Pugwash

The Barry Area Residents Association are aware of the accidents etc in the road. They have forwarded information on to the local councillors and members are looking at all the 'danger spots' . They are in agreement that the extended pavements restrict clear sightings of the main road. Two of the BARA members sit on the East Dulwich SN Police Committee and will be taking back people's concerns to Sgt. Jackson. Ironically, the raised speed table at Goodrich junction had to be lowered as LT buses refused to go up Barry Road as the speed table was too high. Council were forced to lower it which obviously increased the speed which cars could drive down the road. It was public pressure by local people which got the 2 sets of lights at Underhill and Upland Road junction installed in the first instances. BARA can be contacted either at The East Dulwich Community Centre, Darrell Road. SE 22 9NL or c/o 274 Barry Road, East Dulwich. SE 22 0JT. Constructive ideas will be welcomed by the committee. Meetings are on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8 pm at East Dulwich Community Centre. Next meeting 8th September. Next General Meeting 13th October in conjunction with the East Dulwich Society.

I tend to use my debit card everywhere, so rarely write cheques unless I send off for something by post or give the kids some money. Last Year my mother, who is in her 80s, wheelchair bound, was taken to Comet to purchase a new fridge freezer. Found one she wanted, got all the paperwork done, went to pay with her cheque book and guarantee card, was refused. Cashier noted that the guarantee card was a debit card, told Mum to key in her number on the pad. Mum did not know what she was talking about - turns out that she had never received a PIN for this card,and never had PIN for any previous cards, infact she did not understand what a PIN was initially. When explained,said she would never remember a PIN number as her memory was too poor. Cashier now getting fidgetty, Mum digs out her purse and slowly counts out her pension money ( which we had collected that day) - other people in shop getting annoyed at the wait, not enough in notes so fiddles around with arthritic fingers for loose change, almost in tears. I only had about a ?5 on me - still cashier refused to take cheque. In the end, with Mum protesting loudly, I decided to pay out of my debit card and told her to repay me at home with a cheque. Whilst I can see the arguement about not accepting cheques, many of the older generation still rely on these to pay for large purchases. I think large stores should be more flexible with the older generation, Mum's card would have guaranteed payment for purchases upto ?100.The appliance was about ?120. The Fair Trade Centre at Christ Church will accept cheques provided backed with a valid debit card.

Have not been up that round for decades - the playing fields on that site ( are they still there?) were part of the Inner London Education Authority's playing fields for local schools. Every week, wind,rain or shine us girls from Friern School would be marched up to Homestall Road, changed in their freezing huts and made to play hockey, and practice our athletics. These were in the days of Games and PE being undertaken in white polo shirts and navy blue knickers ( no short skirts/shorts or joggers then) so consequently there were always lone males hanging around watching us through the railings. As I got older, Homestall Road was lovers lane, with many cars with steamed up windows late on Friday and Saturday Nights. Road was unmade then- gave appearance that you were in the countryside!

Myu husband also saw the cat - it did not have a collar on otherwise he would have checked out if any id. He found a dead cat last year and noted down the id details and then rang up the owner. Turned out it was the owner's mum, cat sitting, and the cat escaped as she opened the street door, she was relieved that the cat had been found. A few days later, hubby opened door and cat's 'mum' was there with loads of cat food as a thank you to our cats! Hubby rang up the environment people twice and got fed up hanging on for over 10 minutes.

Any fire is devestating especially with such loss of life. Southwark has the largest number of council properties in London. It was the Labour Councils who in the 60s.70s, 80s who dreamed of massive/dense housing estates from Elephant and Castle to Chrystal Palace, with massive walkways everywhere - they boasted in the 70s that one day you need not have to step out onto the street- you could reach most parts of Southwark by just using the walkways. Fortunately, the Labour council could not get their dream. I worked on the Camden Estate in the 70s - at the time it was the flagship of Southwark. Within a year of opening, it looked shabby, staff were told always to go across the square in pairs as crime was rife. Younsters started fires under the walkways, where people piled their rubbish. I have to attend many Southwark housing estates as part of my job, rubbish is piled up on balconies, wrought iron grilles have been installed over windows and doors as residents are afraid of burglaries. Water damage where tenants baths/wcs/washing machines have over flowed into flats below, the majority having been repaired by the council many times. I have heard of tenants who have ripped fittings off the walls, including water and central heating pipes - then done a moonlight flit. I have seen fire routes where thoughtless tenants have put out old sofas/TVs/Fridges thus narrowing the escape routes, Yes some of the repairs are down to the council, but many of the conditions on these estate can be put down to the small majority of tenants (legal or otherwise)who have no consideration for others. We do not know the circumstances of this fire and why it travelled so quickly We can only mourn the tragic loss of life.

themaninblack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think my earlier point about one side of it not > having any markings is the most serious problem. > The council did the whole red tarmac thing (why?!) > and then saw fit not to repaint the lines. As > someone who has suffered the consequences I'd love > to try and get something done. But how? > > My worst junction award goes to this though - > crossing Friern Road when travelling along > Goodrich Road. My bumper is 3/4 of the way across > the road by the time I can see anything coming. I > turn my radio off and wind down the windows > whenever I cross it so I can try and hear cars > approaching. This doesn't help with cyclists > though, who are after all the most vulnerable road > users. i agree, the Barry Road Residents Association was re formed in the 1990s on the back of so many accidents at this junction and local people got together to get the council to do something about this. Unfortunately, since those days the council have put in these extended pavements, and although fewer crashes, still a dangerous corner as views are restricted. I think BARA will have to have another campaign!

I feel really priviledged to have had a less complicated working mum lifestyle. Daughter number 1 - went back to work after 6 weeks as a relative who had retired a year or so earlier, looked after her all day. When she was on holiday, another relative took over. Daughter No 2. Took 5 months off after birth and was given a work place nursery place - travel with baby to County Hall daily was tiring as buses very crowded and sometimes had to stand. After about a year transferred to work place nursery in Bellenden Road ( now Muslim Women's Centre and Youth Service) hubby and I took turns in taking and collecting her. When I worked in Tower Hamlets, I was able to use my car so I drove each morning and hubby picked up on his push bike. Daughter No.1 now has two kids herself - drops them off at Breakfast Club on way to college at 8 am, partner or she collects from after school club. Holidays - mixture of me, sisters in law and friends and occassional holiday play centre.

The Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Team are focusing on Barry Road at the moment as there have been a number of 'incidents' Sgt. Jackson and his team would be interested in hearing of any crime committed in East Dulwich no matter how minor it seems. Minor crimes when seen in a wider context can sometimes point to a much bigger picture. All the Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Police Teams give a public report at the Dulwich Community Council and welcome feedback from local residents. I think our police team are brilliant, and very responsive to local residents concerns. They hold regular Police Meetings with residents and it is the local people who determine the priorities that they wish the police to follow. Unless you report an incident, the Police are unlikely to be able to act.

There is already a well established cafe at this end of LL. The Bread of Life Cafe has been successfully running for a number of years in Christ Church at the end of Barry Road. It is a commercial concern run by Lynn and Yvonne, and is very well populated by young and old customers. Meals are cooked to order and fresh ingredients are used. Open 9 - 5 during the week only.Traid Craft Centre is open 10 - 4 pm weekdays and 10 - 1 on Saturdays. I believe that once a month Christ Church will offer a lunch on a Saturday as part of its fund raising efforts. I had a great meal for ?3.50 last week.

Sgt. Jackson and the safer neighbourhood team at ED Police would be interested in any crime/attempted crime, and have urged local residents to report to them. If 'crime' in an(our) area appears low, I believe police funding is diverted to areas which report 'more crimes' and ED could lose out in terms of police presence etc. The Police can also follow patterns - where people are congregating in order to committ a criminal act, i.e. we had a series of muggings/attacks by a gang of teenage girls last year as reported by Forum readers, which were eventually reported to the police. A friend in Sylvester Road recently reported the odd behaviour of a man who was acting very strangely in her road and was intimidating her elderly neighbours. May have just been someone a 'bit high' but he frightened her neighbours to the extent that they drove around the local streets for some while before atempting to go home in case the man was still hanging around.

This junction was brought up at the Dulwich Community Council last week. There are concerns about putting up traffic lights, but the Community Council and Traffic people are still considering other options. Suggest you email either the East Dulwich Ward Councillors - Jonathan Mitchell, James Barber or Richard Thomas on their e mails - @southwark.gov.uk or contact any of the other Dulwich Councillors. At the Living Streets walkabout over a year ago, several local residents asked for a crossing outside Somerfields, when this was proposed by councillors and officers, there was an out cry from some shop keepers etc. Whatever is suggested for the East Dulwich Grove /LL area - will not meet with approval from everyone!

Have lived in ED for most pf my life and feel very safe. When I had dogs,would take them for a walk around 1 am for at least 30 mins. Most roads feel very safe but I would be wary about walking near Peckam Rye very late at night, do not know why - it is probably just me.

My husband is a cyclist of many years experience. He has always taught me and the children that you never cycle along the side of a large vehicle especially on the pavement side as this is a blind spot. Equally as a cyclist - do not go through red lights as nothing angers a motorist more, who may try to retaliate further along the road by cutting you up. Sometimes it is safer to dismount your bike and walk with it on the pavement or across a busy junction. One way systems like the one around the church at Brixton are nightmares and especially dangerous for cyclists, husband has been knocked off bike a couple of times by motorists clipping his wheels as the rush into a lane. As a driver, I take extra care when passing or driving along side bikes - I imagine how I would feel if my husband was knocked over. I must admitt I have been taken by surprise a couple of times by motor cyclists who weave in and out of traffic and suddenly appear to come from the opposite side of the road having overtaken 6 or more cars waiting at traffic lights.

I went into the Polish shop yesterday and purchased Polish vegetable juice, frozen dumplings and polish sausage . Was hoping they had some Rye bread with caraway (they sold this in sainsburys ages ago and some continental delis but I have not seen this around here for some time, ended up going to the Polish shops in streatham), but they only had sunflower and Rye. Interesting selection of herring and some dried fish.

daizie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > has anyone else seen shirley from eastenders round > here? She used to be a frequent visitor at ED Sainsbury's but have not seen her for some time

I attended Friern Girls 1961 - 68. The first 2 years of school were in the lower school at Peckham Rye and the remaining years were at the Upper School in Goodrich Road.Hated the red uniform and even to this day I rarely wear read.When Miss Thompson went to become head of Peckham Girls school ( now Peckham Academy) Mrs. Pringle took over. 6th Form uniform was decided by the 6th formers and was classed as very fashionable (in 1966) turquoise blue or beige shirtwasher dress for summer, or grey straight skirt with pink blouse.Blue or emerald courtelle jumpers ( fashionable at the time from M & S) with either grey/navy skirts. Prefects wore silver medalions to denote their status.

It's not always the kids that are mouthy. During recent bad weather I travelled to work by bus, very crowded and I stood up for most of the journey. Noticed a spare seat next to a woman in her 20s near the front of the bus - everyone was eying this seat but not taking it. Went over and noticed the woman's hand bag on the seat, said excuse me can you move your bag. Was told to F off, I had no right to sit on the seat as she did not want to get crushed. Admittedly I am on the plus side but this woman was about a size 20 herself. I just picked up her bag, dumped it on her lap, said tough luck, these seats are for disabled passengers or those with young children, I am disabled, and have a freedom pass to prove it. She continued to swear at me for the rest of my journey. I got a lot of smiles and thumbs up from many of the other passengers, some of whom had been refused a seat by her.

THERE IS A SIZABLE POLISH COMMUNITY IN EAST DULWICH WHO HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR OVER 20 YEARS. MY HUBBY IS HALF POLISH - HIS FATHER CAME OVER HERE DURING THE WAR AND STAYED. MOST OF THE BOYS AT ST. JOSEPH'S SCHOOL DURING THE 1960S WERE OF POLISH ORIGIN. POLISH FOOD IS SOLD IN VALS NEXT TO RED APPLES. WHAT WE NEED IS A POLISH DELI SELLING RYE AND CARRAWAY SEED BREAD, HERRINGS AND VARIOUS MEATS BY THE KILO AS MORE ECONOMICAL THAN PRE PACKED STUFF. GREAT PLACE TO GO FOR A HOLIDAY POLAND - ESPECIALLY THE TATRA MOUNTAINS.

I too went to a party at Beltwood - a friend was a member of the Icthus group who rented/leased/owned the property and she had her 40th Birthday party there. Everyone had to wear a hat. I agree with the time warp feeling - the whole place was lit up with hundreds of candles very romantic and in another way, weird.

I was telling a friend about this lady and she informed me of other scams going round by a group of men. These were operating in the Crystal Palace Road area and Forest Hill Road. In one case they call and say they are damp course surveyors and that they had been in your neighbours property and noticed damp coming from your adjoining wall. Since the job was small there was no need to call your surveyor/building society/insurance, they would do the job for cash. My friend also go conned out of ?300 for fencing that never arrived by men pretending to work on the adjoining property. they had duped her sick husband a few days earlier in letting them into their garden in CP Rd as they were doing work on the garden which backed on to theirs. Husband had agreed that the fencing needed to be done and asked for a written estimate. They came back on a Sunday afternoon to the wife and demanded the money. As an elderly woman she was worried about their attitude and went over to the cash point, to draw out money. Next day gets a phone call from an alleged timber yard saying that they had been trying to deliver fencing, but no one answering door. Did 1471 got a blocked number. Realised that she had been done so rang the police. Following interviews with police advised that if these men turned up again, keep them talking or distracted and dial 999.

The site in Lordship Lane was originally a Co-Op and was there till around the early 80's. It stocked the basics of life - milk, bread, loo rolls etc I cannot even remember if it had a frozen food cabinet. It survived along with Cullens, a high class grocer ( on the corner of Landells Road where the Dry Cleaners is now) and a Green grocers ( where either The Moulin or undertakers is now) Vals grocers was also up and running - us locals got to know which offered the best price for certain goods and shopped accordingly. I remember as a kid and teenager having to go to all of the shops for my Gran, thus saving her a few pence on her weekly shop. I shop regularly in Somerfield in Camberwell as it is near my work and pick up a few bargains. Since I run the office tea club - I usually pick up half price or 2 for 1 bargins on Tetley or PG Tips. yet when I go to East Dulwich Somerfield they do not have these items on offer. The reduced range at the Camberwell store have a far greater reduction than those in East Dulwich. So I guess that they cater for different income brackets. I rarely go to East Dulwich Somerfields for this reason as I feel they are catering for those who sometimes have more money than sense! I do admit that a friend who is on benefit says that he can get some items cheaper in Somerfield than Sainsburys, he can walk there quickly from his home and the queues are less.

Not in the ED area but the traffic lights outside Kings - even the fit and non wounded can only get over three quarters of the road before lights change. One day - poor old soul with a rollator frame was half way and bikes were wizzing past her and cars hooting.

Many years ago there was a campaign to get a green man phase on these lights, This stemed from the local community and went to Southwark's Traffic Management Section. They tried to get something implimented but because road came under (then) Ministry of Transport and was being designated a 'red route' they were not interested. Suggest that our MP should take it up again or Boris.

All GPs and nurses I have been in contact with are helpful and professional

Some of the primary schools operate a catchment area - we are Barry Road and our eldest daughter went to Goodrich. When the youngest was born we found that Goodrich had changed their catchment area and we were now the wrong side of Barry Road. Our youngest went to St. Anthony's RC Primary but I believe they have tightened up entry 'qualifications'. Only one of us was Catholic and not a regular attender at Church, although the priests were aware of our names. I believe now that both parents have to be regular attenders and you need a supporting letter from priest. We had applied for Dulwich Village Infants for eldest but were told out of catchment area - hence the Goodrich entry.