Charlton’s music shop has fallen silent after 26 years of selling and repairing instruments. Falling sales and competition from online retailers is understood to have led to the closure of Mike Edwardes Woodwind on Charlton Church Lane.

The business is now believed to be operating out of a shop in Forest Hill, although we’ve not had a response to an email asking what’s happening.

Competition from online retailers has hit music shops particularly hard, although the loss of another retailer from the Charlton Church Lane parade is a reminder that it’s not just Charlton Village that needs nurturing.

Meanwhile, the dry cleaner in The Village has reinvented itself as a gentlemen’s outfitter, London 1969. We understand cleaning trade was down and the owner fancied a change of scene. It certainly raises the bar for new businesses in the neighbourhood – we hope it’s a success.

But it’s soon to be farewell to Bowes, the shoe shop and key-cutter that’s been part of the village for decades, which is closing by the end of the year.

Flytippers left a heap of rubbish in Maryon Wilson Park on Friday night/Saturday morning – but were dim enough to leave some incriminating evidence behind.

The tippers dumped rubbish from what appeared to be a kitchen refit, but also managed to leave correspondence behind showing an address that corresponds to a former bar/restaurant at Crystal Palace that’s recently been turned into flats. (Thanks to our SE19 correspondent for the update.)

Greenwich Council is now investigating the incident.

Photos: @MaryonWilsonSE7

Wondered what had happened to Charlton’s Horn Fair this year? Well, it’s moved to a new date and has been given a new look.

2015’s Horn Fair will be on Sunday 18 October – St Luke’s Day, the traditional date for the festival, which began in the reign of Henry III and whose original incarnation was so bawdy it was banned in Victorian times.

The revamped Horn Fair will be based more around Charlton House – so it’s goodbye to the dog shows and stalls that have characterised the recent June events.

Instead, according to Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust:

History buffs can discover the story of the house and its ornate décor under the expert guidance of master craftsman Philip Gaches and his team, meet master stonemasons and try your skills at the crafts that built Charlton House.

Our young visitors are invited on an architectural treasure hunt, with the opportunity to create their own one of a kind gargoyle to take home and keep.

The Horn Fair will also see the launch of an exciting new exhibition of postcards from the past and the curator will be on hand to demonstrate how these handwritten cards capture an intimate snapshot of a bygone era.

Tracy Stringfellow, Chief Executive of Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust, said: “We expect the day to be extremely popular and we hope that local people in particular will be interested in finding out more about this historic building.

“Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet local brewers Hop Stuff, Gosnells Mead and London Glider Cider while they enjoy music from local musicians, including fiddles, concertinas, flutes and even a song or two.”

The new-look Horn Fair runs from 10am to 4pm.