November 2012

S S EE nine

Totally independent, serving the community for over 6 years

Eltham SE9 NOVEMBER 2012 REMEMBRANCE

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SEnine

2 It is your community, you have the right to a say in what happens

What a night.

I have just returned home from the SEnine Annual Concert. I cannot begin to explain how well it went, but I can try.

Before I go into some details of the night I must fi rst acknowledge Mr Chris Lloyd. What a champion he is of local music and entertainment. The band under his direction were absolutely fabulous and presented a polished performance.

There were a few surprises for SEnine concert regulars. They were presented with a wide range of entertainment, including a young rapper named Lee Regelous. While rap might not be everyone's cup of tea, his personality shone through as he introduced his self written raps.

Another young performer, no doubt on his way to stardom, was local lad Harvey Montague. Harvey sang two cover songs and two of his own compositions. His sometimes soft but always strong vocals were complemented by his guitar work and he even played a harmonica interlude. Keep your eye out for him in the future.

Also presenting on the night were Eric Whiting And Penny Walse. Eric's humorous style was refl ected in his choice of three Tom Lehrer songs that were clever, entertaining and funny. Penny's strong voice added depth to the performance. Both Eric and Penny

are seasoned performers that delighted the audience. They are part of a larger ensemble that perform regularly in Eltham and surrounds.

A highlight of the night, if there were not enough already, were the Barbershop Group. Young singers drawn from The Greenwich Academy of Music and Drama and the Greenwich Youth Band presented a beautifully harmonized series of songs.

The show stopper of the night was the Greenwich Community Choir, under the direction of Jez Laing. The 60 strong choir, excellently supported by Tak Man Chow on piano presented a number of popular songs. The highlight was their performance of Locus Iste. This diffi cult piece was presented with the exact amount of subtle harmony and deep passion that was required to make it extra-ordinary.

The show was performed at Holy Trinity Church in Southend Crescent. This venue, aside from its main function of serving its faithful is a beautiful backdrop for quality shows, as was the SEnine concert.

If you were not among the 250 strong audience you missed one of the highlights of Eltham's cultural and entertainment events.

Keep your eye out for it next year.

Happy Birthday

SEnine Magazine is six years old with this issue.

It has been an i n t e r e s t i n g journey from those faultering start-up steps to the magazine you now have before you.

I extend my deepest gratitude to John Webb, who's tireless eff orts keep the magazine full of interesting news and stories.

I also sincerely thank all the writers that contribute stories and time every month to bring you up to date with events in Eltham

Also thanks to the behind the scenes people that do the proof reading, a thankless but extremely important task.

As we move into our seventh year I am very proud of the magazine and what has been achieved. I am also proud of Eltham and the support it has shown the magazine, and in particular 'Friends of SEnine' who have fi nancially displayed their commitment .

Thankyou Enjoy life: Enjoy Eltham.

Cover: The Mermaid, Amanda Louise, donated to the University of Greenwich (Winter Garden Avery Hill) by Paul Carey, the sculptorCover photo by: Karen Pepper

Cameo: Poppy Appeal, support the Royal British Legion

Owner Mark Wall

[email protected]

Editor: John Webb

[email protected]

Phone: 020 8333 7493

Web: www.senine.co.uk

Publisher: SEnine Ltd: PO Box 24290, Eltham, SE9 6ZP

Totally Independent

Friends Membership. Support for the magazine is always appreciated. You can help the magazine with an annual Friends Membership The standard membership is £24.00 per year (in the delivery area)

Royal Mail membership £36.00 per year (delivered by post)

Send your name, address and contact details along with payment to 'SEnine' PO Box 24290 Eltham SE96ZP

Or visit our web site www.senine.co.uk to pay on line. We look forward to hearing form you.

Closing Dates. All copy must be received by about the 15th* of each month to appear in the next edition. Contributions and Stories are always welcome from the residents of Eltham. Submissions are subject to our overall editorial policy. *Some months do vary, check our web page www.senine.co.uk for exact dates.

Web Site Price List

SEnine

3

OPINION , FROM MY DESKISSUE NUMBER 72 NOVEMBER 2012

This publication is subject to copyright - if you want to use something, ask we will usually grant permission

The estimated £4m proposal to make Eltham a more vibrant and

attractive shopping centre will place the new Sainsbury’s at its heart, with a re-development of the former Co-op building.

Having paid around £1.75m for the Co-op building, it is believed that the council will work with Sainsbury’s to redevelop it into a mixed-use housing, retail and leisure facility. The new store will be 50 per cent bigger than the existing store, which will be demolished to make way for more car parking.

Improvements in the appearance of the town centre are key to the plans for the town centre.

The plans outline proposals for a new town square on an expanded pedestrian area in Passey Place, work on which is scheduled to be started next summer in time for a launch pre-Xmas 2013.

Pavements will be widened and trees planted on ‘island’ beds in the centre of the street with the aim of creating a ‘boulevard’ atmosphere.

The run-down toilets in Well Hall Road, the subject of a SEnine campaign, will be subject to a £320,000 face-lift, with modernised ‘pod’ conveniences, commercial lettings and a Town Information unit.

A new public open space will be created in conjunction with the Sainsbury’s d e v e l o p m e n t , which could be attached to the St Mary’s Community Centre, providing room for outdoor entertainment and exhibitions.

It is envisaged that the St Mary’s Arcade will be dispensed with in the new arrangements.The plans are being overseen by the Eltham Regeneration Board, which is chaired by council leader Chris Roberts. Other members are Richard Upton of the Cathedral Group, developers of the Coronet cinema and Grove Market Place and John

Anderson of Berkeley Homes, who are behind the Kidbrooke development.

The project has the support of the Council’s political Leadership and general management team.

Local stakeholders groups named include the Eltham Town Centre Partnership, Eltham Society, Association for Commerce Eltham and South Greenwich Forum who will be fully involved in consultation processes. The proposals are also in keeping with the Eltham Masterplan which has recently been adopted by the Council as a Supplementary Planning Document, following public consultation.

It is understood that a template for the Sainsbury’s initiative has been the involvement of Tesco in Woolwich, which is accompanied by nearly 1,000 living units.Civic organisations in Eltham will be relieved

to learn that the plans for housing above Sainsbury’s are limited, with only three storeys planned,

containing just 20 homes.

A further measure designed to improve the appearance of Eltham is a fund for shop-front i m p r o v e m e n t s . There will be around £200,000 available to independent shopkeepers to re-

design their shop frontages. They will be expected to match-fund this from their own resources. A competition will lead to a prize for the best shop front re-design.

The council believes the measures will reverse the decline in footfall in the High Street and could bring in more than 200 new jobs with extra turnover to retailers worth millions of pounds.

An aim will be to boost the evening, as well as day-time economy and create a greater sense of civic pride and identity.

The plans show the expanded pedestrian area in Passey Place as being fi nished in high quality granite materials and the overall cost of landscape improvements, which will be carried out during the course of next year, will come to £1.4m.

As part of this, further improvements will be made to the pedestrian crossings, also to the road traffi c entrance to Orangery Lane, which is a bottleneck for shoppers using Marks and Spencer and Lidl. Planting around 10 new trees will help to soften the atmosphere.

High Street OverhaulA massively expanded 24 hour Sainsbury’s with a High

Street frontage is a key element of proposed plans to regenerate Eltham High Street, SEnine understands.

by John Webb

SEnine

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SEnine

5Strong People Strong Families Strong Community

Armistice Day (or remembrance or Poppy Day), marking the end of

WW1 and Remembrance Sunday (The second Sunday in November) a day to remember all who fell in wars, occurs on the same day this year.

Eltham and Well Hall’s Royal British Legion hope to make this years parade and appeal the best attended in recent history and are calling on people to come and support this year’s Remembrance Sunday parade in the High Street on Sunday 11th November

Last year, The Royal British Legion celebrated its 90th Anniversary. The Eltham and Well Hall Branch was one of the very fi rst to be formed in 1921.

Eltham resident Jim Turkington, who has been a member of the Royal

British Legion for 35 years said: “We’ve all worked very hard to make this the biggest parade yet and I would urge any ex-service men and women to come and join us. The day is one way to show support for a charity that looks after service men and women and their families all year round and a chance to remember those who have given their lives for us”

Over a hundred people are expected to take part in the parade which will include the Royal Legion members, ex-service men and women, contingents from the air and sea cadets, and representatives from the local scouts and Brownies.

John Anderson, Parade Marshall said: "This year we hope to be joined by members of 2nd Battalion Princess of Wales Royal

Regiment (2PWRR) and The Kings Troop, Royal Horse Artillery.

The parade will commence from the Woodcroft Club (Conservative Club) at the top of the high street at 10.30am (arrive 10am if marching) and move down the High Street to St John's Church. Those wishing to watch the Parade should position themselves along Eltham High Street.

To view the act of Remembrance and wreath laying (11am) you will need to gather at the Eltham War Memorial (outside St John's Church).

Let us show them we have not forgotten their sacrifi ce with a huge turn out.

Remembrance SundayLets us all line the High Street on Sunday November 11th, and do not forget to donate and buy a poppy.

A memorial to eight local men who died while serving fi ghting against

the Boers in South Africa has been restored by the Eltham Society.

The memorial remembers soldiers who died between 1899 and 1902 ‘in execution of their duty during the war in South Africa’, a confl ict in which British colonial expansion came up against Dutch settlers, both in pursuit of the country’s rich mineral wealth.

It is positioned alongside the Well Hall Road wall in St John’s Churchyard.

Until recently, the metre-high engraved grey granite stone was almost completely obscured by the grime of more than a century of weathering.

But, after an inquiry about its existence

from a historian in South Africa, more research was done by church archivist Margaret Taylor and members of the Society.

On October 18 at 4pm, exactly 110 years after its dedication in 1902, members of the Society, the Eltham and Well Hall

Royal British Legion and parish priest the Rev James Bryson, gathered to re-dedicate the restored memorial to the eight soldiers.Society founder-member John Kennett explained that the memorial had originally been placed there at the personal initiative of a local retired naval

offi cer, who believed that there should be something to remember the loss of life of local people, most of whom had died abroad.

Chairman David Sleep said that he was pleased that the Society had been able to restore the memorial to a chapter in the country’s history in which young people had died.

The Boer Wars were two wars fought during 1880-1881 and 1899-1902 by the British

Empire against the two independent Boer republics, the Orange Free State

and the Transvaal Republic.

SEnine

6

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SEnine

7Find and Support Local Tradesmen

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And with that, we all trooped off to bed, none the wiser about what was just about to hit us.

The world changed for ever in the next few hours, not least for the 18 people killed in the south east and the millions of trees thrown in all directions, often with disastrous consequences.

So I was surprised to hear a friend, who has come to live locally in the intervening 25 years, say that they had never heard of the Great Storm of 1987.

All of us who were around in Eltham at the time, however, will have our very own Hurricane Story.

Like all worst nightmares, it came in the wee small hours and, by fi rst light, had magically disappeared, leaving a dull ache in the mind.

Our awakening household became fi rst aware of something wrong by the failure of our clock alarm. Perhaps a

blown fuse? No electricity working? Maybe a power cut in the street! Our battery radio provided the answer. The whole south of England was stricken.

Then suddenly our memory of the previous night. The paranormal slamming of our sash cord windows, the eerie sliding of slates, one after another, from the roof, smashing onto the patio below. Yes, it had been pretty windy in the night hadn’t it!

Looking outside on to the street, with fallen trees all over and one huge specimen embedded into a neighbour’s car. The gaping hole in the roof next door.

Well Hall Road a scene of carnage, festooned with fallen limbs and trees from one end to the other. Warnings not to leave our homes.

It had been the strongest wind since 1703, topping 81 m.p.h. Strangely, less than three years later, the Burns Night Storm of January 1990 was almost as bad, seeing off our garden fences, greenhouse and the majestic twin sister of the giant cedar in Well Hall Pleasaunce.

Perhaps our memory of the fi rst occasion was heightened by weatherman Michael Fish’s famous faux-pas which, even in adversity, tickled our very British love of Gallows Humour!

Great Storm of 1987"Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and

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SEnine

8 Vote at elections, it is your right

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SEnine

9 Don't wait for people to be friendly, show them how.

Mr Eff ord, MP for Eltham since 1997, has been fi ghting proposals, put

forward by the Boundary Commission last year, to merge the constituency with four wards from Bexley borough, which would have altered its political complexion.

The changes would have given him an uphill battle to retain the seat at the next general election, scheduled for 2015.But the latest proposals from the Commission have produced a stunning about-turn, now suggesting the constituency should take on wards in Charlton and, surprisingly, from central Woolwich.

The Commission’s review was intended to give eff ect to the Coalition Government’s aim to reduce the number of MPs by around 50 and for constituencies to have a more equal number of voters within each.

Since then, the implementation of the entire review has been cast into doubt by the Liberal Democrats, who have threatened to withdrew support for it following the collapse of their plans to reform of the House of Lords, one of their key Lib Dem priorities..

But whether they go ahead or not, the latest proposals will be seen as a template for any future changes.

In the latest report, the Boundary Commission has made it clear that it has listened to the case put forward by Mr Eff ord in response to the proposals of last year.

It says: “Our recommendation for an Eltham and Charlton constituency would also avoid crossing from Greenwich into Bexley, as was initially proposed by the Commission in its Eltham constituency.

“Although there were some supportive responses, this

proposed borough crossing provoked considerable opposition from local residents on both sides of the boundary. The Labour Party expressed strong objections, and Clive Eff ord MP highlighted the strength of the existing constituency boundary (refl ecting not only borough boundaries but also the former division between London and Kent), the limited number of cross borough access routes and the division of residential areas on either side of the boundary.”

The wards in Bexley which would have been brought into the Eltham

constituency, including parts of Welling, Blackfen and Lamorbey, have consistently returned Conservative councillors.

Instead, the current Eltham and Plumstead constituency would become Eltham and Charlton, containing all fi ve Eltham wards, together with Kidbrooke with Hornfair, Charlton, and Woolwich Riverside wards in the north of the borough. The electorate would increase from 63,059 to over 76,800 in a overall review which would see London losing fi ve MPs.

The changes would enable the creation of a Greenwich and Lewisham constituency and also one named Plumstead and Thamesmead with Woolwich bizarrely falling off the electoral map altogether.

The proposals are subject to a further round of consultations before being put forward for fi nal agreement by Parliament next year.

The political complexion of the new Eltham and Charlton constituency seems to favour a Labour win, if the proposals are adopted.

A suitably pleased Clive Eff ord told SEnine: “The boundary review was ill-conceived from the outset and I am delighted that it is unlikely that they will ever see the light of day. I am pleased that local opposition to the plans was successful. We have a strong sense of community identity in Eltham and I am pleased that has been respected in these proposals.

Mr Eff ord won the seat in 1997 after having been narrowly defeated in 1992. He then won in 2001, 2005 and after a close contest in 2010.

A hard fought battle for the future of the Eltham parliamentary constituency appears to have been won by sitting MP Clive Efford.

Shooters Hill, Out, Charlton and Woolwich, In

by John Webb

SEnine

10 Join in a Community Activity

NEWS

Fourth Saturday of the month 10.00amShrewsbury House, Bushmoor Crescent SE18 3EG

Clive Efford MP

Fourth Friday of the month 6.00pmSt Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street SE9

First Tuesday of the month 11.00amAnstridge Community Centre, Anstridge Rd SE9 2LL

Second Friday of the month 6.00pmSlade Hall, Pendrell Street, London SE18 2PJ

Third Tuesday of the month 11.00amMiddle Park Community Centre, 150 Middle Park Avenue SE9 5SD

First Friday of the month 11.00amHorn Park Community Centre, 96 Sibthorpe Rd SE12 9DP

Second Saturday of the month 10.00amSt Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street SE9

Third Friday of the month 11.00amColdharbour Library, William Barefoot Drive SE9 3AY

Clive holds eight advice surgeries a month, where constituents can meet him in private. He will see everyone who comes along, but it is best to telephone beforehand so that you can get some indication of when you will be able to see Clive.

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SEnine

11Don't be a Litter tosser, put it in a bin

November: Young People's art classes and GCSE portfolio developmentGerald Moore Gallery. Eltham CollegeMore information 020 8857 0448www.geraldmooregallery.org

Saturday November 3Craft fayre for NSPCCAll Saints Church Hall, Bercta Road, New Eltham. Selection of craft stalls, cakes, books, bric-a-brac, raffle. Light lunches availableAdmission free. 10am – 2.30pm

Wednesday 7 – Saturday 10 NovemberWuthering HeightsDramatisation of Emily Bronte’s epic tale of love and revenge. Bob Hope Theatre production Wythfield Road020 8850 3702 or www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk £9 (£8 conc, not Fri/Sat even)7.45pm (plus 2.30pm Sat)

Thursday November 8Christmas Arrangement DemonstrationJoanna Marriott, Professional Florist together with Christchurch Women's Association. Christchurch Hall, Eltham High Street. 7.45pm, £2 admission.

Saturday November 10Open morning, St Olaves Prep School, Southwood RoadChance to look round for prospective parents 10am – 12 noon

Sunday November 11Remembrance Sunday Parade10.30am Eltham High Street11.00am War Memorial at St Johns. Come and support those marching.

Mon 12 and Wed 14 NovemberWhistle Down the Wind - AUDITIONSAuditions for adults and children will be held at the Burnt Ask Hill Methodist Church Hall, SE12 at 7.30pm - 10pmShow dates 20-23 March at Bob Hope Theatre. More information from www.eldoradomusicalproductions.co.uk or Sally on 07929709780

Mon - Thurs November 12 - 15 ‘Telling Tales and Taking Tea’Free storytelling sessions with local author Joanna Sterling. Come & listen or contribute.St Mary’s Community Centre and Eltham Library, see story on page 16.

Wednesday 14 – Saturday 17 NovemberBad Girls – the MusicalProduction by the Glenlyn AcademyFresh funny musical based on TV dramaBob Hope Theatre. 7.45pm (plus 2.30pm Sat) £13.50 (£11.00 conc, not Fri/Sat even)Thursday 15 NovemberEltham Lights UpSee story on page 14.

Saturday November 17thMusical Mayhem 2012A variety concert in aid of the ‘Love and Share’ charity. Featuring the Greenwich Youth Band, Christchurch Music Group and other talented young performers.St. Thomas More School, Footscray Rd. Eltham. SE9 7:30pm. Tickets £10 or £8 conc. 020 8859 4813

Thursday 22 – Saturday 24 November‘When the Lights Go On Again’Hulviz Productions. War-time songs and drama. £11 (£12.50 Sat even)7.45pm (plus 2.30pm Sat)

Saturday November 24Christmas Fayre St Andrews Church Court Road11am - 2pm Crafts, Bric-a-Brac, Lucky programme prize.

Saturday 24 NovemberChristmas BazaarSt Luke’s Church, Westmount RoadHand-made cards, tombola, Christmas gifts, bric-a-brac, cakes, second hand books, CDs and DVDs, raffle, toys, face painting and refreshments. Adults 50p; Children free.10.30am to 1.00pm

Sunday November 25Liz Burville Performing ArtsSong and dance showcase and competitionBob Hope Theatre, Wythfield RoadTickets £10 (even) and £7 (1pm and conc) from 8850 3702 or www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk. 1pm and 7pm

November 28 - December 1Nicholas Nickleby (Charles Dickens)The Tyler Theatre, Harris Academy, Middle Park Avenue, Eltham, SE9 5EQ7.45pm each day & Saturday 2.30pmTickets £9 and £8 for over 60's. The box office 020 8859 0621 or [email protected] December 2Christmas Carol Concert.Old Royal Naval College. Readings, carols, sea cadet torchlight procession. On behalf of the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. Tickets £20 and £25 from 020 8319 9230 6.30pm to 9.30pm

Sunday December 2The Sound of MenTen men sing pop classicsBob Hope Theatre, Wythfield RoadTickets 8850 3702 or www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk. £12.50 (and £10.50 conc aft only)2.30 and 7.30pm

Saturday December 8Shane HampsheirTop rat pack - swing singerBob Hope Theatre, Wythfield RoadTickets £12.50 from 8850 3702 or www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk. 7.30pm

Saturday December 15‘Christmas Special’Lewisham Concert Band and guestsSongs, poems, reading and carolsBob Hope Theatre, Wythfield RoadTickets £10 (£8 conc) 8850 3702 or www.bobhopetheatre.co.uk. 7.45pm

Monday December 17Recitation of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles DickensLeading actor Roger Gartland gives a one man performance. St Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street. Tickets, £5 Advance booking only 8850 2040. 7.30pm

December 2012 - January 2013Annual pantomimeDick Whittington and His CatBob Hope TheatreBooking inquiries 020 8850 3072

Every MondayGreenwich Community ChoirEltham Park Methodist Church on Westmount Road 7.45pm. All Welcome.An opportunity for people aged 18+ to enjoy singing in a fun choir. It meets every Monday during term time.

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Rates start at £12.50 per Column Centimetre This space would cost £25.00 / month** plus vat, term booking. NFP are always free.

SEnine

12 Eltham has something for everyone

WHAT'S ON

An innovative programme is being run for young foundation stage

students at Middle Park Primary School.

The programme includes a fund raising activity for Action Aid as well as a curriculum activity as part of the Geography Quality Mark award programme. The programme recognises quality and progress in geography leadership, curriculum development, learning and teaching. Middle Park is currently a silver award holder.

For the Action Aid, the school is raising funds for Madiel Resen de Silver, a young

boy living in Para State, in the north of Brazil. The target for 2012 is £180.00 at the foundation stage (£720.00 for the whole school) mostly raised through a Brazilian Carnival day, drives, cake sales and like activities.

On the day SEnine visited the school the children were making a Skype™ call to the Tiny People Bilingual School in São Paulo, Brazil.

"We try to give the children an understanding of the World, and where the children they speak to live" said Subject Leader Miss Lowri Millar. "One of our goals this year as a school is for the children to 'be curious' in all they do and lead the learning themselves. When we have 'introduced' them to their sponsor child and the concept of sponsoring the next step will be to fi nd out what they want to learn and how they want to raise the money"

The children were very enthusiastic and clearly enjoyed the experience, speaking freely to the children in Brazil. A rendition of 'If you're happy and you know it clap your hands' was repeated by the Brazilian children who sang it in Portuguese.

While in conversation with a student in Brazil a young student from Middle Park asked; "Will you be my friend?" The reply? Well of course it was; 'Yes'.

The Bronte sisters and their accomplishments captivate director

Wendy Reynolds, and alongside her enthusiasm for costume drama, it is easy to see why this classic of English literature - Wuthering Heights - was chosen.

The cast of nine have been rehearsing three times a week for six weeks, and have immersed themselves in the passion and drama of the tale of doomed obsession between Catherine Earnshaw (Sarah Maxwell) and her adopted ‘sibling’ Heathcliff (Simon Clifton). Edgar Linton (Nick Shread) is the cultured contrast to Heathcliff , and is Catherine’s choice for husband, whilst his sister Isabella (Emily Jane Smith) unwittingly aids Heathcliff in his desire for revenge. Catherine’s brother Hindley (Piers Newman) marries Frances (Ria Mahadry) and it is his ‘sibling’ rivalry with

Heathcliff that sets the destruction in motion. Jabes Branderham is a reverend and is played by Rab Cowan.

Told in fl ashbacks by the servant Nelly Dean (Eileen Warner), and Mr Lockwood (Nigel Taylor) as narrators.

This tale is set in the early Victorian period. Maureen McCarthy and Chris Collison have worked alongside Wendy sourcing costumes to ensure the vision

is accurate. This will be a visual feast of a costume drama. The set and special eff ects will ensure the atmosphere is true to the story. Lisa Tidy has created the clouds and alongside James Shaw (lighting) and Ian Hamilton (sound) the back-stage work will compliment the eff ort the actors have put in on the complex relationships between the characters. Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis is used throughout this play to give it a lighter feel, without lessening the malevolence. The music is the perfect choice to underscore this tale of destruction and passion. This is not a love story; this is beyond love.

There is some violence and sexual content, so this is not suitable for young children. But this adaptation of the classic book is certainly suitable for any teenagers, especially as a study piece.

Beyond a Love StoryBreeches and bodices are coming to Bob

Hope Theatre in November.

Will you be my Friend?

Subject Leader, Miss Lowri Millar (left) and Carla

Marques, a director of Tiny People with a student.

SEnine

13Be a good neighbour

PREVIEW by Beattie Slavin

Fireworks will return to Eltham High Street for the fi nale of this year’s Lights

Up parade.

The traditional seasonal curtain-raiser sees hundreds of young people marching on the High Street before the offi cial turning-on of the Christmas lights.

But the fi reworks spectacular, which usually brought proceedings to an end, has been missing for the last two years, due to the council’s austerity measures.

They’re back for this year’s parade, signalling a farewell to an end of a year which saw the Royal Borough celebrations, Jubilee Street Parties and the 2012 Games.

This year’s Lights Up parade will be on Thursday November 15 which will be on the theme of a traditional medieval Christmas.

Lantern making workshops have been taking place in local schools and a free drop-in community workshop will be held at St Mary’s Community Centre on Saturday 10 November from 11am – 2pm.

The lights up event will take place from 4 – 7.30pm. There will be a range of entertainment on stage and in the High Street including many local favourites; the Bob Hope Theatre, Deansfi eld Choir, All the Arts Performing Arts School, Rock Choir, street games and entertainment and much more.

There will also be an all new sports zone for local residents and families to try out a range of sports activities.

Passey Place will feature a small Christmas market and local charity stalls selling Christmas gifts and novelties.

Eltham Fire Station will also be open for the evening.

Also In October

All About The Voice

Saturday October 13th,

Details see Page 15

Pater Pan October 17th - 20th

Details see page 13

TIME TABLE

4pm: Eltham High Street closes to traffi c

4.30pm: Eltham Hill steel band play at the Eltham

Centre

5pm: Eltham Centre Christmas tree lit

5 – 6pm: Entertainment alongside St Mary’s, including

the Avery Hill Rock Choir

6pm: Lights turned on

6.45pm : Lantern parade

7.15pm: Eltham Choral Society sing at the Eltham

Centre

• Crown Woods Secondary

School

• Deansfi eld Primary

• Ealdham Primary

• Eltham Hill

• Eltham C of E Primary

• Gordon Primary

• Greenacres Primary

• Harris Academy

• Kidbrooke Park Primary

• Montbelle Primary

• Wyborne Primary School

• 1st Royal Eltham North

Brownies (Eltham Park

Methodist Church)

• Eltham Baptist Church

• St Mary’s Community

Centre Community

Workshop

• Bob Hope Theatre

• All the Arts Theatre

School

• Rock Choir Eltham

Taking Part

FireworksFireworks Return to 2012 Lights UpSEnine

14 Help keep Eltham tidy! Put your litter in bins.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Home 020 8355 5232 Mobile 07426553093

www.facebook.com/OvencleanJohnDenoon

Launch Thursday Night 15.11.2012 - 18.00 - 22.00.Caution Attending may cause dancing

MUSIC

TECHNOLOGY

DESIGN

14 Well Hall ParadeEltham SE96SP020 8850 0071

We all need friends. Senine would like to be your friend. Friends subscriptions are just £24.00 for the whole year. Support SEnine so it can continue to bring you good news each month. See page 3 for details on how you can help.

Amazing new speaker desks from Laboiteconcept

After reading a copy of SEnine magazine on a recent visit to my

daughters, I began thinking about my own childhood in Eltham in the 50’s where I attended Middle Park Infant and Junior Schools and my old football team mates! (see photo)

I am hoping that a few of them are still ‘alive and kicking’, particularly Andrew Marshall (goalie).

My memory’s being tested but I think I’m right in remembering, starting at the top, then left to right; Kenny, Leslie, Andrew, Peter, David, Me (Greame Morris), Barry, Terry, Derek, Jimmy,

Charlie and Cliff ord. Our teachers, as I recall, were Mr Fisher(R) but I’m not sure who is on the left!

My apologies as I know I have forgotten a couple of names; too many G & T’s, I’m afraid! If any of you are still out there I would love to hear from you. Greame can be contacted through his daughter; Louise Jackson124 Crookston  RoadElthamSE9 1YD020 8355 [email protected]

An Ex-resident of Eltham, Greame Morris, is seeking 'old' chums. Greame writes:

Were You There?

SEnine

15Make a diff erence in your community

This month sees the return of National Short Story week in which

events will be held in Eltham and across the country to promote short stories and literature.

Last year, St Mary’s Community Centre in Eltham High Street hosted ‘Telling Tales and Making Tea’, a two hour session of short storytelling, with cuppas on tap. Because of the popularity, this year there are three sessions.

Joanna Sterling, who has lived in Eltham for 22 years, runs the event in conjunction with her website which promotes short fi ction, ‘The Casket of Fictional Delights’. She said “The event aims to promote short stories and to get people interested in the wide variety of short fi ction available.”

‘Telling Tales and Taking Tea’ proved immensely popular last year, with many people attending the event for its entire two hour duration.

I asked Joanna why she thought the event was so successful, she replied: “I think people like having stories read to them, it allows them to connect with the characters and to see them in a diff erent light.”

Joanna, who is a retired human resources manager, has written over ten short works of literature, including ‘The

Female of the Species’ and ‘My Father’s Head’, all of which are available on her website. “Anything can spark an idea for a story. These days I always carry a notebook so I can jot things down”, Joanna stated.

‘The Casket of Fictional Delights’ is also host to a number of ‘Storycasts’, which are read by guest readers

and published on a monthly basis for all to enjoy for free.

The events are at St Mary’s on November 12th and 14th, and one on the 15th at Eltham Library, on the evening of Eltham Lights Up, providing a good

stopping off point after the parade.

It is primarily aimed at an adult audience, and the three events taking place will each feature diff erent stories for the audience to enjoy. The event will showcase some of the fi nest short literature from across the globe; including some of Joanna’s own work.

The stories themselves last around 5 to 10 minutes each and cover a variety of genres from comedy to dark fi ction. Many stories will be read during the three two hour sessions, including short stories by other authors. Some of the short literature that will feature across the three dates in Eltham includes Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Cinderella Dress and Burp of God by David Malone.

Additional information:

Admission is free however beverages such as tea and coff ee

will need to be purchased.

St Mary’s Community Centre – 180 Eltham High Street

12th November – 10am 12pm

14th November - 2pm to 4pm

Eltham Leisure Centre Café – Archery Road

15th November – 6pm to 8pm

Joanna’s Website on short fi ction – www.thecasket.co.uk

Lovers of short stories have a date in November to look forward to. Charles Ballard caught up with local author Joanna Sterling, one of

the organisers of ‘Telling Tales and Making Tea’.

Story Telling

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SEnine

16

FEATURE

Take a walk in the Tarn

SEnine

17Join a local community group

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construction company serving a broad range of clients. We have a widely recognized expertise in the areas of renovation, extensions, loft conversions, cellar conversions and new builds. Th e company has completed thousands of projects successfully since it was formed.

Our experience in health and safety gives us an advantage with working in schools, colleges and high street stores with the confi dence of public safety.

We also carry out a design and build service with experienced architects, surveyors, structural engineers and interior designers.

London and Kent construction is a solid player in the construction market with a portfolio of clients and building projects. We also have a great team of talented tradesmen and tradeswomen which has grown in strength over the years.

London and Kent construction is centrally located in Eltham SE9, giving easy access to southeast London and northwest Kent, however we do work in other areas by arrangement.

One of the area’s smallest offi ces is up for sale – sporting one of the

area’s biggest ‘FOR SALE’ signs.

The tiny 350 sq ft offi ce, built on a small triangle of wasteland in Greenvale Road, is on the market for £80,000.

The ‘FOR SALE’ sign, when measured on both sides, is 50 sq ft.

Locals have speculated that it is probably the fi rst time in recent history the sign for an offi ce has exceeded more than a tenth of a property’s actual fl oor space.

Agents Baxter Philips said that they would re-assess the sign to check if it was an appropriate size for a residential area.

Little Offi ce

Support Local Business

SEnine

18 Be active in your community

It has a history of philanthropy, public enjoyment and municipal machinations.

Park for all Seasons

The open grass, mature trees and community facilities of Eltham Park

South off er the community a chance for outdoor relaxation within walking distance of their homes.

The park is now more heavily used and in better condition than in much of its recent life. But it has spent more than 100 years striding through tangles of bureaucratic endeavour, good intentions and competing demands.

For the fi rst time, the park’s past has been chronicled. Terry Powley, local resident, is chair of the Friends of Eltham Parks, which is responsible for working with the council to ensure the space’s conservation and future development.Terry has written a comprehensive account of its history in a new 48 page pamphlet which is available from park’s café or by ringing 07530 528069.

It details the history and ownership of the land, how park came into existence and a blow by blow account of the controversies surrounding its use and facilities.

The story begins in Roman times and evidence of their occupation of the area through fi nds of pottery from around 160AD, the involvement of the Crown, which once owned the land and the gradual transformation from Royal hunting forest to privately-owned farmland.

Eventually attached to a large house, Park Place Farm, on the site of St Mary’s primary in Glenure Road, it passed through the hands of Sir William James, of Severndroog fame to engineer Thomas Jackson, a contemporary of Brunel and involved in planning the railway line which passes through Eltham which opened in 1895, the year of his death.

It was this railway which gave rise to the birth of the park shortly after the turn of the century. Developer Cameron Corbett acquired land for housing, made possible by the new link to central London. In discussion, with the London County Council and Woolwich Borough Council, he sold them 40 acres for a public recreation ground, which opened in 1904.

In 1926, towards the end of his life, Corbett, then Baron Rowallan, donated 13 further acres the other side of the railway, which became Eltham Park North, the original space becoming Eltham Park South.This set up one of the park’s long-standing wrangles – the provision of a bridge between the two - which only reached a conclusion on the building of the Rochester Way Relief Road in the 1980s.

Terry Powley’s pamphlet details this and other arm-wrestling between the area’s power brokers about the development of the park, most leading in eventual success. Today, the park features modern tennis facilities, a thriving café, outdoor gym, children’s playground and dog-free picnic space. The Friends contribute by paying for tree planting, spring bulbs and organising concerts on summer Sunday afternoons.

But it is Battle of the Lido that many residents will recall. Many are wistful for the days when they could swim alfresco in all weathers, others bitter

that plans for a community-inspired refurbishment received an indiff erent response from Greenwich Council.

From its opening in 1924 to eventual permanent closure in 1988, it was the subject of constant debate, from the vexed issue of mixed bathing, to the question of a roof and eventually over the cost of running and refurbishment.

A long, sad period of dereliction was only relieved in 2005 when the site of the Lido was grassed over, leading to the re-creation of the park’s pleasant and gentle vistas, populated by people – and dogs – of all sizes and ages throughout the seasons.

‘Eltham Park South; A Short History’ by Terry Powley, is available from the park café or by ringing 07530 528069. priced £2.

SEnine

19Help keep Eltham safe - report suspicious activity!

BOOK REVIEW

The British Red Cross was founded in 1870 just after the foundation of the

international movement in Switzerland following the outbreak of war between France and Prussia. It was originally named as the British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded in War and assisted both warring armies in the aforementioned confl ict and subsequent 19th century confl icts under the protection of the Red Cross emblem.

In 1905 the society was reconstituted as the British Red Cross Society and a Royal Charter was granted in 1908 by King Edward V11 and Queen Alexandra who became its president. In the First World War the society joined with the Order of St John to form a joint war committee. They pooled resources and formed Voluntary Aid Detachments, or VADS, with members trained in fi rst

aid, nursing, cookery hygiene, and sanitation. Under the protection of the Red Cross they worked in hospitals, rest stations, and supply centres. The fi rst group to be mobilised in London was the Greenwich and Woolwich Division to which Eltham volunteers were enlisted including Daisy Short (Picture Right) of Penshurst, Southwood Road, New Eltham, in September 1914. The Divisional President was Lady Maryon Wilson and they were initially attached to the Royal Herbert Hospital

at Woolwich and the Dreadnought Hospital at Greenwich.

In July 1915 the Eltham group was loaned the student’s Southwood hostel at Avery Hill College where, with the blessing of the London County Council, a hospital was established as an auxiliary outpost of the military’s Royal Herbert Hospital at Woolwich. The hostel was transformed to take 60 beds, named after war heroes by those endowing them, and was staff ed by the Greenwich and Woolwich Division of the British Red Cross Society under Mrs Phipps Hornby as Commandant and Miss Munro as Matron. The hospital was funded by voluntary contributions and a local committee was formed to administer its aff airs and comprised the great and good of the area including Mr Everard Hesketh of Beachcroft, Court Road, who acted as treasurer.

At Christmas in 1915 much thought was given to providing home comforts for the 53 convalescing servicemen at the Southwood Hospital. The wards were decorated and carols sung on Christmas Eve. On waking in the morning each man found a stocking fi lled with oranges, apples, cigarettes, and sweets and each

bed donor presented a box of sweets to the patient in that bed. A morning whist drive was held for which a prize was

off ered. At 12.30 came the Christmas lunch of turkey, plum pudding, oranges and fruit which disappeared as quickly ‘as Germans who get in front of a British charge’. The pulling of crackers was

THE RED CROSS AT ELTHAMJohn Kennett looks at the Eltham connection with

this international organisation.

Daisy Short from the Voluntary Aid Detachment

Casualties at Southwood Hospital

Staff and Casualties at Southwood Hospital

SEnine

20

HISTORIC ELTHAM

followed by a conjuring entertainment. Later came a ‘bountiful’ tea and the second half of the whist drive. The day concluded with a sham pillow fi ght as the men were in high spirits. On Boxing Day the patients were allowed visitors to tea and the others went to the cinema. Festive concerts were given by Miss Wissler of Blackheath and Mrs Kidd of Sidcup House. All funding was raised locally and subscription lists published in the local paper.

Mrs Phipps Hornby resigned in May 1916 as her husband Brigadier General Phipps Hornby, VC, DSO, had been invalided home from France and was staying at Blendon Hall at Bexley. She was replaced by Mrs Pembroke who was an indefatigable worker for the Red Cross. The number of beds at the hospital was increased to 72.

In the autumn of 1917 the building was relinquished to the LCC and the hospital closed for four months. Through the generosity of Mr and Mrs AC Latter of Southend Hall the hospital reopened with 57 beds at Cathay, Court Road, which was rented for the purpose.

In July 1918 this report appeared in the local paper.‘A brilliant scene presented itself in the beautiful garden at Eltham Court (Eltham Palace) on Thursday of last week where a ‘white elephant sale’ in aid of Southwood VAD Hospital was in progress and Providence, remembering that the hospital is £1,000 in debt through no fault of its own, sent the bluest of skies and the brightest of sunshine so that everyone was in good humour and therefore ready to loose purse strings. It may be remembered that Southwood Hospital was ejected by the LCC Education Committee from the house wherein it had comfortably established itself, everybody thought for the duration of the war, and it was in consequence of the expenses of removal to another house that the debt was incurred.’

The relocated Southwood Hospital continued to receive patients from the Royal Herbert Hospital until its closure on 13 June 1919. Since 1915 1,765 patients had been treated.

In 1920 a ‘complimentary’ dinner was given to Mr Everard Hesketh, on his retirement as Commandant, Red Cross London 41 Division, Eltham detachment at The Castle Hotel in High Street, Eltham. It also honoured all the work done by the Red Cross during the war including the greeting and stretcher bearing of wounded soldiers when they arrived at Well Hall station on their way to local hospitals.

During the Second World War recruits were enlisted in Eltham for the British Red Cross Society Detachment

London ZO with C o m m a n d a n t Miss McKay, SRN and Assistant Commandant Mrs Napier. Members served in hospital nursing, at fi rst aid posts, public shelters and as ambulance crews and awards were made for their meritorious

service by the Red Cross. Post war there was a very strong ladies’ detachment which met at Graftons factory (now site of B&Q, Footscray Road) to perform peacetime activities but the group like the factory has now gone. Today the nearest branch is at Wimbledon.

To this short account a mystery can now be added. I was contacted in 2009 by the British Red Cross as they hold in their archives an inscribed Union fl ag. Next to the Red Cross emblem is embroidered the inscription, ‘Presented by members of the BRCS London 41 (Eltham Men’s) VAD to BEF ambulance train 21 October 1916’. There is no local reference to any presentation at the time but the National Railway Museum states that ambulance trains were often sponsored, which may account for the fl ag presentation. Daisy Short, who we met earlier, became the owner/headteacher at Penshurst School at New Eltham, which closed in 1969.

The physical presence of the Red Cross in Eltham is now confi ned to their charity shop in Court Yard which has been trading since 1996.

All pictures are from the John Kennett collection

Red Cross Charity Shop, Court Yard (1996)

Some Eltham members during the second world war

Inscribed Union Flag from 1916

London 41 Division at Eltham palace

SEnine

21

HISTORIC ELTHAM

Bomb nearly destroys Middle Park School

A story of a lucky escape from a war time bomb has been told in a letter to SEnine

magazine.

Ruth Finch, nee Lymer, then nine years old, with her mother, two sisters and brother, decided to evacuate their Middle Park home, in Gregory Crescent, in summer 1944 because of the threat from Germany’s V-I bombs which were raining down in London.

A week after their departure, to Rhyl in North Wales, a bomb landed close to her home, killing three of her neighbours.

The bomb landed very close to the Middle Park School (see diagram) and knocked the caretaker of the school from the roof into the play ground, he survived.

Her father, who stayed in London, was out when the bomb struck on 14 July 1944, a Friday, at 10 in the morning.

It was the third time that Ruth had been evacuated; fi rstly when War

began, to near Ashford and then to Wiltshire.

Ruth who moved away from Eltham, to Dartford, in 1956 when she married, was keeping in touch through reading SEnine, sent by relations who still live locally. Ruth has since joined SEnine Friends and gets SEnine delivered by mail.

Between June 1944 and March 1945, 9521 V-I bombs were fired at SE England. A reader tells of one that hit Eltham.

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Mobile: 07944 575 848 Home: 020 8850 0354Email: [email protected]

Building Contractor

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Reasonable rates and reliable

020 8850 2772140 Well Hall Road

SE9 6SNNear Eltham Station

Come & meet our friendly team in our 97th Anniversary year

OAP special off ers - Tue or WedOAP special off ers - Tue or Wed

Trims £9.00 - Perms from £34.00Trims £9.00 - Perms from £34.00 all inclusiveall inclusive

We do Mens HairdressingWe do Mens Hairdressing

OAP's Tue & Wed £6.50

Cuts Tue to Sat from £8.00

SEnine

22

MY STORY

Join you local neighbourhood watch scheme

SEnine

23

SEnine

Take an interest in local events

You would have thought someone would have come up with the idea of setting one up by now - but apparently not.

Now a true red Charlton Athletic fan is 'bob, bob, bobbing along' and has launched an Eltham branch of a

supporters' association for the historic club.

It's just a few miles from Eltham High Street to Charlton's home ground at The Valley and it's fair to say a large number of fans of the team - nicknamed the ‘Addicks’ - hail from the SE9 area.

The Eltham Addicks Supporters Branch held its fi rst meeting on Thursday November 1.

Charlton legends Keith Peacock and Colin Powell were at the fi rst gathering at the The Woodcroft Club (formerly the Conservative Club), only a very long goal kick from the team’s training headquarters in New Eltham.

The branch is the brainchild of lifelong

supporter local fan Dom Matthews.

He said: "I've been a fan of Charlton Athletic all my life and Eltham has a large number of Charlton Athletic fans but there's never been a branch of a supporters club here.

"There are branches in North West Kent and one in Bromley but that's about it.

"I thought it would be the ideal place to set up a branch where fans can meet up and discuss all manner of topics from past heroes to how the current team is fairing."We really hope it is going to be a great success and a regular event and that Charlton supporters in Eltham will really enjoy it.

A team of young golfers from Eltham have been emulating their Ryder

Cup heroes by clubbing their way to the fi nals of a national competition.

The team, from Eltham Warren Golf Club, have won the south east regional fi nal of the home nations inter-club junior championship.

Their reward is to compete against 11 other team representing their regions at the national fi nals, at Crowne Plaza Resort, Colchester Five Lakes.

“It is a stunning achievement by the boys,” said club captain Chris Jennings, “Especially when you think that we are a small, nine-hole club and they were competing against teams from big clubs with dozens of juniors to choose from.

“The whole club is right behind them and so proud of what they have done.”

The Eltham Warren team was made up of six players aged from 18 down to 13, with golfi ng handicaps ranging from 15 to plus-1. Even to reach the regional fi nals, at Langley Park, Bromley, they had to win through a series of matches against other local clubs.

The winners and runners-up there will qualify for the Home Nations Final against Juniors from Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to be played in March at Antequerra, Costa del Sol.

Back : Liam Collick, Shaun Baker [Capt] , James Elliott, Henry Saunders

Front: Fred Woodgate [Reserve], Reggie Hall, Joe Chart.

Team Captain Shaun Baker plays out of a bunker

'Fore'ward to the Championships

More than 100 years after its foundation, Charlton Athletic has a supporters club in Eltham. Adam Gillham reports.

Addick'ted

SEnine

24 Local Business - use it or lose it

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The extension has allowed the club to develop a number of rooms suitable for meetings, training and functions. These rooms can be hired at very reasonable rates. The restaurant, bar and snooker room is also available to members and the building has free Wi-Fi access.

The Woodcroft Club will have its offi cial opening on November 17th 2012. All current members are welcome to come along and enjoy the festivities.Applications to the membership waiting list is currently open, please contact the club for further details.

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SEnine

25When in doubt, do the right thing

Is comedy in the family?

My dad is Charlie Adams, who’s a comedy writer. He’s written for some of the world’s top comedians.

Did he inspire you?

Yes; he wrote for Shane Richie, who called round one day when I was a youngster. They seemed to spend all day playing table tennis, which made a deep impression on me. It seemed like a great career.

Local infl uences?

At Bob Hope Theatre. I was in the New Stagers, the theatre’s youth group, in 1985. I was in a production with Jude Law.

Did it go well?

It did for him, he was amazing. I got carried away watching him and missed my cue. When I realised I ad-libbed, and got such a great response of laughter, I remember thinking how great that was.

How did you start out?

My fi rst paid job was as a Blue Coat at Pontins when I was 18.

What stars have you worked with?

I spent some time touring with the likes of Englebert Humperdinck, the Everly Brothers, the Stylistics, Gene Pitney and Jose Feliciano. It seemed a pretty good job.

And next?

Then I moved into entertaining on cruise liners, and have been on some of the biggest passenger boats on the water, including the biggest, Royal Caribbean’s massive ‘Oasis of the Seas’, on which I was the fi rst UK comic.

Biggest gig?

The Royal Albert Hall was a biggie. I made nine appearances, opening for Stevie Wonder, George Benson and Smokey Robinson.

And overseas?

Yes, my act seems to translate! I’ve done comedy clubs in New York, Toronto, Atlantic City, Sydney and Montreal.

Have you done

broadcasting?

Yes, I’ve done many happy years on Capital Gold, and been on three diff erent successful shows.

Do you tell blue jokes?

No, I’m totally inoff ensive. Because, and not despite that, I can still get them laughing and clapping.

How did the recent show ‘All about

the Voice’ at Bob Hope come about?

I’ve known Steve Hewlett for about 20 years. We’ve done comedy sketches together before. I’ve known of Maddi Cryer for years, and of course she had opened for Bob Hope when he worked in the UK. I thought Bob Hope Theatre could use a funny show.

Is it all stand-up?

No, lots of people don’t see that as family fun. I suppose I wanted a good old-fashioned variety show, but without it being old-fashioned. Steve and I wrote

two sketches specifi cally for this show. I think this is the perfect show for the theatre as comedy is one of things for which Bob Hope will be remembered. It was also nice to be able to work near my family.

What have you got planned for the

future?

‘All about the Voice’ went so well. I hoped it would. I’d like to do more of the same sort of thing at Bob Hope. Everything there is great, but I think it would be appropriate because of the affi liation with Bob Hope to do more shows strong on comedy. Variety but not old-fashioned. What better way to spend an evening.

How can people hear your routine?

Book a cruise? A cheaper option is to have a look at my website and listen to some of my gags. www.pacomedy.com

Local comedian Paul Adams has been telling gags for a living for 20 years. Recently, he returned to the Bob Hope Theatre with his variety

show ‘All About the Voice’ . He spoke to Beattie Slavin.

All Day Playing Table TennisSEnine

26 Help keep Eltham tidy! Put your litter in bins.

PERSONAL ELTHAM

The White Hart is a traditional Carvery & Steak house on Eltham High Street now Operated by HRM Pubs Ltd, (opposite the now demolished 'baths')

We pride ourselves on a fantastic service and hope you will certainly agree.

We are a passionate and dedicated company with a team that prides itself in exceeding our customer expectations. Our carvery including; beef, turkey and gammon operate 7 days a week, Mon 12 midday - 10.30 pm, Tue to Sat Evening 4pm-8pm, (early bird discount 4pm-6.30pm Tue - Fri). Sunday. Lunch from noon until 6pm. The Carvery also operates Lunchtimes Wed - Fri Noon - 2pm. We are Closed Mondays (Available for Large groups or Private Hire) Please call to book.

Open for breakfast Tue - Sat 9.30am

The Full Grill & Restaurant Menu operates from noon until 9pm Tue - Sat,. Try our Wonderful Steaks from the Grill, T-Bone, Sirloins, Rump, Try our Famous HRM Mixed Grill

We invite you, your family and friends to visit the restaurant or just pop in for a drink in the bar. Off the bar we have a lovely lounge area, with big leather chairs as well as a secluded beer garden at the rear. Come and relax and enjoy the great surroundings and atmosphere have a drink or enjoy a meal. You will not be disappointed in the new look White Hart. Follow us on Facebook & Twitter@TheWhiteHart3

2 Eltham High StreetEltham London SE9 1DA

020 8850 [email protected]

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Eltham College Junior School, Mottingham Lane, Mottingham, London SE9 4RWTelephone 020 8857 3457www.eltham-college.org.uk/Junior

SEnine

27Don't fi nd fault, fi nd a remedy

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SEnine

28 Smile , it feels good

February 2011: The Christchurch Earthquake, the resignation of

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and the elections of the new Greenwich Young People’s Council.

Greenwich Young People’s Council (GYPC) is a group of elected 11-25 year olds with one aim: getting the voice of their peers heard by decision makers. It consists of 19 diverse members from schools and youth groups from across the borough.

I live in Eltham and am a member, formerly representing Eltham Green (now Harris Academy Greenwich) and now the Member of Youth Parliament for the Royal Borough.

Alex Justham, representing St Thomas More School, and I have been fl ying the fl ag for SE9 on the Council and been a part of some inspirational work over the past one and a half years.

In October, we held our ‘Get Set Go’ event to voice young people’s concerns

on public transport in the borough, in connection with the UK Youth Parliament’s (UKYP) national campaign.

The event was held at Woolwich YMCA and attended by young people from across the borough, bus drivers and safer neighbourhood transport police who work in the borough as well as key decision makers: Cllr Jackie Smith, Len Duvall (London Assembly member for Greenwich), Caroline Pidgeon (Chair of the London Assembly's Transport

Committee) and the Mayor and Mayoress.

The event was a combination of serious discussions and fun games; a penalty shootout; a football tournament and some intense discussions on tackling the issues that young people in the borough face concerning public transport: safety, accessibility, getting to school on time and their relationship with bus drivers.

Also last month, we held a ‘fl ash mob’ Zumba session in the middle of Woolwich’s General Gordon Centre, co-ordinated by Eltham residents and sisters Lizzie and Alice Smith. Lizzie is a qualifi ed Zumba instructor at just 17, Zumba-tastic!

We held the event to promote our Mental Health Campaign in conjunction with World Mental Health Day. The event was a triumph, if slightly embarrassing, but all for a good cause.

“There were lots of young people who were really enthusiastic, I am glad I could share my love of Zumba, all for the greater awareness of mental health”, said Lizzie

On a regional and national level, GYPC has taken part in the national ‘Make Your Mark’ campaign in which young people are asked what Members of Youth Parliament (MYPs) should debate in the annual House of Commons sitting at the end of this month. We reached 65,000 young people last year and hope to reach 100,000 this year.

I look forward to attending that debate, followed in early December, when we will be hosting our annual event ‘Y Factor’ in which school councils from around the borough come together, to discuss their, and our, positive work over the past year and plan the year ahead.

We then have to start planning for our departure in February as our two year terms come to a close with our borough wide elections.

For myself, it will give way to hard work for my A-levels. A political career perhaps? Who knows, but my time on the Council has helped me understand the meaning of representing and debating policy issues and how the young can make their voices heard by people in power.

For more information on the council contact the Children's Society

020 7358 2017http://www.childrenssociety.org.ukor [email protected]

Young people are making their voices heard. SEnine reporter David Hall talks about his work on the

Greenwich Young People’s Council.

David Hall

SEnine

29Put your money where your house is - shop locally

YOUNG ELTHAM

They bring a dash of colour to our ponds and lakes, but what are the

red-eared terrapins actually doing here?

A recent report from the London Natural History Society says that it’s not only the red-ears but about 25 other species of which have been found in the capital’s watercourses.

Along with tortoises, red-eared terrapins became popular pets until their import was banned in 1997. But the other species, many of which look similar, have taken their place.

The red-ears are characterised by the tortoise-like shell and a red bar behind the eyes. Very shy and with good eyesight, they tend to go below water whenever a person approaches.

The best tactic for viewing is to watch through binoculars or, for the patient, sit still for a while and wait for them to emerge.

Terrapins without a red bar could well be the yellow-bellied slider, identifi ed by a yellow ‘S’ shape behind its head.

After that, any terrapin like creature found in the wild could be one of

many with exotic appearances and names such as the Cumberland Slider, painted terrapin, common snapping turtle (turtles are what Americans called terrapins) or the diamond backed terrapin.

Interest in keeping these creatures increased during the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles craze of the early 1990s. In the cartoon, they lived in the New York sewers and patrolled on behalf of good against evil.

But keeping them as pets can be challenging. According to the RSPCA, which carries advice on its website, they require a large tank and fairly constant heat to fl ourish, and need to be cleaned out regularly to avoid the water becoming toxic. In addition, handling carries the risk of salmonella.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always apparent when they are small and cute and some conclude that the answer is to give them their ‘freedom’ by tossing them in

the nearest open stretch of water. Sadly, this nearly always consigns them to a fairly quick and chilly death, which is generally the fate of those seen in our parks and open spaces. In their natural habitat, they should live to the age of 30.

The British Chelonia Group provide

chelonia keepers with the support needed

to ensure that their captive animals receive

quality husbandry and fi nance chelonia

rescue, research and conservation projects

worldwide.

The British Chelonia Group, for tortoise,

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can be contacted via their website

www.britishcheloniagroup.org.uk/

Terrapins in our Waterways

A fun quiz is being held by Eltham Nature Club.

The informal quiz, which can be done by smaller groups and individuals, will be held at St Mary’s Community Centre, Eltham High Street on Friday November 23 at 7.30pm.

It will look at the wildlife in the locality, both now and in previous years.

The entrance fee is £3 each for non-members and £1.50 for members. There will be seasonal refreshments available during the evening.

St Mary’s director Patrick O’Sullivan, who will host the evening, said: “The aim is to have a light-hearted evening which people with an interest in nature will fi nd entertaining.

“There will be plenty of prizes to be won, so nobody should go home empty-handed”, he said.

The club organises monthly indoor and outdoors meetings which look at the wildlife in SE9 and surrounding areas.Attendees are encouraged to email the club in advance [email protected] or text/ring 07894 711765.

Know Your Nature

SEnine

30 Take a walk in the Pleasaunce

NATURAL ELTHAM

Nearly 500 visitors poured into the United Reformed Church's halls in Court Road for the South East London Meccano Club's annual

show in October to look at the vast array of working Meccano models,

Chris Warrell writes.

Crowds gathered to cheer on the models in the four MeccanOlympics

races, staged throughout the day.

The ‘Push-of-War’ in which models tried to push each other off a table, was won by Alan Wenbourne with a very low geared model, apparently being pushed by two plastic men. Runners up were Chris Fry and Ralph Laughton.

The ‘Ping Pong Put’ was won by Chris Fry whose model scored a direct hit into the target. Runners were up Brian Leach and Chris Warrell.

The sprint with models powered by

clockwork "Magic" motors was won by Alan Wenbourne, with silver to John Gay and bronze to Douglas Windibank.A walking race, for models powered by a clockwork motor, to walk unaided was won by Brian Elvidge . Runners up were Chris Warrell and Brian Leach.

For future events see www.selmec.org.uk.

Not an Xbox 360 in sight

Chris Fry and the winning shot.

In September the Yak & Yetti restaurant on Eltham High Street celebrated its

fi rst birthday will an open house night for guests and invited dignitaries.

Operating from the historic Grey Hound public house building the The Yak & Yetti off ers diners in Eltham the opportunity to taste and enjoy authentic Nepalese, Indian and Tibetan cooking, any night of the week with both a rapid door-to-door delivery and take-away service, or through booking a table at the welcoming restaurant. They are also open for lunch on Fridays and Saturdays.

The Yak & Yetti also boast a private and secluded room which you can book for special occasions and functions, for families and friends.

Executive Chef, Ram Sapkota said; "We have honed and combined the talents of many specialist chefs in the team to give a unique combination of real Nepalese and Indian food."

"We do not change the true nature of food, but aim to preserve the glorious heritage of many diverse regional cuisines of Nepal and India by retaining the authentic nature. Our dishes are low-

fat, prepared with no artifi cial colourings or preservatives. We cook everything fresh and use raw ingredients of the highest quality." Chief Executive Mahendra Raj Kandel said; "The Yak and Yeti is not only famous for consistently good food, served to your table or delivered right to your door but our chefs are famous for their attention to detail and special fl avours. We pride ourselves on good quality wonderfully fresh food served on a daily basis to our local customers."

Yak & Yetti

86 Eltham High Street Eltham

SE9 1BW, London

020 8859 1832

Y&Y First BirthdaySEnine

31Your Community is what you make it

BUSINESS ELTHAM FEATURE

SEnine

32 Support local traders - shop locally!

020 8859 303322 Well Hall RoadEltham SE9 6SF

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FREE VALUATIONSThinking of selling? Phone for an appointment for one of our experienced valuers to call.

M O R T G A G E FACILITIESNeed an update on the mortgage situation? Contact us to speak to our Independent Financial Adviser.

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LETTINGSConsidering letting your home? Phone for advice on lettings and rents.

020 8859 [email protected] Well Hall RoadEltham SE9 6SF

More properties available at: www.bernardskinner.co.uk

ELTHAM PARKEnviably located in one of Eltham’s most prestigious roads overlooking extensive greenspace of Eltham Park South and adjoining ancient woodlands, and just a short strollto the station.

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This detached Corbett property offers ample character of Edwardian features while theoriginal spacious accommodation has been complemented by a loft conversion creatingan extensive family home with a total of 7 bedrooms (6 doubles) and 3 bathrooms, andthere are 3 reception rooms, spacious fitted kitchen with Aga, utility room, cloakroom,and Westbury custom built conservatory overlooking the patio and landscaped garden.

U-turn if you want to…After years spent trying to counter rat-running, the council is to throw in the towel by allowing motorists to turn right into Kidbrooke Park Road from Rochester Way. For a Labour council, allowing a turn to the right may seem quite a concession. But the problem has been sneaky motorists who have been turning left and then performing ‘about-turns’ in residents’ drives, thereby blocking the traffi c. The original aim was to stop cars dodging through back streets instead of travelling along the motorway. The eff ect has been to force motorists making local journeys having to hop on and off the motorway for a few hundred yards. Will traffi c chaos ensue? We’ll see. If not, then perhaps left-turners to Riefi eld Road at Falconwood might be liberated as well?

The next shop arriving at Eltham Park?The long-running saga of our Number One Eyesore, the old Eltham Park railway station, may be reaching a conclusion, SPY understands. After desultory repair work over recent years, Network Rail have reached the stage of attracting tenants to the row of four derelict shops. Apparently, the Railers found a pot of budget set aside to stop old buildings collapsing, in this case on to a main line, which paid for the new roof. The long-standing rumour of a Sainsbury Local or Tesco Express can be quashed as the site is apparently too small, but a SPAR –type outlet is thought a runner if the four units are run together. Another possible way forward is development as a restaurant, with the rail folk indicating a willingness to apply for the necessary planning permission.

Aussie Rules..Following last month’s feature, Eltham-resident Australian-born singer Grant Doyle has hit the headlines Down Under. He has scooped the ‘best supporting actor in an opera’ in the country’s prestigious Helpmann awards at Sydney Opera House. Grant had a whale of a time taking the part of ‘Starbuck’ in Moby Dick in the State Opera of South Australia’s production in Adelaide last year for which he gained the award.

Barren Knight..SPY understands acolytes of council leader Chris Roberts are lobbying in order to secure in New Year’s Honours the knighthood he feels he deserves for helping to land a trouble-free Olympics in the borough. Already over-looked in the last two lists, so depriving him of taking his seat at the Games as ‘Sir Chris’, the problem is that HRH can’t dole out the honour to all the leaders of the fi ve host boroughs. But being a new

Royal borough should give him the edge possibly? It could be a ‘thank-you and goodbye’ however, if some of his colleagues have their way. SPY understands that Eltham’s own Coun John Fahy is preparing a second bid for power at next year’s Labour group annual meeting. Concerns over Roberts’ alleged Stalinist approach to engaging with the public and fellow councillors led to 15 of his colleagues voting for the rebel Fahy last year. It would take fi ve swing votes to topple the would-be knight. Roberts at least showed a sense of humour by rewarding the vanquished veteran Fahy with the ‘adults and older people’ portfolio. The trouble is, with 20 Labour councillors being appointed by the leader to get allowances on various levels of between £9,000 and £22,000, it’s more of a bidding war than politics as such.

Cul-de-sac for Grove?If developers Cathedral ever give birth to their proposed six storey re-development of the Grove Market Place, the pains of the labour will linger long in their memory. SPY understands that they have now declared their proposals as completely fi nancially unviable, and even lined up independent auditors to verify the fact. Their aim is, of course, to wriggle out of the commitment made, during the planning process, to allocate more than a third of the 70-odd homes for social housing. SPY believes the council is likely to agree. Not to do so would certainly make meetings of the Eltham Regeneration Board a little uncomfortable, since chair ’Sir Chris’ cherry-picked Cathedral boss Richard Upton as one of its exclusive list of members. What with Tesco pulling out of the shop space and Travelodge undergoing fi nancial upheaval, the bulldozer folk can book an early Christmas holiday.

Boppin’ BunniesFun kiddie dance group Boppin’ Bunnies has raised a £472 for the Demelza Hospice and ‘For Life Thailand’ in a giant jigging session at Blackheath Halls recently. There were 250 tiny-boppers celebrating the group’s fi fth birthday, SPY understands a good time was had by all.

Alarming development..With the recent threat to our local fi refi ghters, SPY was surprised to learn that the Hosepipe Folk have spent the last few years handing out smoke alarms for free to householders. Indeed, they’ll also come around and fi t them for free. Best bargain in the High Street, SPY reckons. The number to ring is 0800 284428.

Right way to go?Observers of town centre development in Eltham will be watching with interest how the proposed Sainsbury’s megastore on the site of the old Co-op building in the High Street will get around the knotty problem of Philipot Path. The ancient right of way runs from Passey Place to Pound Place and its existence has previously scuppered Sainsbury’s plans to expand towards the High Street. Apparently, Sainsbury’s themselves had spoken darkly of ‘practical diffi culties with the proposal’, maybe this is one of them.

Don’t wait for Waitrose…One of the Eltham Regeneration Board’s more optimistic ideas was trying to attract Waitrose to come to town. The upmarket grocer apparently responded fi rmly but politely that ‘the demographic profi le of the area does not currently meet their criteria and they did not expect this to change in the short-medium term’. So a reasonable long-term bet perhaps?

Local Boy Makes Off …Ever keen to attach himself to any passing national news story, SPY couldn’t help noticing that Jeremy Forrest claimed on his CV to be a former Crown Woods student. In amongst the creatively-written CV he was passing around the bars of Bordeaux when he had ‘le collar’ felt by the local Gendarmerie, was also a mention of a local Pub, the Rising Sun, where he claimed a similar occupation at a few years back.

God Bless Ben, From Every One!For SEnine readers following the budding acting career of seven year old local lad Ben Salter, SPY understands he has landed the part of Tiny Tim in a touring production of Christmas Carol. It’s Ben’s third major part, having been in Carousel this summer and Madame Butterfl y at the Royal Albert Hall last year.

Make Your Opinion Know.SPY has been following, with interest, the exchanges on the ElthamSE9 web site forum. While SPY stays well under cover, he has decided to join the forum so as to provide those that read it the wisdom of his vast insights. Of course he might pick up any gossip fl oating around so he can claim it as his own and repeat it here. SPY encourages you to join so you can see his regular missives rather than having to wait until the magazine is printed. each monthwww.elthamse9.co.uk

SEnine

33Have your say, your opinion counts

Yalways newsy, sometimes

irreverent and often controversial.

SEnine

34 SEnine does not necessarily agree with or support any letters published.

Unless I am very much mistaken, your "love at fi rst sight" wheelbarrow (Oct 12) was, until recently, a member of my family.  Some 35 years ago whilst viewing the Thames Barrier under construction, I spotted her forlornly lying where she had fallen - or was pushed - from the scaff olding. I did the decent thing, risking life and limb, and rescued her from her watery fate on the foreshore.   A coat of paint and a puff of air revived her, for which I was rewarded with a lifetime of faithful service and uncomplaining acceptance of misuse and neglect, until a replacement was recently spotted on a neighbours skip - and she was disposed of. How she wormed her way into Herbaceous' aff ections I know not but I am delighted that, once again, she has been Loved (or should that be Pre-Loved?) at First Sight.Bob Underwood

SEnine contacted Herb's for comment; he replied that he was too discreet to discuss his barrow's former lovers.

I would like to add a comment to John Kennett's excellent article about the Walls Ice Cream men in your July issue .Walls did not have it all to themselves for very long, as another fi rm, Eldorado, came on the scene. Their penny ones were nicer than Walls, and a penny was all I could aff ord in those days.Reverting to John's article in the June issue, when the building society was using the old post offi ce in Passey Place, I saw a young man using the end of the counter to write some postcards he had bought, and when he had fi nished he went to the nearest cashier and asked for the stamps ne needed, He hadn't realised that it was no longer the Post Offi ce.Ralph Hunt.

Ice Cream

Either go to the SEnine web site atwww.senine.co.uk

or write to the Editor at:

SEnine, PO Box 24290

Eltham SE9 6ZP

MAILBOX ....... Have your say

Mail Box is for your opinion, express it

Do you have an opinion?

Write and tell us.

Unless I am very much mistaken your

Dear Herbaceous

I wish to complain about the ongoing traffi c problems on Dobell Road. Unfortunately I do not have a driveway, therefore I am forced to park on the main road. Last Wednesday evening about 11.30 a red car was seen racing down our road, it crashed straight into the back of my car and drove off .

Thanks to the driver, my car has now been sold to scrap. I am a staff nurse and work at an NHS Hospital and now must travel by public transport.

Isn't it time Greenwich Council looked into the problem of Dobell Road being used as a rat-run away from the High Street? Would Speed Bumps or a one way system improve the dangerous driving that goes on in the road?M Pool

wish to complain about the ongoing

Dobell Raceway

Coronet

I've noticed that since Bulger Homes completed the new development aspects of its Cornet Cinema project that work seems to have stopped just as it approached the stage of revitalising what is left of the historic cinema building. Is Bulger intending to complete the development in line with the picture shown on its website (homes.bulger.co.uk) or has it lost interest now that it has built and sold the apartments? Would anyone from Bulger care to comment?Mark Williamson

The article about Bob Hope in the September magazine stated that Bob Hope was born at Eltham in 1903 and at the age of four emigrated to America. Both facts are accurate but research in and around Bristol has established the homes of the Hope family between these dates. By October 1903 the Hope family were living at Weston-Super-Mare so Bob could only have lived in Eltham for a few months. Between 1906 and 1908 the family lived in Bristol. In April 1907 Bob’s father left for America to fi nd work and the family left Bristol in March 1908 to join him – the rest is history!John Kennett

Th ti l b t B b H i th

Bob Hope & Eltham

B&Q Traffi c Hazard

I KIcWvotaRistytannnR

CC tt

II would like to draw your attention to some B&Q shoppers who are risking life & limb for a tin of paint. Turning right out of B&Q can be quite a challenge for some drivers which is understandable having seen crashes occurring over the years. Yet some drivers do the following: they drive past B&Q which is on their left, do a U-turn at the mini roundabout at Southend Crescent then park opposite B&Q. If motorists are insured and have paid their road tax they can park outside my house anytime they want I don't have a problem with that. They then spend up to 2 minutes crossing over, then on fi nishing their shopping they then cross the road again with the items they have bought! This is very dangerous for them and other road users. This is done just to avoid turning right out of the car park. The solution is glaringly obvious.Park in the B&Q carpark, do your shopping (and you're not limited to what you can carry), turn left out of the carpark which has got to be quicker than crossing the road twice especially if you're carrying all your shopping, do a U-turn at the mini roundabout and head for home. What diff erence does it make whether you do the U-turn at the beginning or the end? Come on people let's make our roads safer!John Murphy

I was interested to read SPY's suggestion concerning a sign to Tudor Barn (SEnine Oct), maybe it could include the Pleasaunce with another fi nger pointing towards Eltham Palace and be sited on Well Hall Road opposite Eltham Church.

On many occasions I have directed visitors to Eltham Palace - there is nothing to indicate the location to people travelling on from Eltham Station Christine White

i t t d t d SPY'

Finger Signs

SEnine

35

ELTHAM

HARRISON INGRAM

rede

finin

g th

e a

rt o

f

sellin

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omes

ESTATE AGENTS RESIDENTIAL LETTINGS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

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Bexley: £460,000 Eltham: £295,000

Eltham: £285,000 Blackheath: £189,999

Eltham: £425,000 Shooters Hill: £430,000

FOUR BEDROOM DETACHED PROPERTY

LOUNGE/DINER

FITTED KITCHEN & CLOAKROOM

LARGE 140' GARDEN

POTENTIAL TO EXTEND SUBJECT TO PLANNING PERMISSION

SPACIOUS 2 BED FIRST FLOOR FLAT

MASTER WITH EN SUITE

GOOD SIZED LOUNGE - FITTED KITCHEN

BIG BATHROOM

RESIDENTS PARKING & COMMUNAL GARDENS

THREE BEDROOM 'CORBETT' HOUSE

LOUNGE WITH FEATURE FIREPLACE

BIG OPEN PLAN KITCHEN/DINER

GCH & DOUBLE GLAZING - SOUTH FACING GARDEN

OFF ROAD PARKING ON OWN DRIVE

You can make a diff erence in your community

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36

“How to Avoid Being Gazumped” You’ve made an off er on a property. You might have had to negotiate a bit, but that’s OK because this is your perfect home and you can’t wait to move in. You then get a rather awkward call from the estate agent to say that unfortunately the seller, (whom you took to be a gentleman) has received a higher off er from another buyer.

It appears your choices are limited as the vendor seems to have you over a barrel. Either you match or exceed the other buyer’s off er, or you withdraw from the purchase – either way you lose. Even if you do off er more the other buyer could still come back and even exceed that, starting a bidding war with only one eventual winner.

Good agents do not encourage gazumping, but are obliged by law to submit all off ers in writing to the vendor, and it is the vendor who decides how to proceed.

There's little you can do to repel a determined bidder, but there are ways to reduce the chances of it happening to you.

Firstly, you could off er the full asking price, subject to the property being formally withdrawn from the market. You could go further than this and purchase a formal fi rst right of refusal from the vendor which would include the vendor instructing the agent in writing not to submit any further off ers, which overcomes their legal obligation to do so otherwise. Although you might have preferred to pay a little less than the asking price, you could regard the extra as a form of insurance against having to pay more following a gazumping situation.

Only off er to buy when you are in the strongest buying position. Keep the pressure on your conveyance/solicitor, have your mortgage arranged and rather rent for a while than allow a linked sale to disempower you!

Sidcup Road £285,000 Larger Style 1930's Three Bedroom Semi Detached House Driveway To Front Leading To Extended Garage Extended Kitchen/Diner Two Reception Rooms Cloakroom WC Upstairs Family Bathroom Scope For Further Improvements Inc Full Modernization Chain Free

Rennets Wood Road £399,995 Three Bedroom 1930's Semi-Detached House Located in the prime area of Eltham Heights 29ft Through Lounge Downstairs Cloakroom WC Large Kitchen Leading To Utility Room Study Room/Guest Bedroom 85ft Mature Rear Garden With Large Patio To Front Newly Installed Upstairs Modern Bathroom With Separate WC

Simon Hughes, Managing Director

Pick up litter and bin it

conranestates.co.uk

Why not follow us on Twitter / @conranestates

Why not like us on Facebook?”

Search for our properties with ease on your iphone, android or other mobile device

SEnine

37

ELTHAM / MOTTINGHAM42 Well Hall RoadEltham SE96SFT: 020 8378 5450E: [email protected]

GREENWICH / BLACKHEATH221 Greenwich High RoadGreenwich SE10 8NBT: 020 8312 8312E: [email protected]

CHARLTON / WESTCOMBE46 Charlton Church LaneCharlton SE7 7ABT: 020 8293 0454E: [email protected]

ASSOCIATED PARK LANE121 Park LaneMayfair W1K 7AGT: 020 7409 4693E: [email protected]

LETTINGS MANAGEMENT DEPT221 Greenwich High RoadGreenwich SE10 8NBT: 020 8312 8316E: [email protected]

FINANCIAL SERVICES DEPT221 Greenwich High RoadGreenwich SE10 8NBT: 020 8312 8317E: [email protected]

Moira Road £185,000 Two Bedroom Top Floor Maisonette Within The Popular Progress Estate Sole Use of Own Rear Garden Modern fi tted Kitchen & Bathroom Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating In Good Decorative Order Throughout Long Lease

Laburnum Place £158,000 One Bedroom 1950's Purpose Built Flat Set on The Second Floor Modern Kitchen & Bathroom Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating Double Bedroom With Fitted Wardrobe Chain Free Share Of Freehold

Broad Lawn £439,995 Five Bedroom Semi Detached House With Rear Views

Overlooking Fairy Hill Park Spacious 32ft Lounge With Solid Oak Flooring Large Kitchen/Diner Downstairs Cloakroom WC Scope To Extend Further To Rear

Burnt Ash Hill £249,995 Two Bedroom Victorian End Of Terrace House, Over Three Floors Many Of The Original Features Remaining Front Lounge With Original Parquet Flooring Fitted Kitchen Leading To Breakfast Room/ Conservatory Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating Chain Free

Granby Road £188,000 Two Bedroom Top Floor Maisonette Within The Popular Progress Estate Recently Refurbished Throughout To A High Standard Modern fitted kitchen & Bathroom Sole use Of Own Rear Garden Double Glazing & Gas Central Heating Chain Free

Strathaven Road, SE12 £360,000 Extended Three Bedroom 1930's Semi Detached House Located Within The popular McKenzie Estate 50Ft South West Garden Driveway Leading To Garage Two Reception Rooms Chain Free

Look out for you neighbour

Cleaner Eltham

Do you require a regular cleaner?

Call Elana on 07701 023 455

Reliable and effi cient.

Classifi ed Adverts Entries start from just £25.00 +v. Or book for a year,

pay in advance and pay as little as £240.00+v, that's

£20.00+v per entry. Call 020 8333 7493 now.

Quality natural wood furniture

Oak, beech, birch, pine. Huge range.

Hand coloured or waxed to your desired colour

Contact Elaine on 020 8850 3500 to view.

Sunshine Window Cleaning

Regular & one-off cleans available. Competitive

Prices*. Free quotation. We are local & reliable.

Call Martin on 07821 403 577 Ref available

Gas Engineer Central Heating and Gas work.

Breakdown, repairs & Installation. Gas Safe Reg,

Insured, Lives Locally.

Call Steve on Mob 07 930 327 889

Gas Engineer

Plumber

Loft Conversions

Handyman

Painter

PC Repairs

Bricklaying

Rubbish clearance

ww

w.t

he

stu

ff e

do

liv

ere

sta

ura

nt.

com The finest

in European cuisine offering Greek, Italian &

French dishes

Fully Licensed and Air Conditioned open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner and 12 till 3pm

on Sunday for traditional Sunday lunch.Stylish and Modern offering delicious food,

excellent service and value. Ideal for celebratory meals and can cater for

parties of up to 45 peopleChildren's menu available

7 Market Parade, High Street,Sidcup, Kent DA14 6EP

020 8300 5353

BRASSERIE & RESTAURANT

Christmas Party Menu Now availableBook now to avoid disappointment

Furniture re-upholstered.

Got a favourite chair that needs attention?

Bought a chair at auction and want to restore it?

Call Angela 020 8850 0071

Room to let.

We are seeking a single professional to share a

4 bed house in central Eltham. Share of rent and

bills. Call. Your details could be here.

Furniture removals.

Local experienced removals. Single item or whole

house. Short Notice. Best rates

Call 07908 693 293 for a free quote.

2013 Well Hall Pleasaunce Picture Calendar

A4 size wall hanging calendar with 12 stunning

seasonal pictures of the Pleasaunce. £4.00 inc

postage. Call John on 07894 711 765

House Clearances. Clearing the home of a

deceased relative or preparing a house for sale or

let, we make house clearances as hassle free. Best

rates. Rubbish Cleared. 07908 693 293.

Silver Mirror

Pre-loved, frame less 2ft x 3ft, drilled with 4 holes,

ready for wall mounting. £20.00

Call Mark 020 8333 7493.

In September we celebrated our

1st anniversary. We look forward

to greeting you on your next visit.

Book now for Christmas

The Woodcroft Club (Trading name of the Eltham Conservative and Unionist

Club Ltd) will have its offi cial opening on November 17th 2012 after the extension and renovation work is completed. All current members are invited to the open house celebrations. The night will have a group playing, raffl es, fund raising for Help for Hero's and a special celebrity guest to open the venue.

The club will also be holding open days for the public to inspect the new bright premises, the dates for these, expected to be early December, are to be announced.

Applications for the membership

waiting list are still being taken,

for details contact the club on

020 8850 8659 or

[email protected]

W o o d c r o f t Opening

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38

W. UDEN & SONS LTDFAMILY FUNERAL DIRECTORS

ESTABLISHED 1881

The Family Business that still off ers a personal service

51 - 53 Passey Place, Eltham SE9 5DATel: 020 8850 2868

Covering all areas

Pre-paid Funerals

Monumental Masons

Private Chapels of Rest

24 Hour Service

Branches also at:Petts Wood, Dulwich,

Forest Hill, Sidcup,

New Cross & CamberwellIn the care of Nicholas & Matthew Uden

Being a man of the soil, Herbaceous knows that for everything there is

a season.

After stripping the last runner beans from their stalks, garnering the fi nal autumn raspberries and stacking high the compost bins, it’s time for putting the plot to bed for the winter.

It’s also the season for tax returns, which is when Herbaceous’ previous life of paid employment catches up with the bucolic world he now inhabits.

The exercise is an ever-desperate one to fi nd legitimate or potentially legitimate expenses to off set his nefarious gains from a variety of sources probably best not discussed in public.

It is fraught with peril made worse by his excessive distrust of offi cialdom and a phobia for paperwork.

The panic led him last year to listing ‘horticultural activities’ among his expenses, a move which led to an avalanche of interest from the Inspectorate, it clearly having triggered some sort of alarm bell in the tax offi ce.One day, Herbaceous received a phone call from a hapless offi cer, who may or may not have been related to one of his cronies from the White Hart in disguise.

What exactly were these ‘horticultural activities’, he was asked? Could he list the particulars of the seemingly excessive £1,250 he had been claiming? Did he have the receipts? What about revenues accruing from sales of produce?

Wrong-footed, Herbaceous started to fl annel hopelessly, at one time alleging that the new front wheel for his barrow had cost £350, bought from a man he’d never met before or since.

Still more probing led to an examination of the winnings from the allotment show. The offi cer said there was information that he had creamed off a cool £2.75 this year. Why was that not listed in the ‘income’ column?

Some raspberry jam had been up for sale at £2.50, the offi cer said. Apart from the extortionate price for some jam of

dubious provenance, all these things needed reporting to the authorities. And what about VAT?

‘You can leave the vat out of this’, harrumphed the desperate Old Grump. ‘It’s full of rotting turnips and ain’t worth a penny.”

Dodgy TaxIt's Tax Time for Our Old Warrior

SEnine

39Never stop trying

HERBACEOUS

ENJOYTHEBESTOFBOTHWORLDS...Situated towards the northern border of the award winning Kidbrooke Village,Boyd Way offers a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city yetkeeps it well within its reach.

This range of 3 bedroom townhouses are less than half a mile fromKidbrooke Station with journey times to central London in as littleas 15 minutes^

3-bed townhousesfrom £98,750*For more information contact our sales team on

08456 12 12 [email protected]

KidbrookeStation

Greenwich13 minutes

London Bridge15 minutes

Canary Wharf22 minutes

*Price based on a 25% share of a housewith a full market value of £395,000.Rent is payable on the remaining share.^Travel times source: www.tfl.gov.uk

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