Councillor Alan Hall representing Bellingham asked a formal Council Question at the full Lewisham Council meeting on 26th February 2020 about the ownership and future of the under 5s play area building on Bellingham Green. The play area is well used and currently the building is locked up and the toilets are inaccessible. The Generation Playclub was closed due to austerity cuts driven by tory Government policies. However, Councillor Alan Hall has taken up the fight to re-open the building.
Here is the full text of the Council Question.
Priority 1 LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM COUNCIL MEETING 26 FEBRUARY 2020
Question by Councillor Hall of Councillor Slater
Question: The Bellingham Green under 5s play area building was transferred to Eco Community some time ago and it is still not in use. Please can the cabinet member clarify the current ownership and responsibilities for this site?
Reply: The play area building was handed back to the Council’s property team late last year. The building has been secured, made safe and is being cleared. Officers are working together to secure a positive future use for the building.
Councillor Alan Hall asked Councillor Slater the following supplementary question:
Question: Now that the under 5s play area building is safely back with the Council, I have spoken to our good partners at Phoenix Community Housing and they would be very interested in having a discussion about restoring this building to its original use – would the Cabinet Member support this?
The Cabinet Member responded that he would. To hear the full exchange see the webcast at 16:00 minutes here
Anti fascists and Trade Unionists came together to protest against the far right, Italian politician Matteo Salvini on 3rd March 2020 in Piccadilly Circus, London.
— Julie Ward Labour MEP 2014-20🇺🇦🇪🇺🌍🌹✊🌿🌈😷🕊 (@julie4north) March 5, 2020
Hundreds demonstrated in London against far right Italian Nationalists
Salvini who has blamed migrants for the spread of the coronavirus was due to come to London to speak but his flight was cancelled due to the coronavirus scares: This did not deter the demonstrators. Riccardo la Torre, the Fire Brigade Union official, told the crowd about Miguel Roldan, a Spanish firefighter who has worked as a volunteer on migrant rescue ships in the Mediterranean.
The FBU have been championing Miguel Roldan’s case as he faced 20 years in prison for helping to rescue drowning refugees. Italian authorities accused him of aiding illegal immigration and working with human traffickers, amidst pressure from far-right politician Matteo Salvini.
Riccardo La Torre is reported saying: “Firefighting is a humanitarian profession and Miguel was carrying out humanitarian work. We cannot stand idly by while one of our own is punished for trying to save lives.
“Across Europe, Salvini and politicians of his ilk are spreading hatred. We will not allow racists and fascists to divide us.”
Cllr Alan Hall joined the demonstrators and spoke to crowd to give a message of ‘solidarity’ from Lewisham & South East London. Migrants are welcome here and we will not give in to fascists.
He thanked the FBU for their persistent campaigning recalling the demonstration outside the Italian Embassy in May 2019.
— Riccardo la Torre (@RiccardoLaT0rre) May 10, 2019
In December 2019, the BBC reported that Italy’s Sardines push back against Salvini’s nationalist tide. The rapid rise of the ‘sardine movement’ caught the nationalists out. As did the coronavirus with Salvini’s flight to London this week.
Yesterday #Firefighters from across the UK descended upon London to protest in support of Spanish Firefighter, Miguel Roldan. 1/5 pic.twitter.com/GCYt2FWWqI
— Eastern Fire Brigades Union (@EasternFBU) May 10, 2019
On March 2nd 2020 ahead of the Government’s Spring Budget, parents, children, teachers, campaigners, Councillors & MPs joined the National Education Union (NEU) in handing a 25,000 signature petition to No10 Downing Street. The Petition says:
“Nursery schools give 40,000 children the best start to school. The majority of these schools are located in the poorest parts of the country and for many children this is their only opportunity for early education. After years of chronic underfunding, the very survival of nursery schools is under threat. Only 389 nursery schools remain open across England today. Unless the Government changes course, even more nursery schools may be forced to close their doors.
In October 2019, the Government accepted that nursery school funding is insufficient and allocated stopgap funding to plug the holes. While the supplementary funding is welcome, this money runs out in 2021. This means severe cuts to the education and services that nursery schools provide. In many cases, these will put nursery schools at risk of closure.
The Government must make a funding commitment in the Spring Budget on 11 March that secures the long-term future of maintained nursery schools. Prime Minister Boris Johnson must guarantee proper funding until the end of Parliament and ensure no more nursery schools are forced to close because of insufficient budgets.”
Dr Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union, said: “The Government’s attitude to nursery schools, characterised by indifference and piecemeal measures, is having a detrimental effect on children at a critical stage in their development. We cannot afford for this to continue.”
“Maintained nursery schools not only educate our youngest children but also provide the kind of support for parents and carers which is no longer available from local authorities. It is vital Government listens as a matter of urgency to the thousands of people who have signed our petition for additional funding.”
Cllr Alan Hall said: “Cutting and closing nurseries is a false economy.
“Our pleas for secure and proper funding could be heard in No 10 but are they listening?”
"No ifs, no buts, no education cuts". @NEUnion demo to save nursery schools just passed No10. We could hear protesters inside during Lobby briefing. pic.twitter.com/682ivbYrTT
The West End smash hit musical, Everybody’s Talking about Jamie, has south London’s Noah Thomas in the lead role as Jamie New at the Apollo Theatre.
Cllrs Alan Hall and Sue Hordijenko with Noah Thomas
“Noah is making his professional debut in one of the biggest and most demanding roles in musical theatre: It needs a really good actor who can also sing and dance to the highest level. We never imagined we would be casting a 20-year-old drama school student at the start of his career. Noah is going to be a fantastic Jamie and the possibilities for his future are boundless.” – Producer, Nica Burns in the Musical Theatre Review
Cllr Sue Hordijenko said: “I have known Noah since he was born and I am really proud he is playing Jamie – I know that Noah fully endorses and supports LGBTQ+ History Month.”
Here’s a taster with the official trailer:
The Official Trailer with South London’s Noah Thomas in the lead as Jamie New
This show bursts with energy. The cast sing, dance, act and wow the audience with their performance of what is a fantastically written score and play.
The story centres around Jamie New. A gay 16 year old pupil in a Sheffield School and his realisation that he wants to be a drag queen. The comedy and highlights are tempered by the bullying and homophobic attitudes that the young Jamie faces. Always with determination and humour.
This story is based on the real life experiences of Jamie Campbell from County Durham. A BBC documentary Jamie – Drag Queen at 16 reveals he wanted to go to the school prom in a dress. Refused entry by the teacher the other pupils stand with Jamie refusing to go unless Jamie can too.
Interestingly, the fact a documentary was being made speaks volumes about today’s attitudes of coming out in schools: Bullying and intimidation started in primary school and got worse at secondary school.
“We started brainstorming about my safety and that’s when we got the film crew involved who produced the documentary. We wanted to take precautions to minimise any trouble and we thought if a film crew was there, no one would beat me up in front of a camera.”
Jamie Campbell tells his story
Perhaps, this is the reason why LGBTQ+ History Month is so important. Equality is only achieved by standing up and being counted as Jamie does and did. The Schools Out UK campaign says:
“Our over-arching aim is to make our schools safe and inclusive for everyone. To do this we need:
To provide both a formal and informal support network for all people who want to raise the issue of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexism in education.
To campaign on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans issues as they affect education and those in education.
To research, debate and stimulate curriculum development on LGBT issues.
To work towards unison between teacher and lecturer unions and other professional stakeholders in education
To promote equality, safety and visibility in education for LGBT people and all the protected characteristics.”
Cllr Alan Hall said: “The need for proper education has been made for generations. Clause 28 left a scar in schools. In the Labour Party, LGBT+ Labour campaign for better Relationship and Sex Education in schools. As a member of their National Committee who successfully affiliated to the Labour Party in the late 90s, I know how important this is. Their excellent Councillors’ Toolkit is here. “
Clause 28 became Section 28 once it became law. Protests continued and this led to the founding of Stonewall. An interesting reflection was published in The Guardian. Remember it was only repealed in 2003.
“The shadow of Section 28 is very long,” explains Sue Sanders in Pink News. “It is extraordinary to think that it has been dead for [over] 15 years.”
“You can go into schools now and there will be teachers who are still afraid to talk about lesbian and gay issues. Their assumption that it’s not appropriate, that it’s not acceptable, that it’s not legal, is still there.”
“A broad programme of RSE prepares children and young people for the realities of the modern world, and is vital for keeping children and young people safe.It provides them with the knowledge and skills to develop healthy and fulfilling relationships.” – LGBT+ Labour, Inclusive Education for All.
Education comes in many forms and going to the theatre and enjoying a terrific uplifting musical is one of the best ways.
February marks Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender month in Lewisham.
The new flag has been raised outside the Civic Suite and due to strong winds, needed to be replaced. That is a truly flying start!
Just in case you’re wondering what this flag stands for Pink News helpfully explains this here
Lewisham LGBT Forum has been working tirelessly to support the month see:
Come and see Ken Loach’s film, “Sorry we missed you” at the Bellingham Film Palace in the Fellowship and Star on Randlesdown Road, next to Bellingham railway station on Monday 2 March – 7.30pm – 9.45pm. Tickets £10 waged, £5 unwaged – buy tickets here
More about this co-operatively owned venue here:
The film explores the gig economy and zero hours contracts – real issues for today – see the trailer
Details for booking for this exclusive showing to raise funds for Perry Vale Labour Party are here
Bellingham Film Palace is at the Fellowship & Star, Randlesdown Road, Bellingham SE6 3BT.
The RMTUnion are campaigning for Justice for Cleaners on the London Underground and to support them, this letter was published in the Evening Standard:
“Every day, thousands of Londoners benefit from the work of cleaners on the Tube and Overground. They keep our city’s arteries clean, enabling us to travel safely and comfortably.
But these cleaners endure unsocial working hours in often hazardous conditions, for low pay and inadequate benefits. Outsourced cleaners are paid the London Living Wage but get no sick pay or pension and — unlike workers employed directly by TfL — no free travel.
These workers have to work harder than before as the outsourcing company has cut the total number of cleaners since they took on the contract. Public money should be spent efficiently, rather than disappearing into private profit.
Our silent heroes deserve better. We urge Mayor Sadiq Khan to improve working conditions and help ensure a high-quality public service by committing to bring these cleaners in-house. He must work with the RMT and other stakeholders.
Cllr Jumbo Chan, Brent
Cllr Alan Hall, Lewisham and 92 Labour councillors”
Over 1200 Lewisham children descended on the Royal Festival Hall for the third Lewisham Music’s 2019 Summer Gala at the South Bank Centre on Thursday, 27th June 2019.
Lewisham Music is an independent charity that was spun out of Lewisham Council’s music service, they will be moving into the Grade II Fellowship Inn in Bellingham shortly.
It is the perfect venue to showcase south London’s future and talented young people. The ‘People’s Palace‘ – the RFH was described in 1951 Festival of Britain as “a people’s palace of welfare state democracy in its pure form”.
The programme included the full range of Lewisham’s schools. First up was the Lewisham Open Orchestra of Greenvale School and Bonus Pastor Catholic College. They gave a spirited redention of The reason i’m human.
Sedgehill School’s acclaimedVocalize performed two pieces Nobody and Diamonds. They are accomplished singers and their Director, Andy Gilbert never fails to make them shine.
The Lewisham Schools Brass Band and Concert Band is open to all Lewisham’s young musicians and as the website says: “Not only does playing in the band improve music making, but it is also a rich learning environment for other personal and social skills including working and mixing with other children and young people from different schools and communities”. They sent us on a latin journey with La Bombonera, Mambo from West Side Story and Soul Bossa Nova.
The show stopping Rathfern Primary School West African Drummers brought the Royal Festival Hall to its feet with the crescendo drumming of Moribayassa. The joy of music was there for all to hear and see.
After a short interval, the massed choirs of Lewisham assembled onto the famous stage for the world premiere of a brand new vocal work Endurance composed by James Redwood and Hazel Gould and conducted by Clare Caddick. This tells the story of Sydenham’s and Lewisham’s own explorer Ernest Shackelton and the south polar expedition in 1914-16 where the Endurance sank but no lives were lost. However, lesser known is that Shackelton was “addicted to playing truant from school, and we may
assume that he was versed in the art of plausible excuses both at school and at home.”
Have a listen to Sail away my boys – this will blow you away:
This piece is a truly inspirational work. It tells an incredible story of human endeavour and exploration over adversity. The chorus of young people who play the crew and the world who looked on, they are still captivated and energised by this, more than 100 years later. History and music together can always make a difference.
Parents of children special needs took the Education Secretary, Damian Hinds to the High Court on Wednesday 27th June 2019, in a bid to get the tory Government allocate more resources for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
The case has been dubbed a “landmark legal challenge” as it argues that the Government has a duty to fund the extra demands on local authorities. Representing local councils, the Local Government Association, has said that the unprecedented demand for additional SEND support has caused a ‘perfect storm’ of factors:
More pupils: school census data shows that between 2014 and 2018 the number of pupils in all schools in England grew by just over 400,000 – an increase of 5 per cent, with some local areas having experienced much higher population growth than others.
A change in expectations: the Children’s and Families Act 2014 rightly raised the expectations of parents and the aspirations of pupils through a new code of SEND practice expecting all children to receive the best possible education and support.
New legislation: many more young people aged 16 to 25 are now on EHC plans.
More children with complex needs: advances in life expectancy, more awareness and better diagnoses means there are now more children and young people with needs that are difficult to meet within mainstream schools.
Current secondary school attainment measures: do not currently reward schools with a high degree of inclusion.
The National Education Union has said that funding is at a ‘crisis point‘.
Kevin Courtney, joint General Secretary has said:
“The funding shortfall for SEND provision comes against the backdrop of the swingeing cuts to local authority budgets imposed by the Westminster Government over the last 9 years which have left many councils on the brink. Between 2010 and 2020, councils will have lost almost 60p out of every £1 the Government had provided for services. This is an appalling way to be addressing the education of some of our most vulnerable children and young people and is causing untold misery and worry for thousands of families”
Figures released by the NEU show that Special Needs provision in Lewisham lost out on £15,816,314 because of austerity policies since 2015.
Here's @ciarale01 speaking on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice just a moment ago about #SEND cuts as she "stands in solidarity" with those brave families taking the government to court to give a better education for our children pic.twitter.com/7Qyoblcv0t
In response to the judicial review, Sir James Eadie QC is reported to have told the court that the government does understand the nature of extent of alleged SEND “crisis” but that it was not clear that a lack of funding is “full or predominant cause”.
He cited other possible factors such as the cultures of schools and balance of funding between local authority maintained and independent schools.
“The position ultimately is that [local authorities] are responsible for making the necessary provisions under the Children and Families Act 2014 and they cannot cite scarcity of resources as a reason for not doing it,” he added. “In other words, saying that ‘we have not got the money’ is no excuse.”
Responding, Mr Justice Lewis asked: “What if a council says we have not got a cheque book? We have sold that too.”
“If they have got to rob Peter to pay Paul then that means you have to because you have a statutory duty to help Paul,” Sir Eadie replied. “If that means you got to cut traffic lights or cut social care, then so be it.”
Due to the widespread concerns Damian Hinds has launched a call for evidence on SEND funding. You can send him your views here
The Fellowship and Star in Bellingham has opened its doors after an extensive renovation and restoration.
The Grade II Listed building was in a very poor state of repair and only one of the bars remained in use when Lewisham Council transferred the property to the resident led, co-operative Phoenix Housing Association.
Historic England were asked to take a look at the pub and they were impressed that the original features from the 1920s remained untouched. The formal Listing says: “[The Fellowship Inn is] an ‘improved’ public house built in 1923-4 by FG Newnham for the brewery Barclay Perkins and Co, the survival of most the original interior fittings and the original layout, as well as the largely unchanged exterior appearance, makes this a rare, virtually unaltered, example of a 1920s ‘improved’ public house.”
An ‘improved pub‘ was built immediately following World War I. In the book, Pubs and Progressives: Reinventing the Public House in England, 1896-1960, they are described as having ‘certain features that made them easily distinguishable from pre-war beerhouses and pubs: vast size, absence of advertisements pro-claiming the sale of specific beers, few entrances, opaque windows and spacious pullups and gardens. In planning the construction of improved pubs, brewers employed the most expensive building materials and, for the first time, the country’s leading architects as designers. They helped make Tudor architecture popular in the 1920s.’
Much later, in 1946, Eric Blair or to use his pseudonym, George Orwell wrote that public houses should not have: “glass-topped tables or other modern miseries… no sham roof-beams, inglenooks or plastic panels masquerading as oak”. So, he wouldn’t have been a fan of the architecture. However, after the introduction of a new style there is often a backlash and a desire for the past. In the The Moon Under the Water, Orwell favoured the Victorian pub.
A description of The Fellowship Inn shortly after the opening appeared in the Daily Herald. Thanks to the British Newspaper Archive for this extract below:
A PUBLIC-HOUSE DE LUXE
Where They Wait on You to Music
“It is just a month since the opening of the Fellowship Inn, on the London County Housing Estate at Bellingham, South East London, and it is now possible to estimate how far success has attended this striking departure from the ordinary English public-house practice.
The sign itself is enough to attract any passer-by into the house, for it is a delightful representation of an eighteenth century three-decker, painted by Sir Arthur Cope, the well known R.A. The door is opened without ostentation by a commissionaire, and the visitor immediately hears the strains of an orchestra somewhere in the background. At oak tables sit men and women drinking their malt liquors or spirits —and taking their time about it, too. In the Fellowship you may linger over one glass of beer without receiving a hint that you ought to spend more rapidly.
There is a bar, it is true; but notices all around the walls (walls, by the way, of oak panels, unpolished) warn customers that servants will attend to their wants at the tables, and that you must not lean against the bar. Another notice on the walls says ” No Gratuities.”
Delightful lanterns, said to be of Elizabethan pattern, diffuse a soft green light which taken in conjunction with the strains of the orchestra, ‘meets Blankenburghe rather than Bellingham. If only the orchestra would play Carmen,” the illusion would be complete.
“OFF-LICENCE” JOINTS
The orchestra itself is located in a dancing hall downstairs, provided with enough of the ubiquitous tables and chairs to accommodate a couple of hundred people. Here, again, it possible to sit as long as one likes over one drink and enjoy the music. Facilities are provided in this hall, as everywhere else in the Fellowship Inn, for taking a meal if one feels so disposed. Attached to the inn is what looks like shop, the ” off-licence,” where, in the window, attractive-looking joints are flanked by bottles of beer and stout with a backgronad of spirits and liqueurs.
Nor is the Fellowship inn without its ” four-ale bar.” Here the prices are a little less, but there are still the tables and the chairs ; there are still the eatables exposed for sale, and the strains of the orchestra are still to he heard.
Many people might, however make the criticism that the Fellowship Inn suffers from what they regard as a defect which characterises all English public-houses- it is so built that you cannot see from the outside what is going on within. “
This delightful idyllic portrait of the pub didn’t last forever. In more recent times the building was transferred from the London County Council to the Greater London Council and on the demise of the GLC to Lewisham Council.
Later the pub acted as a training base and home for the heavyweight boxer Henry Cooper ahead of his 1963 fight with Cassius Clay.
Henry Cooper lived in Farmstead Road Bellingham and trained in the Fellowship
In 1963 the American magazine Sports Illustrated reported on Henry Cooper before his fight with Cassius Clay, who later became known as Muhammad Ali: “For weeks he had lived at the Fellowship, taking his meals there, training in the back room when a wedding reception or tea party did not interfere.”
It reported that ahead of the fight: “The menfolk [at the Fellowship Inn] munched pork pies and lifted their nightly pints of lukewarm bitter in salute to the doggerel posted over the bar by one of the regulars. It made the point that Humble Henry would soundly thrash Gaseous Cassius ‘and once again prove that very old adage: Action speaks louder than strong verbal cabbage!’”.
During the late 1960s and 70s the theatre hosted bands including Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers.
Lewisham Council had made minimal repairs, mainly after Councillor Ron Stockbridge, a celebrated former Leader of the Council who led the council during the ratecapping rebellion against cuts, had intervened. Cllr Ron Stockbridge feared that the pub was destined to be sold at auction and turned into a block of flats. When Phoenix Community Housing acquired the premises after a long and tortuous negotiation, the pub had a veritable garden growing in the basement and much of the building was mothballed and unsafe for the public.
One advantage of this unorthodox approach to conservation was that the original features of the pub remained in tact and this resulted in the Grade II Listing.
The Heritage Lottery Fund made an award of £3.8 million to Phoenix Community Housing in 2014. Then, Sue Bowers, Head of HLF London, said: “It’s innovative and commercially-focused projects just like The Fellowship Inn, for which the Heritage Lottery Fund created Heritage Enterprise. Once at the heart of a thriving community for heroes, this vital funding will give this beleaguered building the financial leg-up it needs not only to return it to use but to enable it to be the driving force behind the rejuvenation of Bellingham.”
Electric Star were appointed the pub operator as the work neared completion. Rob Star, director of Electric Star Group, said: “The Fellowship has such an amazing history and we are really excited about working with Phoenix to restore this beautiful pub to its former glory and make it an asset that the whole community can enjoy.”
Fellowship and Star opened its doors in June 2019. The cinema is due to open in July.
Local resident and former chair of Phoenix Community Housing, Pat Fordham MBE said:
“I have seen the Fellowship Inn have good times and I’ve seen its worst times. It was left in a state.”
“It seemed like an impossible dream.”
“Now, when I visited the venue to see progress on the newly restored cinema, it was like someone had waved a magic wand and brought it back and made a community pub again.”
c Jamie and the possibilities for his future are boundless.” – Producer, Nica Burns in the 
The 
The National Education Union has said that funding is at a ‘
