Pugwash

Many years ago, BARA (Barry Area Residents' Association) were fed up seeing litter down a small alley off Underhill Road and we managed to get money/ interest to purchase litter pickers/Womble masks and high vis waistcoats and spent a day clearing the site. We were helped by the Refuse Section of Southwark (it was not under Veiola then) who provided bins. Local shopkeepers and residents kept us supplied to drinks and cakes etc. BARA attracted alot of attention in clearing this 'grot spot' and if I remember correctly, also attracted local press with write ups and photos. Suggest a group of volunteers wear highly visible/eccentric clothing make a point of clearing up the area and being vocal as to why they are doing this.

I was going to library yesterday but although doors and gates open, the lights were all out. Unless you know the book title and author - the click/collect system is too cumbersome. I like to browse around a library - I choose a letter of the alphabet then look at what is available they I might fancy reading. Grove Vale Library has odd opening hours - does anyone know what times they are open Wednesdays?

At the of the day, what matters is the child and what he/she wants in life. I went to a state primary (Grove Vale) and then to Friern Girls. Hubby went to private primary and secondary and private 'crammer college'. He came out with 2 A levels, and 1 A level for me. However, family finances meant that I could not follow a college/university course, so went directly to work. Hubby went on to do mainly manual and menial jobs. I returned to education in my late 30's (day release from work to Birkbeck College for a Diploma) then 3 years degree including a term abroad, and then a Post Grad professional qualification. In the months leading upto my retirement, I took a Practice Teaching qualification at Greenwich University. Both hubby and I had a good basic education which. in my case, served me to become a graduate. The impact of family pressure to do well and to a certain extent, the discrimiantion within his private school. meant that hubby felt a failure.

Close lordship Lane!!!! Since many shopkeepers and local residents campaigned hard and very vocally to save LL when the Dog Kennel Hill Salisbury's was being built, it is a silly idea to make this vital area into a pedestrianized zone. Since Rye Lane has been closed, I have to think which shops etc I want to visit as I cannot carry heavy shopping from Primark area up to Heaton Road. Last time I went down the lane, they were doing road works and the bus stop near Peckham Square was closed and I had to walk down to near the Lister HC.

Checked above link re opening - just says April.

Unfortunately my 2004 Ford does not meet the emission requirement. According to my garage and recent MOT - it is perfect mechanically and is in good nick as I regularly have it serviced. I do not want to buy a newer car but will not have much choice. I have driven an automatic for the last 20 years and there is a shortage of good second hand automatics. Although since retirement, I do not have to use the car daily (I was an essential car user in order that I could respond to any emergency - also my work provided me with a Southwark wide parking permit) but calculating how I would be able to meet up with friends/family - would be in one case 2 buses plus a mile walk uphill, another 2 buses and mile and half walk, bus,train,bus then 15 mins walk. I also transport various elderly/disabled people to meetings and social events.

Shops over a certain size are legally required to close on Christmas day and Easter Sunday. This law has been going for many years.

Many of the people who use Councillors' Surgeries do not have access to SMART phones or the internet so rely on seeing their Councillor in person. They also bring various documents to show them. Ward meetings need to return to face to face for the same reason as above. They can always video it as well.

In the private secondary schools, the cost of school trips are astronomical - some being over ?1000 (they did give a friend 18 months warning to save up). Uniform is usually very expensive and at certain shops. It is the little things like this add up to thousands over the years in addition to termly fees from around ?5- ?10 K

Hubby had Private Education from the age of 6, initially at independent fee paying Catholic schools in SE London (primary and secondary). Won a scholarship to Alleyns, also a place at Dulwich College which his family would not let him take up as they were not Catholic schools. Was then sent to a private boarding school, and then to a private 'crammer' for A levels. He has always stated that although he liked aspects of his education, he felt that in hindsight he would have had a better education in a good state school. Admittedly this was in the 50s/60s/70s and there is less segregation now in the private education system.- One school he went to the A stream were white English boys, B stream were white Irish boys, C stream were 'others' including Polish/Caribbean/Mixed Heritage etc - hubby was in C stream. I have friends who sent their children to private schools - one went to St Dunstans from the age of 5 - 18 and did very well going on to University etc. My other friend had a gifted daughter who went to Oakfield, but their younger daughter who had Downs Syndrome went to her local primary. My daughter's friend went to Alleyns and enjoyed her time there but was not an academic person. I think it really depends on the child'd nature/temperament a shy child may do better in the smaller class sizes of a private school. A sporting child may be best suited to secondary private education where a variety of sports are the norm (not as an after school activity).

Years ago one of the P buses used to go down Court Lane into the Village but changed the route when the humps were put in. Vaguely remember that this was around 10 - 15 years ago

Given the outcry relating to council tenants in Croydon - why not contact Southwark Newa about the state of your property and your health etc situation. I have always found their news team very cooperative re local issues.

Know a couple of people who asked Plough to do catering following a funeral - food was poor, expensive and insufficient for numbers.

When you go to the polling Station you need to bring your own pens.pencils as these will not be provided due to Covid.

Packed out during the summer/early autumn months whenever the Fabulous Honeys band play there - last went there in the summer of 2019 and just found a seat.

I suggest a letter to the Chair of Governors expressing your concerns re volumes of noise and ask whether they could look at physical ways of reducing this i.e some form of barriers/green fence/etc. Also, when plans were drawn up for the school there would have been an environmental impact assessment. May be worth while contacting environmental services to seek advice and also ask perhaps they could monitor the noise levels. Primary school age children do tend to shout and scream at a high level especially when excited.

Just to make a point that The Plough over the years have rarely caused trouble for it's neighbours and I think in the 40 plus years we have been living in Barry Road- I believe there was only one occasion where we and other residents had to complain about noise. During the warmer months, the gardens are very popular and it is difficult to get a seat - it is standing room only when local musicians are playing. I just cannot imagine where they will fit in 200 people - they do not seem to be doing anything in the car park

In Southwark News today - The Plough has increased it's outdoor space to now accommodate 200 people. How will this impact on local residents?. We live on Barry Road and for the majority of the time have had very little to complain re noise in the Pub's garden and would hope that this will remain. I know before lock down they wanted to put up an extended conservatory but this was abandoned last year.

In Southwark News today - The Plough has increased it's outdoor space to now accommodate 200 people. How will this impact on local residents?. We live on Barry Road and for the majority of the time have had very little to complain re noise in the Pub's garden and would hope that this will remain. I know before lock down they wanted to put up an extended conservatory but this was abandoned last year.

They were going to close several months ago but extended it to March because of Covid. Nearest branches are Camberwell and Sydenham. They had a notice on doors last Autumn and again a few weeks back.

A friend was offered Rosendale Road or Lewisham Hospital. When she queried this with GP surgery was advised that TJC had not any booking capacity at this stage. I imagine that those of us who have had the first jab are now coming up for the second jab - hence lack of availability.

I believe Gumboots are thinking about their 4 week holiday scheme for primary aged pupils. They meet in the East Dulwich Community Centre generally open from 8 - 6 pm. There are quite a few references to this well established holiday scheme on the Forum.

From a different perspective - we sent our daughter to Sydenham Girls school in Dartmouth Road - a short bus ride away or within walking distance if needed. Her primary school friends went to schools outside Dulwich/ Lewisham which required a bus ride to FH, then 20 minute train ride and further bus ride or a mile plus walk. Even though they were secondary age and traveled independently. their most overriding memory was having to get up early and be out of the house by 6.30 am to reach school by 8.45. Worse still in bad weather and transport strikes. Given the choice, in hindsight, stated they would have preferred to go to a local school as the constant travelling meant they were tired, found it difficult to fit in homework and early bedtimes. OK the child is only 4 and can sleep in the car both ways, but the frustration of getting to school in ED during bad weather (snow) and missing out of any out of school activities, although I doubt that a 4 year old will have much in the way of homework. St Dunstan's school in Catford has a reception class and I imagine this would cut at least 20 - 30 mins off a rush hour journey from Greenwich. An old colleague of mine who lived in the Crystal Palace area, used to drop his eldest daughter off at Oakfield on his way to work. Used to take him 30 mins to school and then another 20 - 30 mins to Camberwell where we were based.

You have to register your vehicle in the reception area - and signage is quite clear both in the car park and by the entrance doors.

District Nursing Service has difficulty in providing full services as generally have staff vacancies. They need to prioritize patients who require daily insulin injections and are unable to inject themselves. There is also the dressing of wounds i.e. leg ulcers. Monitoring of patients with terminal illnesses who do not have a specialist nurse (McMillan/St Christopher's etc). Many paid carers will not administer medication (they have to be trained and approved of by District Nurses) and can only prompt and supervise medication. In the many years I have been with my GP surgery - most of the reception staff know me by my first name and are helpful. I went through a period where I had to attend daily to have dressings changed (in GP surgery or Lister Primary Care Centre) - this went on for several months with gradually decreasing attendance. Both the nurses at the practice were excellent and I could not fault the practice at all.