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HERNE HILL SOCIETY EVENTS

At Herne Hill United Church Hall, at 7:30 for 7:45pm, unless otherwise stated. Wednesday 12 December: Silver Anniversary Readings By members of the Society (see article) Wednesday 9 January 2008: “Letter Boxes” by Neil Lloyd, retired Deputy Headmaster. The Post Office letter box came to the Channel Islands in 1852 and to the mainland during the following year. There have been a surprising number of designs and most are still represented on the streets. This illustrated talk deals with the development of the boxes including some amazing lapses of memories on the part of the designers. Wednesday 13 February: “Mary Seacole” by Daphne Marchant, Lambeth Councillor and former Mayor. The life and career of the heroic black nurse of the Crimea Wednesday 12 March: Annual General Meeting. Followed by an illustrated talk

CLEANER GREENER SAFER AWARDS

Earlier this year the Society applied to Southwark Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer Scheme, for the money to buy and erect a free-standing Community notice board in Half Moon Lane near the Half Moon Public House. The successful bids were announced at the Dulwich Community Council meeting on 15th October and I am pleased to report that the bid was successful. An award of £3,500 was given for this project. Other projects that will be receiving support from the Awards this year and that will benefit Herne Hill include: • landscaping the front entrance and pavement to the Half Moon Public House (£10,000); • planting trees at the junction of Red Post Hill and Beckwith Road, near Sunray Gardens (£3,000); • resurfacing the shop forecourts at 63-77 Herne Hill (£5,000); • tree planting in Casino Avenue (£7,000); • trees to enhance the appearance of the Norwood Road shopping parade (£10,500); • hanging baskets on six lamp posts in Norwood Road (£2,500). The Community Council commented that there had been a lot of good schemes and it had been very difficult to decide which to support. In general priority was given to those projects that benefited the ‘public good’. This is the fifth year of Southwark’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer Scheme and the second time that the Society’s funding bid for a local project has been successful (last year we bid for and received £754 for our new PA system).

Rosalind Glover

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POST OFFICE CLOSURE RUMOURS

There has been a rumour circulating that the Post Office in ‘Costcutters’ is to close. We've checked out the situation and can confirm that there is no basis for this rumour. The Post Office will not be announcing proposals for its London outlets until April next year, but the date might change.

BLU ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Mary Hill was presented with a giant Jammy Dodger (and a large bouquet of flowers) when she stepped down as Chair of Brockwell Lido Users at the 2007 BLU AGM held on 13th October.

Thanks to the hard work of Mary and her BLU colleagues

during her seven years as Chair, the Lido has been improved, expanded and its future is assured.

BRAIN OF LAMBETH Once again the Herne Hill Society has won the annual Brain of Lambeth competition.

Here Colin Wight receives the winner’s certificate from Lambeth’s Mayor, Councillor Andrew Gibson. The other members of the Society’s team were Anne Young, Ros Glover and John Brunton.

SILVER READERS Since 2002, our December meetings have featured readings by members of the Society on a seasonal theme. As this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Society, it seems fitting that we take “Silver Anniversary” as the theme for the evening. We are now seeking material: prose, poetry, speeches, drama, songs, sketches, nursery stories or extracts from longer works. As usual, broad interpretations or loose connections with the theme will be considered. Have you a favourite passage about silver or something silver-coloured? Think coins or ingots, hair or tongue, birches or sands, spoon or moon. Perhaps you recall a lively description of an anniversary, e.g. a wedding, birth, employment or even giving up smoking?

Other commemorations in 2007 included the 200th anniversary of the slave trade abolition, centenaries of Auden and MacNeice, Whittier’s 200th and Blake’s 250th birthday. Any other ideas? More to the point, why not join in as a reader this year? It’s fun getting together to sift through suggestions, select pieces, arrange and rehearse the programme. Don’t put it off, thinking “maybe next time”; after six years of winter reading evenings we’ll give it a rest in 2008, as I’ve booked an entertaining talk on, well, you’ll see. Meanwhile, if you can’t bring yourself to take the stage, make sure you come along on 12th December for a convivial evening of socialising, seasonal refreshments and laughter.

JD

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WINTER CELEBRATION IN HERNE HILL

This year's celebration will start at 4.30 p.m. on 30 November at Herne Hill station, with music by chil-dren from a local school and members of the Ferndene Minstrels, a local brass group. After the sing-song the lights will be switched on at about 5.15pm, and refreshments will be served out-side the Pizza take-away on the corner of Railton Road. The event has been organised by Jim Davidson and is supported by the traders and Lambeth Council. Please come along and join in the fun.

GOOD NEIGHBOUR AWARD Maude Estwick, a well known resident of Herne Hill, has won two Good Neighbour awards. She was voted the best Good Neighbour by the London & Quadrant Housing Association, and was chosen for the National Good Neighbour Award by the Housing Corporation.

Maude has been the driving force behind the development of the Milkwood Community Park and, as Chair of the Milkwood Residents’ Association, she is working hard to develop St. John's Church Hall on Lowden Road as a community centre. Maude also gives her time

to supporting and helping her neighbours as well as being involved in various other local organisations. Congratulations to Maude, and best wishes for the success of the St. John's project.

MEMBERSHIP I am delighted to report a long list of new members since summer 2007, including one new Life Member. A warm welcome to: Sue Gallagher, Dieter Gatzke, Hilary Risden Haydn, Borjan Koprivica, Kim Lewis, Thomas Leyland & Bernadette Butler, David Lock, Claire McDonald, Anthony Monaghan, N. O'Sullivan, Richard Pratt & Christine Frank, Sam Rodgers, Ellen Sheavyn, Life Member Oliver Stutter, Simon Taylor & M.C.Walsh, David Thompson, Anna Turvey. Letters have gone out to our members who have long been subscribing by Standing Order to our old bank, Lloyds TSB. Our account is now with CAF - many thanks to those who have already changed their order. I do hope to have received all replies by January, when payments are due. Members who pay their subscriptions by cash or cheque will find both a renewal form and s.a.e. en-closed in this issue. Prompt renewals will be most helpful. If you haven’t already done so, please don't forget to sign the Gift Aid declaration. If you give me your email address, I can update you on Herne Hill news and remind you of future events. Please note I send blind copies so that your names and addresses are not revealed to others.

Caroline Knapp Membership Secretary

COMMUNITY PROJECT It has been suggested that the Society could use some of its funds to sponsor a suitable project, which would be locally based and of benefit to the community. Ideas for a project could come from an individual or a group.

Any proposal should encompass the aims and objectives of the Society. It should help promote improvements to local amenities; or improve knowledge and information about our local history.

If you have any ideas, suggestions or would like more information, please contact Brenda Jones, P.O. Box 27845, London SE24 9XA.

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DENMARK HILL STATION On the edge of our area, Denmark Hill Station is one of the first to benefit from the Department of Transport’s £370 million programme to improve station access for all. Network Rail will be providing an accessible step-free route into the station and to and fro between each platform. Site work is planned to begin in early 2008. Meanwhile, Network Rail has been consulting about plans involving diverting the London Bridge to Victoria line via Clapham Junction instead of going through Denmark Hill station. There are many objections to this as it is a busy line serving King’s College and the Maudsley Hospitals, as well as many commuters. Our MP Tessa Jowell has been leading opposition to the plan, and has urged a rethink. Herne Hill Station The current work to install lifts that will also provide step-free access to the platforms at Herne Hill Station is scheduled to be completed by mid 2008. However, SouthEastern Trains hopes that the lifts will be in operation earlier than that.

SN

TRANSFORMATIONS GOOD AND BAD

News from the Friends of the Carnegie Library Our Breathing Places project to create a reading and wildlife garden behind the library proceeds apace. Failing trees have been taken out, a level path from Ferndene Road has been laid to provide easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs; clearing galore and much other work has been done. In this we have had a great deal of help from Lambeth’s Parks Department and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. On national Make a Difference Day, 27th October, we worked on the garden, clearing and planting, and recruited ten adults and ten children to our ongoing gardening group which will be carrying the work forward. It will usually be working in the library gardens on the first Saturday of each month from 11am until 3pm, when we have our monthly Friends’ tea. More help is always welcome. Lambeth’s ‘Transformational Review of Libraries, Archives and Arts’, published in July, is grim reading. The emphasis is on the provision of computers and information technology, with the stocks of books in the Council’s libraries to be run down further. We are told that “less is more” and that serendipity on the part of borrowers should be encouraged by replacing shelves of books by displays of a few books, showing their front covers. The report recommends that the Carnegie should have a “Focus on Children”, without any commitment to providing an adult library and appears to suggest that most of the building could be converted to a

combination of flats (“enabling development”) and a performance venue. The full report, 99 pages plus appendices, is on Lambeth’s website. I have attempted to summarise it in three pages, which I will gladly email to anyone who emails foclchair@googlemail.com requesting a copy.

Stephen Carlill, Chair of the Friends

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KICKING THE HABIT JUST SAY “NO!”

From the Herne Hill Forum Chair

If you managed to get a summer holiday this year it probably seems now like a distant memory. Maybe rain soaked in this country or a sunny break abroad, walking along the beaches enjoying what life can give us. Maybe we should twin Herne Hill with all the beaches around the world as we have much in com-mon with them. The same is also true of our local parks, hedgerows and streets.

The common link is horrifying, discarded plastic bags that have been used for 20 minutes and then thrown away. The problem is that there isn’t an ‘away’ any more. The plastics take between 100 and 800 years to decompose - so putting them in the shrinking landfills passes the problem to the next generation. Even so called bio-degradable plastic, that some supermarkets are trying to earn ‘green’ points for, takes years to decompose and the end product is usable for nothing, never mind the energy and raw materials used to make them in the first place – not what reduce, reuse or recycle is all about.

Vast slicks of plastics are found in our oceans and unlike oil spills which eventually break down they will still be there in hundreds of year’s time, damag-ing wildlife and leaving a legacy that we should not be proud of. They are all too visible, caught in park railings, washed up on pristine beaches, blowing down the street as urban tumbleweed.

It is a serious habit that we have acquired – 18 billion a year just from supermarkets in this country alone with 200 million a year collected from our parks, streets and open spaces. It took plastic bags blocking the drainage systems in Bangladesh resulting in se-vere floods for them to be banned nationwide there. So how can we kick this habit?

Change needs to start locally. We have the most pow-erful weapon the developed countries have ever in-vented available to almost everyone – the power of the consumer. If we stop buying something, sooner or later the manufacturers and retailers will get the mes-sage. Traders in East Dulwich are giving away really good long lasting shopping bags and charging for any plastic bag – they haven’t had a murmur of protest from their customers, in fact they are enthusiastic about the whole scheme.

The next time you see a pile of thin plastic bags at the checkout till you may want to ponder that in South Africa that retailer would be liable for ten years in prison. When Mahatma Gandhi was asked what he thought of western civilisation he thought for a while and said “I think it would it would be a very good idea”. Next time you get offered a plastic bag, think of our streets, parks, wildlife and beaches, start to kick the habit – ponder for a while, smile and just say no.

Giles Gibson

NEW MANAGER FOR BROCKWELL PARK

Patrick Driscall took up his appointment as Brockwell Park Manager at the beginning of September. He is based in Brockwell Hall. Patrick’s remit will be to manage the park in terms of the grounds maintenance contract and assist with maintenance of the buildings within the Park. The position will act as a key contact for people and stakeholders within and of the Park and Patrick hopes to take an overall view of park management. He will be working closely with Theresa Hoare who is the newly appointed Development and Education Officer.

Patrick said ”I ‘m very excited to have the privilege of playing an active role in managing a major London park; one which local people clearly care about and

have a vested interest in. I’m joining the Park’s team just as a bid is being put forward for Stage II Heritage Lottery Fund monies to assist the LB of Lambeth in restoring the Park. It’s an incredibly exciting time. Brockwell

Park is a valued green space which is a very real community asset with a unique heritage, landscape and ecology. I am keen to make links to the diverse range of interests demonstrated by Park users and look forward to helping to progress the HLF bid forwards with the aim of making this a flagship park.”

HERNE HILL CPZ We understand there is to be a Stakeholder meeting in the middle of November to discuss the results of the second consultation, and then a public meeting will be held later.

The Society will be represented as a stakeholder at the preliminary meeting and I am sure many interested residents will attend the public meeting when the date and venue are announced.

SN

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SOUTHWARK AND LAMBETH ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

December 11th: AGM & PRESIDENTIAL LECTURE Dennis Turner - Archaeologist and Historian The Castles of Surrey

January 8th (2008): Len Reilly - Archivist Octavia Hill, Her Work and Influence on Social Housing Provision in Lambeth and Southwark

February 12th: Various speakers Recent Local Archaeological and Historical Work

March 11th: Dee Cook - Archivist The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, Past and Present

All lectures Tuesdays at 7:30 pm. at Co-Op Hall, 106 The Cut, Waterloo, SE1 8LN, between Cornwall Road and the Young Vic. Light refreshments are served at 7:00. Visitors £1.00 towards costs please.

OTHER SOCIETIES’ EVENTS Sunday 2 December at 11:00-3:00pm Friends of Brockwell Park:

Winter Fayre at Brockwell Hall; Cards, gifts, books, Societies’ stands.

Saturday 15 December at 11:00-3:00pm Friends of Carnegie Library:

Winter Fayre with Nursery Rhyme theme, Arts & Crafts, tombola, refreshments, cards, presents, Societies’ stalls; at the library, 188 Herne Hill Road SE24

Monday 17 December at 8:00pm Streatham Society:

“Magic” by Michael Symes; at “Woodlands”, 16 Leigham Court Road SW16

Friday 21 December at 4:00-8:00pm Brixton Society:

Peace and Light Event, featuring the products of lantern-making workshops Sundays 18 November-15 December. Music & refreshments from 7:00pm; at Brixton Tate Library Gardens

Monday 7 January 2008 at 8:00pm Streatham Society:

“Victorian & Edwardian Athletes in South London” by Kevin Kelly, Herne Hill Harriers; at “Woodlands”, 16 Leigham Court Road SW16

Thursday 17 January at 8:00pm Norwood Society:

Digital Photographs by Keith Holdaway; at Phoenix Centre, Westow Street SE19.

Monday 4 February at 8:00pm Streatham Society:

“An Introduction to Croydon’s Archives” by Chris Bennett; at “Woodlands”, 16 Leigham Court Road SW16

Sunday 17 February at 3:00pm Peckham Society:

“Recent Archaeological Finds in Southwark”

by Dr Christopher Constable, Archaeology Officer; at Goose Green Centre, St John’s Church, East Dulwich Road SE22

Thursday 21 February at 8:00pm Norwood Society:

“Early History of Scouting in Surrey” by Michael Gilbert, Crystal Palace Foundation; at Phoenix Centre, Westow Street SE19

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TRAVEL NEWS New Rail Timetables from 9th December will intro-duce new times and frequencies on services from Vic-toria to Orpington via Herne Hill.

To Orpington Monday to Friday will start from 05.45 then 06.45, 07.15, 07.46, 08.15, 08.46, 09.17, 09.32, 09.46, and from 10.00 hours every 15 minutes until 16.15 then at 20 or 30 minute intervals.

On Saturday 06.00, 07.00, 07.30, 08.00 and then every 15 minutes until 20.00, then every 30 minutes until Midnight. Sunday service every 30 minutes from 8.01, 08.31, etc until 23.31 hours.

To Victoria similar frequencies Monday to Friday.

The semi fast service to Maidstone via Swanley will no longer stop at Herne Hill, and it will be necessary to change at Bromley South.

Thameslink (First Capital Connect): The King’s Cross Thameslink Station will close on 8th December and the new St. Pancras International Station will be open for through services to Luton and Bedford. The following day a new timetable comes into effect, with similar services Monday to Friday but the Sunday service will improve. From 09.27 and 09.57 every 30 minutes via Wimbledon to Sutton un-til 20.57. To Luton 10.42, 11.12 every 30 minutes until 21.42 hours.

Be sure to ask for these new timetables at Herne Hill Station

W.E. Kirby

RED POST HILL BRIDGE RENEWAL

Network Rail has announced plans to replace this 130 year old bridge, built of cast iron girders on brick arches. The bridge is showing signs of its age and, for some time now there have been restrictions on the traffic allowed to use it.

Replacing the bridge will mean that the road will have to close. Pedestrians and cyclists will still be allowed to cross. Although there may be times when all access will be restricted or disrupted.

The job will take six months. Preparation work is scheduled to begin on 10th December; with road closures starting from 2nd January 2008 for 19 weeks (reopening the road is planned for 16th May 2008). The Grade II listed North Dulwich Station building will not be affected and access to the station will be maintained throughout the bridge renewal. Whilst the bridge is closed, traffic will be diverted via Half Moon Lane and Village Way. Temporary bus stops will be installed on the diversion.

The project is being jointly funded by Network Rail and Transport for London.

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THE FUTURE OF ST. JOHN’S CHURCH

Milkwood Residents Association (MRA) (in partnership with PopUlar Youth Association (PYA) and the local community) is a voluntary organisation which represents all tenants and residents in Herne Hill between Milkwood Road, Herne Hill and Herne Hill Road. It was responsible for the successful regeneration of Milkwood Community Park.

The MRA now hopes to repeat that success by raising funds to redevelop St John's Hall, which is a church-owned building on Heron Road (right next-door to Milkwood Community Park). MRA aims to turn this building into a modern community facility – below are two artist's impressions of what it might look like:

View from Lowden Road

There is currently no useable community facility in Herne Hill. We know that St John's Hall has great potential, both in terms of its size and its location, opening out onto the park. The building could be used for a variety of activities ranging from childcare to healthcare (with many possibilities in between).

View from the Milkwood Community Park

MRA is in the process of agreeing the terms of a lease with the church and completing its business plan. The next stage will be to raise the necessary funds, identify potential occupiers and secure planning permission.

If you have any suggestions as to how the facility could be used or you might be able to help, please contact Maude on 020 7207 9530 or m.r.assoc@ntlworld.com.

Maude Estwick

SUMMER WALKS The Society provided three local history walks for the Lambeth Local History Forum programme this summer, based on our two very successful publications the ‘Herne Hill Heritage Trail’ and ‘Herne Hill Personalities’. All three walks were well attended and much appreciated.

On 1st July Robert Holden led the ‘Heritage Trail Part 1’ walk from Herne Hill Station. This included unusual features around the station, along Railton Road, Shakespeare Road and back along Dulwich Road.

Jeff Doorn led the walk on 11th August, intriguingly titled ‘Literary Herne Hill’. The walk started fittingly at the Carnegie Library and went in a large circle, passing the site of John Ruskin’s home on Herne Hill, with the furthest points being Railton and Dulwich Roads and then Warmington Road to take in Richard Church’s house, before ending up back at the library.

‘Herne Hill Heritage Trail Part 2’ again led by Robert Holden, took in Norwood Road, Rosendale Road including the handsome bridge and Peabody Buildings and then back past Herne Hill Stadium in Burbage Road, including a peep inside to see the famous cycle track, and then the return to the station.

Thank to Robert and Jeff for leading these walks so capably. If you still haven’t bought your own copy of the Personalities book it is available via our website, through the PO Box address or contact Diana Chadney (email and phone number on back page). The Heritage Trail is out of print at present; although it may be revised and reprinted when time allows.

Summer Visit Sunday 5th August, one of the few hot sunny days of the summer, found a group of members and friends on a trip to the White Hall at Cheam, followed by the Town Trail.

We enjoyed the services of two guides from the Heritage Centre and then had a delicious tea. Thanks to Brenda Jones for making the arrangements.

SN

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ENCHANTMENT AT DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY

British fantasy illustration is world renowned. Yet, surprisingly, there has never before been an exhibition in Britain covering the subject; nor has one been staged elsewhere since 1979. “The Age of Enchantment: Beardsley, Dulac and their Contemporaries”, at Dulwich Picture Gallery from 28th November 2007 – 17th February 2008, is therefore most welcome, and a must-see.

It is a sumptuous show. Over 100 works, many never seen publicly before, are arranged by theme: the Exotic, the Arabian World, the Chinese World, Greeks and Romans, Fairies and Monsters. The show is perfectly timed, covering as it does the holiday and pantomime season.

There is emphasis on the fin de siècle turning point from

decadence, personified by Aubrey Beardsley, often branded degenerate, deviant and scandalous, to softer,

more whimsical fare. Fables, classic tales like The Arabian Nights and children’s stories, e.g. by Hans Christian Anderson, were published with lavish colour plates and fine bindings; these books aimed to delight with innocent

exoticism, rather than shock.

This change gave rise to a new generation of artists whose illustrations borrowed from the past, including rococo fantasies, rich decorative elements of the Orient, the Near East and Victorian fairy tale landscapes. Masters like Edmund Dulac, Kay Nelson and Arthur Rackham produced wonderfully inventive books which have become legendary. Many others emerged; and while some names are less familiar than others, all added to the fascinating array, in styles ranging from the ethereal and poetic to dark and warped, via natural fantasy, pastel-toned or intensely colourful images.

Step into the richly imaginative realms of fantasy, wonder at the inventiveness and perhaps wallow in nostalgia as the stories of your childhood come back to life. You are bound to be enchanted.

Dulwich Picture Gallery is open Tuesday – Friday 10:00-5:00; weekends & Bank Holiday Mondays 11:00-5:00. Entry £8; £7 seniors; ‘Friends’ and children free.

JD

ARCHIVES OPEN DAY 2007 The Society was represented at Lambeth Archives Open Day once again this year. The theme was ‘Having a Field Day - Sport in Lambeth’. There was a wide ranging programme of talks based on the theme in Michael Church and running in parallel, local his-tory stalls in the Minet Library across the road. This year the Society has slimmed down the publications list and we had a cut price offer on the less relevant old Ordnance Survey maps, which sold like hot cakes.

We raised a good amount (£152), and welcomed some new members. So thank you to all who gave up their time to help make it a success for the Society.

SN

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PLANNING AND LICENSING 74 Ferndene Road We have objected to an application to install front dormer windows with balcony, a new window at first floor level and new door at ground level. Our objection was made on the grounds that the alterations would have a serious negative impact on the architectural style and qualities of the existing building; undermine the uniformity and character of the local street scene; and produce a sense of overlooking to people in neighbouring properties as well as to others. Lambeth has refused the application.

We have brought to the attention of Lambeth Planning Enforcement Team, possibly unauthorised developments at this property, i.e. railings on a new rear extension and full height doors at first floor level. These could contravene a Certificate of Lawfulness, approved by Lambeth Council on 15th August 2006; and have a serious impact on neighbours’ privacy.

Plot bounded by the Railway Line, opposite 251-275 Milkwood Road An application was submitted to Lambeth for permission to build 14 flats on this site. Without formally objecting, we sought assurances on a number of issues relating to the environmental impact, the existing brick wall, highway safety, and outlook from the ground floor flats. Lambeth refused the application; however, the developers lodged an appeal. We repeated our concerns to the Planning Inspector who subsequently dismissed the appeal, citing, in particular, the impact of the proposed development on the local street scene.

51 Shakespeare Road On the grounds that it would result in neighbours’ loss of privacy and consequently breach Lambeth’s policy on alterations and extensions, we objected to a proposal to use a flat roof at the rear of this property as a balcony or sitting area.

Lambeth subsequently approved the application.

294 Croxted Road There has been an application to build a second storey onto this property, located in a parade of single storey shops. We have objected on the grounds that it would be out of keeping with the surroundings and contrary to a number of policies in the Southwark UDP. In addition, the proposal to install a stairway on the public footpath would present a potential hazard. In addition, the poor architectural quality, its location and its location adjacent to Brockwell Park would adversely affect the qualities of the conservation area, again contrary to policies in the UDP.

Southwark have subsequently refused the application.

51 Frankfurt Road We have objected to applications to construct a rear extension and for a Certificate of Lawfulness for a roof extension and rear dormer. This is on the

grounds that the proposals together will have an adverse impact on neighbours, on the character of the area and on the design qualities of the existing house; and would be contrary to policies in the Southwark UDP.

However, Southwark Council has now approved both schemes.

234 Croxted Road We have objected to a proposed rear extension to this property. This is on the grounds that the extensions length will have an adverse impact on the adjoining house and adversely affect the amenity of neighbours. It would also breach policies in the Southwark UDP.

Mufy’s Bar Restaurant, 113 Dulwich Road On the grounds that the growth of the late night economy is already causing serious disturbance to Herne Hill residents, we objected to an application that would have allowed this establishment serve alcohol to 2.00am seven days a week; and open to 2.00am (3.00am Saturday and Sunday).

Lambeth refused the application.

266 Rosendale Road We objected to an application for a Certificate of lawful Development in respect of this property’s conversion into five flats. Our objection was based on no planning permission having been obtained for change of use of the property from a Shop to a Dwelling House; part of the development failing to meet the minimum standards for flat conversions; retention of the original shop window and doorway being inappropriate for residential use and detracting from the quality of the local street scene; and an unauthorised single storey rear extension taking up most of the garden.

Lambeth granted the application on the grounds of ‘deemed consent’, i.e. that the property had been converted more than four years previously.

Tsolo Restaurant and Jazz Bar, 49-51, Norwood Road On the grounds that the growth of the late night economy is already causing serious disturbance to Herne Hill residents, we have objected to an application that would have allowed this establishment, at weekends, to sell alcohol until 4.00am and to stay open until 5.30am.

Southwark agreed the application, but subject to a number of conditions that included no entry or re-entry to the premises after 1.00am.

Herne Hill Junction Regeneration Project We have expressed our strong support for the planning application submitted to Lambeth covering a realignment of the Brockwell Park boundary line, around the Herne Hill entrance. These changes, that conform to Lambeth’s planning policies as set out in the current Unitary Development Plan, are an essential part of the Herne Hill Junction Regeneration project. Without them, the project cannot go ahead.

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Bar 127, 127 Dulwich Road, London SE24 0NG We have objected to an application for the extension of an existing license to allow these premises, inter alia, to operate until 5.00am at weekends. The application includes a proposal to use an outside area to the rear where customers will be permitted to drink and smoke. In our view this will cause unacceptable noise and disruption to nearby residents.

35 Hollingbourne Road The Society was represented at a public inquiry held on October 9th into Southwark Council’s refusal to grant a lawful development certificate for the use of the house as five self-contained flats. We had previously objected to the application as well as to two applications for a rear extension and alterations to the roof.

The developer had started all of these works without any application for permission and the Society has supported the Council and the neighbours into fighting these flagrant breaches of planning control. Depending on the results of the inquiry, the Council may require the developer to take down all the new building work and restore it to its previous state. All the flats are currently occupied so this will be a big decision for the Council to take.

The inspector’s decision on all three applications is expected early in 2008.

Lambeth Licensing Policy Review We have contributed our comments to this review, mainly relating to the problems of disturbance to residents caused by noise and anti social behaviour arising from the expansion of the late night economy in Herne Hill.

THE COURSE OF THE RIVER RAVENSBOURNE

The June Talk by Annie Gelly

To one whose young wellies were so often overflowed by the ditches, dykes and ponds of north-west Norfolk, Annie's talk always promised to be a delight, and so indeed it proved.

The origins of the name "Ravensbourne" might have been Roman, or possibly Danish. Certainly there was a Roman camp on the site, using a pre-Roman British site. Annie's talk outlined the history of the river's existence and use, and was illustrated by her excellent slides.

The river rises 420 feet above sea level at Caesar's Well on Keston Common, and flows along a ten and a half mile course before flowing into the Thames at Deptford Creek. The well had been used as a private bath until William Pitt built his home, Holmwood House, alongside it. The well was said to have medicinal properties and the gentry came to take the waters. Other wells were to be found along the river, the Ladywell in Lewisham dates back to 1472.

The river flows from the top pond in Keston to Padmall Wood on Hayes Common, then to Bromley, to Colliers, (or Colyers) Wood. In about 1750 the river was diverted to make a lake in the grounds of The Rookery, near the Bromley College of Art. The river continues northward through Bromley to the site of a mill mentioned in the Doomsday Book in 1085. The mill has been used in the making of paper, the manufacture of blankets and felted cloth, and by an oculist to grind his lenses, before becoming a private house in 1832.

After some rural slides of banks deep in wild flowers, we now saw the river confined to tunnels or concrete channels, now wending its way through south London: Shortlands, Catford, Bellingham, and so on to Deptford Creek.

Deptford Creek has been a major centre for shipping since the time of Henry VID. Two 400 ton ships could anchor there, including Drake's "Golden Hind" Pepys and Evelyn are known to have visited, and it now has a splendid seat in memory of a Russian Czar. We carried away the memory of Annie ensconced grandly in the aforesaid seat. It was a happy and most interesting evening, and will help us appreciate our rich local history.

Diana Chadney

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LETTER FROM DAVID WILDY I have been given a photo by Jeanette Miles who lived two doors away from me in Jessop Rd. It shows the Jessops School infants’ class in 1939. Jeanette is the one standing to the left of the dolls house, and the only one she can remember is Shirley Hazel who is sitting crossed legs to the left in the front. I am won-dering if any of your members can put any names to faces.

Dave Wildy

If you recognise yourself or can put a name to anyone else in the picture, do let us know and we’ll pass the information on to Dave.

THE DEATH LIST Think you’re safe living in Herne Hill? Reading ‘The Death List’ by Paul Johnston, you may not be so sure. The prologue, in which a gruesome murder is discovered in Hackney, sets the tone for a dark,

disturbing tale. We then move to more familiar, seemingly cosy territory. Our protagonist, Matt Wells, is a crime writer, pen name Matt Stone. We first meet him trudging up the hill and along Brantwood Road to his lodgings after walking his daughter Lucy to school in Dulwich Village.

Divorced, given the push by his publishers, abandoned by his agent and suffering from writer’s block, Matt has nothing to look forward to, apart from walking Lucy back to the former family home in Ferndene Road, overlooking Ruskin Park. However, his normal routine is broken forever when emails from a ‘fan’ turn nasty. Fan is short for fanatic; and the mysterious, obsessive WD (the ‘White Devil’) suddenly becomes demanding and threatening. Forced to write up the Devil’s vicious deeds as chapters in a true crime story, Matt finds himself in

the tightening grip of a calculating, sadistic murderer, hell-bent on revenge.

The death list of the title initially refers to the objects of the killer’s personal revenge; and one can almost sympathise with the desire to get even with an abusive father, school bully and the like. But the methods he uses are increasingly ferocious and chillingly enact scenes from Matt Stone novels. Then he starts on those who have upset or hurt Matt in the past. As the bloody killings mount, it seems no one is safe; anyone Matt has met may be a target.

In this tense, gripping novel, places we know and activities we normally perform take on sinister, menacing overtones.

Working at his computer, sitting on a bench in Dulwich Park reading newspaper reports of the latest brutal murder, driving back to Herne Hill from his girlfriend in Clapham, Matt is continuously being tracked by the Devil from his Shad Thames penthouse. Or is he nearer? Under surveillance at home, can Matt escape the Devil and police observation jogging in Brockwell Park? Is he being followed in the train from Herne Hill to Victoria? At one point his hard-boiled journalist girlfriend snaps, “You spend your life making up stories and living in your little protected pocket in Herne Hill. Some of us have to deal with the real world.” Matt reflects “this ‘protected pocket’…had been infiltrated by a savage killer, who was doing his best to incriminate me.”

Can Matt protect his friends, loved ones and associates? Will he exact his own revenge before the police, in the person of Chief Inspector Karen Oaten and her team, track him or the Devil down? And what of the shadowy crew of SAS operatives with their own revenge death list?

In reviewing a crime novel, it is difficult to avoid clichés, e.g. ‘page-turner’, ‘edge of seat’, etc.; but in this case, those phrases are apt. It is not a book for the faint-hearted; and this reviewer is no lover of graphic violence. However, the pace is so fast, one doesn’t have time to brood over the gory details. The tension never lets up, even after the thrilling climax. In fact the final pages give a strong indication that a sequel is in store. Can Herne Hill take it?

JD

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LETTER FROM PETER BRADLEY Dear Editor, The current plans for the Herne Hill Junction are important and controversial. Although I'm not aware of the Society having held an EGM on the issue, I understand that the Society's Committee is in favour and campaigning vigorously to secure the plans' implementation. This is something I, as a member, regret. However, I accept the disagreement on this one point and continue to support the general aims of the Society. Vigorous campaigning by a charity in a cause is one thing; inaccuracy or misrepresentation is another and I feel this occurred in an email message to members dated October 24. Most of the message was urging people to contact Lambeth to support the Junction proposal and while I oppose that I recognise it is a proper thing for the Committee to urge upon its members. However, one phrase of the email went beyond vigorous campaigning, I believe: "A small group of people, whose motive seems to be to stop the Project at all costs, irrespective of the benefits that it will bring to Herne Hill, are trying to whip up opposition to the application." There are two things that are inaccurate about this phrase. It implies that the opposition is small, ie just some of the Committee of the Friends of Brockwell Park, and that FOBP is opposed to the project "at all costs". First, opposition to the Junction plans is not "small". The FOBP is not a small group and it is joined by other local groups, such as cyclists and environmentalists; and its petition has been signed by thousands both on paper and online. Although there are people within both FOBP and its Committee who take the minority view and support the plans - as I within the Herne Hill Society may be in a minority in opposing them - the FOBP Committee and EGM have fully debated them. It's not fair or accurate to talk of a "small group" in opposition. The second allegation, that FOBP opposes the plans "at all costs", is most damaging because most untrue: the FOBP Committee in its resolutions and the FOBP at both its summer AGM and its September EGM have stressed that they absolutely back renewal of the Junction; their opposition is only to the amount of land taken from the Park. They accept some land must go, just not 1000 square metres. There are decent people on both sides of this argument, both within and without the Society. I regret that this email, from a registered charity, in its eagerness to put one side, overstepped the bounds of accuracy and fair play.

Peter Bradley

LETTER FROM ROBERT HOLDEN Robert Holden is on the committees of the Herne Hill Society, the Herne Hill Forum and the Friends of Brockwell Park where he is the longest serving member and a former Chair. He is a member of the

Brockwell Park Management Advisory Committee and the West Norwood Cemetery Advisory Group. He has lived in Herne Hill since 1944. Here is the text of the letter that he sent recently to the South London Press. It was published in a slightly amended form on 19th October 2007. Herne Hill Junction Regeneration Project I welcome the debate on the latest proposals for the Herne Hill junction, as I proposed the original motion at the Herne Hill Forum meeting in April 2002. It is important to remember now what we set out to do then: an empirical review of the whole junction, to include all six approach roads, all the crossings, the means of access to places like the station and the Park, every form of transport, and the transfers from one form of transport to another. The first priority was, and remains, the safety and welfare of pedestrians, people with disabilities, people with pushchairs and small children, cyclists, and public transport users. The second priority was to improve the flow (not the speed) of traffic through the junction, in order to tackle the long lines of stationary vehicles on all the approach roads to the junction. This is extremely serious on the Norwood Road side of the Park, with the lines of stationary vehicles reaching beyond Brockwell Park Gardens and Trinity Rise, and going up Croxted Road and Rosendale Road. It is widely recognised that stationary vehicles are the worst polluters of all, as the residents of these roads know only too well. I fully understand why some members of the Friends of Brockwell Park Committee have taken the attitude: “Not an inch off Brockwell Park”. Such an attitude is inevitable if you consider only one feature of the proposed scheme, and disregard the problems of the junction as a whole. The proposed line of the slip road cannot be decided by public referendum, still less by a chalk line that is viewed in complete isolation from the total plan, and still less by a petition whose wording is hopelessly misleading, and is calculated to prompt only one response. A parcel of land in Brockwell Park was recently given up to ensure the future of Brockwell Lido. This was accepted and widely welcomed, and will benefit thousands of people for years to come. For the junction, the amount of land to be given up will be the minimum necessary for the safety and welfare of pedestrians and cyclists, and for the smooth flow of vehicles, especially buses. The proposed scheme has received widespread support, and will benefit hundreds of thousands of people for years to come. If this work is going to be done, it needs to be done properly. A half-baked scheme which takes less of the Park but which doesn’t actually fix the problem fully is pointless. The proposed scheme is the best way forward, and will deliver the greatest good and the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people. I urge your readers to share the vision for a better and safer junction at Herne Hill, and to write to their local councillors in Lambeth and in Southwark to express their support for the latest proposals.

Robert Holden

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MY LIFE IN SHOW BUSINESS – SO FAR

At our September meeting, we welcomed back Robert Holden, for the second part of the account of his life in show business – so far. It was entitled “The Santa Years”, and in it we heard about the fascinating history of Father Christmas and the role that Robert has played over the years. “So who believes in Santa then?”, demanded Robert

provocatively of his audience. Most of the hands of his fairly mature listeners rose determinedly into the air. This was fortunate, as Robert has been performing the role of Father Christmas for 22 years, and wondered if this might be a record. The

importance of discretion was impressed on us. Stores are never named, and Father Christmas always remains anonymous.

It all began in 1985 when Robert visited the Spotlight office to renew his entry in the directory, and was offered work: to play Santa at a Ford dealership at Highbury Corner, a small beginning to greater things. He actually declined that job because a better offer came along: at the Covent Garden General Store in The Trocadero, Leicester Square, where he stayed for four years. This included photo-calls at Stringfellows and The Talk of the Town, where the beautiful girls were not always what they seemed. Robert did some stage and film work, but the lure of Santa’s grotto was too great. Robert’s application to a famous store in the Brompton Road was successful, and he found himself the major player in the Christmas carnival procession, with horses, bands and fanfares, riding high on a carriage and meeting the owner of the store. Next came a stint at another famous store, this time in Oxford Street, where he was ably assisted by Uncle Holly, who wore a pince nez made of pure gold. One of the highlights of his career was his appearance in London’s First Grand Christmas Parade, when he was Father Christmas atop a huge iceberg and was greeted by (some said) 750,000 people. One year he was invited to do a live phone-in for Sky Television, which lasted 30 minutes and was a most exhausting task. Santa and a friend! There followed stints at many more venues, including a very well-known store in Kingston-on-Thames, a vast store in Croydon (the third largest in England), many schools, and even as a motorcycling Santa. This would have been an easy thing for Robert as he already had the bike and the boots! On to Bromley Glades, Surrey Quays and the Houses of Parliament, a visit which culminated in the kissing of Tessa Jowell, a greeting fostered by Robert to this day. Robert continued his talk by describing his philosophy, the history and the traditions, the costumes, the grottoes, the helpers, the photographs, the presents and the patter, but especially the fun and the laughter. Finally, we arrived back at the famous store in Knightsbridge. The moment came to open the envelope with which he had been tantalising us all evening: had he been accepted for another season? The envelope was opened, and yes! Father Christmas rides again!

DC

HERNE HILL PARADE On 31st August, the traders at the Herne Hill Parade, formerly known as Carlton Parade, were so delighted with the transformation of their shopping parade, with their new authentic heritage lights (with eco-friendly low wattage bulbs), stylish traditional hanging baskets, and reassuring alert boxes, that they threw an impromptu Hanging Basket Opening at the ‘Hart to Hart’ restaurant. The changes are a great improvement and have made an enormous difference to the Parade.

15

DISTURBANCES FROM THE LATE NIGHT ECONOMY

In July, the Society was represented at a meeting chaired by our MP Tessa Jowell at Half Moon Lane Baptist Church. Tessa called the meeting to discuss the problems caused to Herne Hill by the late night economy. From the discussion it was apparent that many people were concerned about the increasing disturbances and anti social behaviour that had re-sulted from local pubs and bars opening late into the night.

In August, a follow-up meeting at Brixton Police Sta-tion was called by Alastair Dornan – Brixton Safer Neighbourhood Inspector. Those attending included local residents, including the Herne Hill Society, a traders’ representative, Lambeth Licensing Officers, Community Safety Officers and Village Ward Coun-cillor, Robin Cruickshank-Hilton.

Issues highlighted included:

• Many Herne Hill residents are seriously af-fected by late night anti-social behaviour. However, incidents are rarely reported. Hence crime and disor-der figures held by the police do not reflect the true situation.

• The changes brought about by the 2003 Li-censing Act are significantly biased in favour of the applicant. It is therefore very difficult or impossible for local residents to argue successfully against a late-night license application on the grounds that it would increase anti social behaviour by customers having left the premises.

• A major problem arises from the use of gar-dens and outside areas for drinking. The consequent noise causes serious disturbance to surrounding resi-dents. The recent smoking ban has made this worse.

• Even when incidents are reported, there is a feeling that the information is not always correctly maintained for effective later use. In addition, making a complaint is too complicated and a ‘one-stop shop’ system needs to be set up.

The meeting concluded that there were no short-term solutions. However, so that people knew where to address complaints and to encourage them to report incidents, a leaflet would be produced. This has been delivered by the police to households around Herne Hill. The responses will be monitored and further action considered.

Within the limits of our resources, the Society will continue to oppose any further expansion of the late night economy in Herne Hill. But this is made harder if people do not report incidents of noise and other anti-social behaviour to either the Council or the po-lice. We still don’t have that ‘one stop shop’. But un-til we do you should send information on time, place and what happened to:

For issues linked directly to a pub, club or off-licence:

Southwark Licensing, 020 7525 2000 or licens-ing@southwark.gov.uk

Lambeth Licensing: 020 7926 6108 or licens-ing@lambeth.gov.uk

For general disorder not linked directly to identifiable licensed premises:

Village Ward Safer Neighbourhood Team, 020 8721 2446, 07920 233913, or Village-Ward.SNT@met.police.uk.

Herne Hill Ward SNT, 020 8649 2007, 07881 511386

HerneHill.SNT@met.police.uk

If you don’t report it, it won’t be dealt with.

W. E. BOND 6, The Broadway, Herne Hill

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16

AMITY READING CLUBS Amity Reading Clubs meet twice a week, on Monday evenings 7-9pm and now, on Wednesday afternoons 2.30-4.30pm at Carnegie Library. Adults are helped to read and write on a one-to-one basis. We would welcome committed volunteers for the afternoon sessions. The library is warm, the atmosphere welcoming and quiet, and the students are very grateful for our support. Please call Caroline Knapp on 020 7274 2443

or e-mail: cknapp@btinternet.com

THE MICHAEL TIPPETT SCHOOL IS MOVING TO HERNE HILL

The Michael Tippett School is for students aged 11-19 with complex needs. The school is currently using two sites. Our younger students are based at Kennington, while the older students use our premises in West Norwood.

Our school caters for young people who have a range of complex and inter-related learning needs, which include one or more of the following:

• Severe learning difficulties

• Physical disabilities

• Significant communication difficulties

• Sensory impairments

• Autistic spectrum disorder Associated medical conditions All our students aged 11-16 have access to the National Curriculum, which is modified to suit the needs of each person.

In the spring of 2008, we will be moving into our purpose-designed school building, currently under construction in Heron Road. There will be a full range of specialist resources including an Interactive Room, Therapy Pool and Soft Play Area, alongside the usual facilities such as Life Skills, Science, Art and Technology areas. Innovative ICT equipment will be installed throughout the building to facilitate learning

opportunities for our students.

We are looking forward to becoming part of the Herne Hill Community, and have already established links with Jessop Primary School, The Milkwood Resident’s Association and The Friends of Brockwell Park. Our aim is to become an integral part of the neighbourhood, offering extended use of the school building by the local community.

Along with pupils of Jessop School and members of The PopUlar Youth Association, our students have produced artwork which is being exhibited in the Milkwood Road Community Park, situated next to the site.

Once we have settled in, we will be arranging a special event to celebrate moving into our new school building and Herne Hill – and hope that you will be able to join us.

Jan Stogdon, Headteacher

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THE STORY OF ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH

Michael Goodman, the author of this newly published history of St Stephen’s - its church, parish and people - is a retired Circuit Judge and Diocesan Chancellor.

The church was built in 1868 by Charles Barry Jr. (who also designed Dulwich College) as part of the expansion of South Dulwich into a residential area. The richly decorated interior includes a celebrated fresco by Sir Edward Poynter of the Stoning of St Stephen. The

beautiful appearance was captured by the French Impressionist, Camille Pissarro, in his attractive 1870 painting. It was severely damaged by a flying bomb

in WW2, but was later restored and continues to house a flourishing Christian congregation.

You can order a copy by sending a cheque (£7.00) to St Stephen's Church, College Road, SE21 7HN. All proceeds will go benefit the life and work of St. Stephen's.

TRANSPORT NEWS Route 59, Streatham Hill to Euston, via Brixton and Waterloo: this service will be extended to King’s Cross from 10th November to coincide with the open-ing of the new Eurostar Terminal at St Pancras on 14th November. It will operate via Euston Bus Sta-tion in both directions.

Route N133: This night service Liverpool Street Sta-tion to Tooting Broadway is being re-routed via Streatham Vale and Mitcham to Tooting, and not via Southcroft Road.

Route 415: From 1st January 2008, this new route Tulse Hill to Elephant and Castle will replace the 333 on Brixton Road. It will run every 12 minutes.

Route 333: will be re-routed between Brixton and Kennington via Stockwell Road and Clapham Road, and will rejoin its current route along Kennington Park Road at the Oval.

No changes are planned for routes 109 and 133 at the present time.

BK

18

Murder at Herne Hill, Camberwell Coroner’s Inquest on Body

The sensation which the dreadful occurrence has caused in the neighbourhood of Camberwell, Herne Hill and places adjacent, is very great.

After the examination of the wretched man, James Irons, on Saturday afternoon before Mr Sergeant Scriven, and Edward Wolley Esq., Magistrates for the County, he was removed in a coach escorted by a proper Police-force to Horsemonger-lane Gaol, preparatory to his being conveyed to Kingston for trial at the ensuing Session for the offence. His behaviour from the time of perpetuating the horrid deed has been that of a man whose mind is completely made up to await the doom which he so rightly deserves.

It appears that his unfortunate victim was abut 25 years of age, and had filled the situation of housemaid in the family of Mr Langton between six and seven years, during which time her conduct had been unexceptionable; the prisoner has been footman in the service of Mr Langton about two years.

Immediately after the commission of this atrocious act, a messenger was dispatched to Mr. Carter, the Coroner for the County of Surrey, who fixed two o’clock yesterday for the holding of the inquest. Accordingly, at the above named hour, a highly respectable jury assembled at the Prince Regent Inn, situated in the high road, about a quarter of a mile from the house of Mr. Langton, for the purpose of investigating the circumstances of attending the dreadful occurrence.

The Jury, having been sworn, viewed the body of the unfortunate young woman, which laid in her coffin in a room, in the inn, having been removed on Saturday night from the house of her late master. The corpse presented a truly shocking sight, there was a large wound through the head from cheek to cheek; the jaw-bone was likewise shattered, and the left eye nearly forced out of the head. This painful part of their duty being performed, the Jury received the following evidence.

Extract from The Morning Chronicle, Tuesday 4th March 1828 The cook and the gardener said that there had been an argument between James Irons and the victim, Susan Frogatt, during which he threatened to “blow her brains out”. Irons then left, but returned shortly afterwards with a large horse pistol which he used to carry out his threat. On being discovered with the body, Irons reportedly said “I am your prisoner, I did the deed, I shot Susan and expect to be hanged for it”. The Jury returned a verdict of ‘Wilful Murder’. James Irons, aged 22, was hanged at Horsemonger Lane Gaol on 7th April 1828. The gaol was demolished in 1881 and the site is today a public park on Harper Road, Newington Gardens next door to the Southwark Crown Courts. The murder took place at the home of John Bicknell Langton, a wealthy businessman with interests in shipping and whaling. The house was a large property at number 11 Herne Hill. It was demolished in the early 1900s. Numbers 79, 81 and 83 Herne Hill now stand on the site, opposite Rollscourt Avenue, and between Elfindale Road and Holmdene Avenue.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

19

ROSENDALE ROAD TRAFFIC CALMING

Lambeth Council plans to introduce a traffic scheme in Rosendale Road from the south circular to Nor-wood Road. It will consist of bicycle friendly speed humps and cushions and a 20mph zone in line with other roads in the area. In addition, on the wider sec-tions by the Primary School, the crossing places will be raised and the pavement build-outs made bigger. There will be a new raised crossing by All Saints Church.

I felt compelled to do something about 18 months ago when I saw the crossing patrol officer jump out of the path of a speeding car. I wrote to the local Thurlow Ward Councillors and Clare Whelan took it up. She helped arrange a meeting outside Rosendale School with the School Safety Officer and a Traffic Engineer from Lambeth Council, and interested parties from the school and local area. Even though many prob-lems were identified, the outcomes were moving the school markings, double yellow lines at crossing places and installing an electronic speed activated sign. Then things ground to a halt.

Over the last year, with the help of Clare Whelan, who submitted my e-mails as member’s enquiries, we kept up the pressure. By keeping track of who said what and when, it became apparent that a complete scheme is dealt with by different departments. You need someone high up the chain to pull it all together,

and through persistence we got it. A meeting in June this year on Rosendale Road with Timothy Jackson and Hayden Tuck, (senior council officers), proved that were at last being taken seriously.

A consultation with local residents, traders and the school community is due to take place soon, and we have been promised that the work will be done in this financial year. The support of Clare Whelan has been invaluable, and shows how important it is to have a Councillor on your side.

Jean Bergin Rosendale Parent

MILKWOOD ROAD, FURTHER TRAFFIC CALMING

We have been informed of the latest scheme aimed at slowing down the traffic in Milkwood Road. There have been a number of accidents in the last few years, including a fatality. And, with the change of use of part of the industrial estate and the new Michael Tip-pet School opening soon, road safety must be high priority.

To supplement the present chicanes, and 30 mph illu-minated sign, a series of speed tables and cushions will be added along the length of the road. These may not please everyone but hopefully will make the road safer for all.

SN

20

Advertising space is available in this Newsletter for local businesses at the following rates: Full page £40.00 Half page £25.00 Quarter page £12.50 Eighth page £ 7.50 Classified (business card) £ 5.00 (4 insertions for the price of 3) Full page is standard A4 (297 x 210mm). Either you can provide your own artwork or we can help with typesetting, free of charge, and include your logo. Please contact: Brenda Jones

020 7771- 1409

Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are those of the authors, and not necessarily those of the Editors or the Herne Hill Society Committee.

ENVIRONMENTAL PHONE NOS.

Lambeth Streetscene (cleansing, rubbish removal, pot holes, abandoned vehicles, graffiti removal etc.)

Phone number: 020 7926 9000 Southwark Streetscene (equivalent):

Phone number: 020 7525 2000

Copy deadline for the Spring issue is Friday 18th January 2008.

THE HERNE HILL SOCIETY Committee 2007 - 2008

Chair Sheila Northover 020 7274 2638 Email: sheila.northover@virgin.net Vice Chair John Brunton 020 8678 1757 Email: johndbrunton@yahoo.com Secretary Jeff Doorn 020 7274 7008 Email: doornjeffrey@hotmail.com Treasurer Rosalind Glover 020 8678 1757 Email: rosalindglover@yahoo.com Committee Diana Chadney 020 7274 7210 Email: diana.chadney@btinternet.com Robert Holden 020 8674 5101 Email: robertjholden@btinternet.com Brenda Jones 020 7771 1409

Bill Kirby 020 7274 0532 Membership Secretary Caroline Knapp 020 7274 2443

Email: cknapp@btinternet.com David Taylor 020 7733 5031

Email: davidjtaylor13@btinternet.com Colin Wight 020 7733 2573 Email: colin.wight@bl.uk Archivist Vacant Newsletter Production John Smallwood 020 7401 3561 Mobile: 07956 468 466 Email: johnvsmallwood@btinternet.com Editorial Address and Membership subscriptions: Herne Hill Society, PO Box 27845, LONDON SE24 9XA Website address: www.hernehillsociety.org.uk

YOUR COUNCILLORS

Herne Hill Ward, Lambeth: Jim Dickson (Lab.) jdickson@lambeth.gov.uk (07932 792 435) Kirsty McHugh (Lab.) kmchugh@lambeth.gov.uk (020 7924 9038) Becca Thackray (Green) rthackray@lambeth.gov.uk (07946 219394) c/o Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW.

Thurlow Park Ward, Lambeth: Irene Kimm (Con.) ikimm@lambeth.gov.uk (020 7926 2149) Clare Whelan (Con.) cwhelan@lambeth.gov.uk (020 7926 2149) John Whelan jwhelan@lambeth.gov.uk (020 7926 2149) c/o Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton Hill, SW2 1RW.

Village Ward, Southwark: Robin Crookshank Hilton (Con.) robin.crookshank.hilton@southwark.gov.uk (020 8613 6046) Toby Eckersley (Con.) toby.eckersley@southwark.gov.uk (020 7701 3112) Nick Vineall (Con.) nick.vineall@southwark.gov.uk (020 7358 3524) c/o Town Hall, Peckham Road, London SE5 8UB

Your GLA Member Valerie Shawcross AM (Lab.) valerie.shawcross@london.gov.uk (020 7983 4407) GLA, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA

Your MP Tessa Jowell MP (Lab.) jowellt@parliament.uk (020 8333 1372) House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA