The Chronicle Blog

Mayoral Elections

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:36:29 +0100

From: J Small

Date: 31 March 2008 16:10:20 BST

Subject: Mayoral Elections

Sir

I am glad to see that there is a healthy debate in your paper leading up to

the Mayoral elections. Ken or Boris?

In this borough we need change, London needs change because I am seeing too

many of my friends and family leaving for what they say is a better life

overseas because of crime, falling education standards, the surveillance

society, transport, overtaxing and a feeling that Ken has looked after his

own cronies and concentrated mainly on inner London.

Who and where are they going? My nephew and his family are moving to Jersey

because of low crime and great education; my physiotherapist and web design

partner are moving to Spain because of a lower cost of living – they have

been priced out by mortgage rises and council tax and want a better

education for their daughter; my friend who is married to a Polish girl is

leaving for France because of the standard living, transport and crime and

there are others. This borough cannot afford this brain drain, we have to

give Boris a chance.

Council Tax issues

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:26:38 +0000

From: Debbie Winfield

Date: 4 March 2008 17:20:16 GMT

Subject: Council Tax issues

I am disgusted with our local Bexley Borough! We have an excessively high

level of Council Tax and they care not whether we can afford it or not, or

what hardship this puts us under! They have no heart, and the Councillors

who are supposed to help with this and set the amounts each year, do nothing

but bounce you around when you try to complain! (They're all in it

together, I'll bet!).

No I don't think we should be asked to pay for the Olympics! A lot of us

never asked for this farce any more than we asked for any of the injustices

we see with our C/Tax bills each year! Just for the record, I notice that

for a Band D in Bexley we are paying £218 MORE here than the national

average, for this year alone! (Working out at some 16-17% over and above),

what other Councils are paying! Why should this be allowed? I am

protesting strongly regarding this injustice to Bexley's Residents! When

will somebody in Government overhaul the expensive and unworkable Council

Tax system?, and particularly tackle Bexley please?

Yours sincerely,

Mrs. D. Winfield

Richard Stephen Rooke

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:28:54 +0000

From: Terry Rooke <tandarooke@btinternet.com>

Date: 4 March 2008 11:44:52 GMT

Subject: Richard Stephen Rooke

I am trying to trace my family tree and can only get back to Richard Stephen

Rooke ba1852 in Belvedere. He married Emma Fairbairns in Woolwich 1853. They

had 10 children and lived in 23 Victoria St and then 66 Picardy St.

Stephen and Emma are buried in Brook St Cemetery. I visited their grave in

December and saw someone had recently left fresh flowers.

I wonder if any of your readers could help me find out any more about

Stephen and Emma and their family.

Yours gratefully

Terry Rooke - Tel: 01189 414527

Palmers in Erith

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:25:21 +0000

From: John McGowan <j.e.mcgowan@btinternet.com>

Date: 7 February 2008 18:24:56 GMT

Subject: Palmers in Erith

I am researching descendants of 5 Palmer brothers in the late 1800's. The

brother's Fredrick, William and John Palmer lived at 44 Pier Road and ran a

clothing business. Next door Harry and Alfred Palmer lived and also were

involve in the clothing business. By 1910 Fredrick had emigrated to Canada,

John to Toxteth and Alfred to Richmond Surrey. I would hear from anyone who

may be a descendant of them or remembers the business. I can be contacted at

15 Longmead, Lynton, Devon. EX35 6DQ.

I thank any help I can get in anticipation.

Manor House

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:39:53 +0000

From: Mrs Elizabeth Smyth

Date: 1 January 2008 23:16:06 GMT

Subject: Manor House

In your front page piece you quote Councillor Clement as saying not all of

his postbag has been negative. But this does not mean most of it has been

positive. In fact he could say this if only one letter agreed with the

proposal. Perhaps he should give numbers!

Happy New Year

Liz Smyth

St. Pancras

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:39:37 +0000

From: Tony McClarty

Date: 9 January 2008 17:37:39 GMT

Subject: St. Pancras

I read your "my month" column in the January 2008 edition with interest,

particularly the item on St. Pancras.Do you know that you can now travel

from Sidcup to St. Pancras by train changing only at London Bridge? (you

don't even change platform).

No need to use the tube at all.

But why bother? Get the train from Sidcup to Dartford, Greenhithe or

Gravesend and get the regular "fasttrack" bus to Ebbsfleet international.

The whole journey should take less than an hour and is free for everyone if

you show your passport and Eurostar ticket.

PS. I have no personal or professional connection with Eurostar but your

article was so negative I felt moved to try to redress the balance.

All the best.

Tony

World War 2 Evacuees

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:39:18 +0000

From: Stephen Marks

stephenrmarks@btinternet.com

Date: 15 January 2008 10:20:29 GMT

Subject: World War 2 Evacuees

I am seeking information on children from the Eltham College for Girls who

were evacuated to Abertillery in south Wales during the second World War.

My grandparents housed one of the children and I am keen to gather

information regarding their departure from London and arrival in Wales plus

details of their schooling and day to day lives.

I would be grateful to any of your readers who might have inforation to give

or stories to tell.

NHS Maternity

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:38:29 +0000

From: Supplied

Date: 25 January 2008 14:40:58 GMT

Subject: NHS Maternity

Annonymity this time please.

The Healthcare Commission has today published the results of their national

survey. Bromley scores less than QM, QE or Gravesham, yet QM is 'bound' to

close. Doesn't seem fair does it!

Leave London

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:38:15 +0000

From: Roy Catmull

Date: 29 January 2008 22:17:08 GMT

Subject: Leave London

I moved to Welling in 1962 when it was part of Kent.I have never liked being

a London borough.The quicker we can disassociate from the spendthrift Mayor

of London the better.

Big Ship

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:22:37 +0100

The picture and caption on the front page of the October edition made my blood boil. The wind turbine sticking out of the bridge would make the most amateur of ship photographers cringe. As for the caption. A name would have been nice - all ships have one - and as for being "The world's largest", she doesn't even make it into the top 20.

Alan Chapman

Low Flying Aircraft

Fri, 28 Sep 2007 11:20:59 +0100

Sir,further to the letter in the Chronicle this month about the problem of low flying aircraft in june of this year I logged about eight large aircraft flying over the Blackfen/Bexley area between the hours of 2-4am(the middle of the night)? I did write to my M.P Derek Conway and gave him all the details,to be fair he did reply within two days saying that"he would look into the matter..." but since then I have heard nothing futher...since then there has been more night flights and I have telephoned the BAA at Heathrow and was told that the flights left their departures late and there was nothing they could do about it..I am now confused as I understood that flights were banned between the hours of 11.00p.m and 4.00am and I keep getting fobbed off in my efforts for imformation? I think Aircraft noise is bad enough during the day without having to be kept awake at night as well-I think we are all entitled to a good nights sleep...

Yours sincerely

Paul Duffy-Goodman

Re Cray Road

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 12:06:12 +0100

From: Cllr Don Massey

Date: 1 August 2007 11:37:33 BDT

Subject: Cray Road

Bexley's councillors & officials have been constantly monitoring the

progress on these roadworks. We too are unhappy about the disruption to

everyone in the vicinity, which is why we have been in close liaison with

SGN throuhout, and yes my family & I have been constantly inconvenienced by it.

Mr Easton contacted the Civic Offices several weeks ago to discuss the

works, after which I contacted him & discussed the matter at length. After this I arranged the meeting he had with council officials & Mr Lewis from SGN. However, prior to this meeting I was informed that two way flow of traffic was resuming on Cray Road, which I understand is some 6 weeks ahead of schedule.

I am not trying to minimise the inconvenience these works are causing to

residents and businesses alike in the Footscray area, but the original

article was incorrect in several ways.

Myself and my fellow ward councillors in Cray Meadows take our duties very seriously, unlike previous councillors here, and in the past few months a number of residents in the Footscray area have personally thanked us for taking their issues forward.

Royal Mail Propaganda

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 10:19:59 +0100

From: David Blackman

Date: 1 August 2007 20:17:47 BDT

Subject: Royal Mail Propaganda

I was very surprised to see you print the old chestnut that Royal Mail

workers want a 27% rise (even the Daily Mail realised months ago this was

nonsense). As for our average wage, with overtime, being £440, would you

walk 8 miles up and down stairs, delivering your ouwn bodyweight in mail,

get back to the office and think; hmmm, I fancy some over time! The dispute is about the strings attached to our half the rate of inflation offer which our management refuse to negotiate. They are also about to dip heavily into our pension fund which for several years they decided, not to contribute to.

I hate lazy journalisism if you can't be bothered to investigate both sides, it just becomes propaganda.

Cray Road

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:04:07 +0100

From: Dave Ellis

Date: 24 July 2007 20:27:29 BDT

Subject: Cray Road

Congratulations to Les Easton in managing to get Cray Road reopened,

there cannot be a local resident of the Sidcup Hill, Cray Road area who

has not been driven to total despair by the inactivity displayed by

the workmen at this project and the traffic chaos that has ensued.

The comments from Gareth Lewis of Southern Gas are laughable.

Requests to our local councillors on three occcasions to attempt to

resolve this chaos appear to have fallen on deaf ears, no doubt they were

not inconvenienced by this project

If this project is the result of a full consultative process between

the utility company and our local traffic planners,I shudder think what

the outcome would be for any larger project

Did you know Osric Bernard Laycock - aka 'Don'

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:19:42 +0100

From: sam dutton

Date: 23 July 2007 20:56:34 BDT

Subject: Genealogy Help

Could somebody help me please.I am trying to find any information or

obituary ref Osric Bernard Laycock (known as 'Don'). He died Jan 1992.

He was a local decorator. I would like to  know where he is buried. Many thanks, Sam.

Pensioners and the Olympics

Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:20:16 +0100

From: Joy Myers

Date: 16 July 2007 23:43:25 BDT

Subject: London 2012

Saw Bexley pensioners' group on ITV tonight re London 2012. Would wish to

point out that it costs my husband and I more than £20 every journey into

London - which, as pensioners, we don't do very often. If we are still alive

in 2012, no doubt we will, by then, have to pay more. In Athens 2004 we got

a subway pass for a week for 10 euros: can't see that happening here in

2012. Something they may wish to consider. Our grandchildren, from Sussex,

will be paying far more than that if they want to come to The Games. We

think this is something they may not have considered. We have relatives in

London Boroughs who get free travel but although we are close to London, we

get no concessions.

Stressed Commuter

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 11:46:13 +0100

Subject: Stressed Commuter

Email: supplied

Comment: I picked up a copy of your July 07 paper today and was pleasantly surprised that something is being done about the criminal damage being commited on London\'s buses by the Operation Bustag.

I have always wondered how and why has Ken Livingstone given free travel to school kids who like these make other paying user\'s travel to and from work a completly disgusting adventure with vandalism, shouting,littering,spitting,smoking(all kinds)swearing etc everyday.Ken reckons that the percentage of offenders is very small, but considering the costs that these school kids induce, in my opinion they should be all disqualified from using buses during school hours.

Seeing that we follow the americans in practically everything that they do why on earth can\'t we introduce the School Bus?! I am quite sure that it would bring peace, tranquility and more clenliness to the London buses. If Ken is for the Londoner then he should make a few trips himself without his bodyguards etc ristricting ingress to the buses and trains.

These politicians need to get real.

Great to see someone is trying to put vandals to shame, and maybe fine their parents would be a good thing too!

Well done Operation Bustag.

John Steward June - Black Police Association

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 10:03:19 +0100

From: Pat Gravell

Date: 27 June 2007 19:24:08 BDT

If John Steward really doesn't know why the Black Police Associationis funded then he needs to read Lord Scarman's report about the Brixtonriots.

The riots were largely attributed to the resentment by black youths towards white police officers who had singled them out to stop and search, they rightly or wrongly felt harassed. Lord Scarman recommended that the police should recruit more officers from black and ethnicminority groups so that they were more representative of the communities they served.

Police forces have been given BME recruitment targets, which have led to accusations against some police forces of illegal race discrimination in the selection process in an attempt to meet those targets. Paying for a Black Police Association is aimed at trying to support and retain officers who have already been recruited and is less discriminatory.

Whilst any financial support aimed solely at BME groups appears disciminatory the amounts involved are a drop in the ocean compared to the financial and social costs of the large scale rioting, damage and looting that took place in Brixton. Over 300 people were injured and 83 premises and 23 vehicles were damaged at an estimated cost of 7.5 million pounds.

If John Steward has any better ideas of how to recruit and retain BMEpolice officers which are completely non discriminatory then he shouldspeak out. I would rather my tax was spent on the Black PoliceAssociation than on putting right the wanton damage caused by rioting.

Mystery surrounds Music Centre closure!

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:50:09 +0100

Earlier this month the Chronicle was contacted by parents of children studying music/dance at the Sidcup Centre advising us that they had received a bland letter advising the place had closed down!

The Bexley Music Centre was incorporated as a private company on the 19th July, 1991. The principal business was to provide general secondary education.

Its name was changed by Special Resolution on the 11th July, 2005 to the Bexley Academy of Music & Performing Arts. The Company is limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. In the event of a Liquidation the members have guaranteed to contribute the sum of £1 each towards the Company’s assets.

The directors of the company are;,Kenneth Drummond (Financial Manager);Gillian Ducharme (Consultant); Glyn Jones (Retired policeman);Donald McClune (Management Consultant); Michael Purton (Chief Executive of Bexley Centre); Ian Russell (Consultant); Martyn Skinner (Economist)Alastair Wilson (Retired).

Ian Russel terminated his directorship on the 29th June, 2006. Michael Purton terminated his appointment as a director on the 31st December, 2006.

The last accounts for the company were filed on the 23rd January, 2007. Only two directors received a salary Mr M.Purton and K.Drummond. (£49,451)

The importance that Bexley Council showed to this enterprise can be best judged by its annual grant which was in excess of £400,000 a year!

The council own the sprawling buildings occupied by the Music Academy who rented it for £70,000 per annum and rates of £20,934.

The Academy paid Townley Grammar school the sum of £20,000 which was a one off donation in order to become a joint partner in an application for special status award for running a performing arts centre which the Academy can enjoy the benefits.

Had the company not paid the £20,000 the loss for the year would have been £139!

A quick study of the centres last filed accounts reveal no information that one would believe closure was imminent. The only outstanding items were the amount of money paid out for legal services (£9,662) and the donation to Townley Grammer school. The accounts were signed off in January 2007. At that time the directors would have been obliged to satisfy themselves that the business was a viable going concern.

Likewise, the auditors, Opass Billings would have done the same. So whatever has happened to force the directors to take such drastic action occurred after the accounts were signed off in January! With over 800 members on its books it is understood the company had not approached students/parents suggesting fee increases.

Insolvency practioners of Sidcup, Abbot Fielding have arranged a creditors meeting to be held on the 27th June at the Civic offices in Bexleyheath.

Save Bexley Academy of the Performing Arts

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:28:01 +0100

Comment: bexley academy for music and performing arts gone into receivership. all teachers jobless! no music tuition for hundreds of children in bexley, please make public! council must act to ensure services are continued. please investigate

Via Email: yvonne blanche

Comment: BAMPA 27 STATION RD SIDCUP

(BEXLEY MUSIC CENTRE)

HAS GONE INTO LIQUIDATION.

IT IS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE FROM YOUR OFFICES!

THIS IS A MASSIVE STORY AS 1000\'S & 1000\'S OF BEXLEY KIDS HAVE PASSED THROUGH ITS DOORS SINCE THE 1960\'S. BEXLEY YOUTH MUSIC IS NOW IN TATTERS.

BEXLEY YOUTH ORCHESTRA

BEXLEY YOUTH BAND

BEXLEY YOUTH CHOIR AND ALL THE YOUNG FEEDER GROUPS NOW CEASE.

NO ORCHESTRAL TOUR TO POLAND? MONEY FROZEN?

DOESN\'T MATTER WHAT\'S GONE WRONG OR WHO IS TO BLAME. SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE A LEAD TO GET A NEW SET UP IN PLACE A SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE BOROUGH OWES THIS TO ITS FUTURE GENERATIONS OF MUSICAN.

Via Email: IVOR

Sponsor Sally Castle!

Mon, 21 May 2007 10:24:47 +0100

A year ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I had a mastecomy followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy and am now receiving an intravenous infusion of Herceptin every three weeks. So many friends and family remembered me when they ran this race last year I promised them, and myself, that I would do it with them next time. Well here I am! I may not break any records and I'll probably walk some of the way but I will do it, for myself and for all of those other brave women who are facing this awful disease which robs so many families of their mothers, wives, sisters and daughters. And to all of us I say, "Stay strong and NEVER give up!"

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

Sally x

PS I hope you like my self potrait with no hair!!!

www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/sallycastle

Station Road, Sidcup attack

Fri, 18 May 2007 12:48:46 +0100

Police investigating a cowardly assault have issued images from CCTV of 4 people they want to interview in connection with the incident which occurred in Station Road, Sidcup at around 10 pm on Friday 30th March 2007.

A 26-year-old man was the victim of a sustained attack on the lower level of a 269 bus that was travelling from Chislehurst to Sidcup. The victim was also subjected to racial abuse.

Four suspects are believed to be involved in the incident [2 female and 2 male].

The incident is being investigated by the Bexley Public Protection Group.

Anyone with any information is asked to call PC Natalie Price on 020 8284 9246 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or the Bexley Crime Hotline on 020 8284 9234 if you wish to remain anonymous.

Genealogy Help

Wed, 09 May 2007 10:03:49 +0100

I wonder if anyone is able to help me with some family research.

I am looking for any news or the whereabouts of the following people or their relatives, and would be most grateful for any help given.

The family name is Doe, and there were six children born to parents Frederick and Ivy (nee Timms). The children were all born in the Croydon area between 1929 and 1935 and their names were Thomas, Joan, Frederick, Ivy, William and Peggy.

Many thanks

Janet Ashenden

jan@woodlull.fsnet.co.uk

Clean up your act Sidcup

Fri, 04 May 2007 12:33:37 +0100

Name: John Cavalli

Comment: Having just moved to sidcup from bromley, i have noticed a rubbish issue, i would like to ask sidcup this question, why do you leave your rubbish sacks out before pick up day?, being in a woodland area with all the surrounding parks, lots of foxes roam and search for food, hence ripping these black sacks open and pulling all the rubbish out, sidcup roads and streets are becoming a rubbish haven for rats, mice and flies. Come on my sidcup partners, leave your rubbish in ur sheds till pick up morning, make sidcup a greener, cleaner place.