Culture comes to Greenwich this week in all forms, with a packed diary of music, poetry and arts events all over town and plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved.

For music geeks like me, The Greenwich International Early Music Festival and Exhibition at the Old Royal Naval College is undoubtedly the highlight of the week.  As well as providing an opportunity to see and touch ye olde musical instruments such as hurdy-gurdies, sackbutts and crumhorns, the festival is also bringing them back to life with a series of concerts and master classes.

Catering for the thoroughly modern end of the musical spectrum is Greenwich Theatre’s Showstopper. This musical is 100% improvised on the night based on audience suggestions, so I can’t tell you what it’s about yet, but it’s been a huge success to date and will no doubt be just as well received this time.  If that whets your appetite for participation, you can to get creative at the Cockpit Arts Studio in Deptford, who are holding hat-making classes from Tuesday.  There’s also a Kickstart Photography Workshop on Sunday afternoon at the Viewfinder Gallery, where participants pick a theme together, then go off and take photographs before reconvening to compare results.

The spoken word is the order of the day at the Albany, with Beyond Worlds Remixed on Tuesday evening.  Four South African poets, including Poet Laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile, will be showcasing their talent and sharing the stage with young British rappers and emcees (MCs) from the group SLAMbassadors. Tuesday’s obviously a day for poetry in Greenwich, as the Observatory are holding a Poems of Space evening, looking at the relationship between verse and science.

Finally, if your son or daughter is keen to follow in the footsteps of Greenwich’s own Rachel Adedeji (OK, so I know she’s out of the X Factor now but she’s still done pretty well), then Greenwich Community College are holding an open evening on Tuesday.  Rachel’s course, Musical Theatre, is a specialty of theirs but they run courses for school leavers in a wide range of practical disciplines from Mechanics to Fashion.

The approach of Remembrance Sunday this weekend has got me thinking about what life would have been like in wartime Greenwich. For the vast majority of us the thought of air raids and evacuations taking place on our doorstep is pretty fantastical, but only 70 years ago it was all too real. Greenwich’s proximity to trade hub the Isle of Dogs and its military focal points made the town an attractive target for German bombers during the Blitz of WW2. Scores of residents were evacuated and even the park was not untouched – the flower gardens were used to house anti-aircraft guns and the trees were clipped to allow the guns a better firing range.  Greenwich Cemetery is known to house over 700 war graves, many of them unidentified soldiers.

In memory of those lost, Remembrance Sunday services are taking place at churches across the borough including St Alfege’s and Holy Trinity (at the Millennium Primary School) in East Greenwich. There are wreath-laying ceremonies at Charlton, Blackheath and Plumstead on Saturday morning, and Eltham and Abbey Wood on Sunday (full details of all ceremonies here). St Alfege’s are also marking the occasion with Songs of War and Remembrance on Saturday evening and the Firepower museum in Woolwich is holding a multi-faith remembrance event on Sunday.

Happily, these days the only explosions you’re likely to hear in Greenwich are much more friendly ones. Yes it’s the annual Blackheath fireworks display, which this year takes place on Saturday evening at 8pm. With Greenwich’s jam-prone infrastructure, lack of parking space and the questionable reliability of the number 286 bus, I’d highly recommend walking there and be aware that you are not allowed to take your own sparklers. On the plus side this yearly tradition, now co-financed by Lewisham and Greenwich borough councils, will no doubt be a good show, with 30 minutes of uninterrupted fireworks to tire even the keenest rocket enthusiasts.

What else is happening in Greenwich this week? Add other events in the comments below…

This week being both half term and Halloween, choosing a theme for my ‘what’s on’ column pretty is much a done deal: a collection of good, clean, occasionally spooky and fun events for Greenwich’s younger folk (and young at heart).

The National Maritime Museum & Planetarium are truly leading the way with scores of dedicated family activities throughout the week.  From making your own instruments for Space Music to dressing up as a ghost on the Haunted House Family Fun Day, there’s plenty to keep the little ones and their parents entertained.  On the more educational side there are also plenty of story-telling sessions, such as the Inuit Stories in the North-West Passage exhibition, and a Halloween Skies planetarium show.

For older kids with a strong disposition, the story telling takes a much darker turn at the Fan Museum with Candlelit Tales for Halloween on Thursday evening. Drama, prose and verse combine in this spooky celebration of all things ghoulish and wicked. Guaranteed to get you into the Halloween spirit and, if you’re easily scared like me, have you jumping out of your seat.

Teenagers who may have outgrown ghost stories but still harbour thespian tendencies might be interested in Greenwich Theatre’s Make Your Own Musical project.  Young people aged 14-18 will be turning their hands to writing, directing, stage design and acting in this 3 day ‘from scratch’ project, which culminates in a Friday night showcase of their efforts.

Along similarly tuneful lines, Blackheath Halls are teaming up with The Conservatoire for this week’s Blackheath Youth Orchestra project from Tuesday-Thursday.  Any 11-18 year old who can play an instrument to grade 3 standard is welcome without an audition and the end results will be on display at a concert in Blackheath Halls on Thursday evening.

Finally, if you really want to tire your kids out, there’s a Boys vs Girls Judo Competition at St Barnabus Church Hall, Eltham, every evening from 6pm this week until Thursday.  The event is run by the Subarashi Judo Club, who are beginner-friendly and also welcome disabled people to the training sessions. I’m exhausted just thinking about it!

When you live in London, and Greenwich in particular, it’s easy to become blasé about the historical significance of your environment. For example, I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never even been to the Maritime Museum or, as Andrew’s latest column this week reminded me, the East Greenwich Pleasaunce.  So to make amends to Greenwich for my neglect, all the events I’ve chosen this week are centred on exploring SE10’s remarkable past.

The Royal Observatory are marking the 125^th anniversary of the Meridian line with a lecture, exploring why Greenwich was chosen as the Prime Meridian, how it all came about and what the impact of the line was both at the time and since.

The borough’s celebration of ‘Black History Month’ continues, with the Thames Discovery Programme’s guided walk Along the Black Waterfront on Monday afternoon.  Led by Professor Steve Martin, the tour will focus on the history of black sailors, dockworkers and labourers, and the 1949 Deptford Riots.  The river is also the focus of the Greenwich Industrial Society this week: they are giving a lecture on Greenwich and Lewisham’s waterfront archaeology at the Old Bakehouse in Blackheath on Tuesday evening.

Casting a slightly wider geographical net is BBC historian Dan Cruickshank, who will be speaking about Georgian London at Blackheath Halls on Wednesday. The ‘Around the World in 80 Treasures’ presenter’s main focus will be the seedier side of the city, as he examines the 18^th Century sex industry and its effect on London’s architecture.

Delving into the dark side of our capital’s more recent history, the Albany in Deptford is screening The End, a documentary film of interviews with real, now-imprisoned East End gangsters.  The film was directed by the daughters of an interviewee who, in his day, was one of London’s most notorious criminals.  And talking of criminal, 1980s haircuts are back in fashion at the O2 this week, with Spandau Ballet in residency from Tuesday to Thursday.

This week marks the 125^th anniversary of a major turning point in Greenwich’s history – the formal adoption of the Greenwich Zero Meridian Line in 1884.  So in honour of this occasion I’ve been seeking out events that are all about ‘firsts’ and trying something new, in the vague hope that this week might represent a small turning point in your history.  Cheesy I know, but let’s go with it…

At the heart of the Meridian line, the Royal Observatory are holding their Autumn Sky Watch this week.  The evening is all about bringing astronomy to a new audience and teaching participants the ‘whats’ and the ‘hows’ of stargazing, including an introduction to using telescopes and a mapping of the early winter skies.

If you’ve ever fancied learning how to snap (or ‘pap’) the stars of the stadiums then here’s your opportunity, as the O2’s British Music Experience is holding an introductory Music Photography Masterclass on Thursday evening.  Three of Rock n Roll’s finest photographers, whose subjects have included all imaginable Rock legends from Led Zeppelin to Oasis, will be teaching the tricks of the trade and sharing their no-doubt colourful tales of life on the road.

Fresh from a sell-out staging of his last play at the Camden Fringe, Eamon McDonnell’s bringing another ‘first’ to Greenwich with the world premiere of his new play The Gift at the Greenwich Playhouse.  Set in the Irish borderlands, the story centres on the dark pasts of a farmer and an ex-terrorist, so expect dark but compelling drama.

Finally, budding evangelists take note – The London Gospel Choir are inviting the people of Greenwich into their choir for a six week community project, starting this Wednesday at Blackheath Halls.  The choir’s modern approach combines RnB and soul influences with choreography and genuine vocal skill and this project culminates in a concert at the end of November – watch this space.

Anything else on in Greenwich this week? Add it in the comments below…

Welcome to October. The nights are drawing in, there’s a definite chill in the air and Sainsbury’s is already selling Homer Simpson advent calendars.  So this week I’m on a mission to beat the autumnal blues and as exercise is a particularly good way to do that, I’m focusing on some of Greenwich’s most active activities to cheer us all up.

If, like me, you find the prospect of the treadmill thoroughly unappealing, you might like to try out the new belly dancing classes on Friday nights at Greenwich West Community Arts Centre. The classes cater for all levels so it’s a welcoming environment for complete beginners, with a guaranteed lack of intimidating six-packs.  From belly dancing to belly laughing (an equally valid form of exercise), impressionist Alistair McGowan is performing at Blackheath Halls this Saturday.

Mental Health charity Time to Change’s ‘Get Moving’ campaign comes to the Heritage Centre on Saturday afternoon, giving participants the opportunity to try new, alternative exercises to help perk us all up a bit.  The activities are divided into 4 different zones: Dance, Chill Out, Active and Games, so there should be something for everyone.

October is also Black History month and as such the council are running a series of exercise classes inspired by Greenwich’s multicultural society. The Arches, Waterfront and Eltham leisure centres are all taking part and classes include Street Dance, Latino & Salsa Aerobics and RnB Dance.  Also part of Black History month is the Literary Nightclub at Greenwich Heritage Centre on Saturday evening, featuring music and poetry from the South Bank Centre’s artist in residence, Lemn Sissay.

Finally, it’s Bike Week in the Royal Parks and Greenwich Park are celebrating on Tuesday evening.  You and your bike can pop along and get health checked by Dr Bike, to ensure your bike is in top shape to keep you going (and keep you fit and happy) through the winter months.

I hope you’re not too worn out from taking part in (or in my case watching) the half marathon this weekend, because you’ll need plenty of energy this week to tackle Greenwich’s totally jam-packed calendar of events.

Dance features prominently in this week’s schedule. The Greenwich Dance Agency are hosting the first of three monthly master classes in Tea Dance this Sunday, teaching the cha-cha, waltz and other classic forms.  All classes are followed by a real tea dance, with live music, tea and (for me) the real highlight: cake.  If you’re more of a spectator than a performer the GDA are also showcasing the results of the British East Asian Choreography Development Scheme (yes it is a mouthful) on Friday.  The four contemporary dancers performing were chosen after a nationwide search and it promises to be a top-class production.

Continuing the dance theme, the prize for this week’s best event name goes to  Adventures in Anti-Cool, featuring three of the UK’s finest hip-hop dancing groups at the Albany.  Close second is Rollercoaster V at the O2, headlined by contemporary rock covers band Coaster.  Air guitars at the ready!

If you have any family heirlooms sitting at the back of your cupboards then I suggest you dig them out and dust them off now, because the BBC 1 Antiques Roadshow is coming to Greenwich this week!  Fiona Bruce and her crew of crusty experts will be at the Old Royal Naval College on Thursday sifting through cobwebbed portraits and cracked teacups to find Greenwich’s hidden treasures.

If you want to give yourself a more realistic chance of making some money, the South East London Chamber of Commerce are holding ‘Beat the Squeeze’.  This networking event is all about offering advice to local businesses about coping through the recession.

Greenwich’s Theatres are also hives of activity this week.  The Playhouse is into its second and final week of the fantastic ‘East’, and Greenwich Theatre is staging ‘Scandal Faustus’, presenting Doctor Faustus and School for Scandal in repertory with just one cast.

Finally there’s also a Benefit Night for Demelza Hospice at Up the Creek Comedy Club on Thursday, a new exhibition at the National Maritime Museum by contemporary artist Jeremy Millar from Monday, and the Friends of Plumstead Gardens open meeting on Thursday evening at St Nicholas’ Church Hall.

Like me, many of you will have watched a jolly beardy Sting starting the Great North Run this Sunday from the comfort of your sofa.  Exhausting viewing, no doubt, but if it also got you thinking that you’d like to do something good for mankind, then it’s a good week to be living in Greenwich.

If you want to go whole hog for charity then London’s own half marathon comes to Greenwich next Sunday.  Run to the Beat starts at the O2 and weaves its way around the borough featuring live and recorded music at eleven stages throughout the race.   All the tunes are strategically chosen to keep the runners moving at a good pace.  If you want to get involved but have left the training a bit late, then the organisers are looking for volunteers, or just go along and cheer on the runners.  When you’re running 13 miles, every little helps!

Along slightly more sedentary lines is the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning this Friday at Charlton House.  All you have to do is turn up, make a small donation and eat cake.  Much more my cup of tea (or in this case, coffee!).  Blackheath halls are also holding a Tea Dance this Wednesday afternoon, featuring a raffle for Cancer Research UK.

If you’re already involved in a Greenwich charity then you may want to go along to the Greenwich Action for Voluntary Service’s AGM on Wednesday Afternoon, again at Charlton House.  It’s a chance for the community’s voluntary, faith and charitable organisations to elect the GAVS board and meet their new Chief Exec. There’s also the presentation of the GAVS Sector Awards, which celebrate the sector’s most remarkable achievements this year.

Finally, one woman’s charitable cause takes comedic form at the Old Bakehouse in Blackheath, with Eleanor Bennett’s Off her Trolley.  Her mix of stand-up, character routines and songs may all sound a bit Little Britain, but there’s a serious point to it: Eleanor’s subject is dementia, namely the way is treated in this country and the impact it has on sufferers and their families.