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Queen to visit Greenwich tomorrow

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HER MAJESTY The Queen will make her first visit to Greenwich tomorrow since the borough was awarded royal status.

The Queen will officially reopen Cutty Sark following the completion of its major restoration project.

The famous tea clipper was first opened to the public by the Queen in the 1950s and she will perform the same duty tomorrow, accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who is the President of the Cutty Sark Trust.

The opening ceremony will take place in the recently-redesigned Cutty Sark Gardens where the Queen will hear school children from across the borough perform a specially composed piece of music.

Her Majesty will also visit the National Maritime Museum, almost seventy-five years to the day since she visited it with her father, King George VI, for its opening ceremony. She will see the new Royal River exhibition, which celebrates the Thames and its relationship with royal history.

Cllr Chris Roberts, Leader of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, said: “It is a great privilege to welcome Her Majesty to Royal Greenwich in the same year that Greenwich has been made a Royal Borough.

“As we prepare to celebrate The Queen’s sixty years on the throne, it is fantastic that children from Royal Greenwich will have the opportunity to sing to Her Majesty.”

Members of the public wishing to see the royal visit are advised to arrive at Cutty Sark Gardens at 10.30 on Wednesday. The royal party are expected to be escorted along College Approach by the King’s Troop around noon.

Ship in a Bottle arrives in Greenwich

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Ship in a Bottle

NELSON’S Ship in a Bottle has arrived at its new permanent home at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

The piece of contemporary art by Yinka Shonibare MBE was commissioned by the Mayor of London and spent almost two years on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square.

A public appeal was started by the Art Fund to raise enough funds to buy the 4.7 metre long bottle containing a scaled down replica of HMS Victory and bring it to Greenwich. The campaign raised over £250,000 and the ArtFund provided a £50,000 grant.

Stephen Deuchar, Director of the Art Fund, said:

“We are delighted that the Art Fund’s first fundraising appeal for a contemporary work of art has been successful. It is not an easy environment in which to run a campaign but the campaign’s success is testimony to the popularity of Yinka’s work.”

Ship in a Bottle

Brian Paddick campaigns for London mayoralty in Greenwich

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LIBERAL Democrat mayoral candidate Brian Paddick brought his campaign to SE10 last week.

The ex-Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner spoke to local Lib Dem activists and supporters before spending time taking questions from the local press.

Paddick, 53, was keen to make the most of his policing credentials:

“Having spent thirty years in the police, starting off as a Bobby on the beat and ending up as one of the most senior officers at Scotland yard, I know exactly which levers to pull in order to the get the outcomes we’re seeking.”

He doesn’t pull his punches in pointing out police failings and is particularly critical of ‘stop and search’ tactics.

“Stop and search is discriminatory. Unfortunately a lot of police officers racially stereotype black people as criminals so that’s why I believe that you’re nationally seven times more likely to be stopped and searched if you’re black than if you’re white.

“If that isn’t why that’s happening, then the police have failed to come up with an adequate explanation as to why it is happening.”

If elected, he says he will put into action a sixteen-page report he wrote in 2004 on how to make ‘stop and search’ “far less discriminatory.” His boss put it in the bin at the time.

“I’ve been waiting for eight years to implement that report, ” he adds, hinting at the feeling of unfinished business he has with the Metropolitan Police.

The London mayor will assume the responsibilities of the Police and Crime Commissioner this year. For Paddick, this is a welcome chance to change police priorities.

“I will make sure that the police adopt our priorities, not their own priorities, by surveying local people and establishing what the local priorities are.”

Would the borough’s police stations be protected under a Paddick mayoralty?

“Absolutely. Police stations are a bit like insurance policies – you might not use one or you hope you might not need one, but it’s absolutely essential in terms of peace of mind to have a police station locally you can go to.

“If the police say these buildings are very old or in the wrong place or not suitable, fine, but you must open a police station front counter close to where the existing provision is before you close any police station because members of the public want to have a place to go to talk to the police.

“What I don’t agree with is the current plan to have only one deployment centre [from which emergency response vehicles are sent] in each borough. That doesn’t make any sense at all.

“The most expensive part of policing is the cost of the police officers and if they’ve got to spend half an hour battling  from one side of the borough to another before they can start work, it’s not a good use of money. You’ve got to have at least two deployment bases in every borough and in some of the outer boroughs you might need more than that.”

“It’s all very well to say you can save money by closing police stations, but the additional cost in terms of officer travelling time, if you added it up, would outweigh the savings you make from closing a police station. Nobody understands these issues better than me.”

The election for the London mayor and London Assembly will take place on May 3rd. Independent information on the elections and all the candidates can be found on London Elects.

See also: Brian Paddick writes for Greenwich.co.uk

 

Large shot put sculpture proposed at ORNC for London 2012

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A GIANT shot put could be placed in the Old Royal Naval College this summer to mark the London 2012 Olympics.

The 3m sculpture would sit upon an “impact crater debris” plinth in front of the entrance to Discover Greenwich.

Planning permission for the public art has been applied for by Di Henry, the GLA Events and Cultural Campaigns Manager.

The huge shot put, also just known as the shot, would be there from July 1st until September 30th and would be “in honour of the Olympics,” says the planning application.

The  shot put would be part of a series of large sporting monuments titled “Gift of the Gods”. Other items to be placed across the capital include a 7m long javelin, a set of 3m long Union flag arrows and a 3m discus.

Update: 7th June 2012 – The sculpture’s planning application was approved by the council.

Local runners prepare for London Marathon

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IT’S THE London Marathon this weekend and there are plenty of local runners taking up the 26-mile challenge.

For local estate agent Simon Hughes, it’s his first marathon. “I’ve been a hockey player, always kept fit and gone to the marathon and loved watching it. I’ve always said I’ll do it, but never did it until my wife entered me because she got bored of me going on about it.”

Hughes, the MD of Conran Estates, is running for Children with Cancer  and was careful to do his research before choosing a charity: “If you’re going to run for charity, you should run for someone you believe in. I’ve got three kids of my own, all under three, and Children with Cancer was the obvious choice, it really struck a chord.”

Hughes, 39, is hoping to complete the marathon in under four hours and says it will be “amazing” to run past the Cutty Sark, which is back in the route this year.

Sponsor Simon Hughes

35-year-old hair stylist Daniel Watts lives locally and works at Chandler Wright in Blackheath. Having already completed three 10k runs and three half-marathons, Watts feels ready to take on a full marathon, but his first one “had to be London” he says.

Daniel learned about the work of Childline at a fundraising event and it made him determined to help the charity.

“It was so upsetting but made me want to help. After asking someone what I could do, running the marathon came up as the best answer for me. What is 26 miles compared to what some of these kids go through?”

Sponsor Daniel Watts

For running coach Ellie Brown, taking part in the London Marathon is a chance to apply the knowledge from her day job for a good cause. Ellie, who has lived in Greenwich for 18 years and also runs a pilates studio in Greenwich High Road, is running to raise funds for St Alfege Church.

The church has just marked the 1000th anniversary of the martyrdom with a visit from Dr Rowan Williams, and the iconic Hawsmoor-designed church is undergoing a phased restoration. Ellie says: “I’m very proud to be supporting such a wonderful project in a vibrant and supportive community.”

Sponsor Ellie Brown

Local photographer Tom Dingley has been applying to enter the London Marathon for the past four years, and this year won a place in the ballot. Tom and his family are all from Greenwich and recalls meeting up with his cousins  in Trafalgar road when he was younger and “cheering on the runners and looking out for the recognisable fun runners”.

Despite securing a place through the ballot, Tom wanted to raise money for charity. He decided to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society after being profoundly moved by his Nan’s diagnosis with the disease: “I would like to collect as much as possible as Alzheimer’s is a disease that can affect us all and as yet, there is no cure.”

Sadly Tom’s Nan passed away just weeks before the marathon but he aims to do her proud this Sunday.

Sponsor Tom Dingley

London Marathon road closures

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Archbishop of Canterbury visits Greenwich for St Alfege millennium celebrations

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Rowan Williams visiting Greenwich

THE ARCHBISHOP of Canterbury arrived in Greenwich this afternoon to mark the 1000th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Alfege.

Following a service earlier in the day at Southwark Cathedral, Dr Rowan Williams travelled with the Bishop of Southwark to Greenwich on a chartered Thames Clipper while pilgrims made the journey on foot.

The Primate was met at Greenwich Pier by the Mayor, the Deputy Mayor, other dignitaries and local school children from St Alfege Primary School.

Sheltering from the rain under umbrellas, the procession made its through the Meridian Estate and ended in the school hall of St Alfege Primary School where schoolchildren performed for the Archbishop – quite brilliantly, it should be noted.

He then knelt down and gave a short talk on reconciliation, telling them: “don’t leave it a thousand years before making friends” with enemies.

The procession then left the school, with the sun having broken through and joined by pupils walking inside model Viking ships, and snaked through Greenwich town centre. Dr Williams intervened to help when the masts of one ship got stuck under a sign in Greenwich Church Street.

Rowan Williams visiting Greenwich
Archbishop helps release a stuck Viking ship

Upon arriving at St Alfege Church, the Archbishop was met by actors in an Anglo Saxon renactment camp. He addressed the audience that had gathered to hear him:

“We’ve come to a place which we all share together as Christians, a place where we see someone actually giving their life for what is of most concern to God.

“That’s what we’re here to celebrate. Thank you for commemorating one of my greatest and most wonderful predecessors and I’m also grateful to the person who’s taking the place of Alfege this afternoon, rather than myself.”

listen to ‘Dr Rowan Williams in Greenwich’ on Audioboo

After leading a prayer amongst those present, Dr Williams watched a reconstruction of Alfege’s murder and spent time talking to the crowd that had filled the church courtyard’s green.

The Primate ended his visit to SE10 by taking part in a packed service of commemoration in St Alfege Church. The re-enactment camp will remain at St Alfege until the weekend.

Archbishop of Canterbury in Greenwich

Archbishop of Canterbury in Greenwich

Archbishop of Canterbury in Greenwich
Bishop of Southwark talks to members of the re-enactment camp.

Watch a reconstruction of the boning of Alfege

Archbishop of Canterbury welcomed at Greenwich Pier

Greenwich schoolboy releases balloon with letter, lands at Department for Education

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A BALLOON with note attached floated all the way from Halstow Primary School to the Department for Education in Westminster.

The blue helium-filled balloon was released by four-year-old Eddie Nicholls outside the school in Halstow Road as part of a class activity.

The balloon was found near the Department for Education and Eddie was surprised to receive a letter in reply from the Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove.

“The balloon must have floated all the way here from your school in Greenwich,” the letter says. “I imagine your classmate let go many other letters by balloon. I wonder who else will write back?”

Mr Gove signed off by saying, “It was a delight to receive post in such an unusual way.”

Eddie’s dad, Henry, posted the letter on Twitter on Wednesday and told Greenwich.co.uk that Eddie was thrilled to receive the reply.

Greenwich Drag Race switches to new route

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ROYAL Hill is set to become Royal Heel when the Metro Centre’s colourful Greenwich Drag Race descends upon it this summer.

Expect jubilee and Olympic themed outfits in abundance as entrants don full drag , with minimum two inch heels, to take part in the race.

The yearly event is switching location after the organisers partnered up with gay pub, The Prince of Greenwich, to put on this year’s race. Previous races were held in conjunction with the Rose and Crown, but the pub has had a change of corporate direction after an extensive refurbishment.

The proposed route, a quadrangle with echoes of Chariots of Fire, will see racers sprint from Royal Hill up Hyde Vale, turn right into  King George Street and return to Royal Hill via Point Hill.

This year’s race, the seventh to be held, will take place on Saturday August 18th and will once again raise funds for the Metro Centre in Norman Road – Greenwich’s sexual health clinic which offers a range of advisory and testing services.

Prospective entrants or sponsors can contact Hugh Wright, the Head of Fundraising at Metro Centre: 020 8305 5000

Photo: Drag Race 2010 (c) Warren King Photography

EXCLUSIVE: Cabinet member’s secret backing for council democracy campaign

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Cllr Rajwant SidhuA GREENWICH Council Cabinet member is secretly campaigning to overhaul the leadership structure at the council, Greenwich.co.uk can reveal.

Days after it emerged Cabinet member Cllr Rajwant Sidhu would be leaving the Cabinet following Labour’s internal elections, the internet name DemocracyGreenwich.co.uk was registered – with Cllr Sidhu’s address listed in the domain’s registration details.

The website name redirects to an online petition calling on the authority to change from the current ‘leader and cabinet’ system to a committee system in order to “bring Power back to the People.”

Although DemocracyGreenwich.co.uk is not registered to Councillor Sidhu by name, a Land Registry search revealed that the domain registrant’s address belongs to the Woolwich Common councillor.

Councillor Sidhu refused to either confirm or deny his role in the campaign when contacted by Greenwich.co.uk.

When asked whether he had set up DemocracyGreenwich.co.uk, he replied that “this is not something which I can comment on.”

Greenwich.co.uk revealed last week that Cllr Sidhu would be exiting the Cabinet at the council’s AGM next month. In a move which has left some local Labour members “fuming” according to 853, he is to be replaced by Cllr Harry Singh.

The committee system that ‘Democracy Greenwich’ are calling for limits the direct power of the council leader and would give greater powers of scrutiny and decision-making to individual councillors.

The committee system was commonly used by local authorities until the introduction of the Local Government Act 2000.

A local referendum can be called on changing the leadership structure of a local authority if 5% of local electors petition for it. However, the new Localism Act gives councillors the power to change the system themselves without the expense of a referendum, by way of a majority vote on the council.

Two local authorities including the London Borough of Sutton recently voted to revert to a committee system.

The campaign to reform Greenwich Council is being led by members of the local Labour Party who are believed to be unhappy about the powers held by the current leadership.

Controversial changes to local masterplans are also thought to be a key factor, with some local party members believing that the proposals are being “forced through” by the leadership.

One senior party figure willing to put his name to the campaign is the chairman of Greenwich and Woolwich Labour Party David Gardner. Gardner was one of the first signatories on the petition, but could not be reached for comment today.

The Conservative group on the council withdrew a motion at the last full council meeting calling for a change to the leadership structure after Chris Roberts said that officers were already looking at the proposals.

Cutty Sark to reopen next week, NMM to take over management

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CUTTY SARK will reopen to the public next week, following a visit by the Queen and Prince Philip.

Her Majesty will officially declare the famous tea clipper open on Wednesday, marking a new beginning for Cutty Sark after a refurbishment that has cost tens of millions of pounds and taken six years.

Visitors can once again board Cutty Sark from the following day, Thursday 26th April, and the day-to-day running of her will pass from The Cutty Sark Trust, based in Greenwich Church Street to Royal Museums Greenwich.

Richard Doughty, Director of the Cutty Sark Trust, said: “We have been privileged to be involved in conserving Cutty Sark and restoring her to her key position in the Greenwich World Heritage Site.”

Kevin Fewster, Director of Royal Museums Greenwich, said: “ Bringing Cutty Sark into the Royal Museums Greenwich family strengthens the links between some of the key attraction of this unique World Heritage Site and helps us to explore the extraordinary maritime stories we have to tell.”

Greenwich.co.uk understands the Cutty Sark Trust will not be closing although key staff will move across to Royal Museums Greenwich.

The visit by the Queen comes 55-years after she first opened the Cutty Sark when it was brought to Greenwich.

[This post has been amended since first published after the wrong date was originally included.]