Author: Neil Clasper

Charlton Toy Library open for lending again

Neil Clasper

Charlton Toy Library open sign

Some good news in from Charlton Toy Library, the volunteer-run charity based in Charlton House, who have now reopened their lending service.

After nearly four months’ closure, the Charlton Toy Library (CTL) main premises has opened again. The popular stay-and-play sessions will not resume for the foreseeable future, but the Toy Library will be offering the toy, book and safety equipment borrowing service, twice a week (Thursdays and Saturdays). There is a wide range of books and toys for children from 0-5 years available, as well as safety and baby equipment. 

Staff have been working over these last months to ensure it will be a safe service for people to use. 

“It has been a challenging time for CTL, but we look forward to being of service to the community again” says Vicky Thomas, CTL Co-ordinator. “Due to generous grants from the City Bridge Trust, Greenwich Charitable Trust and the government Small Business Grants programme, the Toy Library running costs are now covered for the rest of the year and as a consequence we are able to allow all current and new members  to borrow five toys and five books for free at a time. All current memberships have been extended by the four months that we were closed. Play is so important for children and the Toy Library can help all parents to keep their kids entertained with different toys, that don’t have to break the bank.”

To allow for more opportunity for people to use the borrowing service, CTL will be trialling opening on Saturday mornings in July, in addition to Thursdays. The service will be a book and collect model, where people can choose from a newly created online catalogue.

For more information on how to borrow toys, books and safety equipment, please visit the website www.charltontoylibrary.co.uk or our facebook page CharltonToyLibrary.

During these challenging times, we are pleased that we have been able to continue to support our outreach families with baby equipment, toys, food vouchers and phone support on a weekly basis.  Sharon Jay, CTL outreach worker says: “We are so grateful to the wonderful and generous Greenwich community which has, through donations, enabled us to help so many desperate and vulnerable families.”

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Charlton Lido reopens to swimmers after lockdown: What’s it like?

Neil Clasper
Charlton Lido July 2020
Charlton Lido at opening time on Sunday morning

Charlton Lido became one of the first outdoor pools in the country to reopen this weekend, after the government lifted some restrictions on exercise and recreational activities on Thursday. The centre’s operator, Better, have made some changes to accommodate new guidance on safe operation in the new, Covid-aware world – we went along for a dip to find out more.

 

The first important change is that you need to book online or via the Better app – no walk-ins at the moment. I made a booking very easily via the app using my membership but know that some others have had issues; anecdotally, the centre are resolving these quite quickly. Swim sessions are 50 minutes, with 10 minutes presumably for cleaning.

Swimmers enter through the reception in the usual way and exit post-swim from one of the poolside fire exits. The indoor changing rooms are out of action, but the toilets are available, along with the poolside cubicles, showers and lockers.

Swimming is adults-only at the moment, and the pool has been divided into five lanes, each going in an anti-clockwise direction. Under government guidance butterfly and backstroke aren’t allowed (presumably these are either too splashy or they bring increased risk of contact with other swimmers). The car park is now pay-by-mobile.

From my experience the new system was working well, and I was impressed by the staffs’ efforts in explaining the new processes to swimmers as they came into the centre and again poolside. It was emphasised that the centre is going through a learning process, and the above may change over time – as may government guidance. We’re told that ‘full service’ resumes on July 25 but they are hopeful of running some outdoor fitness activities including spin classes before then. In the meantime, we advise keeping an eye on the website for the latest opening hours.

Charlton Lido

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Calling makers of Charlton: Get involved with Around The Corner Market

Neil Clasper

News from The Corner at 96 in Bramshot Avenue about a lockdown plan to bring hand made and hand grown produce to the neighbourhood on July 4th:

The Corner at 96 has opened as a pop-up shop in Charlton on a fairly regular basis for the last two years, selling gifts and homewares, handmade by locals. We’ve regularly featured studio ceramics, hand knits, jewellery, children’s clothes & accessories, paintings and photography as well as soaps and toiletries.

Whilst we’ve been locked down, some of our regular makers have had success with sales from home, combining the highlighting of an online website with a stall set up in the garden. So we thought we’d try and gather all our local makers together on the same day for a trail to highlight our hand makes, whatever it is you do! It will be July 4th and we hope to create a Google Maps route between makers selling in outside spaces, which we’ll then be promoting ourselves and via each maker. We’re looking for hand mades or hand grown.

We’ve put a sheet together to explain, including checks you’ll need to make to stay legal. Drop us a line at thecornerse7 [@] gmail.com and we’ll get you joined up!

Then, spread the word – encourage your friends and family along, let’s hope it’s a lovely day of walking, discovery & great sales. The map link will be posted as widely as we can from this Saturday.

The Corner at 96
Twitter: @Corner_96
Instagram: @the_corner_at_96
Facebook page: The Corner at 96

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See the Charlton entries in Greenwich & Bexley Hospice’s virtual Open Garden

Neil Clasper
Painted Lady butterfly
A Painted Lady butterfly in a Charlton garden. Photo: Neil Clasper

Coronavirus restrictions have badly impacted many charities’ fundraising this year, with social distancing rules making many events impossible. Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice, one of the local causes to be affected, have taken a different approach to their annual Open Gardens and created a virtual version.

Here’s how to support the Hospice and take a peak into some impressive local gardens from the comfort of your own living room:

“Due to Covid-19, we are sadly unable to host our usual Open Gardens Festival. However, we are excited to bring you our first-ever Virtual Open Gardens, so that you can explore a variety of beautiful gardens from the comfort of your home!

Tim Barnes, hospice trustee, who organised the event said: “Our wonderful garden hosts have put together over 40 homemade video tours of their stunning and lovingly tended gardens from around Bexley, Blackheath, Charlton, Eltham and Greenwich. We really hope you enjoy your virtual visit and pick up some gardening ideas and inspiration!”

We would like to say a big thank you to all the wonderful garden owners who have worked so hard to bring their gardens to life and raise money for the Hhspice.

Please consider donating the entrance fee to our emergency appeal so we can continue to provide our specialist end of life care to families in our community.”

See the Charlton garden entries: https://twhitham.wixsite.com/opengardens2020/blackheath
Donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/virtualopengardens

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St Luke’s and St Thomas’ churches to reopen for private prayer

Neil Clasper
St Thomas Church Charlton-1
St Thomas’ Church will reopen for private prayer later this week

We’re grateful to Revd. LIZ NEWMAN, Rector, Benefice of Charlton for letting us know about the imminent reopening of two of Charlton’s churches.

“So the church bells will be ringing at 10am on Wednesday 17th in Charlton Village to mark the reopening of St Luke’s. And they’ll be ringing in Woodland Terrace and Maryon Road at 10am on Thursday 18th to mark the re-opening of St Thomas’. We’ll be delighted to welcome any member of our community who seek a place to pray, reflect or just to think. Our opening times are on the website and displayed outside the buildings. The church is NOT a building – it’s the people who follow Jesus. But it is good, after almost 3 months, to open the doors again.”

Opening times are as follows:

ST LUKE’S
Wednesday 10am – 12 noon
Sunday 2pm – 4pm

ST THOMAS’
Thursday 10 am – 12 noon
Sunday 2pm – 4pm

“Everyone is welcome to come into the buildings to pray, reflect or just to think in a place of peace. Visitors will be asked to observe hygiene and distancing guidelines in the interests of everyone’s welfare”.

Are you reopening your church, charity, community group or similar after lockdown? Get in touch and let us know.

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Friends of St. Luke’s first meeting: learn about the history of the church and future plans

Neil Clasper
Cherub above St. Luke's church door in Charlton
The cherub above the door of St. Luke’s church. Photo © Neil Clasper

A message from the Friends of St. Luke’s Church about an upcoming event and plans to restore the church door.

The first meeting of the Friends of St Luke’s will be held at St Luke’s on Wednesday 19th February, starting at 7.00pm ahead of a historical introduction to the building led by Joseph Spooner at 7.30pm. Joseph will be sharing his wealth of knowledge, as well as revealing some hitherto overlooked or under-documents aspects of the building and its history.

Refreshments include cheese and wine. Entry is free to those who have already signed up as Friends or who sign up as Friends on the night, otherwise entry is £10.00. The recently published and well-received Portrait of St Luke’s will be available for sale on the night for £5.00 rather than the usual £7.00.

Invite to Friends of St. Luke's event

Main door plans

As part of our contribution to the improvement of Charlton Village, the Friends of St Luke’s are looking to raise funds for the main door to be repaired and represented. Locals may recall that about thirty years ago it was painted blue but has long since faded and needs repair as well as repainting.

A detailed investigation was undertaken in 2018 and established that the door is oak and has been in place since the church was rebuilt in 1630. Furthermore, under the at least twenty layers of paint revealed by high magnification and ultraviolet examination, the door was originally painted ‘warm brown’, possibly with ‘brush-grained decoration intended to imitate hard wood such as walnut or oak’.

Presumably, in the days long before DIY products that do what they say on the tin, it would have been impractical to have left the original oak uncovered. In re-presenting the door we would also ensure the cherub above the door gets a fresh gilding, noting in passing that the cherub is also found on one of the mantlepieces in Charlton House.

Find out more about the Friends of St. Luke’s.

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Free Film Festival turns five: Find out more and get involved

Neil Clasper
A full house at the White Swan for the screening of ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ during last year’s Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival

An invite from friend of the Charlton Champion, PAUL CHAPMAN, to get involved with this year’s Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival.

Hard to believe but The Charlton and Woolwich Free Film Festival is about to enter its 5th year! The last 4 years have seen the Festival show free films all over the SE7 and SE18 postcodes. From Hollywood blockbusters to black and white classics; Egyptian arthouse to Shaun the Sheep; we’ve played to crowds of over 100 right down to 2 people and a projectionist – and enjoyed them all. And now is your chance to get involved!

Like all the Free Film Festivals in south London, the CWFFF relies on volunteers; to come up with ideas, to make them happen, to stack the chairs and rattle the buckets, we can’t do it without you.

And if that sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t be afraid. We’ve built up a solid team over the last four years, and we won’t pitch newcomers straight into managing a whole event on their own. If you’ve never been involved before, we can pair you up with a previous volunteer and you can learn the ropes and see if the Festival is for you.

Get involved

Our first meeting is next week, on 12th February at Charlton House from 7.30pm and we’d love to see lots of new faces.

And if you own or work at a great local venue, and you think you could host a film at the festival this year, get in touch! We are also always on the lookout for local businesses who may want to be a food and drink provider at an event, ‘the localler the better’ in the words of our illiterate chief organiser Gavin Eastley.

And after all that, if you are really just interested in watching the films, that is fine too. Sign up to our mailing list and we’ll keep you updated as and when we have more news. You can also find and contact us on Twitter and Facebook or email us at gavin [at] freefilmfestivals.org.

 

The Charlton Champion would like to thank the Free Film Festival for all their support to help us put on a really enjoyable screening of All the President’s Men at Charlton House last week – thank you too to everyone who joined us on the night.

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