Children's Home Occupation

Staff occupied Orchard Lodge children's home in Anerley on Friday afternoon 'after being dismissed and being given less than two hours to collect their belongings and leave. About 45 employees occupied every room on the six-and-half acre site, including boys' dormitories and bathrooms, to prevent security officers from bolting shut the doors and windows'. The occupation ended at 10:30 pm on the same night after Unison officials arranged for negotiations to take place with the employers.

The former Southwark Council secure children's unit has been owned by the private Glen Care Group since 2006, and has been facing closure since the Youth Justice Board announced it was cutting the number of secure unit beds in England and Wales. More at The Guardian.

BNP in South East London Update

Last night's post about the BNP membership list underestimated the number of members across South East London - the original version of the list was in lots of different sections and I missed some. Various other versions are out there now which are easier to search.

It now seems that there are 102 BNP members in the SE postcodes areas, a worrying number but my earlier point about their lack of significant presence in London remains. Yes Deptford is a BNP free zone, and there is only 1 each in New Cross and Walworth. Further out there are larger clusters though - particularly in Eltham. Complete breakdown is as folows:

SE1 (Bermondsey) - 5
SE2 (Abbey Wood) – 1
SE3 (Blackheath) - 6
SE4 (Brockley) -4
SE5 (Camberwell) – 6
SE6 (Catford) - 3
SE7 (Charlton) -2
SE8 (Deptford) – 0
SE9 (Eltham) – 17
SE10 (Greenwich) - 2
SE11 (Kennington) – 0
SE12 (Lee) – 1
SE13 (Lewisham) – 2
SE14 (New Cross) -1
SE15 (Peckham) – 5
SE16 (Rotherhithe) - 5
SE17 (Walworth) -1
SE18 (Woolwich/Plumstead) - 7
SE19 (Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace) - 4
SE20 (Anerley/Penge) - 6
SE21 (Dulwich) – 1
SE22 (East Dulwich) -2
SE23 (Forest Hill) – 6

SE24 (Herne Hill) – 3

SE25 (South Norwood) -5

SE26 (Sydenham) – 3

SE27 (West Norwood) -1

SE28 (Thamesmead) - 4

Not a lot of interesting detail in the list of local members, other than the fact that one SE18 member is Sean Pearson, who stood for the Conservatives in a 2006 local election in Greenwich Glyndon Ward and was until last year chair of the Swinton Circle - a group on the far right of the Tory Party (Malcolm Redfellow has more on this as well as some hilarious extracts from the list).

Some interesting as well as dubious comments to earlier post and also over at Brockley Central. One suggestion is that after the initial turmoil, the BNP might benefit from the fuss if they can present themselves as victims - there was a member on the news complaining about living in a 'fascist state' (oh my aching sides - read some history) - never mind the fact that it seems likely that the list was originally published by one of their own in a faction fight between wannabe fuhrers. The BNP are also getting lots of publicity, and will try and use the stories about teachers, police officers etc. to show that they are full of upright members of the community (actually there are only a handful of members named for any particular job).

There is some risk of this, and we certainly can't rely on the BNP continually shooting themselves in the foot. Still at least their opponents now know where to look out for them.

Ghost Rider

London: hot, smelly and yet, once you get out of the west end, pleasingly empty over August. So why not get on your bike?

London story magazine One Eye Grey, artisan grid-iron vendors Witcomb Cycles and intimidatingly-thighed peddlers Southwark Cyclists present two sociable, after work guided rides (same ride, two different days) called Fright Bikes.

Meeting at Southwark Needle on the south end of London Bridge at 6.30pm, Thursday 7 and 28th of August. Tours are free and last about two hours please register your interest through One Eye Grey or Southwark Cyclists.

Ghostly polar bears, well hung pirates, the origin of the jolly roger, ghostly barmaids and phantom hunts can be expected to be mentioned if not actually seen. Two scary cycle rides from London Bridge to Deptford with occasional stops to hear ghastly tales and local folklore. Ending up in the lovely Dog and Bell in Prince Street, Deptford around 8.30pm....shadows permitting.

On the subject of One Eye Grey, Issue 5 has been out a couple of months now, offering seven fantastical London stories for £2.50. South East London features in tw stories, my own effort The Temple of Bacchus, the alternative history of a Camberwell offie and a sinster tale of an Anerley raven.

It can be bought from these vendors, and is always looks out for further stockists.