23 December 2016

Happy Holidays!

Dear Companions
Thinking back over what was a good year is difficult now as so many of the highlights were thanks to the adored Stephen Humphrey, the eminent Southwark historian who passed away unexpectedly last month.
Silvi and I decided this year’s pub walk would be in Southwark, a nod to Stephen.  As usual many Companions helped on the recces.  At The Royal Oak landlord Frank produced a South London Press article about the pub written by Stephen.  He organised two coach trips this year for Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society on which several Companions have become regulars; the first to Harwich:  “a significant place in England’s maritime history… the original home of the Mayflower and of its master, Christopher Jones… represented in Parliament in the 1680s by none other than Samuel Pepys.”  We visited the yard where a replica of the Mayflower is being built for sailing to America in 2020, the anniversary of the original journey of 1620, via Rotherhithe where the Captain is buried.  In July Frank invited us both to the RAF Club for an evening of music hall songs, such as My Old Man Said Follow the Van, which Stephen explained was about doing a flit when rent went unpaid – as Charlie Chaplin’s family did all around Kennington!  I accompanied Stephen on a reconnaissance trip to the 12th-century Prittlewell Priory and Southend-on-Sea – originally known as the ‘south end’ of Prittlewell, for our next SLAS outing in October.  We had such a lovely sunny day together, visiting the places he proposed, meeting key people, exploring where we might park the coach – the first suggestion would have been quite impossible even though it looked fine on the map.  I hope that on the day I was of some help, gathering up the stragglers, etc.  Mostly though, what an honour to have spent such a wonderful day with Stephen, especially now knowing how short of time he was.


Riding the buses gathered momentum when we realised that riding one a month would take us 32 years – I’d be 96!  By riding more each month we should be done before I’m 92 by when Marie says she will be with us ‘in spirit’!  A fabulous way to explore London for free: out to South Harrow, Waltham Cross, Heathrow and Caterham with some excellent lunches at the end of the line.  This year’s highlight was meeting up with ex-neighbours Steve and Meral and daughter Alara at the end of Route 42.
For RSPB’s coach trip to Oare Marshes in Kent Beefeater Distillery donated tickets for a tour of the visitor centre as a raffle prize. 
The Ladies Who Lunch met at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese in Fleet Street in May; then a couple of Galician restaurants in June:  Goya in Pimlico, and Galicia in Portobello Road; and last month Olley’s Fish Restaurant in Herne Hill.
Kennington News continues to be well read, with currently over 21,000 page views a month. 
Sales of books and CD/DVDs are booming!  We’ve now raised £721.07 for the Friends of the Durning Library, of which over £550 in the past year.  Thanks to so many Companions - in particular Marie for schlepping tons of books around Kennington in her little car! 
Enjoy the holidays!
Best wishes
Cathy

21 December 2016

The Christmas my in-laws threw out my treasured books: Carol Birch | Opinion | The Guardian

The Christmas my in-laws threw out my treasured books: Carol Birch | Opinion | The Guardian


Newly arrived in England after eight years in the south-west of Ireland, we dumped our stuff in Kennington, south London, and went to my then husband’s parents’ house for Christmas. It was the late 80s, and our marriage was heading for the rocks.

There’d been some idea that a complete change would do us good, though quite how the flat in Kennington was supposed to energise us I have no idea. It was bleak and damp, three flights up on an estate with stinky stairwells and rubbish overflowing in the yards. Still, it was a change from cabin fever. I was looking forward to furnishing it with my books, which had been stored in a large wardrobe at my parents-in-law’s all the time we’d been away. ...

20 December 2016

The Beefeater Blues stand-up comedy sessions (Sat 28th Jan) Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

The Beefeater Blues stand-up comedy sessions (Sat 28th Jan) Tickets | Eventbrite
Banish your blues this January with a free stand-up comedy gig, hosted by legendary producer, Just the Tonic, at the Beefeater London Dry Gin distillery in Kennington.

16 December 2016

The White Bear, Kennington: A proper pub that's just a bit gastro | London Evening Standard

The White Bear, Kennington: A proper pub that's just a bit gastro | London Evening Standard
... A Kennington pub has had a refurb at a right old age ... Modern pubs struggle to get the right balance between their food and drink offerings, but this Kennington spot has got it bang on. ...

Kennington residents up in arms as 'wrong colour bricks' used for school expansion - Southwark News

Kennington residents up in arms as 'wrong colour bricks' used for school expansion - Southwark News
... Kennington residents have called the council’s planning department “underhanded” after officers botched up plans for the expansion of a local primary school. ...

Impeccable French cuisine at Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington - Southwark News

Impeccable French cuisine at Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington - Southwark News
... Toulouse Lautrec is not only a great Frenchman but also a great restaurant where the Regent brothers Florent and Nolan endeavour to bring the best of France to Kennington. ...

12 December 2016

Northern line Extended - Premier Construction News

Northern line Extended - Premier Construction News
... The extension will lengthen the Charing Cross branch of the Northern line from Kennington to Battersea, with the overall aim to support the regeneration of the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea areas. It is hoped that around 20,000 homes and 25,000 jobs will be generated over the next 20 years. ... The TBMs will be launched from the Battersea work site where they will take separate routes to construct 5.2 metre diameter tunnels on their way to the shafts at Kennington Park and Kennington Green. The TBMs will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and as they advance forward, nearly 20,000 pre-cast concrete segments will be built in rings behind them. ... In Kennington, construction is well underway – temporary acoustic enclosures have been erected which significantly reduce noise and dust levels and will enable TfL (Transport for London) to work 24/7 within the enclosures during tunnelling works. TfL has excavated a 25m deep shaft within each of these enclosures in advance of sprayed concrete lining tunnelling starting at the site. ...

10 December 2016

FoDL : Monday 12 December: Winter Party and Raffle

News | Friends of Durning Library
Monday 12 December:  Winter Party and Raffle. 
Paddy Ashdown will speak about his new book “Game of Spies: the Secret Agent, the Traitor and the Nazi” telling the story of a riveting spy triangle in occupied France.
6.45 for 7.15pm at the Durning Library.  Light refreshments. Everyone welcome.
No admission charge, but a £2 donation towards costs is invited.
Game of Spies Hardcover Signed edition by Paddy Ashdown

08 December 2016

Historian Stephen Humphrey's passing is a huge loss - Southwark News

Historian Stephen Humphrey's passing is a huge loss - Southwark News

05 December 2016

Southwark historian Stephen Humphrey has died [1 December 2016]

Southwark historian Stephen Humphrey has died [1 December 2016]

Southwark historian Stephen Humphrey passes away - Southwark News

Southwark historian Stephen Humphrey passes away - Southwark News

Southwark mourns the death of historian and borough archivist Stephen Humphrey - London News Online

Southwark mourns the death of historian and borough archivist Stephen Humphrey - London News Online