Pugwash

Just to let all readers know of a 'new trend' in robbery. I was at Sainsbury's DKH last night around 8.30 pm- had put most of my shopping into the boot as this was stuff I was taking to an event today and could leave overnight. Had put my black work satchel/briefcase on the back seat of the car, and my handbag in the foot well behind the driver's seat. Got into the car turned on the ignition and noticed in my rear window that a light coloured car had pulled up behind me blocking me in. Thinking it was someone waiting to reverse into a space, I waited then noticed a man walk close by the car, he opened the back door and grabbed my handbag. Jumped out of my car and caught him getting into the stationary car, yelled at him and punched him and tried to get my bag back, also trying to prevent him driving off by grabbing the steering wheel.My reaction must have spooked him as he suddenly shot off with the driver's door open throwing me off balance and onto the tarmac. Slight graze on forehead and a bruised knee, however whilst I was lying on the ground, loads of shoppers and staff came upto help me up, including one staff member who had seen the car but could not get sight of the number plate. Security also arrived and within 2- 3 minutes 2 unmarked police cars drove up, followed by 2 uniformed officers. Cannot praise Sainsbury's staff and the police enough - very efficient, kind, and the speed which help was summoned - fantastic. One police officer drove me home in my car whilst his colleague followed. They think it was an opportunist thief - a light skinned black male in his 40s, driving what they believed to be a grey/silver/metallic fiesta. It was not till I got home that I realised that my black work bag had also been taken. Because of it's shape, the police reckoned that the thief thought it contained a lap top. Cancelled all my cards and cheque book - annoying as I need to travel out of London next week for a funeral and distance means that we have to stay overnight, also means that hubby (just been medically retired due to ill health) will have to meet all expenses out of his account for the next week. Apart from an umbrella and odds and ends, nothing of value in work bag - but has my work diary with all my mileages, appointments, training sessions etc. Please look out for a brown leather handbag on a long strap, which contains a brown purse and red card holder ( cards include Southwark Library Card, E11 card, Nectar,usual credit cards), driving licence, asthma pumps,freedom pass. Black work bag has Social Work Solutions written on it, and contains a red week by week sherwood diary which has my work address in it. Also if anyone has had a similiar experience let me or the police know as this could be a new trend in robbery. I usually activate the door locks when travelling at night but my attention was distracted by the car blocking me in before I could do this.

One of our neighbours offered to buy a section of the garden - we declined as would mean that the garden would be much shorter than the other gardens on our side of the road and would look odd. Would have meant knocking down and rebuilding 2 boundary walls, notrifying Land Registry and possibly have had to do something with the house deeds ( house was under a mortgage at the time) For the sake of losing about 6 feet - it was not worth the bother

Dulwich Hospital for Blood tests will be a thinjg of the past soon - only Kings will provide this service ( see last week's local paper)

I too use this junctions - crashes have been more frequent since they extended the pavements at these junction to prevent parking. Coming from the CPR end of underhill and looking right - you have to edge out by at least half a car length. Same coming from the Henslowe Road side looking right as the railing and lights obsure vision. The Barry Area Resident's Association also campaigned some months ago about this junction - which resulted in James getting the yellow lines painted. We did say to him at the time we had doubts about the effectiveness. James et al. once you have had your 'site meeting' would it not be a good idea to hold a meeting at the East Dulwich Community Centre to discuss findings etc with local residents - BARA would be happy to set this up for one evening.

I use trhe middle lane mainly for overtaking, I am a confident driver with 40 years experience and tend do do around 65 in the inside lane. The only time I use the middle lane for longer periods is when I know that the motorway divides ahead and it is usually safer to get in the correct lane some distance before the division. I then tend to increase my speed until the division is completed and then I make my way back to the inner lane. I get very frustrated that when you are driving down Barry Road ( which I do on a daily basis), knowing the poor visability at the various junctions, that some prat decides that my 25 -30 mph is too slow and overtakes me, forcing 2 bendy 12s coming in opposite directions to brake suddenly and narrowly advoids crashing into other cars.

James, The Community Councils are extremely important to local residents, are they going to be maintained by the labour administration? If not how can the people of Southwark get their views across?

i rarely go to the market - I find the majority of the goods too expensive and although I have a good income, I am reluctant to purchase some of the goods as I do not feel they are good value for money. I was in the market a couple of weeks ago and felt peckish - some of the food stalls are reasonable price but since I cannot eat bread/dough products could not indulge - the hot dogs and mother dumpling stall looked good. Found it difficult to walk up NXR on the pavement with all the prams and people congregating to chat, would be difficult to take my mother there in her wheelchair.

I live on Barry Road and frequently have to drive down as far as Upland to get to work if I cannot turn right at my house to go via LL. Twice in this past week have been driving down between 20 -25 mph as could see people about to cross at the pedestrian crossing, and also bendy 12's on both sides of road when some pratt decides to overtake me, one bendy 12 and swerves in front of another car as misjudges the distance of the on coming 12.

Bumping up - still looking for information from anyone who attended either a Coronation or Silver Jubillee Party in East Dulwich. Also your stories about other street parties in ED from 1945. The Celebrating East Dulwich Event will be held at the East Dulwich Community Centre on Sat 16th Oct. 4 - 8 pm Free entrance .

I am a social worker and most of my client group are 'elderly'. Having worked in many Inner and Outer London Boroughs - you do get a variety of situations presented to you. Many social services departments have differing eligibility criterias and can offer different solutions for people with Dementia. Choice, I am afraid, comes more with where you live rather than your income.

Care Homes need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission for 'dementia care'. Staff have to undertake various training courses in caring for those with dementia. The Elms in Barry Road, is able to take those sufering from Dementia. If you are a private or council tenant, you may be recommended by social services to one of the 2 extra care sheltered housing units in Southwark - Lime Trees House or Lew Evans House. Both take people with dementia and provide carers to assist ( not overnight care) Dulwich Mead in Half Moon Lane is a private sheltered housing unit(owner occupiers) they did have a number of people living there with dementia, but they do not provide carers so residents will need to organise this themselves. Most Anchor Care Homes are registered for Dementia. Lakeside Nursing Home in Crysatal Palace is one of he best homes around for people with severe dementia/Alzheimers

Post Box Youth Club based Weds and Fridays at East Dulwich Community Centre, Darrell Road. SE 22. On Tuesdays at the same site Woodcraft Folk.

Advise you to contact the Autistic Society or similiar - many Educational Psychologists will not have the full knowledge of a child this young with autism. Clinical Psychologist would be better.

Paul enjoys the limelight. He has always wanted to be a journalist and now that he is unemployed, seeking out camera crews gives him something else to do. Although Paul has been active in campaigns like The Maudsley Emergency Clinic/Felix Post Unit, Save Dulwich Hospital, and is on various committees, he has not been involved (or have a family member involved) in the BA Cabin Crew Dispute/Parliament Green protest/other high profile media interests. Paul is a well known ED figure and although genuine in his beliefs - he does tend to lean towards 'negative' campaigns - Have you ever seen Paul at a joyful event - saying how wonderful this is, have you seen him smile or laugh? Has he waved a flag at a sporting event. Paul needs to be wary - he is drawing attention to himself and there will be someone in 'authority' who will be questioning that if he is clever enough to get the media attention - why has he not managed to secure employment or training?

According to the Southwark News this week, Southwark expect to lose ?76 million in Government subsidies over next 4 years. Peter John is asking ways of doing things/providing services more efficiently to manage this reduced budget. Anyone got any ideas as to how this could be achieved/what could be changed?

Who remembers the grocery store on the corner of Goddrich and CP Road opp. The Castle PH and the Hardware shop on the other corner? There is so much about the war years and it would be good to get pictures and stories post 1945. I was a child in the 60s when the first Black family in the street moved next door to us. I grew up knowing the eldest boy and his little brother, there is a photo somewhere of us both cutting his birthday cake together and I recall a speech by a family member along the lines that friendship transends race and colour. Even though we both moved to other roads in ED - 40 years on I am still in touch with the older members of the family. I recall with fondness, my neighbour teaching me Caibbean cookery and how to get the best yams in Choumert Road market.

Southwark Council were forced to reinburse a large number of insurance companies many years ago when it was proved that the tree roots in Barry Road were actually causing subsidence. Since this area has a high subsidence risk, it is cheaper for Southwark (and other councils) to keep the trees trimmed every so often

I suggest that someone gets in touch with Cllr. Lewis Robinson and also Tessa Jowell MP to highlight this dangerous crossing. You could also contact Val. Shawcross and Caroline Pigeon to get them to put pressure on Boris.

Started working life as a clerk, then did residential child care, then admin work -various promotions. My then boss heard me discussing psychology with another colleague and asked about my academic career and was surprised that I had not been to uni. She got me on day release at Birkbeck College to do a Diploma in Urban Community Studies ( paid for by the firm) In the meantime, I did lots of voluntary work Gingerbread, Residents Association, Political Party, Community Centre, Disability groups.Worked as a casual market researcher in social policy for a few months. Took redundancy and fulfilled a life long ambition - a degree followed by a post graduate professional diploma ( funded in part from my redundancy pay). More voluntary work including trustee in a counselling organisation. running workshops, mentoring individuals etc. My voluntary work was instrumental in getting a post graduate diploma at Goldsmiths, as well as the fact that I had and still am, caring for 2 disabled relatives, my grandchildren (during holidays I help out etc). I work as a social worker with adults - despite the stress and paperwork, onc of the most interesting/frustrating/rewarding/no 2 days the same/heart breaking (at times)- but love the work.

I heard that Rye Oaks Primary School (Peckham/Nunhead) has an autistic unit - they were advertising for staff in the SLP this week.

Prior to my recent surgery at Kings, I had to attend for number of pre op test i.e. heart, blood etc.The nurse in the o/p section, whilst I was waiting to see my consultant, went down with the necessary paperwork to the Blood Test section and collected my 'number'. This was at 10.30 am, I saw my consultant (after an hour's wait) went to the heart clinic for tests, went to the Blood test - number cuurently calling was 60 before mine. Went for lunch, came back to blood tests, waited 45 mins before being seen - time 2.45 pm. 4 hours after I was checked in at Kings Blood Tests I was seen. Dulwich is used by all the GPs in this part of the borough and GPs in Lambeth (Herne Hill/NOrwood area). At one time, if you went in around 11am you were usually seen within an hour. I believe the current hours are 7.30 - 3.30 pm but they change the hours every so often. When I worked in Dulwich Hospital - I used to nip in around 11.30 am and be out within 20 mins but that was 4-5 years ago. I now work at Kings - and you are expected to get blood tests done during your lunch breaks!!!

Does Mum keep the other half of her prescription? This will show the GP's name.

My other half used to deliver the free Southwark Sparrow newsleter a long time ago ( during the reign of the last Southwark Labour Council) we were hard up having been given the option of having no job or being forced to down grade with a ?2000 pa drop in salary. Since other half has a disability - a job was more esential than the pay. Southwark Sparrow paid around 2 pence a copy delivered and if there were any subsequent leaflets/flyers in with the paper, he got ?1.00 per 100 sheets. He would spend several hours each weekend delivering to Burbage and Stradella Road, and another couple of roads off Half Moon Lane. He usually made about ?20 per weekend - which we put towards our grocery bills. OK it was about 10 years ago or such, you could argue that Southwark Labour Council were paying rubbish 'wages' but in fact this was contracted out to local agents who then employed casual deliverers. You got a free delivery bag though! We have delivered leadlets for our political parties and local residents associations for many years and not received payment.

Having done telling in one of ED's Polling Stations on Thursday - the number of people who turned up between 9.30 -9.50 pm who said they were out/watching TV/in the pub - then remembered they had to vote before 10 pm was surprising. I liked the one where the mother turned up to vote and then complained outside she could not vote on her daughter's behalf as she was not back from work. The daughter had phoned her to say that she could not vote on line - could Mum do it for her!

Great to have the LD back for East Dulwich. Robin C.H. was a pretty good councillor for a Tory, hopefully equally affective as a LD.