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Kevin Nolan’s Match Report: Hull City v Charlton (20/06/2020)

June 22, 2020 By Rob Powell

Hull City 0 Charlton 1 (Pearce 18).

By Kevin Nolan off Valley Pass.

The light at the end of the tunnel remains dim but it but glows a little more hopefully after Charlton's vital victory over Hull City at a cavernous KC Stadium. An early setpiece goal scored by pugnacious Jason Pearce was enough to see off Grant McCann's toothless Tigers and catapult the visitors out of the relegation zone, where they'd uncomfortably spent the past four months. Had the Addicks managed to crown their clear superiority with at least one further goal, they might have spared their long suffering fans the inevitable tension that goes with the territory. As it was, the spectre of the last gasp equaliser haunted the laptop faithful until five intolerable minutes of added time amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. More than one housebound zealot spent them crouched behind the sofa. Count me among them.

Charlton's solitary goal was a pleasing combination of pinpoint accuracy and good, old-fashioned physicality. Aidan McGeady's dipping volley from outside the penalty area was initially tipped over his crossbar by George Long but the resultant left wing corner turned out to be the keeper's undoing. Swung inwards by the outstanding Josh Cullen, Tomas Hemed's deft front door flick glanced off Long's groping fingertips before Pearce crashed through the tradesmen's entrance, bullying Tom Eaves and Jon Toral into the net with him as headed irresistibly inside the far post. The skipper's "rough and rowdy ways" were exactly what necessity demanded.

Showing his customary boldness, Lee Bowyer caused more than a few eyebrows to raise with the starting line-up he named for the Humberside crunch clash. Preferring Deji Oshilaja to either Ben Purrington or Naby Sarr at left back, he also chose the enigmatic McGeady on the right of midfield, with young Albie Morgan recalled from obscurity to operate on the left. Meanwhile, Hemed got the nod alongside Macauley Bonne up front, with Andre Green a worrying absentee. A routine 4-4-2 formation vindicated his tactical nous and proceeded to outclass their woebegone hosts.A much improved McGeady and Morgan, with his playmaking  ability to pick the right pass, did their bits until replaced around the hour mark. It was in central midfield, though, where Charlton decided the issue. Cullen hardly put a foot wrong apart from wafting an acceptable chance fashioned by rampaging substitute Chuks Aneke over the bar. His blend of tenacity and skill will be crucial during the coming weeks, his contribution including the risky but precisely timed tackle which whisked the ball off Daniel Batty's toes as the attacking midfielder shaped to shoot inside the penalty area late in the second half.

At Cullen's elbow, Darren Pratley was his usual combative self.. Tackling and covering diligently, he ploughed through his own workload tirelessly and was always available to help elsewhere. Age hasn't wearied the admirable veteran, nor the years condemned. You'd name him as company in a wartime trench.

There were other positives to warm Bowyer's cockles. After a shaky start, Oshilaja settled down and combined with McGeady to create a golden opportunity to double the lead two minutes after Pearce's opener. Sent clear on the left by McGeady's cleverly disguised backheel, his fiercely driven low cross eluded the sliding Macauley Bonne and Hemed as it flashed to safety across Long's goal area.

Bonne was on the end of another chance in the second half but misdirected his header wide after lively substitute Alfie Doughty cut City's right flank open and provided the perfect cross. A second goal continued to elude the Addicks and stirred unpleasant memories that Hull had been one of many late goalscorers to frustrate them earlier in the season.Their unease intensified when Keane Lewis-Potter, scorer of the Tigers' sickening equaliser at The Valley in December, replaced Batty with over a quarter hour left but there was to be no repetition of that disaster.

Dillon Phillips enjoyed a  virtually untroubled afternoon, a routine tip-over of Batty's drive his only meaningful save until Long's huge clearance caused havoc between Pearce and Tom Lockyer in the late stages, allowing Danish substitute Samuelson a rare sight of goal. The youngster's shot on the run was competently fielded by Phillips and the Addicks were home and dry.
With the marathon which we're regularly reminded constitutes a football season now reduced to a nine-game sprint, Charlton have burst impressively from the starting blocks. Their speed is impressive. Now comes a test of their stamina.

Hull: Long, Pennington, McDonald, De Wijs, Elder, Batty (Lewis-Potter 73), Kane, Bowler (Scott 56), Toral (Honeyman 56), Wilks (Samuelson 85), Eaves (Magennis 56. Not used: Tafazolli, Burke, Stewart, Ingram. Booked: Batty.

Charlton: Phillips, Matthews, Lockyer, Pearce, Oshilaja (Purrington 71), McGeady (Field 82), Pratley, Cullen, Morgan (Doughty 61), Bonne (Williams 82), Hemed (Aneke 72). Not used: Amos, Sarr, Oztumer, Davoson. Booked: Oshilaja, Pratley, Williams.

Referee: Darren England.

Filed Under: Sport

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report: Charlton Athletic v Rochdale (04/05/2019)

May 5, 2019 By Rob Powell

Charlton 4 (Aribo 19, Andrew 32 o.g. Taylor 40, Bielik 75) Rochdale 0.

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

The buzz sweeping The Valley at half-time wasn't entirely due to Charlton's perfect performance which left Rochdale breathless at the break. There was plenty to celebrate, of course, but it was news from other key venues which iced a tasty cake.

While the Addicks were finding it difficult to misplace a pass, mistime an interception, much less miss their chances, play-off rivals Portsmouth and Sunderland were busy bottling it against similarly modest opposition. Both of them were struggling at the interval and if they continued to flounder, one more goal would catapult Charlton over them into third place and with it the prize of visiting Doncaster Rovers in the first leg of the semi-finals. While being careful what they wished for, most fans and probably Lee Bowyer had no problem with that surprising outcome.

The addition of a fourth goal to a 3-0 scoreline which actually flattered 'Dale, seemed the least of Charlton's concerns. They had outclassed the mid-table visitors and were expected to blow them away while attacking their favoured covered end. To their credit, they buckled to the task but things began to go wrong.

Referee Charles Breakspear's baffling decision that Jimmy Keohane's deliberate foul which hauled back Josh Parker as he burst clear to confront Josh Lillis deserved a yellow rather than the red card it clearly deserved, sowed the first seeds of doubt. And when the otherwise excellent Albie Morgan sidefooted Lyle Taylor's deft cross wide, they began to grow. But it was Parker's remarkable miss before the hour which lent substance to the mounting suspicion that Bowyer's rampant men might be on the verge of  squandering a golden opportunity.

Parker, whose wholehearted contribution deserved better than the abuse he received from a small minority of an enthusiastic crowd, found himself facing a yawning net after Lillis had smartly saved Taylor's crisp low drive. With the keeper still prone, the burly forward placed the easy rebound lamentably wide of the target.

At precisely the same time, Portsmouth equalised at Fratton Park to ramp up the pressure.

In no mood to accept disappointment, Charlton continued the hunt. Joe Aribo's clever chip sailed narrowly over the bar before Parker's artful flick sent Taylor's right wing cross inches wide. At the other end, Ryan Delaney volleyed Aaron Morley's corner over the in a rare respite for overworked Rochdale. With a quarter hour remaining, they finally capitulated although it took a marvellous goal to unravel them.

Along with Josh Cullen, Krystian Bielik ranks as one of the shrewdest loan acquisitions ever to pitch up in S.E.7. Versatile, powerful and richly talented, the Arsenal midfielder is vital to the Addicks' play-off prospects. He showed exactly why with a trademarked solo surge over the halfway line and the intuitive one-two he played with Morgan. The return pass sent him clear of Rochdale's ruthlessly filleted defence and his cool finish into the bottom left corner applied a fitting coup-de-grace. It also provided Morgan with his second assist of the evening, which neatly returns us to a fuller description of Charlton's exhilarating first half display.

A bright opening, during which Aribo's close range effort to convert Ben Purrington's cutback was bravely blocked and Taylor's low drive forced a smart save from Lillis, brought the first of the Addicks' three-goal salvo after 19 minutes. Aribo both started and finished the process which set up Taylor's shot, gamely smothered by Lillis, but re-cycled by Parker for Aribo to curl unstoppably inside the left-hand post from the edge of the penalty area. His ninth goal of the season -and third in as many games - enhanced the loose-limbed 22 year-old's growing reputation as a free-scoring midfielder.

Just past the half hour, the lead was doubled, but not before Dillon Phillips did his bit by athletically tipping over a meaty effort hit by Callum Camps with minimal backlift but surprising power. His solitary save protected a third consecutive clean sheet.

As irrepressible as ever, meanwhile, Taylor was doing pretty much as he pleased. An electric turn and burst to the right byline was followed by a firmly hit centre which eluded Parker in the middle but was turned into his own goal, under pressure from Purrington at the far post, by Rochdale skipper Calvin Andrew.

Inevitably, Taylor added his name to the scoresheet before the break. Sent down the middle by Morgan's precisely weighted through ball, he made easy work of slotting Charlton's third past the optimistically advancing Lillis.
So that's the marathon all but done and dusted. Now for the sprint finish. With a full squad at his disposal, Bowyer is primed and ready. Late knocks to Bielik and Taylor caused him brief palpitations, no doubt, but his decks are cleared for action.  He's got some side at his disposal. They're a pleasure to watch. Bring it on!

Charlton: Phillips, Dijksteel, Bauer, Sarr, Purrington, Bielik (Pratley 84), Morgan, Cullen, Aribo (Reeves 89), Parker, Taylor (Marshall 83). Not used: Maxwell, Page, Pearce, Lapslie. Booked: Sarr.

Rochdale: Lillis, Morley, Delaney, Hamilton, Ntlhe (Bunney 62), Adshead, Williams, Camps, Keohane, Andrew (Wilbraham 69), Pyke (Bradley 76). Not used: Wade, McNulty, Done, Henderson. Booked: Delaney, Keohane.

Referee: Charles Breakspear. Att: 12,705 (290 visiting)

Filed Under: Sport

Greenwich WWI Roll of Honour to be published

October 22, 2018 By Rob Powell

NAMES of almost 1900 men local men who died during the Great War will be published next month to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Armistice.

The roll of honour was compiled by the old Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich and deposited inside the War Memorial at the top of Maze Hill when it was unveiled and dedicated in November 1922.

The list has been digitised over the course of this year and will be printed in a brand new booklet from the publishers of this website, with the support of Greenwich Historical Society. It will also contain photography of local memorials and a foreword by Revd Chris Moody from St Alfege Church.

Copies of the booklet can be ordered now for £5 + £2P&P and will be delivered in November in time for Armistice Day.

Individuals who wish to lend additional support to the project can pay £19.18 for a copy and have their name printed inside as a thank you.

Filed Under: News

Greenwich Council’s new leader inspects East Greenwich pocket park plans on busy first day

May 30, 2018 By Rob Powell

THE NEW Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich spent part of his first full day in office inspecting plans for a new pocket park in East Greenwich yesterday.

Councillor Danny Thorpe met with some local residents, Peninsula ward councillors Stephen Brain and Denise Scott-McDonald, and architects at the site of the proposed pocket park at the corner of Mell Street and Trafalgar Road.

The designs include new seating, trees and planters and a green wall on the side of the adjacent branch of Tesco.

It was the first official day in post for the new leader who served as deputy to outgoing leader Denise Hyland for the past two years. He was sworn in last Wednesday night but is continuing with his job as a primary school teacher on Thursdays and Fridays until the end of term.

Thorpe's park inspection in East Greenwich was just one stop-off on a busy first day touring the borough.

"We started in Thamesmead at the housing zone site where we're doing 68 affordable homes in partnership with Peabody and the Mayor of London. Then I did a walkabout on Plumstead High Street, meeting businesses and seeing the work we're doing to clean up the environment down there.

"From there we went to the Glyndon estate where I chaired the first of my housing delivery boards with senior officers and the Chief Executive of the council. We set out an agenda to refocus the council on rebuilding housing and trying to identify what resources we have to do that.

"After that we did a walkabout on the Glyndon estate with some residents who were showing us areas of the estate they were concerned about. Then over to Middle Park where we had a really good chat with about 15 people at a jobs fair who are trying to get a job with IKEA.

"Then we went down to Lionel Road Community Centre, where my nan used to be a cleaner, and I called the bingo numbers! And now we're here in East Greenwich talking to ward councillors and some of the people that will design and develop the pocket park before we go back to the town hall where I'll chair my first cabinet meeting followed by a knife-crime event with community leaders."

It was a 'full house' this afternoon at 'Happy Bingo' at Lionel Road, one of the many great community centres we have across @Royal_Greenwich - our voluntary & community sector plays such a big part in the life of our borough & I look forward to meeting more organisations soon! pic.twitter.com/dv64DTuCen

— Dan Thorpe (@DanLThorpe) May 29, 2018

The pocket park, due for completion early next year, is one of three along Trafalgar Road that were recently consulted on - the others being at the corners of Hoskins Street and Pelton Road.

"One of the things people in East Greenwich have been telling us for some time," says Thorpe, "is that they want the place to feel a bit greener. Trafalgar Road can be quite a hostile environment and one of our main aims is a stronger approach to healthy streets. A lot of good work has been done in boroughs like Waltham Forest so I'm reaching out to them, saying 'can you tell us what you've done and how it's made a difference.' We know people are concerned about air quality and this is one response to that."

Air quality, especially in relation to the proposed cruise ship terminal at Enderby Wharf, was one of the biggest issues in the recent local elections. Last week the Mayor of London said he "still had concerns" about Enderby Wharf and urged Greenwich Council to "do the right thing." What does Thorpe think the right thing to do is?

"I've been saying very clearly that the developer has a greater job to do in engaging with the community and address their concerns. Dealing with emissions and the pollution aspect of the river is not solely the job as us as the council and actually we don't have the powers to do it so one of the things we need to push for is, which I know [former councillor] Mary Mills, for example, has been talking a lot about, is how we have an environmental strategy for the river.

"The planning permission for the cruise liner terminal predates me being on the cabinet and goes right back to 2011-2012. I don't have the power to revoke the planning permission and clearly I can't do anything which is going to leave anything liable for any claims but everyone knows the site is up for sale and we will obviously be talking to the developer as they come forward with plans. It is obviously a big concern for many, many people. I've lived in this borough my whole life. I don't want to do anything deliberately designed to cause pollution or ruin the river but unfortunately in terms of the planning decision we had to take there are very strict rules about how those decisions are taken."

But whether the cruise terminal is eventually built or not, the number of cruise ships arriving at the floating terminal at Greenwich Ship Tier has risen sharply this year. Should river-facing boroughs express a view on what's an acceptable number of large ships to moor on the Thames?

"This goes back to my point about who controls the environmental strategy for the river and clearly boroughs which face on to the river have to have a say but none of us on our own have the power to control those things. So I think a new regulatory approach is needed involving City Hall, the Port of London Authority and London boroughs getting round the table to have a clear set of principles and expectations about what we want and also to be able to hold to account those people that are on the river.

"As one example, Thames Clippers... a lot of people think 'what a great service,' but how are they powering their boats and are they the most environmentally sustainable?"

Thorpe is answering questions as traffic passes by on the busy A206 - a road on which two cyclists have died this month. Oliver Speke died after a collision with a lorry on Romney Road on May 9th. Edgaras Cepura was killed by a lorry at the Woolwich Road roundabout on May 18th. What will Thorpe be saying to City Hall about cyclist safety on this TFL-controlled road?

"I've asked for an urgent site meeting with Heidi Alexander, incoming Deputy Mayor for Transport, and [Walking and Cycling Commissioner] Will Norman, with us and our officers to discuss what we can all jointly do. I know there's some talk with people saying things have been cancelled or not cancelled. I don't know the details on those and my view really is that I don't want to get in to the blame game. We need to do something to fix the problem. I also spoke with Greenwich Cyclists who are involved in an event [outside the Town Hall] next Thursday to mark what's happened and make a call for action so we're talking to them about how we need them to be involved as we go forward."

Filed Under: News

“The next stop is HMS Implacable for Maritime Greenwich”

April 20, 2018 By Rob Powell

Steve Cram: The crowds in Greenwich are cheering Mo Farah as he passes the familiar sight of HMS Implacable at about the six and a half mile mark next to the River Thames on this hot Sunday morning.

Brendan Foster: It’s great to see Implacable open again after the terrible fire and long restoration. Mo is tucked in nicely behind the pacemaker as he heads on now to Creek Road.

In an alternate reality, that’s perhaps exactly how this weekend's London Marathon might be described by television commentators.

Because although the Cutty Sark has been an instantly recognisable landmark on the riverside since the 1950s, and an iconic part of the marathon route since it started in 1981, it was a very different ship altogether that almost came to Greenwich before her.

Duguay-Trouin was a 74-gun ship of the line built by the French in 1797 which saw action at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 where she even engaged against Nelson’s HMS Victory. Captured by the British, she was brought to Plymouth, refitted and commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Implacable.

© Illustrated London News - British Newspaper Archive

Fifty years later, Implacable became a Navy training ship and when in 1908 there were plans to break her up, it was the personal intervention of King Edward VII that saved her. By the 1920s, she needed continued help and the Society of Nautical Research (SNR), which helped save HMS Victory, set up a special committee responsible for Implacable - with National Maritime Museum (NMM) director Geoffrey Callender as secretary.

The former Duguay-Trouin deteriorated during the years of the second World War, when she was temporarily recommissioned as a training ship. Following Callender's death in 1946, SNR member Frank G G Carr was appointed as the NMM's second director. Carr wanted to find a more permanent solution to the perilous situation Implacable was in.

In October 1947, he suggested that Implacable be restored and re-rigged, and brought to a new purpose-built dry dock in Greenwich. She would be London's Trafalgar Ship and serve as a monument to the fallen seamen of World War Two.

In early 1948 a drawing by F.A. Evans was published in the Illustrated London News, edited by SNR Vice President Bruce Ingram, and the Sunday Times which showed how the wooden warship would look in a new dry dock at Greenwich on the site of the old Ship Hotel. The Ship had been destroyed in WWII and the London County Council was planning to redevelop the land.


© Illustrated London News via the British Newspaper Archive

The drawing shows a view from the river looking towards the bow of the ship, with the familiar outline of the Pepys building at the Royal Naval College on the left and Greenwich Church Street with St Alfege Church looming above on the right. It's a vantage point which looks instantly recognisable because it's strikingly similar to how Greenwich would eventually look - but with the Cutty Sark instead.

If the campaign had been successful, it would have been HMS Implacable that would have become synonymous with Greenwich. Implacable would have been one of the most famous ships in the world, as Cutty Sark now is. It would have been Implacable that would lend her name to a DLR station in the town.

It would be HMS Implacable Gardens, not Cutty Sark Gardens, in which the ship would welcome many thousands of visitors a year. And further east at Ballast Quay, the HMS Implacable pub would be a favourite spot for a drink by the river.

The campaign received further press coverage in the Illustrated London News, The Times, The Sphere, the Western Morning News and other titles, and was raised in the House of Commons in November 1948 and February 1949 by Twickenham MP Sir Edward Keeling.

Civil Lord of the Admiralty Walter Edwards MP replied on the latter occasion that the possibility of “preserving the ship at Greenwich as part of a development scheme by the London County Council was being examined.”

Her fate was even raised with the Prime Minister, Clement Atlee, by the Duke of Edinburgh - who became a National Maritime Museum trustee and who supported Carr's vision.

But ultimately the cost of restoring Implacable - estimated to be £200,000 at the very least and likely to be higher - was thought to be too high. The NMM board concluded that they couldn't support the SNR Implacable Committee's plan. With no other credible proposals to save her, it was decided that she would be broken up.

How the Nottingham Evening Post reported it (via British Newspaper Archive)

On Friday December 2nd 1949, Implacable was towed out to the Solent with both the British and French ensigns flying. She was packed with explosives and blown up with escort ships from the British and French navy watching. Living up to her name, she refused to sink easily and it took over three hours before she was fully submerged.

The scuttling was reported in the press almost like a state funeral with The Times running a large photo under the headline "the last hours of HMS Implacable."

They recorded that four charges packed in the hull of the ship were fired at 1.45pm.

"When the charges were fired there was a heavy explosion which scattered debris on the water around, and the hull began rapidly to sink... leaving the upper deck floating like a raft with the two ensigns still flying."

It wasn't until almost 5pm that she was finally sunk.

Frank Carr was on one of the escort boats. He later wrote in the preface to the International Register of Historic Ships published in 1985:

"I watched as she was towed to her death. I marvelled at the beautiful way in which her lovely hull slid through the water, causing scarcely a ripple; and I wept when she sank. Never again would human eyes see a line-of-battle ship under way."

Determined that under-threat Cutty Sark would not suffer the same fate, Carr helped form the Cutty Sark Preservation with the Duke of Edinburgh as patron in 1952 and £250,000 was raised by to save her by public subscription. She was berthed at Greenwich in December 1954 and officially opened by the Queen in 1957.

Although Implacable could not be saved - part of the historic ship did eventually make it to Greenwich. The figurehead and stern carvings were saved, restored and presented to the National Maritime Museum in 1950 where they remain on display to this day.

  • Further reading on Implacable and many other stories associated with the development of the National Maritime Museum can be found in 'Of Ships and Stars' by Kevin Littlewood and Beverley Butler which has been indispensable in researching this post.
  • Top image: HMS Implacable in Greenwich drawn by Peter Kent.

Filed Under: Rob Powell

Jumbo the Greenwich gasometer moves a step closer to demolition

April 17, 2018 By Rob Powell

Greenwich's remaining gas holder has moved a step closer to being demolished after planning officers from Greenwich Council approved a technical plan from the owner SGN for bringing it down.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich as Local Planning Authority hereby determines that
the development described above and referred to in your Prior Notification application
received on the 15 March 2018 falls within the limits and procedures of permitted
development... Prior approval for the development is required and is hereby granted. [full decision notice]

When it was built in the 1880s by George Livesey on the Greenwich marshes, as the peninsula was then commonly called, it was the largest gasometer in the world with a capacity of 8,600,000 cubic feet. That accolade was snatched from it by a second, now-demolished, holder built at the East Greenwich Gas Works in 1892 with a capacity of 12,200,000 cubic feet.

But while everyone knows the giant gas holder thanks to its looming presence on the horizon, rather less know that it has a name. Or a nickname, at least. A close look at stories in newspapers in the years after it was built show that it was known as "Jumbo."

In The Times in 1889, an article referred to "the monster gasometer in Greenwich-marshes known as 'Jumbo,' believed to be the largest in the world."

"The great gasometer, which has been christened Jumbo" was how The Globe newspaper described it in December 1889.

The Kentish Mercury reported in 1890  "another monster gasometer in the marshes" was being erected "by the side of 'Jumbo'."

Perhaps because of the larger gasometer built alongside and the continued growth in gas holder sizes, the moniker fell out of use and there seems to be no further instances of the name used in the 20th century.

The aesthetic appeal of gas holders was not, and is not, universally appreciated. 'The Sphere' newspaper complained in 1906 that the view had already been "imperilled by ghastly gasometers" and then "finally destroyed" by the newly-built power station chimneys. It was an "eyesore... caused by commerce."


The Sphere - via the British Newspaper Archive

This photo below from the Britain from Above archives provides an excellent aerial view of the two gas holders.


© Historic England https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW009757

Jumbo, or Gas holder No 1, as it's more formally known, suffered damage in the massive Silvertown explosion of 1917, again during World War II, and then from the IRA bomb in 1979, which more seriously damaged its bigger neighbour Gas holder No 2 and ultimately led to it being demolished in the mid-1980s.

Read more about the history of the gas holders on the peninsula

The substantial repairs and replacements to the original structure is one of the reasons that Historic England recommended last year that the structure didn't reach the criteria for being listed. The Department of Culture, Media & Sport declined a Listing proposal and issued a Certificate of Immunity meaning that the gas holder cannot be listed, or have a building preservation notice placed on it by the council, for five years.

Explaining why it was pursuing demolition, owner SGN told The Pipeline earlier this year that:

It’s no longer sustainable for us to keep these structures in a safe and visually acceptable condition long-term. We’re also committed to redeveloping the land they sit on for use that’s more beneficial to the local community, such as housing and business premises.

Although some other gas holders have been saved elsewhere and repurposed while retaining their historic appeal, such as the oft-cited Kings Cross development, that same fate now appears unlikely for Gas holder No 1.

If the iconic structure once known as Jumbo is indeed demolished, as now seems increasingly likely, the local landscape will be changed forever with the loss of one of Greenwich's most visible reminders of its industrial history.

UPDATE:

Hannah Brett, spokesperson for SGN told Greenwich.co.uk:

Greenwich Council has approved our application to dismantle our Greenwich gasholder, so we are able to proceed with this process. However, we now need to undertake further planning of our own before any dismantling work begins on site. This may take some time, but we hope to start work within the next 12 months. Although we not yet have a confirmed date for dismantling of our Greenwich gasholder to begin, we will update the local community when we do.

Our part of our dismantling programme, we are committed to celebrating and capturing the history of our gasholders. We understand that to many people these iconic structures act as a visual reminder of an area’s history. Therefore, we are working with communities, local history groups and museums to ensure each gasholder we dismantle has its history captured for future generations to learn from.

UPDATE 27/04/2018

Greenwich Industrial History Society has created this petition to save the gasholder.

Filed Under: Rob Powell

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report: Charlton v Oxford United (03/02/2018)

February 4, 2018 By Rob Powell

Charlton 2 (Kashi 63, Magennis 78) Oxford United 3 (Henry 76, Kane 88, Ledson 90).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Valley.

It's no surprise that Charlton are not among those clubs who refer to their ground -often on the thinnest of evidence - as a fortress. If they did stoop to such posturing, the building codes bureaucrats would split their sides laughing.

They don't go in for any of that "This is Anfield" or "Run for your Lives, you're at Millwall" intimidation at The Valley. It's a cuddly, cosy place where visiting teams are encouraged to think they're in with a chance. So as mildly shocked Oxford United made off gleefully with all three points on Saturday, they departed to the cheery Cockney strains of "Call round any old time, make yourself at home, put your feet on the mantelshelf, open the cupboard and help yourself." Or less lyrically, the door's unlocked so spit on the floor and use the last of the milk because our casa is your casa. Thanks for coming, we'll clean up after you.

Charlton fans know the sickening drill all too well. They've grown wearily used to scenes of wild rejoicing in the Jimmy Seed stand as the travelling fans celebrate late equalisers or winners scored conveniently in front of them thanks to Charlton's set-in-stone, presumably pre-arranged habit of attacking the covered end in the second half. It might be time to switch that around because it's no secret that the worst disasters occur at the away end. When you're in a rut, it makes sense to step out of it.

This latest collapse almost defies description but we'll give it a shot. With two minutes of normal time remaining, the Addicks were still pouring forward in undisciplined search of a clinching goal to make it 3-1. Caught on the break as John Mousinho got behind them on the left, they were wrongfooted by the Oxford skipper's precise cutback and helpless to prevent United debutant Todd Kane from ramming a second equaliser past Ben Amos.

The announcement of five added minutes brought a roar of local anticipation but instead served as a clarion call for the buoyant visitors. A disorderly rabble by now, Charlton were rabbits mesmerised by headlights as Isaac Buckley-Ricketts eluded Jay DaSilva on the right and set up Ryan Ledson to crash home an increasingly inevitable winner inside the right hand post. In retrospect, the low shot directed by Buckley-Ricketts against the woodwork shortly before Kane scored, seems less like a lucky escape than an unheeded warning.

Nothing in an orderly, routine first half hinted at the mayhem in store. Charlton began brightly and had marginally the better of things, with Tarique Fosu's rasper stinging Simon Eastwood's hands and Mark Marshall directing a free header wastefully wide. For the visitors, Jon Obika, a pre-kick-off replacement for Wes Thomas, turned brilliantly to smash a looping volley harmlessly off the right-hand post. The near thing was Obika's last, meaningful contribution as he limped off later to make way for Malachi Napa. To be fair, Oxford coped manfully with the disruption.

A persistent, skilful thorn in United's side, Josh Magennis opened the second period by moving on to Fosu's pass and shooting ferociously on the run. Eastwood saved smartly, as did Amos from Napa's accurate low drive. But just past the hour mark, Karl Robinson's newly gung-ho side broke through. Fosu made the initial breach, through which Magennis and Ahmed Kashi poured. Magennis' effort was blocked but Kashi picked up the pieces, moved away from the goalmouth carnage and shot home off Eastwood's right hand.

The breakthrough brought with it the usual nervousness both on and off the field. Chronically uncertain when protecting a lead, the Addicks faltered and it was less than surprising when substitute James Henry fastened on to Napa's pass before, with cool detachment, driving precisely into the lower left corner.
It was then Oxford's turn to be rudely jolted when their hosts reclaimed the lead two minutes later. Caught dawdling near the left byline, Kane was neatly pickpocketed by Dasilva, who closed in and picked out Magennis' shrewdly timed charge into the six-yard area. From two yards, the Northern Irishman's sixth goal of the season was mere formality.

Making sense of this debacle is down to Robinson, who levelled charges of selfishness at his side and confessed he had drawn no positives from the miserable experience "We beat ourselves through our lack of discipline", he declared, "it became I want to score rather than we need to score."

The manager might need to justify the puzzling benching of in-form Joe Aribo and his reluctance to start an apparently fit Patrick Bauer at centre back. Ezri Konsa is a stylish but weak link in that position though it was Harry Lennon, the current "fans" scapegoat, who came in for the lion's share of badmouthing. While less than outstanding, Lennon won his fair share in the air and delivered a succession of raking passes on which Magennis fed. He was part of Charlton's total collapse, but far from the sole cause of it. If heads are to roll his might deserve to be spared. Meanwhile, Bauer must play at Doncaster. So must Aribo.

Charlton: Amos, Solly, Konsa, Lennon, Dasilva, Kashi, Marshall (Zyro 70), Forster-Caskey, Mavididi (Kaikai 70), Fosu (Aribo 87), Magennis. Not used: Phillips, Jackson, Bauer, Reeves. Booked: Lennon.

Oxford: Eastwood, Martin, Smith-Brown, Rothwell (Ricardinho 70), Ruffels, Ledson, Kane, Mowatt (Henry 70), Mousinho, Obika (Napa 34), Buckley-Ricketts. Not used: Shearer, Dickie, Carroll.

Referee: Keith Stroud. Att: 11,747 (1,381 visiting).

Filed Under: Sport

160 year old photo of Royal Observatory discovered in New Zealand archives

September 30, 2017 By Rob Powell

One of the oldest photographs ever taken of the Royal Observatory at Greenwich has been found in New Zealand's Public Library Archives where it's been kept for over five decades and is described simply as a "building with scaffolding."


Building with scaffolding. Craddock, Gerald Rainsford, 1910-1990 :Photographs relating to the Glaisher family. Ref: PA1-o-191-43. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22834107

The remarkable 160 year old image is attributed to James Glaisher, the famed balloonist and former Superintendent of Meteorology at the Observatory who lived on Dartmouth Hill and who enjoyed two spells as Royal Photographic Society president.

His photo, taken in 1857 less than 20 years after the birth of photography, captures the construction of the Great Equatorial Building, also known as the South East Dome, which housed the Merz 12.8-inch Visual Refractor. About 35 years later the Merz was replaced in the tower by the famous 28-inch telescope.

Charles Shepherd's iconic 24 hour clock which was installed in 1852 can also be seen in the picture. But to an unfamiliar eye on the other side of the globe, the photo's recognisable features and significance appears to have been missed and for over 50 years it's been catalogued with no detailed description. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Rob Powell

Deck the horse with boughs of holly! King’s Troop appear in Christmas outfits

December 25, 2016 By Rob Powell

OVER forty horses from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery went on a Christmas Eve outing to Blackheath yesterday morning.

Tinsel, Christmas jumpers and other festive outfits were the order of the day for both riders and horses in the now-traditional Christmas Eve trip.

Based in Woolwich since 2012, the King's Troop set off on their seasonal hack through the streets of south east London at about half past eight.

The Troop travelled through Charlton village to Blackheath where they were met with mince pies and sherry as they reached Morden College.

After refreshments and a chance for residents of Morden College to admire the horses, the King's Troop headed back to their barracks in Repository Road.

VIDEO: King's Troop RHA in Christmas outing to Blackheath

PICTURES: See the King's Troop in Christmas outfits

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The King's Troop pass Charlton House on their way to Blackheath

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Over forty horses took part in the seasonal display

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Canary Wharf in the background as the Troop cross Blackheath

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Onlookers turned out to watch the now-traditional Christmas outing

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Refreshments were enjoyed at Morden College, Blackheath

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The King's Troop RHA go back across the heath as they head back to Woolwich

  • See more photos in this Facebook album

Filed Under: News Tagged With: King's Troop

Kevin Nolan’s Match Report: Millwall v Charlton (21/12/2016)

December 22, 2016 By Rob Powell

Millwall 3 (O'Brien 40, Morison 42,60) Charlton 1 (Ajose 48).

Kevin Nolan reports from The Den.

It's like picking at an open wound to rehash Charlton's almost comical record against Millwall or to mention again that they haven't beaten their "rivals" since the 20th century. It's enough to say that this latest meek capitulation earned them more of the amused contempt in which they are held around SE 16. "You'll never beat the Millwall" the fumbling visitors were reminded and rarely have truer words been sneered. Charlton have given this so-called local derby a bad name. And that name is walkover.

Bad news awaited the Addicks when they arrived at The Den. Powerful centre back Byron Webster had returned from a three-game absence, not to warm the bench but typically among the starters as befits a warrior. Webster won everything in the air and efficiently handled Josh Magennis. But it was even more disquieting to discover that old nemesis Steve Morison had clearly targetted this game for a full comeback following a two-month injury lay-off. Forty five useful minutes as a substitute in a losing cause at Scunthorpe had prepared him to exorcise his frustration on old victims.

Morison relishes his role as an old fashioned centre forward, though there's more to his game than mere hustle and bustle. His clever movement and cool finishing proved as much, the second of his two goals being ideally timed to quash the briefly noisy neighbours' second half revival.

For over 40 minutes, Charlton flattered to deceive and approached the interval in promising shape. They had been spared an early setback when Lee Gregory pounced on a slip by Patrick Bauer but messed up the routine pass which would have set up O'Brien for a simple tap-in. They lived dangerously again as Morison volleyed Gregory's astute chip into the sidenet but had coped well until a familiar collapse destroyed them shortly before the interval.

Tight to the right touchline and hemmed in by two opponents, right back Shaun Cummings managed a speculative cross to the far post where an unmarked O'Brien, with only Gregory as company, headed simply past Dillon Phillips. Two minutes later, Shaun Williams produced a better delivery, again from the right, which Morison astutely read and expertly nodded volleyed home.

A fly on the wall of Charlton's half-time dressing room would probably have bolted for cover as a clearly vexed Karl Robinson tore into his submissive troops. Whatever spleen he vented worked at least temporarily because the Addicks re-emerged in brisk, businesslike fashion. Within three minutes their arrears had been reduced and they were back in the game.

An accurate throw from Phillips found Andrew Crofts, a combative exception to the timidity around him, who picked out Magennis in front of him. The burly striker's pass split the defence and played in Ademola Lookman, who was tempted to shoot but instead set up a better chance for Nicky Ajose. Taking a touch to compose himself, Ajose finished competently past Jordan Archer. Game on then but not for long.

The Lions were briefly inconvenienced and an emergency clearance by Webster was required when Lookman's cross was headed dangerously back from the far post by Adam Chicksen. They soon re-asserted themselves, however, with Morison's second strike on the hour putting the outcome beyond Charlton's feeble reach

An incisive move developed through O'Brien to overlapping right back Tony Craig then inside to Fred Onyedinma, whose square pass picked out Morison near the penalty spot. Turning sharply, the veteran marksman beat Phillips' right hand with a crisp drive into the bottom left corner. Hardly a defensive muscle had so much as twitched during the entire process.

Phillips' fine one-on-one save denied Onyedinma later but the damage had been done, another miserable chapter written in the embarrassingly one-sided history of this fixture. Yet again, Charlton talked it while Millwall walked it. The "bitter enemies" do it again at The Valley in three weeks time, where cockeyed optimists will touchingly build a case for a home win while flint-eyed realists meet the truth head-on. All Charlton can rely on these days is the law of averages. And by the law of averages they're already long overdue to beat Millwall again. So that's about as reliable as a plasticine crutch.

Millwall: Archer, Cummings, Hutchinson, Webster, Craig, Onyedinma (Butcher 90), Williams, Thompson, O'Brien (Worrall 88), Gregory (Ferguson 75), Morison. Not used: King, Romeo, Abdou, Smith.

Charlton: Phillips, Konsa, Texeira, Bauer, Fox, Lookman, Crofts, Jackson (Ahearne-Grant 86), Chicksen (Botaka 70), Ajose, Magennis. Not used: Mitov, Johnson, Ulvestad, Aribo. Booked: Texeira.

Referee: Christopher Kavanagh. Att: 14,395 (2,186 visiting).

Chaps, mea culpa, but something crept into the Millwall report which gives me chills of horror. Steve Morison (bad cess to him as My Mum would say) of course volleyed not nodded his first goal home. Sorry about that, I dozed off at the keyboard and upon coming to, suffered a bout of word association and wrongly used "nodded."
I've been given lines to be handed in before Christmas. Speaking of which, Merry Christmas to one and all. And just let me at Millwall next month. We'll see who's laughing then. I've been practising a guffaw for 21 years and I'm running out of time. Kev.

Filed Under: Sport

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