Greenwich.co.uk

Greenwich news and information

Farmers’ market returning to Greenwich

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Greenwich will once again play host to a farmers’ market as of next month.

City & Country Farmers’ Markets are returning to Greenwich in October with a new location right in the heart of the town centre.

The traders will set up their stalls in Durnford Street, between Greenwich Market and Greenwich Church Street.

The announcement was made on City & Country Farmers’ Markets’ Facebook page.

The organisers commented:

“We looked at various venues and found nothing suitable – but then Greenwich Market contacts us and offered us … the location! We were initally a little uncertain as central Greenwich is a touristy area, however we have a great deal of support from locals as well as a prime location so are very confident it will work.”

Previous attempts to launch the market at East Greenwich Pleasaunce and at Halstow School proved to be unsuccessful.

Lara Ruffle from East Greenwich regularly attended the market at Halstow School and welcomes the news:

“I am very pleased to see that CCFM are returning to Greenwich. We are lacking in a farmers’ market and I was disappointed when the Halstow School site didn’t work out. Hopefully this fabulous central location will mean the market is here to stay

The new farmers’ market in Durnford Street begins on the weekend of October 15th and 16th.

Drury refers Greenwich Time to District Auditor

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COUNCILLOR Spencer Drury has referred the council’s newspaper, Greenwich Time, to the District Auditor.

Drury, leader of Greenwich Conservatives, sent his letter to the auditor after the council decided to keep on publishing the weekly newspaper despite a new Code of Conduct from the government stating councils shouldn’t publish their own newsletters more than four times a year.

Two weeks ago, the councillor had his attempt to refer the decision back to the council for re-examination blocked by a scrutinee committee.

His letter to the District Auditor, whose job is to make sure that local government finance is run as it should be according to law, outlines the ways he believes the decision to carry on publishing breaches the new Code of Conduct.

“I do not believe that GT [Greenwich Time] represents value for money for the people of Greenwich and I consider it to be a huge waste of money,” writes Cllr Drury.

Click here to read the letter in full or see it below:

See also: 853 – Greenwich Time: Tories make formal complaint

Boundary Commission proposes splitting Greenwich

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Greenwich could be split across two parliamentary constituencies, if proposals put forward by the Boundary Commission are accepted.

The Greenwich West ward, along with Blackheath Westcombe, would be part of a new Deptford and Greenwich constituency. The constituency would include six wards from the borough of Lewisham: Blackheath, Brockley, Evelyn, Ladywell, New Cross and Telegraph Hill.

The Peninsula ward, which takes in East Greenwich and the Greenwich Peninsula, would become part of a new constituency called Woolwich.

At the moment, the Greenwich West and Peninsula wards are both part of the Greenwich and Woolwich constituency, represented by Nick Raynsford.

The proposals are part of the Boundary Commission’s review, which was set up with the intention of reducing the number of MPs at Westminster and making constituencies more uniform in size.

You can have your say on the proposals by contacting the Boundary Commission and they are holding public hearings at Lewisham Town Hall on October 24th & 25th to discuss their plans for south-east London.

The proposals will only change parliamentary constituencies and will not affect the make-up of the local council.

Former Greenwich mayor passes away

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TRIBUTES have been paid to a former mayor of Greenwich who has passed away, aged 86.

Ted Claridge was elected to Greenwich Council for the Thamesmead Moorings ward in 1982. He served as mayor in the municipal year of 1991-92.

He had been involved with Trust Thamesmead since the 1980s where he was chair and vice-chair, before the Trust made him its Life Long President.

Cllr Chris Roberts, the Leader of Greenwich Council, said: “Ted Claridge was one of those rare people whose contribution to the community was considerable, and will be remembered for many years to come.”

Ted moved to Thamesmead in 1976 from the east end of London, where he had previously held the mayoralty of both Hackney and Shoreditch.

The funeral will be held at 11am on Wednesday September 21 at Eltham Crematorium. Donations can be made to the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice

HMP Thameside to create hundreds of jobs

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A new prison due to open next year in Thamesmead is creating hundreds of new jobs in the area.

HMP Thameside, which will be operated by Serco on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, will be a category B prison housing 900 male prisoners.

Serco is looking to create 350 jobs at the prison and says it wants many of these to come from local communities such as Plumstead, Thamesmead, Woolwich and Greenwich.

As well as needing Prison Custody Officers, other specialist roles such as

  • Physical Education Instructors
  • Catering and Security staff
  • Chaplains
  • Administrators
  • Drug and Offender Programme and Clerical workers

Guy Baulf, Prison Director at HMP Thameside said: “This is a unique environment in which to work and while it can be challenging it is also incredibly rewarding. We are looking for people who can help us build a community within a community, and ultimately help reduce reoffending.”

More information can be found at the new prison’s website.

Kevin Nolan signs for Greenwich.co.uk

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Charlton Athletic - copyright Darryl Chamberlain

The transfer window may be closed but Greenwich.co.uk today announces a new star signing.

The veteran Charlton Athletic writer, Kevin Nolan, is joining the website for an undisclosed fee after his previous stint writing match reports for the council’s Greenwich Time  newspaper was brought to an end.

Nolan, who has been covering the club’s fortunes for 26 years at a variety of publications, commented on the deal:

“I am happy, if cautious, about this new venture. It was P G Wodehouse, I believe, who warned that it was precisely when you were feeling chipper and optimistic about life, that the 3.45 was steaming out of Waterloo on its way to hitting you in the small of your back at Clapham Junction. So I intend to steer clear of Clapham Junction and hope to cut the mustard for my new public. You’re out there, right?”

Kevin’s first match report for Greenwich.co.uk will be this weekend following Charlton’s home match against Exeter.

Picture credit: Darryl Chamberlain

Your chance to sing with Cleveland Watkiss

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Trinity Laban’s World Choir course is offering you the chance to perform alongside the award winning singer, Cleveland Watkiss.

Singers will explore jazz styles and techniques during the six week course with vocal director and internationally recognised performer Nia Lynn.

World Choir rehearsals will begin at the end of this month with the course culminating in a final performance at Blackheath Halls in November.

Cleveland (pictured above), winner of the London Awards ‘Best Vocalist’ 2010, co-founded the Jazz Warriors in 1985 with Courtney Pine and has worked with many musical influencers including Bob Dylan, Wynton Marsalis, The Who, Bjork and Stevie Wonder.

Cleveland said: “Jazz is an incredibly encompassing and influential genre capable of assimilating and absorbing all kinds of music. Trinity Laban’s World Choir is a great opportunity to involve the local community and aspiring jazz vocalists in music making and I look forward to performing with them.”

Vocal director Nia Lynn, a specialist in jazz vocals, has performed extensively at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Ronnie Scott’s and Southbank Centre. She is Principal Study Singing Teacher at Trinity Laban’s Jazz Department, as well as holding several other national teaching posts.

Nia said: “The great thing about this course is that you don’t need to know how to read music. We learn songs by ear so adults of all musical abilities can get involved. Whether you’re an experienced jazz singer, a budding amateur or you just want to try something new, this course is for you.”

The project is part of Greenwich Jazz which is produced by Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in partnership with Greenwich Council, Serious and the London Jazz Festival.

The course costs £50 (£15 for Greenwich Card holders) which includes rehearsals over six weeks and the final performance. For further information or to book visit www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/worldchoir, email ed.comm@trinitylaban.ac.uk or telephone 020 8305 4367.

Daily Photo: 08/09/2011 – Clipper aground

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Local photographer Tim Keeler sent me this snap of one of the Thames Clippers aground, near the O2 last week.

The boat was deliberately placed there by Thames Clippers so routine maintenance could be carried out once the tide was out.

Tim saw another boat in the same spot, presumably for the same purpose, when he went back a few days later.

Tim’s website is www.timkeelerphotography.com

Raynsford welcomes return of ‘Knife Edge’

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Greenwich and Woolwich MP, Nick Raynsford, says he is ‘delighted’ that Henry Moore’s ‘Knife Edge’ sculpture has been returned to Greenwich Park.

Nick said: “I have written on numerous occasions to the Henry Moore Foundation, stressing the significance of ‘Knife Edge’ to Greenwich Park. The Friends of Greenwich Park have also worked tirelessly to secure the sculpture’s return.

“I am delighted that our lobbying has paid off and that ‘Knife Edge’ will be returned in time for the 2012 Olympics, so that this fine piece of work by one of Britain’s greatest sculptors can be admired once again by local Greenwich residents, and also around the world.”

Henry Moore Sculpture in Greenwich Park