I want to be a model

A quick plea for help from local photographer Steven Williams:

I am a local based photographer and digital artist who is putting together a photographic installation at the end of June in conjunction with the Camberwell Arts Festival. I am currently looking for people who work, study and live in the area who would consider sitting for a photographic portrait and spend a few minutes talking to me about the experiences and thoughts of the area.

Contact Steven via his website, or Email me if you’re interested, and I’ll pass your details on.

Phoenix-like

Evening all. I’d planned to start with a look through the Council conclusions on the future of Camberwell that Newroad told us about recently, but unfortunately a number of side-projects have kept me busy so that’s out the window. If you’ve read them already and feel strongly about the proposals, I suggest you write to your Councillors.

More prosaic matters: I have to say that St George seem to be doing a good job of the Camberwell Grove development; the architecture of the new buildings is perfectly in keeping with the surrounding ones, and the restoration of the school building has breathed new life into it. The first show apartment was opened at the weekend, and I was quite curious to see inside.

I passed the development on my way back from Johansson’s (formerly Seymour Bros.) cafe, where I enjoyed a big and tasty fried breakfast. There were an awful lot of gay gentlemen in there, and it would be interesting to know whether this was an isolated occurrence or indicative of a more general trend; could Camberwell be set to capitalise on its proximity to Vauxhall? With Queer Complex at the Sun & Doves on Saturdays, and the events organised by our very own GayCamberwell.com team, looks like we’re all benefiting from an injection of the pink pound.

On the subject of development, still, I noticed that the former Father Red Cap / Redstar has had a face lift. I was about to write “looks like Planet Nollywood is on its way”, but a quick search reveals that it seems to already be open. Anyone heard more?

I had a drink in the Fox On The Hill on Saturday, the first I’ve had there in about 12 or 13 years. The views across London are amazing, and the selection of beers is pretty good, but the bland interior and the group of aggressive drunken men on the table next to me reminded me why I don’t go more often.

Final news: as you must know by now, Camberwell Baths have been awarded £1.45m of Government funding, and the Council are to match that investment. Truly good news. Less good, however, is the fact that the Council-owned buildings around the Town Hall are up for sale, marking the beginning of the move to Bankside. One can only imagine how we’ll be treated once we’re out of the Council’s view.

Don’t forget, if you Twitter we’re at twitter.com/camberwellblog.

Oh, one more thing: I’m still on the look-out for more contributors; five years of blogging here is playing havoc with my nerves, and I’m sure there must be people with different points of view that would be interested in getting involved. Email me at peter@​camberwellonline.​co.​uk if you’re interested.