively warn passengers to be careful when getting off at a floating bus stop. What is Sadiq Khan’s obsession with this failed design? “The Mayor should do the right thing and scrap them – to protect passengers, especially vulnerable passengers, as well as cyclists who risk being injured too in a collision. There is no reason to retain them.”

NEWS 15 ©TfL

Local Democracy Reporter

©Kumail Jaffer

By Kumail Jaffer

Sources in the Department of Transport are rumoured to have said they would ‘not put them on hold due to the negative impact this would have on delivering safer cycling infrastructure across the country’ Erik Matthies, RNIB’s Policy Lead for travel and transport, who has sight loss himself, added “Our research shows that nearly half of blind and partially sighted people avoid BSBs – even when this means, for a few, that can’t get around on our own at all any more. There’s no safe and accessible way for people with sight loss to cross the cycle lane to and from a bus stop. “People with sight loss depend on buses more than any other form of transport, so it’s imperative we get this right.” A DfT spokesperson told the LDRS: “We have listened carefully to the concerns raised about floating bus stops from a wide range of groups. “Following our pause on some floating bus stops in November, further research is being carried out to ensure accessibility is at the heart of these designs, and funding is available to help local authorities make changes to existing sites.” Earlier this year ministers published updated guidance on all floating bus stops, allowing some London boroughs to push ahead with paused schemes. This included a new cycleway

between Aldgate and Blackfriars, which was originally approved by the City of London Corporation in October 2024. After reviewing the proposed floating bus stops against the guidance, officers concluded the designs met the “recommended design process”. NFBUK wrote to Prime Minister Andy Burnham last month warning that “simply changing the designs to incorporate this new guidance will not make the floating bus stops safe or accessible for blind and partially sighted people to use independently.” A City Hall spokesperson said: “The Mayor and his team are committed to enabling safe and sustainable travel across the capital for everyone. That’s why we welcome recent statutory guidance on the provision and design of floating bus stops and the ambition to help ensure future installations are as accessible as possible for everyone, while protecting cyclists from motor traffic. “Bus stop bypasses provide a safer route for everyone by physically separating buses and overtaking vehicles from people on bikes. We

Floating Bus Stop outside Blackhorse Road Station continue to engage with Londoners to understand their experiences and explore potential transport network enhancements as we build a greener, safer, better London for all.” A TfL spokesperson added: “Bus stop bypasses are an important part of delivering more inclusive cycling infrastructure and improving road safety, however, we recognise they can present challenges, particularly for blind and partially sighted people. “People cycling must follow the rules of the road and stop at zebra crossings and we are working on measures

to increase awareness of bus stop bypasses among cyclists. “We welcome recent statutory guidance on the provision and design of floating bus stops and the ambition to help ensure that future installations are as accessible as possible for all users, while protecting cyclists from motor traffic. “We continue to work with the Department for Transport, Active Travel England, disabled people and accessibility groups to understand experiences and explore how we can further enhance design.”

SIR SADIQ Khan has been told that Transport for London (TfL) is spending £43 on each cyclist being shuttled through the Silvertown Tunnel.

TfL has been criticised for spending the equivalent of £2million a year on a free shuttle bus that takes as few as 51 cyclists per day through the newlybuilt tunnel. The network has run the service since the opening of the tunnel last April and is compelled to do so until 2028 as per requirements from the Department for Transport. The zero-emission service runs every 12 minutes from Seagull Lane in the Royal Docks – just outside City Hall – to Greenwich Peninsula. Cyclists are currently banned from riding through the Silvertown Tunnel, which is only for motorists. The Mayor has confirmed that the service costs around £2million per year to run – equivalent to £5,400 a day. While as many as 299 cyclists used the shuttle bus in the first week of operation, demand has fallen significantly, with the most recent figures released by TfL suggesting as few as 51 cyclists used the service each day in early January. This is equivalent to over £100 per passenger.

Reform UK’s Alex Wilson, who has sparred with the Mayor of London on the issue, said he will continue to press City Hall on lobbying ministers to change the demands set out in the Development Consent Order granted in 2018 which TfL must currently adhere to. “It’s a complete waste of money because nobody’s using it,” the Assembly Member told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS). “It’s ridiculous. So it costs about £5,500 to run each day – even with 100-130 passengers, it works out £43 per passenger. I don’t think that’s a good use of taxpayers’ money and I’m not sure that anyone else really does either. “There’s got to be better things we can do transport wise with even just £2million. This is a symbol of everything that this Mayor’s about. It’s a woke vanity project – Net Zero cycling buses, all wonderful stuff as he would see it. But people are voting with their feet – they’re not using it. “If you want to cross the river, go on the Tube or the cable car. If you were to send everybody that has used this on the cable car, it would be six times cheaper than the people that are using it as a cycle shuttle.” On a warm Thursday in July, the LDRS observed three buses leaving the Seagull Lane stop without a single passenger on board.

However, around lunchtime, the service was finally starting to be utilised. “I am a regular user for three to four months now,” Harsha, a 25-year-old worker boarding the shuttle, said. “It’s very useful to get across – I go for delivery work in Greenwich, so it’s very helpful. “There’s a maximum of four or five cyclists on these – not more than that. They could probably increase the time between buses to 15 or 20 minutes – the people who do need to use it can wait.” In the same report, TfL also confirmed it would explore the possibility of passengers on foot being able to board. “To maximise the opportunities provided by the cycle shuttle service, we are currently exploring the opportunity to allow pedestrians to use the service,” officials wrote. A TfL spokesperson said: “The cycle shuttle offers a safe and convenient way for cyclists to cross the river between Silvertown and North Greenwich. “Cyclists have already made thousands of journeys using this new free service, which transports around 100-130 cyclists across the river on a typical weekday – similar to the number of cyclists who use the Woolwich Ferry and significantly higher than the London Cable Car.”

16 ARTS

what’s on

NORA CHIPAUMIRE’S newest exhibition,gadzi, has fully taken hold of the Tate Modern’s East Tank space, creating an experience that impacts the viewer from every angle, writes Leo Dunlop.

photographed and others posing for the camera. Even one of a man with a gun at another man’s head. What, though, was most telling, was the teenage gang staring at the camera. They looked like they had just been in a fight and would welcome more. One angry-faced youth made a fist to show his HATE tattoo, inked over four fingers. Another wore a German SS badge with no shame. That group portrayed a world of no hope. At least not for them. Another image showed two Guardian Angels, the volunteers who rode the trains as security to throw some light into the subterranean darkness. They also confirmed the state of a city that needs the population to police themselves. The great photographers are all there: Weegee, Dorothea Lange, Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Walker Evans and many, many more in this exhibition that has taken the hard-working and downtrodden of the 20th century and given them a little cultural dignity in the 21st, where they are seen with different eyes. Every visitor will find something to enjoy, and leave with much to think about.

DPG Lewis Hine, Riding the Ball High up on Empire State, c.1930. Gelatin silver print.

Dulwich Picture Gallery until October 4th. Booking and full details: www. dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk

It’s funny, inventive, and emotionally overwhelming

But Simon Evans and Debris Stevenson’s adaptation wastes no time making it clear that this isn’t a museum piece. Christian Patterson’s warm, affable Ragueneau welcomes us directly into the world of the play, dissolving any barrier between audience and stage almost immediately. It sets the tone for an evening that reminds us theatre is a shared event and not something to observe politely from a distance. At the centre is Adrian Lester, delivering a magnificent Cyrano full of swagger, wit, and vulnerability. His swordplay is thrilling, but it’s his command of the script’s muscular, playful language

Noel cyrano Susannah Fielding (Roxane) and Adrian Lester (Cyrano) Marc Brenner that truly captivated me. Levi Brown gives Christian exactly the youthful optimism and naïveté the role demands, while Susannah Fielding’s Roxane avoids becoming the passive object of everyone’s affection. She brings intelligence, humour, and emotional clarity to a character who could have so easily become overshadowed by the men surrounding her. The production’s greatest innovation, however, is its relationship with music. Debris Stevenson has spoken about

discovering language through rhythm before words themselves, and that philosophy runs through the entire production. Alex Baranowski’s score never simply accompanies the action; it extends it. With the band performing live on stage, the music becomes another character altogether, filling the spaces between words and expressing emotions that dialogue alone cannot. The result is a production that feels constantly alive, responding to the rhythms of the performance in real time. There’s a

palpable sense of enjoyment, too, as the musicians and actors interact with one another, making the music feel less like accompaniment and more like another performer sharing the stage. Stevenson’s modern adaptation manages to use a more contemporary language without ever feeling forced. The first half revels in puns and insults, embracing every opportunity for verbal gymnastics and innuendo. Yet that same language quietly transforms as the evening progresses. The jokes remain, but the words begin to carry greater emotional weight until even the simple phrase “I love you” feels entirely redefined. What surprised me most was how profoundly moving the second half became. The appearance of the tree in the final act could easily have felt like a clunking theatrical symbol that had been airdropped from the rafters, but instead it becomes an anchor for the drama, a place where memory, regret, and love collide and the performances echo off of. Needless to say, I spent much of the epilogue with tears running down my face. The production earns that emotion because it patiently reveals new dimensions to characters who initially

seem almost cartoonish. Scott Handy’s Comte de Guiche begins as a wonderfully vain and self-serving antagonist, willing to sacrifice everyone except himself in pursuit of Roxane. Yet his later reflections carry genuine sorrow and unexpected humanity, deepening rather than undermining everything we’ve seen before. This Cyrano de Bergerac never feels interested in making a classic “relevant”. Instead, it trusts that the story already is. The modern language, live music, and direct audience address simply remove the barriers that might otherwise stop contemporary audiences from recognising themselves within it. I came away with an entirely new understanding of both Cyrano and the play itself. I can’t remember the last time I cried this much in a theatre. It’s funny, inventive, technically slick, and emotionally overwhelming, a production that invites audiences to laugh loudly before quietly breaking their hearts. I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know. Noël Coward Theatre, 85-88 St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4AU until 5th September. Booking and full details: www. CyranoWestEnd.co.uk

CHELSEA WALKER’S production is fun, played to ring every ounce of humour from the plot and in this succeeds brilliantly. From the moment the letter announcing the arrival of Don Pedro and his men is rushed, held high, through the pit to Laertes, overheard from the balcony by Hero and Beatrice to their obvious delight, the enjoyment begins, writes Liz Carlin.

gallery and museum space: “Look, but don’t touch.” New performances devised by chipaumire will take place in the East Tank, 26-28 June 2026. Performance times: 26 June at 7 pm, and 27 and 28 June at 3 pm.

piece waiting somewhere above you. gadzi is an exciting addition to Tate Modern’s programme, one that fully embraces the possibilities of the East Tank space. chipaumire has created an installation that refuses passive observation, instead inviting visitors into an environment that must be listened to, touched, navigated, and absorbed. In doing so, it subverts one of the most familiar instructions of the

The free exhibition runs until the 23rd of August 2026 at Tate Modern’s East Tank, Bankside, London, SE1 9TG.

There was a collective gasp of astonishment I THINK I’m safe in saying that all fans of magic will have watched the film, Now You See Me. And, like me, probably watched the two followup films. Who doesn’t want to see big banks losing their money to a band of illusionists - The Four Horsemen - then seeing it shared out amongst the less affluent, writes Michael Holland.

Now, magic fans can watch Now You See Me Live, a stage show inspired by the films, from the same producers Lionsgate. But this time the trickery could not be hidden behind smoke, mirrors, and camera trickery, because it is right there on the stage, with cameras following the latest Four Horseman around to project all the close-up legerdemain onto a huge screen. And even then you cannot see where the cards are coming from, how the personal items went from a container on the stage, that had never left our sight, to a locked box suspended above the stage. The lights flashed, the music relentlessly pounded away, increasing the excitement, adding to the action before our very eyes. While we wondered how a chair beneath a satin sheet turned into another man in a helicopter, the show moved on, and we had to leave

BEFORE SEEING Cyrano de Bergerac, my knowledge of the play was largely assembled from cultural osmosis. I knew Cyrano had a spectacular nose, I knew he possessed an even more spectacular command of language, and I’d even often claimed I’d played the role of a Cyrano myself. Not through dazzling poetry or impossible romantic sacrifice, mind you. More by convincing 5’11” econ-bros that my friend was secretly an expert in Marvel lore so she could secure an extremely underwhelming first date… Alas, writes Leo Dunlop.

Derived from Gadziguru, the oldest female presence in Zimbabwean culture, gadzi is utterly rooted in the land, rock, and ancestry of the country’s history. Even without prior knowledge, the viewer is drawn into its orbit. Hidden amongst the large-scale rocks balanced upon one another are clues that pull you deeper into the work, fragments that seem to speak from within the stone itself and reward the viewer’s interrogation. chipaumire has curated a space alive with music, tone, and touch. Large wooden amplifiers and speakers are scattered throughout the installation, smuggled into the rock formations or positioned around a central performance space. What emerges from these objects is not simply sound, but vibration. The audience is asked to physically experience the space: to feel the textures of the rock beneath their hands and the pulse of the music beneath their feet. What chipaumire has created is a sensory collage that shifts depending on where you stand. As you walk, turn, or pause, the soundscape changes around you. The experience remains fluid,

constantly reshaped by your position within the space. Few exhibitions demand such active and dynamic participation from the viewer. The sense of artifice within the installation becomes one of its most compelling qualities. The inner workings of the rock structures remain visible; scaffolding, timber supports, and practical mechanisms are left exposed. Like glimpsing behind the scenes of a theatre production, these revelations foreground the act of making itself. The work feels simultaneously finished and unfinished, allowing the viewer to encounter both the illusion and its construction. These openings and omissions create opportunities for discovery. You find yourself peering through gaps in the rocks, discovering unexpected perspectives, hidden water containers repurposed as lights. The viewer is given the freedom to curate their own composition of sound, sight, and touch, assembling the exhibition anew with every movement through it. It is a playful space, one that rewards repeated encounters. New details emerge on each circuit of the work: mysterious pools of water, fragments of song, sounds that seem familiar yet subtly transformed. The exhibition resists remaining fixed. It changes as you move through it. And don’t forget to look up. You may find the subject of the entire

Much Ado at The Globe

Moore has delved deep into Norway’s DNB Saving Bank Foundation’s collection to create an exhibition that shows how many people survived in the cities of New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco - the homeless sleeping in cars and under bridges, people queueing forlornly at the soup kitchen, the poor separated from the rich by the decks on a ship… Some of the photos are out of focus, the light is bad, you have to squint to make out what’s actually happening in the image, they’re not all framed or cropped perfectly, but this exhibition is not about technical prowess, it’s about telling a story through the people, and not the famous or its fantastic architecture. This is about people trying to make a living -

or die trying - knowing they would never get rich. As Jennifer Scott said: ‘The spirit, aspiration, and reality of the 20th Century are captured in these photographs.’ What is noticeable is the lack of celebrity. John F. Kennedy is in there, but shot from the back. Jazz musician John Coltrane can be seen in the reflection of a mirror. All else is the madness and mayhem of city living: nondescript car parks, an overabundance of advertising, pointless portraits of nobodies, exteriors of homes… Photos that tell us nothing and everything. They do, however, echo back our own experience of living our lives in London. The blank stare of someone on a muchneeded work break, innocent children playing street games with the smiles that will fade as they get older, murder victims with their own blank stare, who will never grow older. For me, the end room was the most relatable. Bruce Davidson’s Subway images, taken over five years in the early 80s, while riding New York’s dire and dirty subway, while taking photos of the passengers. Right there is everything you need to know about New York City. Women dressed up for the night. Men sleeping on the way home after a hard day, old graffiti that is never cleaned away, those not sure if they are being

History Arts

NORA CHIPAUMIRE IN THE EAST TANK

A CENTURY OF AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHY

THE EXHIBITION, curated and opened by Alexander Moore, Creative Producer at the Gallery, depicts the evolution of American cities and their people in the 20th century. It wasn’t all Hollywood glamour, huge, chrome-covered automobiles, and Broadway’s neon lights. There were the people building those cities, people escaping to those cities, and those left behind in those cities as the 20th century careered inexorably onwards, writes Michael Holland.

HISTORY ARTS 17

those confusing thoughts behind or get lost in our own mind’s mental maze. The illusions were magical, the tricks made you shake your head in wonderment, the non-stop action had you looking up, down, in the shadows, in the private boxes, and in the aisles, because the action was not just happening on the stage. It was everywhere. One of the best moments was when we ourselves were the conjurors. Everyone was handed four playing cards on entering the theatre. Then, at one

point, we were told to hold them face down. Then shuffle them. Then rip them in half. Shuffle again. Put the bottom card on top. Shuffle. Throw the top card away. Repeat over and over until you had thrown away all your half pieces of card and had just two pieces left. Now we were allowed to look at what we had. The collective gasp of astonishment was at seeing the two halves that remained perfectly matched. And it wasn’t just my companion and me; it was everyone around us, all confused at what chicanery we were party to, all

holding up our matching cards. When our eyes returned to the stage, The Four Horsemen had departed, and the lights came up for the interval, leaving us some time to gather our senses. The second half continued with much of the same. Trick after trick. Deception after deception. Astonishment piled onto astonishment. Andrew Basso showed us how an illusion was performed, but in the show-and-tell, it became an even greater illusion. At one point, a young 9-year-old girl was called up to assist with a trick. Matthew Pomeroy got down to little Rachel’s level and made her feel at ease before asking, ‘Who brings all the wonderful presents to all the children in the world at Christmas?’ Rachel’s answer? ‘Amazon’. She got the biggest laugh and didn’t know why. Enzo Weyne, Andrew Basso, Gabriella Lester, Matthew Pomeroy, Rafferty Coope, Eden Choi, Fraser Penman, I bow down to you all, and thank you for an extravaganza of Magic! London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES until September 6th. Booking and full details: https:// londoncoliseum.org/events/now-you-seeme-live/

The stage is brightly lit, the atmosphere is enhanced by the musicians, ably led by Zands Duggan, who play a significant part in the action; there were drum rolls to add to the tension in a cartoonish fashion, lively dance music to accompany the dancing and a beautiful cello solo (Zosia Duggan) for Hero’s funeral. All the cast were excellent, but Ken Nwosu as Benedick deserves a special mention, as does Pippa Dixon as Beatrice. These are gifts of parts for any actor, but they rose to the occasion and spat out their taunts with sparklingly clear diction, teasing each other and the rest of the cast, to the constant delight of the audience. There was regular spontaneous applause and Beatrice’s dramatic ‘Kill Claudio’ causes an explosive roar of shock and amusement from the pit. The whole company held their own in this helter-skelter performance. The Watch opened the action after the interval when they had apprehended Borachio boasting of the plan to entrap Hero. Dogberry’s hilarious malapropisms and his total incompetence in his role of examiner lighten the tone after the close of the first half when Hero’s supposed infidelity is disclosed, her claims of innocence ignored and the cruelty of the men towards her. Somehow amidst all this hilarity, the audience is persuaded to forget the misogyny. Hero, beautifully played by Assa Kanoute, gives a much more spirited portrayal than the usually passive character we are used to. This is particularly seen in her plotting with Margaret (Mathilda Baines) to let Beatrice know that Benedick loves her, and in her contemptuous dismissal of Don John when his villainy is revealed. One small cavil: I wish that Claudio had not pushed her face down into the cake; white cream on her face was an unnecessary distraction from the potential tragedy. There is some splendid ensemble playing: the dance with the splendid animal masks, each one character-specific (Don John was a serpent, Benedick a bull), the scene with the white, flower-bedecked cart giving a prop behind which, and in which, Benedick hides whilst Laertes, Claudio, and Don Pedro discuss Beatrice’s love for him. The movement director, Aline David, did a good job moving everyone around with such agility and at such speed. There is clever business throughout, showing plans being overheard, the balcony being useful here. Margaret listening to Borachio revealing what he has done and becoming more and more appalled at her part in it is particularly effective. But it is the love story that prevails, the kisses between the four main protagonists giving rise to a roar of approval and the joyful dance at the conclusion sent us all skipping home! Shakepeare’s Globe until October 24th. Booking and full details: https://www.shakespearesglobe.com

18 HISTORY

History

HISTORY 19

History © (image courtesy of Southwark Council

FLYING THE FLAGS SINCE THE 1550S

Edginton’s frontage

But flyover finally did for Old Kent Road icon

Bricklayers now and then

By Debra Gosling

Once there, the man kitted them out for their latest war with a flash new flag. In 1552 he extended his skills to making tents after getting the order to run up a canvas made of cloth of gold for King Henry Vlll. Over the next four hundred years, as the marshes became pavements and the horses were replaced with cars, the tent and flag manufactory continued to flourish on the same site. When John Edgington took over the firm in 1803 the best was yet to come, as the flagmakers took on the Battle of Trafalgar, Capital Punishment and the Nazis amongst their many interesting projects. But there was one disastrous project that finally put an end to their skills in the Old Kent Road: the Bricklayers Arms

contract to supply them. At its peak the firm made a hundred nooses a year - and it wasn’t a slap-dash job where any old bit of twine would do. The specifications demanded the best white Italian hemp, at least ten foot in length. There followed a complicated stitching process to keep the rope secure and it was tested three times with weights. Hanging is actually a very technical job and each prisoner had a rope to his own specifications as the height and weight of the individual had to be assessed to get the right drop. The rope at the noose end was covered with soft cowhide leather, which had to be well curried and dressed with oil. This was hand sewn with black wax thread and finished with back stitch. For those that fought against their fate Edgingtons also supplied the gallows with ankle and wrist straps. The process for these sounds more like making a pair of luxury hand-made shoes. The curried and dressed leather strips were adorned with brass buckles. The buckles were hand-sewn into place with three rows of stitching and each strap had twenty-five holes punched in so they could be adjusted.

The hangmen’s ropes continued to be a popular request for Edgingtons until capital punishment was abolished in the sixties. It wasn’t all gruesome though; when David Livingstone set out to find the source of the Nile in Africa he called on the Southwark flagmakers for his tents and canvas sheets. Another great explorer also cottoned on to the quality of a Southwark tent. When Captain Scott set off on his fatal expedition to the South Pole it was an Edgington tent he took with him. Besides the famous and the bizarre there were also the more regular orders for hopsacks, netting for fruit trees and canvases to cover the horses. In fact, right up until they were taken over Edgingtons, made all the banners and flags for every major pageant in the country. In 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition a huge order came in for marquees and tents to cover all of the booths exhibiting there. At the end of World War Two miles of bunting was ordered for all of the VE day celebrations but not before Edgingtons had played their part in the war effort. As the storm gathered the tent makers were

ordered by the government to run up hundreds of canvas shrouds which were to be used for the expected high number of civilian war dead. Once these had been stashed away for future use the company really came into their own making ingenious equipment for the troops. One marvellous product was the ‘swiss roll’ bridge which was made of canvas and could be unrolled and joined together to make a bridge for troops to land on. These were in continual use after the D-Day landings and were the first portable floating jetties designed for vehicles to transfer safely from ship to shore. Another product was the Camel - an inflatable canvas-covered pontoon bridge designed for use in salvage work on the home front. In August 1942 Edgingtons produced the most amazing canvas goods for a most amazing plot: Operation Bertram. The British had been defeated one battle after another by General Rommel and the Afrika Korps. By 1942 Field Marshal Montgomery had just about had enough of this and launched his counter offensive. Monty had devised a series of tricks, designed to convince Herr Rommel that the Allies

were going one way, in the north, when they were actually going to the south. The army realised that they could use magic tricks and optical illusions to fool Hitler’s forces into thinking there were whole camps of soldiers and hardware waiting to get them whilst the real army were sneaking round the back door. Incredibly they called in the services of Jasper Maskelyne, who in 1930’s Britain was a star magician. Maskelyne had left the stage to join the Royal Engineers but had a hard time convincing the authorities that his professional skills in concealment and deception could be put to use on the battlefield. Churchill convinced them; as far as he was concerned “in war, truth should be accompanied by a bodyguard of lies”. Maskelyne was posted to A Force, where he was able to apply his skills to the task of concealing British forces from German aerial reconnaissance. He assembled a 14-strong group, known informally as the Magic Gang who applied Maskelyne’s knowledge of cheap and lightweight construction techniques to produce dummy tanks made of plywood and painted canvas. He also used huge canvas sheets to

camouflage aeroplanes. And it was Edgingtons, the quaint little shop in the Old Kent Road that provided all the raw materials, boasting in their ads later ‘from the Old Kent Road to El Alamein’. The shop itself suffered under the hands of the Nazis when the Victorian workshop at the back was destroyed in a heavy night of bombing. This building had been put up after the old one caught fire in 1838, completely gutting it. The old building was made entirely of wood and due to the resin, pitch and tar went up like a rocket, destroying both the next door premises in its wake. Going back to the hangmen’s ropes, at the end of the war the firm received a special secret commission to make twenty-four nooses, which were promptly dispatched to the Nuremberg trials. Despite Victorian fires and German bombardment the firm finally had to roll over and play dead to the megalomaniacs high on sixties hash who thought it would be a gas to build a dirty great concrete flyover across the historic building. By the early seventies Edgingtons had to move into smaller, modern premises forty foot back from their original building. Director Kenneth Flin commented at the

Kirby Estate victory party for VE Day

FOR CENTURIES people have nailed their colours to the mast and hoisted their banners up poles to celebrate or show support for various causes. So it was that knights in shining armour and kings on horseback once travelled to a humble flagmaker in the marshy fields of the Old Kent Road.

Flyover, a sixties nightmare that engulfed and destroyed the famous Georgian façade. It was a time of powdered wigs, coffeehouses and Cinderella fashions when the quaint Georgian flagmaker’s shop was refitted, even though the core of the building remained essentially early Tudor. Horse-drawn carriages clopped past the door as men in tricorn hats carried society ladies in sedan chairs to the Bermondsey Spa. In the Bricklayer’s Arms pub, a favourite haunt of old seadogs, Admiral Horatio Nelson sank a couple of pints after putting in an order at the flag maker’s workshop. For John Edgington there was no time for drinking; he was busy running up the order ready for the Battle of Trafalgar. John must have made a good job as he went on to supply the navy with canvas and ropes. And it wasn’t just rope for the rigging that he provided. In the days of public execution there was nothing the crowd liked more than a good hanging - well, it was a day out for the kids. With up to ten men for the drop each execution day demand was high for hangmen’s nooses and John got the major

time that the firm was bitterly upset about moving but were up against the Ministry of Transport, the GLC and the Board of Trade. He said: “Peace hath its terrors no less than war”. Local people could only watch in dismay as the Georgian shop front was

dismantled. The company asked the council if they could dismantle the façade and reassemble it at new premises but were denied permission. Apparently it was actually saved though, and is now on display in Woburn Abbey

- a bit far to go for anyone in Southwark who wants to see their heritage. The company finally merged with their competitor Benjamin Edgington from Borough High Street, becoming Black and Edgington, a branch of Black’s camping shops.

20 EVENTS HISTORY

History Events GREENWICH AND DOCKLANDS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL RETURNS FOR 2026

MEDITERRANEAN-INSPIRED FOOD MARKET IN GREENWICH THIS SUMMER Mediterranean food market Peninsula Al Fresco is outside the O2 in Greenwich this summer, with food stalls a bar and entertainment. Running until 31 August, Peninsula Al Fresco had a line-up of churros, fried chicken, fresh pizza, and smash burgers. Visitors can relax in the outdoor seating area, complete with pergolas offering shade on warmer days, or enjoy a refreshing drink from the spritz bar. Families can also make a day of it, with free games including giant Jenga and Connect Four available for children to enjoy. Date: Every day until 31 August Time: Monday – Friday 12pm-9pm Saturday 11am-9pm Sunday 12pm-9pm Location: Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX Tickets: Free admission, no ticket needed More information here: https://www.greenwichpeninsula.co.uk/whats-on/ peninsula-al-fresco

DEPTFORD CREATIVE WORKSHOP Two Cats Studios will be hosting a creative workshop designed to help people explore painting, imagination and play without the pressure of creating something “perfect”. The inclusive session welcomes the girls, the gays, the theys and anyone who feels intimidated by creativity or traditional art spaces. Participants will take part in a painting process where they won’t know the final outcome from the start. Someone else in the room will help shape each person’s artwork before attendees add their own illustrations and bring their creation to life. No previous art experience is needed and all materials will be provided. Two Cats Studios is running the workshop series at a low cost, covering only materials, in exchange for feedback to help shape future

Greenwich and Docklands free dance festival is returning this summer with a programme of theatre, circus and dance. This year’s theme WE MOVE and extraordinary line-up of performances celebrates London’s spirit of resilience and community in the face of life’s myriad challenges from 21 August – 6 September. Highlights include 360, a spectacular dance performance combining movement, immersive set design and electronic music, opening the festival in Woolwich. Visitors can also experience Do Birds Dream Of Flying?, an award-winning circus show exploring new perspectives on the world around us, and Efectos Especiales, an immersive experience where audiences become part of a live film shoot blending cinema and dance in real time. Other events include a son et lumière show transforming Romford Market and a nature-inspired performance in Thamesmead, alongside many more free performances. Date: 21 August - 6 September Time: Various times Location: Across Greenwich, Woolwich and Thamesmead Tickets: Free entry. Visit: https://festival.org/gdif-2026/ for more information

The memorial stone

WOOLWICH WOOFS DOG SHOW IS BACK community-building activities. Date: Thursday 20 August Time: 6pm - 8pm Location: Two Cats Studios, Unit 1 Carriage Way, London, SE8 4BX Tickets: £10 general admission, £5 accessible Book here: https://www.outsavvy.com/ event/37049/creativity-foruncertainty-workshop#anchor

Woolwich Works are set to host Woolwich Woofs dog show again on Saturday 22 August after a successful first event last summer. All dogs and owners are invited to join for an afternoon of dog-themed fun in the courtyard of Woolwich Works. The event was originally in July but had to be rescheduled due to hot weather. A panel of judges will judge pups across the following categories: opening pageant, beautiful bitch, dandy dog, waggiest tail, Fetch-it Fido, doggie track and field, My Dog’s Got Talent and best in show. Owners are invited to hang out in the sunny courtyard outside the Fireworks Factory whilst the competitions are taking place. The outside bar will be open and hot dogs are available to buy. When: Saturday 22nd August, 3pm – 6pm Where: Woolwich Works (The Courtyard), The Fireworks Factory, 11 No.1 Street, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, London, SE18 6HD Tickets: £5 per dog for competition entry. No fee or ticket is needed to enter and watch the event

A Safe, Fun, and Nourishing Summer in Lambeth Looking for ways to keep your children active, and engaged this summer?

Dedicated places and specialist provision are available for children with SEND.

Lambeth’s Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme is back, offering free activities for 4–16 year olds who live or go to school in Lambeth and receive benefits-related free school meals. The programme runs from 20 July to 28 August.

Activities take place across Lambeth in local schools, community centres, adventure playgrounds and parks, so there will be something happening near you all summer.

Children can enjoy a range of activities including sports, arts, music, drama and outdoor play, with a free healthy meal provided at every session. HAF supports children to build confidence, develop skills, make friends, and enjoy their holidays in a safe, inclusive environment.

What to do next • Check activities in your area • Book early – spaces fill up quickly • Plan your summer with ease To find out more and book visit our website or scan the QR code below. www.lambeth.gov.uk/haf

What to expect • Fun, high-quality activities led by trusted local providers • Free, nutritious meals • Safe and inclusive settings • Specialist provision and support for children with SEND • Opportunities to build skills, friendships, and confidence

Let’s make this a happy, healthy summer for children and young people in Lambeth.

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24 PUBLIC NOTICES Notice of application for a Premises Licence. Notice is hereby given that Tradicao Acougue & Mercearia Limited has applied to Merton Council for a new premises licence at for Tradicao, Unit 28-30-69, Broadway Market, Tooting High St, London, SW17 0RJ to provide the following licensable activities: Sale of Alcohol – (On and Off License) Monday to Sunday from 10:00 Am Until 00:00; Late Night Refreshment and Regulate Entertainment- Monday to Sunday from 23:00 Until 00:00 Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing to: Merton Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email to: licensing@merton.gov.uk By 31/08/2026 The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of The Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00am and 4.00pm. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.merton.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine. LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – HINTON ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable new electricity supply works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to temporarily: (a) prohibit vehicles from turning left from Coldharbour Lane into Hinton Road; (b) introduce a south-east to north-west one-way traffic system in Hinton Road, between its junction with Coldharbour Lane and 67 metres south-east of that junction. 2. The alternative route for affected vehicles will be available via Coldharbour Lane, Herne Hill Road, Wanless Road, and Hinton Road. 3. The Order will come into force on 17 August 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 12 days to complete. Dated 14 August 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager (The officer appointed for this purpose) LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – VICTORIA CRESCENT AND HAWKE ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable new gas main connection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from waiting, including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading a vehicle, in those lengths of: (a) Victoria Crescent, between outside the common boundary of Nos. 23 to 28 Battenberg Walk and Nos. 31 to 36 Battenberg Walk and its junction with Hawke Road. (b) Hawke Road, between outside the north-western flank wall of Nos 41/42 Northwood Way and outside the south-eastern flank wall of No. 62 Victoria Crescent. 2. The Order will come into force on 17 August 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 3 months, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 4 weeks to complete. Dated 14 August 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager (The officer appointed for this purpose) LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – LEIGHAM AVENUE AND CONIFER GARDENS 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable water main survey works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth intends to make an Order, the effect of which would be to temporarily: (a) prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in the length of Leigham Avenue which lies between its junction with Conifer Gardens and 30 metres south-west of that junction; (b) suspend the one-way traffic system in the length Leigham Avenue that lies between its junction with Woodleigh Gardens and outside No. 46 Leigham Avenue; (c) suspend the prohibition on vehicles entering Conifer Gardens at its junction with Gracefield Gardens. 2. The alternative route for affected vehicles would be available via Woodleigh Gardens, Gracefield Gardens and Conifer Gardens. 3. The Order would come into force on 4 September 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works would take 1 day to complete. Dated 14 August 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager (The officer appointed for this purpose)

Friday, August 14th 2026

i, a [wo]man, Monika Zerouali-Amari, hold a perfected Lien Security Interest in and over the public indemnity insurance policy(s) and all real and moveable property of the following: MICHAEL CHARLES REGNIER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, SANTANDER UK PLC, 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN; and SANTANDER UK PLC, 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN; and ROCHELLE WOODWARD, EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, SANTANDER UK PLC, 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN. Lien Debtors are jointly and severally liable for the total sum certain of £66,802,400.00. Interested parties should contact Monika Zerouali-Amari, privately, via email amarimonika19@gmail.com. FLORENCE ABEKE ONIFADE Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 85 Hubert Grove, London, SW9 9NY, who died on 07/10/2025, must send written details to the address below by 15/10/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. c/o Preuveneers LLP, 103-105 London Road, Mitcham, CR4 2JA. Ref: KC/42449/1/Onifade

MAE WILLIAMSON Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 10 Hannay Walk, London, SW16 1AS, who died on 28/06/2026, must send written details to the address below by 15/10/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Anthony Gold, 5th Floor, South-West, Cottons Centre, Hays Lane, London, SE1 2QG. Ref: MRS0001-00018

PHILIP GLENN COLEMAN Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of Flat 22, Fordyce House, Colson Way, London, SW16 1SF, who died on 06/02/2026, must send written details to the address below by 15/10/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Mcglennons Solicitors, 157 Arthur Road, London, SW19 8AD. Ref: WE/00027/26/Coleman

ANGELA JANE CROWCOMBE Deceased Pursuant to the Trustee Act 1925 anyone with a claim against or an interest in the Estate of the deceased, late of 38 Colebrook Road, London, SW16 5QT, who died on 29/06/2026, must send written details to the address below by 15/10/2026, after which the Estate will be distributed with regard only to claims and interests notified. Anthony Gold, 5th Floor, South-West, Cottons Centre, Hays Lane, London, SE1 2QG. Ref: MRS0001-00020

Notice of application for a Premises Licence. Notice is hereby given that PROPA FAST FOOD LIMITED has applied to Wandsworth Council for a new premises licence at Cheatmeals Battersea, 8 York Road, London, SW11 3QA for Late Night Refreshment – Indoors and Outdoors – Monday to Sunday – 23:00hrs to 02:00hrs Any person who wishes to make a representation in relation to this application must give notice in writing by 03rd September 2026 stating the grounds for making said representation to: Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DX or by email: licensing@merton.gov.uk The record of this application may be inspected Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) by prior appointment at the offices of Wandsworth Licensing Authority, Regulatory Services Partnership (Serving Merton, Richmond and Wandsworth Councils) Merton Civic Centre, London Road, Morden,Surrey, SM4 5DX between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. Information on all new and variation applications received by the Licensing Authority can be viewed on the Council’s website www.wandsworth.gov.uk It is an offence, under section 158 of the Licensing Act 2003, to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in or in connection with an application, punishable upon conviction by an unlimited fine.

LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE Take notice that I Waled Ahmed Mrad have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a NEW PREMISES LICENCE in respect of: Zulu Mart, 69 Deptford High Street SE8 4AA The details of the application are as follows: Sale of alcohol for consumption OFF the premises 09:00 – 23:00 Everyday The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, Licensing Authority, 4th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU by appointment between Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk. The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 2 September 2026. Any representations must be made in writing and contain the full name, address including any flat number and postcode of the person objecting to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk Representations received without these details will not be considered. It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited. LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – UPPER GROUND 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to facilitate a crane operation, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from entering or proceeding in that length of Upper Ground, between its junction with Cornwall Road and outside the south-western property boundary of No. 89 Upper Ground. 2. The alternative routes for affected vehicles will be available via Upper Ground, Broadwall, Stamford Street and Cornwall Road, and via Cornwall Road, Stamford Street, Hatfields and Upper Ground. 3. The Order will come into force on 22 August 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. Dated 14 August 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager (The officer appointed for this purpose) LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 - SECTION 14 TEMPORARY TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS – BROXHOLM ROAD 1. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, to enable new water connection works, the Council of the London Borough of Lambeth has made an Order, the effect of which will be to temporarily prohibit vehicles from waiting, including waiting for the purposes of loading or unloading a vehicle, in that length of Broxholm Road between outside the common boundary of Nos. 66 and 68 Broxholm Road and outside the common boundary of Nos. 84 and 86 Broxholm Road. 2. The Order will come into force on 17 August 2026 and continue in force for a maximum duration of 1 month, to allow for contingencies, or until the works have been completed whichever is the sooner. In practice, it is anticipated that the works will take 8 days to complete. Dated 14 August 2026

Ben Stevens Highways Network Manager (The officer appointed for this purpose)

LONDON BOROUGH OF LAMBETH Notice Under The Town and Country Planning Acts

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Transport for London Public Notice

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Council is considering applications as set out below under the following categories: FUL = FULL PLANNING PERMISSION

ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984

Written representations should be made within three weeks of the date of this advertisement to the Director of Planning, PO Box 80771, London, SW2 9QQ. Any comments made are open to inspection by the public and in the event of an appeal may be referred to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Confidential comments cannot be taken into account in determining an application.

THE GLA ROADS AND GLA SIDE ROADS (GREENWICH) RED ROUTE CONSOLIDATION TRAFFIC ORDER 2007 A205 WELL HALL ROAD (ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING POINTS) VARIATION ORDER 2026 1. Transport for London hereby gives notice that it intends to make the above named Order under section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. 2. The general nature and effect of the Order will be to introduce two 6 metre No Stopping At Any Time Except Charging of Electric Vehicles Only max 1 hour no return within 2 hours Bay and a 3 metre area containing vehicle charging infrastructure at the western kerb-line of the A205 Well Hall Road outside of Nos.155 – 151 Well Hall Road, shortening the existing Parking & Disabled Persons Vehicles Bay by 15 metres. A No Stopping At Any Time (Double Red Line) Restriction will be introduced to compliment the changes; 3. The road which would be affected by the Order is the A205 Well Hall Road in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. 4. A copy of the Order, a statement of Transport for London’s reasons for the proposals, a map indicating the location and effect of the Order and copies of any Order revoked, suspended or varied by the Order can be inspected by visiting our website at https://haveyoursay.tfl.gov.uk/tro and selecting the relevant borough and reference the Traffic Order relates to or by appointment during normal office hours at our office at the address below. To arrange an appointment please email trafficordersection@tfl.gov.uk. Copies of the documents may be requested via email at trafficordersection@tfl.gov.uk, or by post at the following address quoting reference SNO/REGULATION/STOT/DW/TRO/GLA/2026/0548 • Transport for London Streets Traffic Order Team (SNO/REGULATION/STOT) Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road London, SE1 8NJ 5. All objections and other representations to the proposed Order must be made in writing and must specify the grounds on which they are made. Objections and representations must be sent to Transport for London, Streets Traffic Order Team, Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ or by emailing trafficordersection@tfl.gov.uk quoting reference SNO/REGULATION/STOT/DW/TRO/GLA/2026/0548, to arrive before 7th September 2026. Please note due to hybrid working access to post is restricted and requests for documents and confirmation of your objections or representations may be delayed. Objections and other representations may be communicated to other persons who may be affected.

Application plans can be viewed online at www.lambeth.gov.uk/searchplanningapps – search using the reference number at the end of each application listing. 33 Endymion Road London SW2 2BU Replacement of timber windows and doors with double-glazed timber windows and doors to the front and rear elevations. 26/02071/FUL Ujima Court Sunnyhill Road London SW16 2UG Replacement of timber windows and doors with double-glazed timber windows and doors to all elevations. 26/02074/FUL Land Between 12 And 20 Durand Gardens London SW9 0PP Demolition of derelict garages and erection of two storey dwellinghouse, and the installation of front boundary wall including a gate, plus landscaping treatment. 26/02004/FUL 1 - 5 Lower Marsh London SE1 7RJ Change of use of part of the ground and first floors (271sqm GIA) from approved Class E medical floorspace to a flexible Class E and/or Class F1(a) use. 26/02033/FUL 29 Courtenay Street London SE11 5PH Erection of a rear dormer extension. 26/01669/FUL 7 Becondale Road London SE19 1QJ Erection of single storey outbuilding in rear garden with a green roof, associated raised patio/terrace and landscaping works - Retrospective. 26/01896/FUL 33 Holmewood Road London SW2 3RP Retrospective application for the erection of a single storey ground floor rear extension. Erection of a square infill (corner) at first and second floor (rear outrigger only) with the rendering of rear and part side elevation. 26/01852/FUL Dated this Friday 14/08/2026

STAY INFORMED ABOUT LICENSING PLANS FOR YOUR AREA.

PUBLIC NOTICES 25

Friday, August 14th 2026

Rob Bristow Director - Planning and Sustainability Growth and Environment Directorate

LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE Take notice that we: Servesmiths Ltd have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a New Premises Licence in respect of Servesmiths, 28a Rushey Green, SE6 4JF The details of the application are as follows: Sale of alcohol for consumption on & off the premises, Monday to Sunday 11:00 – 23:00 The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, 4th Floor, Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU by appointment between Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk. The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 08th September 2026 All representations must be made in writing to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk and contain your full name and full postal address. Any representation received without these mandatory details will be deemed invalid and cannot be taken into consideration. It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited. LICENSING ACT 2003 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PREMISES LICENCE Take notice that I Khaled Khaled have made an application to Lewisham Council acting as the Licensing Authority, for a NEW PREMISES LICENCE in respect of: Lebanese Express 1, 5 Belmont Hill, SE13 5AU The details of the application are as follows: Late night refreshment, Monday – Sunday 23:00 – 04:00 The application and the Licensing Authority’s public register can be inspected at: Lewisham Council, Safer Communities Service, Licensing Authority, 4th Floor Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU by appointment between Monday to Friday (except on public holidays) and between the hours of 9.00 am to 4.00 pm; or at www.lewisham.gov.uk. The last date by which responsible authorities or other persons may make representations to the Licensing Authority in relation to this application is: 8 September 2026. Any representations must be made in writing and contain the full name, address including any flat number and postcode of the person objecting to the above address or by emailing licensing@lewisham.gov.uk Representations received without these details will not be considered. It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited.

View all notices and sign up to the Public Notices Portal at www.southlondon.co.uk/ category/ public‐notices/

Dated this 14th day of August 2026 Gordon Sheppard Performance and Planning Manager, Transport for London Palestra, 197 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8NJ

You’d want to know if someone was applying for an ALCOHOL LICENCE near you, right?

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26 PUBLIC NOTICES

Friday, August 14th 2026

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SPORT 29

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O’S HAVE FIELDS DAY TO STUN THRASHERS

Olympians into final as they chase ‘ultimate goal’ Babs Falode races towards the end-zone

By James Lockett THE LONDON Olympians continued their remarkable play-off run last Sunday, overcoming sweltering conditions, an early start and the higher-seeded Southampton Thrashers to claim an impressive 31-20 victory and book their place in the Southern Conference final.

The O’s also ended Southampton’s unbeaten season as they extended their run to nine games without defeat. Southampton entered the game being touted as one of the most explosive offences in the south and had received a clean sweep of pre-game predictions

from Britball media due to their unbeaten run in the South West division. But the O’s relished their underdog status as they looked to demonstrate the strength of a fiercely competitive South East division. An early penalty by the Olympians on the opening kick-off handed Southampton good field position, but the visitors’ defence immediately set the tone, producing a huge sack before shutting down a fourth-down conversion attempt. Quarter-back Brandon Fields then found Javelle Roberts for an early first down as the OIympians’ offence took the field, before Babs Falode produced the first moment of magic. Taking the hand-off at his own 30-yard line, Falode bounced outside behind two

pulling offensive linemen, with rightguard, Benjymin Price, producing a superb block to open the channel. Falode did the rest, exploding down the sideline for a spectacular 70-yard touchdown and a 6-0 lead. The Olympians’ defence forced Southampton straight back off the field before Falode continued to cause havoc with two more huge runs, breaking tackles on the second to carry the O’s deep into Thrashers territory. However, the Olympians ultimately left points on the field after failing to score on fourth down, instead of attempting a field goal. Southampton were unable to escape their own end-zone, though, and punted,

giving the Olympians great field position as they headed into the second quarter. They were soon made to pay, as Fields found Falode again in space, this time with a pass behind the line of scrimmage, with the running back dancing through for his second touchdown to make it 120. Southampton then passed up a fieldgoal opportunity of their own and were stopped on fourth down before the Olympians produced arguably their most impressive offensive drive of the afternoon, if not the entire season. Starting from their own five-yard line, the O’s clinically marched the length of the field, mixing the run and pass before Fields found Roberts on a spectacular 45-

yard touchdown connection to send the side into the break 18-0 ahead. The Thrashers finally demonstrated some of the attacking firepower that had earned them their pre-game billing during the second half, eventually scoring three touchdowns and a twopoint conversion to put 20 points on an Olympians defence that has dominated throughout the season. But every attempt at a comeback was met with an answer. Fields connected deep with Roberts for another touchdown, with Owen Tuthill converting the extra point, before the Olympians quarter-back produced one of the plays of the game, escaping the pocket, breaking multiple tackles and scrambling into the end-zone to ensure the O’s remained comfortably ahead. The final whistle confirmed a statement 31-20 victory and sends the Olympians into the decider this Sunday where they will face long-time divisional rivals, the East Kent Mavericks in Canterbury. The stakes could hardly be higher. The winner will secure promotion to the Premiership next season while also booking a place in the Division One Championship Final at the end of August, where they will face the best team from the Northern Conference for the right to be crowned national champions. “We’ve been underestimated all season and today was no different,” Fields said. “All the talk before the game was about Solent and their offence, but it’s easy to run hot in a less competitive division. “Today they faced a team that’s hitting its peak after coming through the toughest division in the Conference and I think that showed. We moved the ball comfortably and our defence was on form. “Credit to Solent for the fight they showed in the second half, but we never felt like the outcome was in doubt from the first drive to the last.” O’s head coach Riq Ayub added: “I was extremely proud of the mental and physical maturity the players displayed. It was a hot day, we had a long way to travel and it would have been easy to lose focus, but they didn’t. Veteran safety Angel Garcia put the final nail in the coffin with an interception late in the fourth, as he has done virtually all season, with the Olympians’ offence ending the game in victory formation to kneel out the clock. “Now we move on and have a week to prepare for the Southern final. A Southern title and promotion would be nice, but our ultimate goal hasn’t changed. We want to win the Championship, so we’re treating Sunday as another game on the path towards achieving that.”

Hamlet confirm landmark partnership with King’s College By Sports Reporter

DULWICH HAMLET have announced a landmark community partnership with King’s College Hospital Charity.

The club’s official charity partnership for the 2026-27 season will see both parties working together to raise funds to support King’s College Hospital, increase awareness of the exceptional care it provides, and inspire more people to get behind their local NHS. The charity is dedicated to supporting King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, whose flagship hospital in Camberwell sits just a

short walk from Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill stadium. Together, the Trust’s hospitals provide life-changing care for hundreds of thousands of patients every year across south-east London and beyond. The connection between King’s College Hospital and Dulwich Hamlet dates back more than 100 years, with records showing the club sponsored the “Pink and Blue Bed” on King’s Lonsdale Ward in memory of players and staff who lost their lives during the First World War. That ward continues to care for patients today. The new partnership renews that historic relationship while looking to

the future, creating new opportunities to strengthen community support for one of London’s leading NHS hospitals. “We are incredibly proud to welcome King’s College Hospital Charity as our official charity partner,” Ben Clasper, chairman of Dulwich Hamlet, said: “Dulwich Hamlet has always been much more than a football club. We are rooted in our community, and partnering with an organisation that makes such a profound difference to people’s lives feels like a natural fit. “We are excited to work together throughout the coming season to raise awareness, bring people together and support one of south London’s most

important institutions.” Alan Bolchover, chief executive of King’s College Hospital Charity, added: “We are absolutely delighted to become the official charity partner of Dulwich Hamlet Football Club – a club that shares our deep commitment to the community we both serve. “This partnership revives a relationship that stretches back more than a century. King’s College Hospital and Dulwich Hamlet have long been part of the fabric of south London, and together we have an exciting opportunity to build on that shared heritage for the benefit of local people. “For us, this is about much more than football. It is about bringing

our community together behind their local hospital. Every day, King’s delivers extraordinary care, while our charity helps fund pioneering research, cutting-edge equipment, improved hospital environments and innovations that transform the experience of patients, families and NHS staff. “We hope this partnership will inspire more people to discover the difference charitable support makes and to play their part in helping King’s continue to provide world-class care. Together with Dulwich Hamlet, we want to create something that leaves a lasting legacy for patients, staff and our community.”

Wings off to flier after late goals By Mark Doig at Park View Road HAVING FINISHED last season in second place in the form guide, Welling United continued where the left off with a 2-0 victory over Whitehawk in their Isthmian League Premier Division season opener last weekend.

DWIGHT MCNEIL promised there is a lot more to come from him after he completed his move to Crystal Palace - and revealed a Selhurst Park chant is his favourite in football.

Lions keeper saves four pens as boss explains decision

By John Kelly MILLWALL’S LUKAS Jensen saved all four of Queens Park Rangers’ penalties in his first competitive game in sixteen months as Lions boss Alex Neil explained why he chose the Dane over World Cup stopper Max Crocombe.

After a 1-1 draw in normal time at Loftus Road, Millwall’s Jake Cooper and Mark Sykes were the only successes out of eight from twelve yards to send the side through to the second round of the EFL Cup. Afterwards, Alex Neil said it was “a really difficult decision” who to start in goal. Crocombe made 26 appearances last season after joining from Burton Albion and was Neil’s first-choice

Lukas Jensen was playing his first competitive game in sixteen months

stopper until Anthony Patterson signed on loan from Sunderland in the January transfer window. Crocombe then played all three games for New Zealand at the World Cup before they went out at the group stage. Jensen, 27, was the Lions’ No.1 after he moved from Lincoln City in the summer of 2024. He made 43 appearances and kept fifteen clean sheets in 2024-25 before an Achilles tear ended his campaign and another setback kept him out of the entire 2025-26 season. “Nobody doubts how good Lukas is at shot-stopping,” Neil said. “When you come back [from injury] you’ve still got that quality, it’s just decision-making and game-time and things like that for him. It’s just getting exposure, that’s

Fulham sign record midfielder By Shane Stapleton SHEA CHARLES said Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa sold him “a really good vision” before the midfielder’s record £30million move to Craven Cottage from Southampton.

Charles, 22, signed a five-year deal with the option of a further twelve months to become the most expensive-ever Northern Ireland player. Charles made 38 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring six goals and registering two assists, to help Tondra Eckert’s Saints into the play-offs. Charles scored a 116th-minute winner against Middlesbrough in the semi-finals before they were booted out of the final following ’Spygate’. Fulham have spent almost £80million this summer on Charles, Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, and Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich.

"I am buzzing to finally get it over the line," Charles said. "The club has got a really good foundation from the bottom to the top. "It is a great club with a really good vision, the manager explained that to me. It is a massive privilege to be here. "I hope to really kick-start my Premier League career here, at such a good club as well. It is perfect for me and hopefully perfect for the fans as well." Cottagers director of football operations Tony Khan added: "I am thrilled to welcome Shea Charles to Fulham. He is an exciting young player. "He has quickly gained important experience in both domestic competitions and at international level, as the youngestever captain of Northern Ireland. "This is an excellent opportunity for him to join Fulham and continue his development under Alvaro Arbeloa's leadership."

why I picked him. “It wasn’t really a case of Lukas over Max, it was a really difficult decision to make. The two of them are very different in terms of the strengths and qualities that they have. But what I think with Lukas is that he’s exceptional at stopping shots. Max is probably better with the ball at his feet, he can pick things out and different things. “It’s dependent on the game, it’s dependent on how we feel the game is going to go. I needed to see Lukas. He’s not played a competitive match for fifteen months. And these games are very different from pre-season matches. “It only made sense to put him in.” Meanwhile, Neil said Alfie Doughty felt tightness in his hamstring as he was warming up before the tie.

Doughty was due to be on the bench against the Hoops before he was replaced by Zak Lovelace. Doughty has been dogged by injury since he signed from Luton Town last summer. He started just sixteen games in the Championship last season. “He just said his hamstring was tight. Doing the warm-up, I think one of the lads came in and said Alfie’s feeling his hamstring,” Neil said. “I said, ‘okay, Zak, get yourself ready, you’re going on the bench, take Alfie off it’. Because at that stage if I put Alfie on and he breaks down then it’s just negligence from me. “Easy decision to take him out. I don’t know the severity of it. I don’t think it’s an actual injury, I believe it’s tightness at this stage but we’ll find out a bit more on Monday.”

Addicks draw Spurs By John Kelly CHARLTON ATHLETIC have been handed a daunting EFL Cup second-round tie at Tottenham Hotspur.

Nathan Jones’s side won 3-1 at Cheltenham Town in the first round. Premier League sides not in Europe have entered the competition in this round. AFC Wimbledon will travel to Craven Cottage to play Fulham after the Dons’ 5-4 win over Newport County on penalties. Millwall have a reunion with their former boss Neil Harris, who is in charge of Cambridge United. Bromley lost 5-4 on penalties to

Reading.

EFL CUP SECOND ROUND - SELECTED SOUTHERN SECTION Cambridge United vs. Millwall Fulham vs. AFC Wimbledon

Chelsea vs. Luton Town Tottenham Hotspur vs. Charlton Athletic

Ties will be played the week commencing August 24

Winger McNeil has joined the Eagles from Everton in a swap deal with Brennan Johnson. McNeil, 26, has agreed a four-year deal after a £20million move to Selhurst Park fell through in February due to the paperwork not being completed in time. Johnson, 25, a £35million signing from Tottenham Hotspur last January, has signed a four-year contract with the Toffees. He played 26 games for the Eagles in all competitions but failed to score. McNeil signed for Everton from Burnley for £20m in July 2022. He has scored 21 goals and registered 33 assists in 248 Premier League games. Palace won the FA Cup, Community Shield and Europa Conference League in the last two seasons under Oliver Glasner. Glasner left this summer to take over at Nottingham Forest, while Pierre Sage was appointed to replace him. “I’m really happy to be here, and looking forward to the challenge ahead,” McNeil said. “The lads have had some success over the last two seasons, so I'm really looking forward to meeting them and cracking on. “With winning the FA Cup, and then last season winning the Conference League, and now this season they're in the Europa League - it's something I want to be a part of, so I'm really looking forward to getting started. “I've played a lot of games. I'm still 26 and I want to play a lot more games in the Premier League. Over the years, I've definitely matured within myself and I want to bring my experience to the lads and help the team as best I can. “I still think there's a lot more to come from me, and that's why I've come here, because I think Crystal Palace will get the best out of me.” Everton and Palace meet in the first game of the season at Hill Dickinson Stadium on August 22. McNeil could get his first taste of playing at Selhurst Park in a home kit

DWIGHT GLAD ALL OVER

NEW CHARLTON Athletic signing Timothy Ouma wants to have Addicks fans cheering “every tackle and duel” after he signed on a season-long loan from Czech First League club Slavia Prague.

Kenya international defensive midfielder Ouma, 22, is Charlton’s seventh summer signing in a move that includes the option of a permanent deal. "I'm grateful to be here,” Ouma said. “I'll give my all and do my best to help the team achieve. I’m looking forward to seeing the supporters and hearing them cheer every tackle, every duel and every goal." Addicks boss Nathan Jones described what kind of player the latest recruit is. He said: "We’re delighted to get

Inset: Brennan Johnson has left for Everton

Winger finally completes Palace move after February hitch

when Manchester City are the visitors the following Friday. Palace fans sing ‘Glad All over’ by The Dave Clark Five after their side has scored. “I'm really looking forward to it,” McNeill said. “It's funny, I've always loved playing

Charlton add Kenya cap to to midfield ranks

By Patrick Fanning

Dwight McNeil has joined the Eagles on a four-year deal

Welling’s Sam Smith

By John Kelly

Although there have been changes to the squad, boss Ryan Maxwell will look at the result against Whitehawk as an extension of their run. That means that they have now gone five league games undefeated and lost just one of the last ten. The clean sheet will also have pleased Maxwell as the Wings only recorded four in the league last season. Maxwell has been busy over the summer. He kept the core of the team that finished the season so well but has added further quality and there is competition for every outfield place. He can now look at the substitutes’ bench knowing that he has players who can make an immediate impact. Against Whitehawk, his team had to be patient. Their opposition set up to frustrate the Wings with the hope of wearing them down and snatching a goal. However, Maxwell’s team didn’t panic and bided their time before scoring two late goals. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Foley had to beat out a shot early on but was only tested by crosses after that, and his handling was impeccable throughout. At the other end, Klevis Muca made a great block to deny Ade Azeez before saving low when Sam Smith shot from the right. As half-time approached, Chris Arthur unleashed a shot from 35 yards that went narrowly wide with Muca beaten. John Ufuah came on as a substitute and almost made an immediate impact with a shot that Muca kept out with his feet. Finally, the Wings broke the deadlock with nine minutes remaining. Again Arthur sized up his options and a drive from beyond 30 yards flew through the busy penalty area and nestled in the back of the net. In stoppage-time, Welling sealed the win when they added a second. Kaan Bennett’s close skills allowed him to trick his way clear and his low diagonal cross-shot was tucked away by Nahum Melvin-Lambert.

SPOT LUK

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30 SPORT

Timothy over the line. He’s a player that we’ve monitored for a long, long time and he comes with real good pedigree. He’s an athletic, technical midfield player who has had some good experience and he’ll add real quality to our midfield.” Charlton managing director James Rodwell added: “We're delighted to bring Timothy to the club. He's a player we've admired for some time and someone who fits the profile we identified as we continue to move the squad forward. He brings athleticism, quality on the ball and a real presence in midfield, and we're looking forward to seeing him in a Charlton shirt. "We've also secured an option to make the transfer permanent, subject to certain conditions, which puts us in a strong position should Timothy contribute in the way we expect him to."

against Palace, especially at Selhurst Park! Even though it's a bit weird, I've enjoyed them scoring because I do enjoy the chant that they've got after they score. “It’s probably my favourite chant in football, to be honest. I’m really looking forward to playing in front of them.”

McNeil described what Palace fans can expect from him. He said: “I think my left foot’s decent. “I try to impact games, and try to score, try to assist. Also, I think hard work as well off the ball – I’m very, very diligent as well.

“I went and had a conversation with the manager about where he sees me playing and where he sees me fitting in, and it made me feel really good. It’s definitely something I wanted to be a part of. “I’ll just try and fit in the best I can. I know I’ll give everything for this club.”

Bish a game today because he missed the period in pre-season,” Jackson said. “He's got a few weeks now and obviously, he needs to get up to speed with match minutes and to give him an opportunity of competing with Joe [McDonnell]. So it was great for him to get through the game and feel good. "He had some great moments as well. He makes a really good save in open play. He makes a great save from the penalty and then obviously, he makes the all-important one in the shootout as well. So, it was a good day for him." Jackson added: ”Credit to Newport County, they were a really tough opposition. They came here and really took the game to us and made us suffer in moments. "Just to come through it is really pleasing because we weren't at our best, for sure. We had to really dig in and we had to find a little bit of

spirit and character as the game went on. It looked like it might get away from us, but in the end, we got there. "Some real positive impact from the bench to help us get control of the game, which I didn't feel we had for much of it. But certainly that last period, I think we wrestled control of it. It was in the ascendancy and they're trying to hang on, obviously, and then we get the goal that allows it to go to penalties. "From there anything can happen, really. But five of the lads have stepped up and took really good penalties and that's important. And obviously, Bish has made a save, like he did in the 90 minutes as well. So, in the crucial moments, the boys have come through." Wimbledon start their League One campaign against Huddersfield Town at Kirklees Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

All Sedd and Don after Bishop answers prayers with pen save By Manuel Salazar JOHNNIE JACKSON hailed Nathan Bishop after the goalkeeper produced the decisive save in the penalty shootout to help AFC Wimbledon past Newport County 5-4 in the EFL Cup at Plough Lane.

Newport, who only survived relegation to the National League on the final day of last season, led until the 97th minute after Yahya Bamba scored with nineteen minutes left. Newport were denied an upset when Callum Maycock levelled to set it up for Bishop to be the hero. After eight successful kicks, Bishop saved from Newport midfielder Matt Smith before Steve Seddon sent the Dons through to the second round. "I think it was important to get

Community matters

FRANK LAMPARD wants to be reunited with Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk at Coventry City.

Mudryk, 25, has returned from a doping ban and has made substitute appearances against Juventus, AC Milan and Johor Darul Ta’zim in

Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Asia. But he is set to go out on loan before the September 1 transfer window deadline. Ukraine international winger Mudryk hasn’t played a competitive game since November 2024 after he was banned for four years following adverse findings in a doping test. He appealed to the Court of Arbitration

O’S HAVE FIELDS DAY TO STUN THRASHERS

PAGE 29 for Sport and is now preparing for a competitive return. Lampard was appointed Chelsea interim boss late in 2022-23 after Mudryk had joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in an £89million deal. Lampard led Coventry back into the top flight after a 25-year absence after winning the Championship last season.

GUESSAND GAME Palace want to re-sign forward from Aston Villa

By John Kelly

Forward Guessand spent the second half of 2025-26 on loan at Selhurst Park and scored two goals in fourteen appearances in all competitions. Ivory Coast international Guessand, 25, scored the winner against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League and came on in the final of the Conference League against Rayo Vallecano to help the Eagles win a historic first European trophy. Guessand has 23 international

Lyndon Dykes

By John Kelly ALEX NEIL said Lyndon Dykes was ahead of Massimo Luongo as the summer signings build fitness towards being involved with the first team.

Striker Dykes, 30, signed for the Lions on a free transfer last week. Midfielder Luongo, 33, ruptured his ACL last September and has been rehabilitating with the club over the summer despite his contract expiring on June 30. Former Australia international Luongo has signed a new one-year deal. Midfielder Daniel Kelly, 20, made his first appearance since December 2025 when he came on in the 84th minute of the 2-0 penalty shootout win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road. “I think Lyndon will be ahead of schedule more than Mass. Mass has still got a bit to go,” Neil said on Saturday. “It was nice to see Dan Kelly back on the pitch again as well, with Ra’ees [Bangura-Williams]. “With Lyndon it’s just about building him up. Mass is still recovering from his knee. Mass would have been with us regardless, in terms of we needed to get him rehabilitated. “He’s on the patch to doing that. He’s been training regularly with the team, he just needs to build the tolerance up because we don’t want that knee to happen again.”

Massimo Luongo

THE RECYCLED PAPER CONTENT OF UK NEWSPAPERS IN 2014 WAS 83.5%

Evann Guesand with the UEFA Conference League trophy

CRYSTAL PALACE are pushing to re-sign Evann Guessand on a season-long loan from Aston Villa.

caps, scoring four goals, and played twice at the World Cup this summer. Guessand started his career with Nice before loan spells at Lausanne in Switzerland and Nantes back in France. He joined Villa for £30million last summer and has scored two goals in 21 appearances for Palace’s Premier League rivals. Palace have signed defenders Oscar Mingueza and Takehiro Tomiyasu and winger Dwight McNeil so far this summer. They sold key defender Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea for £52million. Palace kick off their Premier League campaign under new boss Pierre Sage against Everton on August 22.

LAMPARD AIMING TO TAKE THE MYK

By John Kelly

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