August 2005 - Camberwell Blog

SE5 Forum

A kind of guest-post, this; it was left as a comment on an earlier post…

Hi. I’m one of the owners of the Sun and Doves. Got here through inspecting web reviews on Google. i’m on holiday at the moment and when I get back to Camberwell probably won’t have time to follow up with Camberwellonline properly (rent review coming up, lot of time taken up with that).

Would anyone taking part in Camberwell like to take an interest in SE5 Forum for Camberwell? It’s a community group I’ve been stting up with a few others who are really fed up with Camberwell not moving along (a la Brixton, Peckham, East Dulwich & so) and we want to bang local authority heads together to help make Camberwell be more functional, have a focus and heart that’s not just based around the few pubs some people have had the nerve to set up locally. Better shopping, better facilities — a one stop shop for SE5 people to come to to find out what’s really happening in the area instead of relying on rumours all the time (St George PLC, Camberwell garage, leisure centre et al).

We need a representative committee to generate ideas, vision and objectives (a development trust? Wind farm behind Sainsbury’s or on Burgess Park or maybe a local green power CHP network (King’s might be interested in buying)). Money’s been raised already (for a website, logo, letterheads and so on and for minute taking and distribution and refreshments at meetings), more can be raised, anythings possible — it would be around three hours a month max and we’ll find and raise funds for an administrator to carry out the committees’ wishes.

If interested, get in touch and let’s talk! mark@sunanddoves.co.uk

Mad Cow

More news on the machete attack outside McDonalds on Denmark Hill from the BBC and the Times.

Update: The Observer and The Sun (with a typically sensationalist headline) also report, although neither really adds any detail to what we already know.

Update: Machete murder — man arrested

Update: Biggs suspect released after fruitless ID parade

Catching the worm

I woke early today because the sun was flooding my bedroom, so I decided to walk to Vauxall station to catch my train, rather than take the bus. I took my camera because there are a few buildings along Camberwell New Road I wanted to photograph, but I left the house a little later than planned so ended up not taking any. That was a pretty pointless little story.

Anyway, two things I did see this morning; first, the area around Daneville Road and the car park at the rear of Butterfly Walk was sealed off with police tape and there was a PC standing guard. Can’t find anything in the news so far; anyone heard anything? I remember that Allendale Close was named the most dangerous street in the area last year, so perhaps something’s gone on there.

Second, it seems the former Blake House/Kerfield has been bought by Punch Taverns who, if I’m not mistaken, own The Phoenix. Judging by the notice on the window they’ve applied for the same hours as The Castle; to midnight Sunday to Thursday, 2am Friday and Saturday. So we can expect to enjoy good beer and crappy food until later, then. Not sure how the residents of Grove Lane will take it.

Finally, a quick thanks to everyone who has joined the Camberwell SE5 Flickr group. There are some fantastic images in there; please keep them coming.

Update: Here’s why Daneville Road was sealed off: Man hacked to death in front of shoppers.

Terrace humour

Crystal Palace footballer Ben Watson was born in SE5. He is ginger-haired. His nickname is ‘the Camberwell Carrot’.

No beating around the bush

Found on a bus stop in Camberwell.

No, say what you really think.

Monkeycat on New Places to Eat, a Local Identity, and a Plan for the Area: “Up the Hamlet. And I don't even like Football!”
Dagmar on New Places to Eat, a Local Identity, and a Plan for the Area: “+ HELLO? + ARE WE STILL HERE? + DULWICH HAMLET V CARLISLE IN FA CUP ON FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2019…”
Jim on New Places to Eat, a Local Identity, and a Plan for the Area: “Spike and Earl was never that busy, and suffered from charging a bit too much for the student trade locally,…”
Peter on New Places to Eat, a Local Identity, and a Plan for the Area: “It looks to me from the plans that the bus garages would be retained, with new building happening above and…”
Monkeycat on New Places to Eat, a Local Identity, and a Plan for the Area: “Happy Birthday Camberwell Online! And thank you to Peter for keeping it going. Hands up who went to Nandine's three…”