Cutty Sark Fire Was Accident, Police Say
September 30, 2008 by rob
Last year’s fire at the Cutty Sark was an accident according to a police investigation. An official report has revealed that an industrial vacuum cleaner had been left on for two days prior to the fire, which took place in May 2007 whilst the ship was undergoing restoration and repair.
The incident was originally thought to be “suspicious” by the Police and much time was spent studying CCTV footage to trace people and vehicles seen in the area at the time. The fire added a 12 month delay to the tea clipper’s restoration and required an additional £10million funding.
It had been feared that the ship was beyond repair but fortunately much of the hulk had been removed from the site as part of the restoration. Following the fire, the Cutty Sark Trust faced a huge funding black hole, but their fundraising was accelerated and in July of this year, shipping magnate Sammy Ofer made a £3.3 million donation to get the project back on track.
Mobile Phone Footage of the Cutty Sark Fire
Find out more about the Cutty Sark in Greenwich
Greenwich Car Free Day Announced
September 26, 2008 by rob
The seventh Car Free day in Greenwich town centre has been announced for Sunday 5th October, from 11am to 4pm. During the time, no cars will be allowed into Greenwich town centre, and a free street festival will take place with performances from Jazz Mafia, Cosmic Sausages and Dogon Music. There will also be attractions such as horse riding demonstrations in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval college.
Council Names and Shames Shops Selling Knives To Children
September 25, 2008 by rob
Greenwich Council’s Trading Standards team, in association with the Met, undertook a number of undercover operations on Saturday 6 September and Saturday 20 September 2008 to catch out shops selling knives to children.
Sadly, B&Q and Sainsburys - both at Greenwich Peninsula - were found to have sold knives to the undercover Police Cadets, aged between 14 and 17.
Elsewhere in the borough, Avery Trumans, Pound Stop and Woolworths in Eltham, Poundland and Sainsbury’s in Woolwich, and Pound Shop, LouRoys and CK Builders Merchants in Plumstead were also found to have sold the knives.
Councillor Maureen O’Mara, Greenwich Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said:
“It’s appalling that so many stores appear to be flouting the law with underage sales – especially when selling knives to children. This disregard for public safety is totally inexcusable and will not be tolerated in Greenwich.
“The Council is continuing its efforts by testing stores, issuing advice where required, and prosecuting those who break the law with underage sales. However, tackling this issue requires support from members of all our local communities. We must work together, be vigilant, and send a clear message that illegally selling knives is dangerous and completely unacceptable in our borough.”
Rhona Cameron at Greenwich Theatre
September 23, 2008 by rob
Catch one the UK’s funniest and most respected comediennes, Rhona Cameron, at Greenwich Theatre on Friday 26th September. The Scottish comic has been a familiar face on TV since the 90s, and is well remembered for her appearance on “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!”.
Find out more about Rhona’s “For One Night Only Show”, starting at 7.30pm on Friday night.
Visit London 2008 Awards Shortlists Announced
September 20, 2008 by rob
The shortlists for the Visit London 2008 Awards have been announced, with Greenwich beig well represented in a number of categories. The Royal Observatory Greenwich is nominated for “Best Tourism Experience”, the National Maritime Musuem is up for “Visitor Attraction of the Year” and the O2 is nominated in several categories including, “Sports Tourism Award”, “Sustainable Tourism Award” and “Accessible Award”.
The Visit London 2008 Awards ceremony will take place on November 27th at the Royal Albert Hall.
Open House in Greenwich
September 19, 2008 by rob
Open House is London’s celebration of architectural diversity, with 700 buildings opening up their doors and giving Londoners a closer look. This year’s even takes place this weekend - the 20th and 21st of September - and includes the following buildings in the borough of Greenwich:
Devonport Mausoleum, National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich
Dreadnought Library, West Gate (King William Walk), or East Gate, (Park Row), and Romney Road crossing, Maritime Greenwich Campus, Greenwich
Greenwich Magistrates’ Court, 9 Blackheath Road, Greenwich
Greenwich Peninsula: Site and Public Art, meet at 10am, 12pm, 2pm or 4pm at North Greenwich tube station on Saturday (September 21)
Greenwich Yacht Club, 1 Peartree Way, Greenwich
Harold Wharf, 6 Creekside, Greenwich
Millennium Primary School, 50 John Harrison Way, Greenwich
National Maritime Museum, Romney Road, Greenwich
Old Royal Naval College, West Gate (King William Walk) or East Gate (Park Row) and Romney Road crossing. Entry from pier via Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich
Ranger’s House, Chesterfield Walk, Greenwich
River Sculpture/Studio (Slice of Reality), River Thames, off Thames Path, Meridian Gardens, nr Drawdock Road, Blackwall Point, Greenwich
St Alfege Church, Church Street, Greenwich
The Fan Museum, 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich
The Royal Observatory, Greenwich Park, Greenwich
Trinity Hospital, Highbridge, Greenwich
Click here for more info on other sites in the borough of Greenwich, and across other boroughs.
Greenwich Hosts “Run To The Beat”
September 15, 2008 by rob
London’s first ever mass participation half marathon, titled “Run To The Beat”, will take place in Greenwich on October 15th. The event will start at the O2 arena, go past all of Greenwich’s Olympic venues, and then finish back at the O2. Specially selected music will be played along the route to help motivate runners - can I recommend the Rocky theme tune for just that purpose?
Most places are gone already but if anyone wishes to take place, they should email a special Run To The Beat email address at the council.
Riding The Greenwich Wheel
September 11, 2008 by rob
This summer has seen the arrival of a feature on the Greenwich riverside that has offered views to match those of the London Eye. The Greenwich Wheel can take you sixty metres in to the sky, and apparently on a clear day you can see up to 25 miles into the distance.
With the Wheel only there until 28th September, I thought I better go along and have a look before it disappeared. My first observation was that it was remarkably quiet. Ok, summer is pretty much over now and the kid’s are back at school, but even so the thing was pretty empty with I think two people on it before I got there, and then when I boarded it was just me and a friend, and another guy in the pod behind us. It costs £7 for an adult and £4.50 for kids. The wheel actually moves pretty speedily, but you get a good couple of rotations and the ride lasts for ten minutes or so.
The views were excellent, with brilliant vistas across Greenwich Park, the Royal Navy College and Canary Wharf in the other direction. When you get off, you can buy a photo of yourself in the pod for some extortionate amount, so best of taking your own camera. If you haven’t been yet, definitely worth popping along and giving it a go. It’s open between 10am and 10pm until Sept 28th.
Don Giovanni at the PictureHouse
September 8, 2008 by rob
In an effort to make opera more accessible, tonight’s performance of Don Giovanni - the first of the new Royal Opera season - has been made available to readers of the Sun newspaper. For those not wishing to watch the opera with an auditorium full of Sun readers, there is instead the chance to watch it being broadcast live at the Greenwich PictureHouse (or any other Picture House cinema).
The performance starts tonight at 6.40 - more info here.
Oliver Twist at Greenwich Theatre
September 7, 2008 by rob
Many people will have a rough idea of the story of Oliver Twist, but if you’re used to cheerful, sing-a-long version where cheeky pickpockets perform memorable numbers, prepare yourself for a darker, harsher verion which remains true to the Dickens novel. This new adaptation by David Cottis fearlessly portrays the realities of the Victorian underword.
Diercted by Abigail Anderson, Oliver Twist is running at Greenwich Theatre from Tuesday 9th - Saturday 20 Setember.