Deptford Se8ker

Gary Oldman on Deptford

2011-09-12T17:29:00.000+01:00

With the forthcoming release of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, old Deptfordian Gary Oldman is interviewed in this week's Radio Times. Besides his acting career, he discusses with interviewer Danny Leigh his "rough childhood in hard-up Deptford, where his father walked out when he was seven". Incidentally this ultimately led him to write and direct Nil by Mouth, demonstrating Deptford's ability to inspire creativity in unexpected ways... but returning to the interview, he is asked if he ever goes back:

"Occasionally. It doesn't change. London changes, but Deptford is... Deptford. The same men I was always scared of but fascinated by are all still there. In the pub."

Interesting use of the singular - there are very few pubs in SE8 nowadays! I wonder if he had a particular one in mind?

Tidemill School

2010-07-13T13:33:00.000+01:00

Somewhat surprised this morning to switch on BBC Breakfast and the salary of my local school's head was the top national story! Surely there must be more important events in the world to report even on a Tuesday morning? Happily a more balanced report has just appeared on the BBC website.

Whilst not wanting to give the story any more prominence than it already has (Darryl at 853 has just done an excellent post setting out the facts and a debate is going on at Kate's Brockley Central blog) my gut reaction was what has he done to deserve being plastered over the media like this? He's done absolutely nothing wrong - unlike many individuals who I shall refrain from naming who have been rewarded much more handsomely for doing much less worthy jobs.

My personal impression of Tidemill (and I admit the only occasion I actually visit it is as a polling station) is of a school providing a good education, which given its age and location is something which should surely be praised rather than criticised?

A Night at the Jane

2010-03-19T21:40:00.001Z

I spent my first night in NY at the Jane Hotel in the Meatpacking District. It was probably the only hotel offering rooms at (just) under $100 on New Year's Eve, not en-suite of course but what do you expect at that price?

Added to the attractive price was an attractive history. Back in 1912 surviving crew members of the Titanic were billeted here when it was a sailors' hostel. The maritime theme continues in the tiny "cabins" though widescreen TVs, Wi-Fi and iPod docks are concessions to the modern age.

Sure the odd death happens every now and again but that's life... I'd have been happy to stay longer but having booked another keenly priced room at the Chelsea Garden Inn it was time to move on - but I just remembered to grab a shot of the impressive entrance lobby as I left.

New Year in New York

2010-01-24T11:35:00.014Z

Happy New Year!

I was lucky enough to spend the first week of 2010 in the Big Apple. Arriving on an icy New Year's Eve I eschewed the ball drop in Times Square as being a little too touristy and headed for the fireworks, concert and midnight run in Central Park. The fireworks actually started a few seconds before midnight and continued for 20 minutes, leading up to an awesome finale - my photos don't really do them justice but there are several videos on YouTube.

Just before the end of my trip I returned to Central Park - despite a slight thaw the frozen lakes presented many opportunities for wintry photos. These were taken in and around the Ramble:

The restored Bethesda Terrace Arcade, reopened in 2007 after a painstaking reconstruction of its Minton tile ceiling. They are fond of dogs in the Big Apple...

Almost Christmas Concert this Friday

2009-12-15T22:07:00.004Z

Yesterday I received the following email from St Paul's Sinfonia previewing this Friday's concert. Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two concerts of the season I can confirm the standard is as high as ever:

"I am writing to invite you to the Sinfonia's last concert of 2009. Not strictly Christmassy, but festive and joyful nonetheless, the December concert is full of fun and high spirits entirely appropriate to the season. The programme is as follows:

Mozart - Symphony No. 31 'Paris'
Matt Rogers - exile
Bizet - Symphony in C

We present two brilliant symphonies, and in the middle, the first work by our Composer in Residence. exile is a concerto for French horn and orchestra, and we are thrilled to be able to welcome Timothy Jackson, co-principal horn of the Philharmonia Orchestra, to play the solo part with the Sinfonia's accompaniment. The work exploits the ritualistic history of the horn, and includes a virtuosic movement for the orchestral horns alone, 'shadowing' the soloist as he careers through the music.The concert starts, as usual, at 7.30 p.m., and tickets are available on the door any time from 7 p.m. We hope very much to see you there!"

Lassoing the Circle

2009-12-12T19:41:00.003Z

Yesterday I happened to find myself on the "old" Circle Line for the last time. Travelling from Bayswater to Baker Street I found myself assisting various bemused tourists who (quite understandably) were trying to match the freshly applied maps and route diagrams with the old service, and failing. Maybe delaying application of the new maps until Saturday night would have been too difficult, but surely a note could have been added beside the "new" route section to give the start date?

Trying to describe the new shape of the Circle over the phone a few days ago, I suggested it looked rather like a lasso. It seems I am in good company according to the Evening Standard - really how could anyone suggest it resembles a tadpole?

Back blogging!

2009-12-12T19:30:00.003Z

Wow, that was a long summer break! Must try harder in future - and if I find time to do some "catch up" posts about some of the places and things I've seen since August...

Deptford Misc

2009-08-01T19:49:00.003+01:00

A quick mention of Bill Ellson's new Deptford Misc blog which has already featured posts on the Dog and Bell pub, Beau Geste author (and Deptfordian) PC Wren and the fate of the New Cross Building Society. Welcome Bill!

Tesco comes to Town

2009-07-31T21:34:00.003+01:00

Walking past the new retail unit at the south east end of the High Street (where Learndirect used to be sited) this evening I did a double take at the various Tesco signs in the windows, and a planning application notice. Checking the Lewisham Planning site confirmed that a Tesco Express is on the way to Deptford High Street.

Whilst not a particular fan of Tesco - I find their customer service is the poorest of all the major supermarkets, rarely if ever getting Green Clubcard Points for bag reuse even when I point this out (rant over) - hopefully it will provide Iceland with a bit of competition in this area without affecting the welcome variety of smaller stores on our local High Street.

Shelter Signs: West End

2009-07-12T21:07:00.008+01:00

As promised, more old Second World War shelter signs, this time from the West End. Although all of these are at eye level they are much harder to spot than their Deptford equivalents, being a fraction of the size and badly weathered. Fortunately I had the very informative book London's War by Sayre Van Young to help guide me. All of these signs point down to vaults and basements...

At 25 Longmoore Street Pimlico (stretching the definition of "West End" a bit):

And just down the way at 36 Longmoore Street:

To save straining your eyes, (I think) it reads "public shelters in vaults under pavements in this street".

Moving on to between 42 and 48 Brook Street, near Grosvenor Square:

And at 72 Brook Street:

And similarly at 43 Upper Brook Street:

St. Paul's Sinfonia on Tour

2009-06-25T23:07:00.002+01:00

It's the final concert of the season for St. Paul's Sinfonia on Sunday, and the first away from Deptford - at the Broadway Theatre, Catford. Culminating in Beethoven's ninth symphony, it's an event no Lewisham based music lover should miss!

Shelter Signs Revisited

2009-06-25T22:46:00.004+01:00

Recently I've been seeking out more of London's old air raid shelter signs that haven't quite faded into history. To start with thanks to Caroline for finding this small one at the south end of Deptford High Street back in January. The inscribed stone above reads "Elizabeth Place 1811" - follow this link for a close up. For other old shelter signs around the High Street, see my original post. More from central London to follow.

The Deptford Mounties

2009-05-29T22:45:00.003+01:00

Returning from work via Deptford station last Wednesday evening I was startled by the unexpected sound of hooves on tarmac. Took a glance behind me and sure enough there were two mounted police slowly proceeding down the High Street... eventually taking up position outside the Deptford Arms, on Reginald Road. Seemed a bit odd really and I don't recall any mounted police in the area before. Granted it was the night of the Champions League final but surely the two events weren't connected - I'm pretty sure there aren't that many Man U, and even fewer Barca fans, in SE8! Or perhaps they were just following up that notorious Daily Mail slight on Deptford...

Spanish Practices...

2009-04-26T11:04:00.005+01:00

I'll soon be making my first visit to Barcelona (in fact to Spain). Over the past few weeks my life has taken on a Catalonian favour as I seek and source appropriate items and experiences in advance of my break. For anyone planning a similar trip here are a few recommendations:

1. Food - for any SE8 resident seeking Spanish cuisine the Dos Tias tapas bar is the obvious choice. Just past Deptford Bridge it deserves to be much better known. Apart from the usual tapas dishes they also offer sandwiches and paninis, and a fantastic Mediterranean breakfast (note weekday opening hours have recently changed to 11-3 however).

2. Clothes - Deptford market is always good for bargains of course, and as this report states it seems to be thriving at the moment. As for footwear Catalonia is famous for its espadrilles - I've sourced a suitable pair from my friends across the river at Only Espadrilles.

3. Guide/phrasebooks - surprisingly Wavelengths library didn't have anything on Barcelona when I visited. I've just tried to access the OPAC to see what Lewisham library holds, unfortunately it seems to be down at the moment. Fortunately there are online alternatives, my own preference (for clarity and conciseness) is for a DK Eyewitness guides. I also bought a set of Pigeon Spanish cards off Amazon and found a useful PDF of Catalan phrases on the Barcelona Tourism site.

4. Travel and sightseeing - the Barcelona Card seems a good buy - free travel on public transport (including the airport train) and free or reduced entry to dozens of attractions. I bought it online to save 10% (it can be collected at the airport on arrival). The unofficial Barcelona Tourist Guide provides some very useful hints and tips on getting around, tours and hotels.

UPDATE 29 May: Well I survived, in fact I had a brilliant time and it's high on my list of recommended cities. I'll certainly make a return trip someday! What stood out for me was its great variety of attractions for visitors - even more so than London, perhaps, as I for one have yet to find a decent beach here! I'm about to go off travelling again, but this time a little nearer to home - Cornwall.

Watch out - there's a fox about!

2009-03-26T19:25:00.004Z

Walking down the still busy High Street just now and a somewhat mangy fox races across the road and into the Deptford Project compound... I'm sure we're all used to urban wildlife but this seemed rather out of the ordinary, especially for early on a Thursday evening. Not sure who was more startled, the fox, or the people. Any more sightings?

Deptford Station Latest

2009-01-26T22:43:00.003Z

Good news in the February issue of Lewisham Life (in recent months a copy has been finding its way on to my doormat); the much delayed construction of our new station building is expected to start by Easter with opening by mid-2010! Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed, and I suggest you do the same...

The Giffin Square revamp should also start shortly, with an eyecatching (according to the Life) new building called the Deptford Lounge as its centrepiece. All these plans should be on show at the Access Point building in the Square this weekend (thanks to Deptford Dame for highlighting this exhibition, pity it wasn't mentioned in the Life).

From the Archives: A Presidential Encounter

2009-01-20T23:23:00.004Z

Watching President Obama's inauguration today brought to mind a fleeting encounter I had with his predecessor in September 2003, at the unlikely location of the Staten Island Ferry Terminal in New York City. Waiting for the next crossing in a crowd of hundreds of returning commuters, murmurings that the President was approaching grew. We surged over to the land side in anticipation and sure enough his motorcade swept past, "Dubya" having just addressed the General Assembly of the UN. The spectacle was more of a fast getaway than orderly procession, it was impossible to distinguish the man himself. And so we turned back and boarded the ferry as if nothing had happened; I guess New Yorkers are pretty used to these sights.

Obama is due in London in April, I daresay this visit will generate a little more excitement.

Perilous Platforms!

2009-01-18T21:50:00.008Z

Station platforms can be dangerous places. Before the surfaces at Whitehead station were raised people could, and did, fall between train and platform. Just for a change last September it was the turn of the platform to fall (apparently caused by work to relay piping). Fortunately no one was injured and the platform was quickly rebuilt over 10 days, with a full service restored on 6 October.

The Larne-bound platform at Whitehead station the day after the collapse:

And after the debris was cleared away:

Contrast this with the ordered but very lengthy (around 6 months) rebuilding of the platforms at Deptford Bridge DLR station to allow 3-car trains to run. This photo taken last Sunday shows the finished result - still closed off to passengers but bizarrely displaying an information board which includes out of date Christmas and New Year service information...

Nowadays of course many metro systems use platform edge doors, the Jubilee Line being one example. Even these do not provide absolute safety as this incident in Shanghai demonstrated.

St Paul's Strings

2009-01-14T22:49:00.003Z

A heads up for this concert at St Paul's on Friday evening. The programme includes Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis by Vaughan Williams and one of my favourite pieces. Its etheral melodies transcend the centuries; as one Fuller Maitland summed up the work of V-W, "one is never quite sure whether one is listening to something very old or very new." In recent years it seems to have experienced a resurgence in popularity, judging by its rise up the Classic FM Hall of Fame and its use or derivation (a fantasia on a fantasia?) in several films.

Update: A fantastic concert performed to packed pews. We were even treated to a extra piece - a spirited rendition of Happy Birthday for leader James Widden.

So what makes a Railway Journey Great?

2008-12-24T19:11:00.005Z

Some years ago the BBC made four series of Great Railway Journeys in which a celebrity (in modern parlance) would travel by train (you might think this an obvious prerequesite but later programmes often abandoned the rails for quite long stretches) mostly outside of Europe though a few were filmed in the UK. Along the way they would interview locals and explore places of interest both on and off the train. Whilst the first series stuck to journeys that fell into the "great" category by virtue of being long distance epics , later episodes did feel a little more contrived and mundane - the Victoria Wood episode "Crewe to Crewe" being an example (no offence intended to Victoria Wood or Crewe).

So for the past few days I've been mulling over what exactly makes a railway journey great - is it the scenery, the people, the train or something more intangible? Drawing on my own experiences over the past year I've come up with the following journeys (in no particular order):

1. London - Berwick (- Edinburgh) - the East Coast Main Line: Frequent and fast (for the UK). Scenic highlights include the Tyne and Tweed crossings and the unforgettable transit of Durham. If you prefer hills stick to the West Coast Main Line.

2. Chicago - Los Angeles - the Amtrak Southwest Chief: Not fast but scenic if you are into deserts - and Grand Canyon stopover possible which is the most scenic location I've ever seen. Staff fairly attentive. Superior restaurant service to most European trains (free to First Class passengers), though not as good as a few years ago. Fellow diners generally elderly Americans, though a young family added interest. Reasonably comfortable if you have your own bedroom and the toilet is working. Can run very late - not recommended if your friend needs to catch the European Cup Final.

3. Los Angeles - Oakland (- Seattle) - the Amtrak Coast Starlight: Like most of Amtrak again rather leisurely but if you are not hugging the Pacific Coast you are running through the Coast Range, to say nothing of the spectacular Cascades further north. Staff helpfulness was a little variable, food was fantastic. Relaunched in June, definitely worth a return trip.

4. Belfast - Larne: On this route you are not just running along the sea but almost in it - north of Magheramorne the line strikes through the sea lough on a series of causeways. One of the most scenic and most unknown coastal routes in the British Isles. Larger stations are pristine, with friendly staff. Trains not up to much but hopefully this adds to the charm for visiting tourists.

5. London - Shrewsbury (- Wrexham) - Wrexham & Shropshire Trains: The best customer service I've ever experienced from a UK railway company, the staff I encountered were invariably polite, friendly and attentive. Freshly prepared food (including proper Welsh teas) brought to your table - and this was in the competitively priced Standard class. Comfortable carriages, not the fastest route to the West Midlands but this gives you more time to enjoy the service. A new but relatively unknown operator proving small really is beautiful. And in case you are wondering I have no financial interest in this or any other train operator (except as a UK taxpayer)!

6. London - Brussels (or Paris) - Eurostar: Fast and efficient, utilising the engineering (if not financial) triumph that is the Channel Tunnel. Not particularly scenic unless black is your thing. Comfortable, food a little expensive given it consists of pre-packaged fare.

7. Cologne - Brussels - Thalys: Something of a sister service to Eurostar, combining the two makes high speed rail competitive with air travel between the UK and western Europe. Again not particularly scenic but very comfortable.

8. Brussels - Luxembourg (through the Ardennes): Definitely on this list because of the scenic nature of the route. The memory of the sun sinking over the snow dusted Ardennes in the short November dusk will linger for years to come. Train is comfortable if basic - no catering, so come prepared.

9. Trier - Cologne (part of the route of the Norderney for example): This mostly follows the Moselle and Rhine valleys and is another highly scenic route. Trains are generally comfortable, punctual and cheap.

10. Deptford - London Bridge: Last but not least - no laughing at the back please. Remember Deptford is the oldest passenger station in London, on the oldest railway in London. Next time you're jostling for space on the 0810 spare a thought that you're continuing a struggle fought for generations past...

So what does make a Great Railway Journey? Looking through this list certainly not just one aspect of the journey. Scenery is a big plus, particularly for me. A decent catering service is great too, as is a bit of history to add interest. Speed is maybe not always as important as it's made out to be - I guess it partly depends on whether the journey is part of your travel experience or just a means to an end. Maybe the most important aspect of any journey - taking my fifth point as an example - is the people you make it with. Whether they are your family or friends, on-train staff or fellow travellers - they really can make all the difference.

Julia Hwang

2008-12-19T23:25:00.003Z

Returned a couple hours ago from another excellent Sinfonia concert at St Paul's church. We are extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated young orchestra based in Deptford! The final work - an energetic rendering of Beethoven's Fifth - is still resounding around my head, however the evening belonged to young Julia Hwang. Making her London debut the 12 year old performed Mozart's Violin Concerto No.3 to rousing acclaim, then treated us to an additional item - the popular Ladies in Lavender theme by Nigel Hess, incidentally a film I only got round to watching this October. The next concert featuring St.Paul's Strings is on Friday 16 January at 7.30.

S stands for Shelters

2008-10-20T21:07:00.011+01:00

One of the great things about living in SE8 is simply walking out your front door and stumbling into history. Since moving here a few years ago I've been fascinated by Deptford's wartime past in particular. It's a subject I will certainly return to in future posts. In the meantime a posting by Deptford Dame has reminded me of these photos I took last month of local air raid shelter signs.

Above is the very well preserved example on Frankham Street (just off the High Street).

Sadly what I assume was a similar sign on the building opposite has been erased at some point.

Below is the example on Comet Street (opposite Elgar Close):

And one which thousands of people must pass every day - but how many have noticed it? This one is right on the High Street by the Deptford Project:

I'm sure these aren't the only ones around Deptford and its environs - please let me know of any others.

High Culture in Deptford

2008-10-17T10:51:00.003+01:00

It's the first concert in the St. Paul's Sinfonia season tonight. It should be a most enjoyable evening...

Mad Dogs and Englishmen...

2008-10-12T22:34:00.005+01:00

In which I spend a day in Salisbury, encounter a Lay Canon in the form of Robert Key MP and am bowled over by Orthrus reincarnated en route to Old Sarum...

I started off at Mompesson House, a National Trust property with a fine collection of drinking glasses... apparently it was also a film location for Sense and Sensibility.

Popping into the Cathedral I recognised the local MP, Robert Key, acting as an usher. Turns out he was made a Lay Canon in April and I must say it was nice to see an MP actually serving his local community - whilst I'm sure they all do this in one form or another this was a particularly visible act.

Continuing on foot to the hill fort of Old Sarum - basically where Salisbury used to be before the Normans saw sense - things started to go awry. Walking through a nature reserve minding my own business, two dogs combined into a two-headed Orthrus ran full tilt into me! I'd swear it was deliberate - they made no attempt to avoid me - I was upended, bruised and grazed but at least the canine pair enjoyed it. Their master appeared and was quite apologetic, as he should be - if I'd been a child or OAP the situation could have been much more serious... dog owners please keep your charges under control!

Undaunted I did reach Old Sarum eventually and was reasonably impressed by the views to be had from the top...

Queen Elizabeth 2 visits Belfast

2008-10-04T22:07:00.003+01:00

The ship that is. I'm away from Deptford for a few days and was lucky enough to get tickets to view the first and last visit of Britain's most venerable liner to Belfast.

Despite the typically appalling weather the wait was worth it. Below you can see the QE2 being gingerly manoeuvred into her berth.

Open House 2008 - Woolwich Barracks

2008-10-04T21:44:00.004+01:00

Hmm, a week since my first post, I'll try and do better... on Open House Sunday I bussed it to Woolwich to take the Woolwich Barracks tour. Although the Royal Artillery may have left (though the King's Troop seem set to return in a year or so) the Guards regiments formerly housed at Chelsea will move here - indeed the parade ground is being extended for rehearsals of Trooping the Colour.

The Royal Garrison Church of St George was also open - or what remains of it after it was hit by a flying bomb in 1944. Whilst I can sympathise with the decision not to rebuild it, the obvious weathering of the fine murals of St George was a cause for concern. Clear perspex panels would surely help to ameliorate this.

Open House 2008 - Waldron Health Centre

2008-09-27T21:26:00.002+01:00

One of the best things about London in September is the OpenHouse weekend - this year it was 20-21 September. On the unusally warm Saturday I visited the rather impressive (though still not fully operational) Waldron Health Centre opposite New Cross station. Arriving just before the first tour at 1 it was clear no one had told the security guard to expect visitors! Fortunately a Lewisham PCT guy turned up after a few minutes and started the tour himself - the architect from Buschow Henley had been delayed by a tube closure. We started in the spacious main reception and moved upwards floor by floor.

As I'd long suspected the Centre is a proto-Polyclinic, currently serving 20,000 patients but with the potential for 50,000. For those interested in PFI and all that it's an example of a LIFT. When Craig the architect caught up with us he pointed out the awnings which should extend automatically on warm days (but hadn't) and explained why some doors opened out onto a gaping void (the money for Juliet balconies had run out). The most striking aspect of the Centre - its parquet cladding - gives it "the quality of an oversize piece of 18C furniture" according to the architect.

Via typical consulting and treatment rooms we ended up in the top floor admin area (with a rather nice roof terrace and views toward Canary Wharf). As a patient here myself I can confirm the building is light years better than the old Waldron Health Centre, which was not dissimilar to a prison visitor's centre.

The Press Release (issued on the opening of Phase 1) and Buschow Henley site give more information...