Picture by Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya

27 April 2012

Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya
Editor, linguist, outspoken campaigner on local and national issues. Loves opera, books and libraries.

Russell Elliott
Passionate believer and advocate of alternative - Just cos something has always been done a particular way doesnt make it the best!

Andrew Pelling
Former Shirley resident, Councillor, London Assembly Member & MP. Investment Banker & commentator for insidecroydon.com

Tom Dunsmore
Family man. Retired engineer. Has worked abroad. Speaks Spanish. Enjoys travel.

Robert Dil
Graphic Design Consultant and Co-owner of TD Studio in Addiscombe. Loves playing music & diving.

Jill Latter
Miniaturist, Shirley resident for more than 50 years, makes beautiful cakes.

Giovanna Ricciardelli
Travel Consultant specialised in Events. Loves entertaining, swimming, cooking Italian food. Seriously interested in architecture and interior design.

Stuart Collins
Shirley resident, former Mayor of Croydon and Councillor. Loves music and cats.

Andrew Dunsmore
Top London photographer, runs Picture Partnership in his Shirley Studio or on location. He helps you take better pictures.

Nadia Nazir
IT Consultant and Interior Decorator, loves to sew, knit and bake.

Peter Howard NOG aka Neil OGorman

Ecologist and charities champion. 72 this year, in Shirley since 1971. My interests are politics and Elder Abuse. I believe in holding politicians to account. This does not endear me to them. Oh dear!

Charles Park
of Planning Partnership Ltd, Shirley. The man to look for if you want something special for your home.

Helen Campbell-MacDonald
Practitioner of alternative medicine and regular contributor to Alternatives page.

Interested in being part of our online magazine? Please contact us on shirleylife@rocketmail.com

This Shirley poppy grew on Rev. Wilks grave in St. Johns graveyard , Shirley

Contents
Shirley Life The knobs are back....... Shirley Open Gardens Fridge and freezer tips Yummy Choo Eats GLA elections by Andrew Pelling Giovannas Column Chapter 2 - It is our money: lets stand up for our rights by Marzia Whats wrong with incineration? by Chris Sciberras Joliesse Lisa, the Florist New theatre show in Croydon Shirley Community Centre St Johns Flower Festival and FloFest Concert Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign About Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership Shirley Library: May Activities Marriage by Simon Hall 5 9 11 12 15 17 22 24 28 34 37 39 40 43 44 48 56 59

Front Cover: GLA Staircase

Editorial Team
Tom Dunsmore, Jill Latter, Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya (Editor), Andrew Pelling, Russell Elliott (Advertising Consultant), Robert Dil (Graphic Design Consultant) and Nadia Nazir (Website Administrator).

Contacts
T: 07940 415532

E: shirleylife@rocketmail.com

W: www.shirleylife.com

NOG Property Maintenance

Is Life too short to do-it yourself?
Garden maintenance & grass cutting Painting and decorating Flat pack furniture assembly Shelf, mirror, picture hanging Jet washing of drives, patios, decking Changing of light bulbs Garages and sheds cleared Free estimates and no call out fee

Just call NOG for a no obligation quote on 07909 948118 or 8776 1909 or email nogpm@tiscali.co.uk

hirley Life cover is a picture of the staircase of the London Assembly building I took in 2006. It is an extraordinary building with incredible views over London. The staircase fascinated me because it made me think of Dantes Inferno and, in particular Bolgia 5 of the eighth Circle. Shirley Life has asked the five candidates who will stand for the GLA election to answer a simple question: What can you do for Shirley? in 150 words. Total par condicio was assured. You, the reader, will judge.

Shops in Shirley Croydon is a transient borough and many shops in Shirley are transient too. I was very sorry to see Darbella go because it brought a touch of class to our locality and we welcome the new florist, Lisa and wish her well. See page 39. The 20 minutes parking on the TfL red route does not help business and Shirley Life would support a petition for free one hour parking. We need local shops. Refuse and recycling collection The Green Garden Waste Collection started this month. It is a very helpful service for many residents who have not got a car and should also be an integral part of the Council service. After all, our Council Tax is very high and the services rendered very few. I came home to find grass all over the pavement and the driveway. I complained in writing to the Council and also wrote to Councillor Fisher who responded promptly but also wrote: The green waste collection is a much valued service provided free to residents, unlike in many other Boroughs where there is a charge for this service. I researched the matter on internet and I also put in bold the amount of Council Tax payable for Band D in each Council. Here are the results for our neighbouring boroughs: Bromley: The Council provides a payable fortnightly collection service for green garden waste. You will
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l FriendlyPrinters Your Loca

TD STUDIO
353 LOWER ADDISCOMBE ROAD CROYDON - SURREY CR06RG T - 020 8656 0555 / 0888
E - TDPRINT@BTCONNECT.COM

need to attach a sticker to your bag to indicate that it is green garden waste. Each sticker costs 1.60. One must place the garden waste in a standard size sack (not exceeding 20kg - easy enough for the average person to carry). 1,298.03 Lambeth: You can recycle your garden waste all year round using their garden waste service. They charge an annual fee of 35 for the service. This fee includes two permits for the fortnightly collection of two reusable garden waste bags. The reusable bags are not included in the fee and can be bought for 5 each. 1,232.01 Sutton: Garden waste collections will start on Monday 16 April 2012 and run until Friday 14 December 2012. Each household can put out two Council authorised 120 litre reusable sacks or three 70 litre jute sacks for free (additional single use 70 litre biodegradable sacks can be purchased for 1 per sack). FREE 1,451.00 Lewisham: You pick up garden waste sacks from your local library, order online or phone CallPoint. The sacks come in rolls of 10 and cost 10 per roll. The charge covers the costs of collection and transporting the waste to a compost site. Once one or more bags are full, you call to arrange a collection or book a collection online. 1,348.83 Council Tax, Band D in Croydon, is 1,456.83. This is more than in the Boroughs above. Lambeth charge 40 for 12 months but we pay 224.82 more in Council Tax and receive a garden waste collection service for just over 6 months. How does this free service stack up? Remember, information is power. Newly planted street trees need your help Before the rains, Croydon Council sent the message below: The current dry conditions are putting pressure on the boroughs trees. In order to ensure that Croydon remains a pleasant and green place to live in the council are keen to encourage residents to assist by watering any trees that have been planted in their streets over the last three years. Plastic watering tubes are located by the base of the trees and if buckets of water could be put down these tubes then it would be most appreciated. Residents are particularly encouraged to use grey water, i.e. from baths, washing up etc. If further information is required, then please contact Nigel Browning, Trees & Woodland Manager on 020 8726 6000 ext 62025 or email nigel.browning@croydon.gov.uk Editor
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You are warmly invited to attend Friday Peer Group Sessions

every Friday
between 2 and 5pm at

The Shirley Community Centre

SHRUBLANDS AVENUE SHIRLEY, SURREY CR0 8JA
We aim to create a welcoming place for Older Adults to meet with their peer group, and make friends, socialise, play games (Bingo sessions and other games), listen to music, sing along and reminisce. We also plan to offer health advice and information, exercise classes, and ComTea (relaxed computer basic training) sessions.
Free tea, coffee and snacks

Call us on 8776 2562 or 07590 202547 for further details.

The knobs are back ...

now tell the Council the doors need attention. Croydon deserves better.

L A ND SC AP E S

T o n y C o l l in s & S o n s

Established in 1981

Specialists in paving, natural stone, crazy paving, concrete and shingle drives, brickwork, turfing, fencing & garden maintenance, shrub and tree planting

NO VAT !
Telephone 020 8776 1378 Mobile 07958 639 472 Email tn_collins@hotmail.com

Shirley Open Gardens

Dear Resident, My name is Jenny Hayden and I am organising this years Shirley Open Gardens event on behalf of the Shirley Neighbourhood Care Scheme.

There are to be two weekends this year,

June 23 and 24 and September 1 and 2.

We are always looking for more garden owners in Shirley to come on board and to think of opening their gardens. Please contact me on 020 8776 1389 or email: stypergirl@o2.co.uk I look forward to hearing from you. Regards
Jenny Hayden

Fridge and freezers tips

Food is expensive and fruits and vegetables even more so. So here are a few useful tips that I gleaned from an article on internet. Some fresh foods will actually spoil and deteriorate faster if they're refrigerated. And others that are usually kept in the cupboard will benefit from chilly spell in the fridge. Tomatoes: chilling them actually causes a lot of damage, breaking down their cell structure and giving them a grainy texture. Another thing youll miss with chilled tomatoes is their flavour. Take a bite of a refrigerated tomato and another of a tomato at room temperature and youll notice a huge difference in taste. For best results, leave tomatoes out of the fridge and keep them away from sources of moisture and heat, such as the kettle, microwave or oven. Onions: theres a huge benefit of keeping them in the fridge: the crying. Onions contain enzymes and acids, normally kept separate by cells. When the onion is cut you break these cells and at room temperature, the enzymes and acids mingle, creating an eye-watering gas. Chilling the onion before you cut it as the low temperature will render the enzyme inactive. A handy trick if chopping onions makes your eyes water. Citrus fruits: Keeping lemons, limes and oranges in the fridge will cause chill damage. Youll notice they have a hardened, rougher peel and are drier inside. The cold temperatures also prevent ripening, losing flavour. Youll get much sweeter, juicier citrus fruits if you keep them in a bowl on the kitchen worktop where they can continue to ripen, uninterrupted, at room temperature. Peanut butter, jams, chutneys and ketchup: Chutney, ketchup and things like chilli jelly usually have high levels of vinegar, while jam has a lot of sugar. Both are natural preservatives and dont need refrigeration, so these foods could be cluttering up your fridge. Preserves in the cupboard will go off quicker if tainted by butter or toast crumbs, so use a clean teaspoon to serve. Peanut butter will become very stiff when chilled, so its best off in the cupboard where it will stay spreadable. But do read the labels. Although most preserves and sauces will be fine for a couple of months in a cupboard, the producers are the experts when it comes to
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their products. So if the label tells you to refrigerate after opening, do stick it in the fridge. Bread: Bread will turn stale a lot quicker if kept in the fridge. This is because chilling bread results in the movement of starch molecules, causing tiny crystals to develop. This will dry out the bread and give it a stale texture. Bread in the bread bin at room temperature will eventually turn stale but not as quickly, as the natural cycle of the molecules arent interfered with. But when freezing bread, freezing happens more rapidly so your bread will retain the same texture as it had before it went in the deep freeze. Basil: Most herbs, such as rosemary, thyme and coriander can be stored happily in the fridge. But in cold temperatures, a packet of basil will turn a dark, purplish black. This is down to the ethylene gas that plants, fruit and vegetables emit, which causes them to ripen. As ethylene gets trapped in the packet (or within the fridge) it gets concentrated and speeds up the rate of deterioration. Basil leaves will also turn floppy in low temperatures. If you need basil to last a long time, your best bet is to buy a plant and keep it on your windowsill so the ethylene gas doesnt get trapped and constantly reabsorbed into the plant. While many foods can be frozen to increase their shelf life, there are some that rapidly deteriorate after a spell in the icy freezer. Here are five of them. Some iced cakes: The issue of freezing iced cakes isnt exactly clear cut. It is possible to freeze iced cakes, but not really advisable. While some small iced cakes can be carefully frozen, it is not recommend freezing whole iced cakes because, whilst the icing is defrosting, it will become very sticky. You may also find that it grazes or cracks. If it happens to be a warm day, you could end up with condensation on top of the cake and also air bubbles popping under the icing. As well as the cracking, the cakes iced with coloured icing can run into an unsightly mess on defrosting. Fruit and vegetables with high water content: Ever defrosted a packet of frozen summer fruits, only to find the strawberries have turned to mush? Why? Fruits and vegetables (such as strawberries, lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes) are made up of cells which give them their structure. These cells contain a large amount of water which, when frozen slowly, forms ice crystals much larger than the original water molecules due to the rigidity of
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ice's crystal lattice structure. These ice crystals cause the walls of the cells to rupture, leading to a loss of structural integrity which is cause for the mushiness witnessed in fruits and vegetables when thawed.When the cells rupture, enzymes are also released, which can result in a loss of flavour and the foods turning brown when defrosted. Tomatoes however, can be cooked into sauces and soups, for example, and then frozen. Eggs in shells and mayonnaise Eggs arent the worlds most successful freezer food. If you freeze raw eggs in their shells, the shells will crack and burst and youll have egg all over your freezer. If you freeze hard-boiled eggs theyll go rubbery. And you should never freeze mayonnaise because mayonnaise is an oil in water emulsion of olive or corn oil with broken out egg. A natural part of egg yolk - Lecithin, which is a surfactant emulsifier, greatly helps the formation of good mayonnaise - it forms a stable emulsion. On thawing mayonnaise after putting it in a freezer the emulsion breaks down leaving a rather soupy mess! Mayonnaise from fresh oil and eggs should be used immediately. But if youve used egg yolks to make fresh pasta or custard, dont throw away the whites. Freeze egg whites in a clearly labelled freezer bag for making great meringues. Non-vacuum packed ready to eat (cooked) fish Fish goes off quickly and its tempting to sling a packet into the freezer for another day. But this isnt always the best move: while vacuum-packed ready to eat (cooked) fish can be frozen as it is, if the packaging contains air (as in the over wrapped plastic trays covered with cling film), freezing can make the fish go soggy. If the ready-to-eat fish is loose or over wrapped, it cant really be frozen, as the fish absorbs moisture which will create poor quality after defrosting. But if your ready-to-eat fish is in a vacuum or skin pack you can happily freeze it for up to 3 months. Single cream While double cream can be frozen either as it is, or whipped, single cream turns into a gloopy, split mixture after being frozen. The higher the fat content, the better it freezes. The best way to freeze single cream is to make a sauce with it and then freeze it. If youre making sweet or savoury dishes with cream it is best to use double or whipping cream as these freeze well if whisked first hence why ice cream recipes use thicker creams. Single, soured, extra thick double and Channel Island creams are not suitable for freezing.
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Watch out for an interview with Selina next month

15

London Elections

by Andrew Pelling

The election for the fourth London Mayoralty and London Assembly takes place on Thursday May 3rd. At the last London election in 2008 Cllr. Steve O'Connell won a most convincing victory in the Assembly seat covering the whole of the Boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the first London Assembly election where the Conservatives led in the national opinion polls. Labour came second in the Croydon & Sutton Assembly seat last time. The Assembly has no executive powers. The Assembly will no longer have members sitting on a police authority. Assembly members ask questions of the Mayor on a monthly basis as well as having committees investigating Greater London Authority and wider issues. The 53,439 annual salary is high for such a job which comes with more than two assistants per member. The Assembly has just 25 members. 14 members are elected in traditional first past the post seats (Yellow ballot paper). Only Conservatives and Labour have ever won these first past the post seats. The remaining 11 seats are shared in such a way as to reflect the proportionate balance of votes on a top up list system in a ballot for the Assembly separate from the first past the post vote (Orange ballot paper). Votes for parties scoring less than 5 % in this second Assembly ballot are ignored. Notionally if a party polls 20 % in this top up list would likely get 5 of the 25 Assembly seats. The Assembly result last time produced 11 Conservative seats, 8 Labour seats, 3 Liberal Democrat seats, 2 Green seats and 1 BNP seat. The Assembly has the ability to block the Mayor's budget with a two thirds majority. It has never exercised this block. If the Mayor has just nine supporters in the Assembly his budget is safe.
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You have two votes in the Mayoral election (Pink ballot paper). A first and a second preference. Barring a political earthquake if you vote for Johnson or Livingstone as your first preference your second choice will not count. If you vote for one of the other candidates then your second preference could decide the final result between the two leading candidates if you use that second preference for Johnson or Livingstone. Click on the link below to read everything about the Mayor of London & London Assembly Elections, the candidates, what the elections are about and how to vote: http://www.scribd.com/doc/89975366/London-Mayoral-Address-Booklet2012 The Croydon and Sutton London Assembly Member Candidates are: LOCK Abigail MCKENZIE Winston Truman OCONNELL Stephen John ROSS Gordon Halliday WOODLEY Louisa London Liberal Democrats Fresh Choice for London The Conservative Party Green Party Labour Party

Shirley Life asked them to answer one question in 150 words (max): Why should Shirley residents vote for you?

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Abigail Lock - Liberal Democrats Conservatives and Labour have let the people of Shirley down whether its the increase in crime, Croydons poor environmental record or the shortfall in housing. As someone born in outer London I understand Shirleys priorities. If you elect me as your GLA candidate I will not be a remote person in City Hall with multiple jobs. I will spend my time fighting for a better deal for Croydon. I will fight to reinstate the Police Sergeants lost to Tory cuts and increase the numbers of police officers patrolling Croydons streets. I will seek improvements to our transport system which is overpriced and overcrowded and demand that the new Mayor takes up the Lib Dem proposals for a one-hour bus ticket and early bird fares, saving you money. I want to find ways of better utilising the many empty spaces above shops and encourage landlords to rent out empty properties. Winston McKenzie - UKIP As the years roll by we endure ignorance from our elected members. Our requests seem to fall on deaf ears. I will base my campaign on crime, the working class, unemployment and housing. There are other issues of major concern which may or may not fall within the remit of the London Assembly. The institutions, which include the Metropolitan Police, schools and government, continue to fail in their pledge to deliver. This is apparent in their inability to communicate with ordinary people. I will restore confidence in our Borough. I have a proven track record. They say action speaks louder than words. I am a communicator. My work within the community, particularly in the Croydon Youth Games, sets a glowing example of how leaders should engage with their respective communities. If you want your voice to be heard VOTE, WINSTON McKENZIE (UKIP Spokesman for Culture, Media & Sport)
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Steve OConnell - Conservative Party I have enjoyed working with Shirley residents and addressing your concerns over the last four years. I am particularly pleased that TfL will be delivering a solution for the Bridle Road/ Wickham Road junction that has plagued us for so long. Thank you to the residents who have supported this campaign. Working with the Mayor has brought other benefits. We have seen money invested in recycling for flats in Shirley. The burden for Council Tax payers has been lightened. Important to us all is keeping Shirley a safe place to live and work. I will ensure that our Safer Neighbourhood Team grows in size, a manifesto pledge promised by Boris Johnson. We also want to see Shirley maintain its character and protect it from aggressive developers. I will continue to support local residents and their representatives in protecting our back gardens. Gordon Ross - Green Party Croydon needs a strong Green voice. Our policies offer a positive alternative: Keep jobs and money in the Croydon by supporting local businesses and independent shops. Bring down fares so that public transport is always cheaper than driving. Increase capacity on the busiest bus routes. Extend Tramlink to Sutton, and the London Overground to Crystal Palace. Make streets safer for walking and cycling. Making housing affordable with new housing, the refurbishment of homes to cut energy bills and a shakeup of the private rented sector. Improve the environment by protecting our green spaces, and planting more trees on streets. Continue to campaign against the proposed Beddington incinerator. Promote waste reduction, recycling and generating clean energy from food waste. Prevent over-development of residential areas. Rebuild trust in policing with more officers on the beat through greater use of lowercost office staff and, more police resources for road safety.
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Louisa Woodley - Labour Party Over the past twelve years, Assembly members have promised to sort out the dangerous Bridle Road/ Wickham Road junction but nothing has actually happened on the ground. If elected, I will work tirelessly to resolve this issue. The Safer Neighbourhood Team in Shirley currently shares a Sergeant with Ashburton. I will work with Ken Livingstone to ensure that the Shirley SNT team regains its full strength and has its own Sergeant back. Many constituents tell me that they would like to shop locally but find that the allowed 20 minutes parking time is insufficient. As the Assembly member, I will be lobbying to have one hours parking along the Shirley Parades in Wickham Road in order to give a much needed boost to local businesses in these difficult times. I have always strongly opposed the proposed Beddington Lane incinerator in our community and will continue to oppose it.

Shirley Ward
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Giovannas Column
Picture by Picture Partnership, Shirley

Two recipes from South America this month. They are quite easy to execute and can be made in single servings, which is a good idea when one counts ones calories. The sweet potato cakes are delicious for breakfast with a good cup of coffee.

Savoury Corn Cake from Chile Ingredients 800grs of corn (either frozen,tinned or fresh) 400grs of cooked shredded chicked 3 tsps of fine granulated sugar 2 tsps of lard or butter 1tblsp of vegetable oil 1 2 litre of whole milk 3 tblsps of tabasco 4 eggs, hard boiled and quartered 3 fresh basil leaves 5 black olives 50 grs of raisins 400grs mince meat 2 white onions, finely diced Salt and pepper to taste A pinch of cumin 1 2 a beef stock cube Method Step One: Making the 1st layer (meat) 1 Fry onion until soft and brown off the mince. 2 Add salt, pepper, cumin, tabasco and crumble stock cube into the mince. 3 Add a dash of water to moisten the mince, leave to one side to rest.
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Step Two: Making the top layer (corn) 1 Cook the corn if frozen or fresh and drain. 2 Mix corn, basil leaves, milk, lard in blender until semi solid consistency achieved, mix must not be too thick or runny, slowly fall off spoon. 3 Add salto or pepper to taste. Step Three: Final Touches (at this stage pre-heat your oven to gas mark 8) 1 In either a large rectangle cooking tray or individual pots, put a initial layer of mince at the bottom. Insert the olives into the mix spread out. 2 Add the pieces of shredded chicken and eggs on top and scatter the raisins on top of the chicken. 3 Pour or spoon on the corn mixture to cover the chicken and beef. Mixture should not be thicker than a inch/approx 2cm on top. 4 Sprinkle sugar on top and put in the oven. Bake until golden on top. Serve hot on its own or with tomato salad. Sweet Potato Cake from Peru Ingredients Flour 250g White sugar 100g Brown sugar 100g Butter 180g Egg 3 Vanilla extract 12 tsp Sweet Potato (Mashed) 240g Baking powder 1tsp Cinnamon 12 tbsp Salt, pinch Method 1 Cook the sweet potatoes in the oven and mash. 2 Sift flour, baking powder and cinnmon together. Leave the mixture on the side. (Pre-heat the oven at 180) 3 Beat butter and sugar together until it's fluffy 4 Add eggs and vanilla extract to it. Mix well. 5 Add mashed sweet potato and mix well. 6 Gradually fold flour mixture. 7 Pour the mixture in a cake mould or individual pots (you can use a muffin tray) and bake in the pre-heated oven at 180 for 60 minutes.
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Chapter 2
It is our money: lets stand up for our rights
leaflet was finally delivered by Skanska Croydon on 10 April 2012. Our nightmare had started the previous month and it was quite extraordinary to read that You will receive a letter approximately four weeks before works commence in your street. Chapter 1 ended on 26 March 2012. Skanska sent us a letter on 27 March: no signature, just Skanska: The location of all columns and associated street furniture is covered by the contract Skanska has with each Council and the relevant British Standards (BS 5489, BSEN13201) that cover all parts of highway lighting. Designs follow an approval process that checks for compliance with the contract and the British Standards and as such confirms the column positions are correct. If you are concerned that the lighting column could be used to access your property, there are anti climb measures that we can deploy to alleviate this concern. Any request to change the column location could impact the lighting levels in the whole road and cannot be accommodated without Council approval. After careful consideration Skanska and Croydon Council have concluded that the column will be positioned as per the approved design and therefore we cannot accommodate your request. No work was undertaken during the Easter break but the footpath remained closed and the road was left in total darkness. We monitored the situation and wrote again on 10 April 2012 to Mr. John Algar, Head of Authority Team:

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I refer to my letters of 15th and 20th March 2012, and the unsigned letter, dated 27th March, received from Skanska under reference F0508725: Two columns were erected in Stuart Crescent, Palace View end: one abutting on a flat roof and one abutting on our brick wall. Skanskas letter said that the column positions were correct and yet the column abutting the flat roof has already been removed following complaints. It seems that it happened because a Ward Councillor intervened. I find the matter quite extraordinary because there are other columns that were erected without any risk assessment in our area. At least another one was moved. A resident was told that the columns were moved to prevent car damage to them. A reason that does not appear anywhere in all the documents I have read. I have informed the Croydon Police Borough Commander of the matter because Met police should be aware of the serious implications these columns might cause to security within the community. I looked up Croydon Council website and Skanska (Borough Road Lights) is the designated authority to deal with the matter, contrary to your advice. I have decided to survey our area and to alert all residents of the negligence of Skanska. You might want to know that our footpath was closed on Monday 26th March around 8.15pm and is still closed today. The only work carried out was the removal and re-positioning of the column abutting the flat roof and the removal of the old street lights. Skanska writes: This is will cause some disruption but we will endeavour to keep to a minimum. (sic). Our side has been in total darkness for many days. It is disgraceful. I keep a diary and photographic evidence. Lets hope no significant incident occurs. I am asking Skanska to re-position all columns abutting on walls, fences higher than 1.5m and flat roofs and to make sure that the same mistake is not made in other parts of the Borough. The metal screen on the column in Stuart Crescent, Lime Tree Grove end, looks ridiculous and out of keeping in our area, just like the columns themselves.
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I am copying in the Leader of the Council, the Croydon and Sutton GLA Member, Croydon Central MP, the Mayor of London and local papers. Fiat lux (Let there be light) The letter was posted and emailed on 10 April. We were awoken by a loud noise at 01:45 on 11 April. We thought it was a road accident of sort but, no, it was Skanska workers putting the lights on. We were absolutely speechless, so much so that I did not even take pictures. Work was completed on Friday 13 April but the rubbish below (blueberry punnet and drink containers included) was not removed until Wednesday 18 April. The pavement and the foot of the wall need to be repaired. Moreover, we suffer from light pollution and the roads looks like a Stalag. Would be burglars would need no torches. Is the light a deterrent? No, because there are no houses but only garages. It is, therefore, an ideal point of entry. After all, it was the reason why we had the wall built.

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The way forward None of elected representatives responded but the Mayor with an automated response. I did, however, meet Councillor Fisher at the MORA AGM on Friday 20 April and he assured me that he would look into the matter. There were complaints from the MORA side too, especially of light pollution. Only one lady was happy and that was because the new lights did not interfere with the cherry trees. Mr. John Algar of Skanska responded on 13 April 2012: You are correct that the one of the columns was moved at the insistence of Cllr Chatterjee and this move did not affect the lighting provided in the street. It is not always possible to move lighting columns as a number of factors, including the need to comply with the minimum requirement of BS5489, need to be taken into consideration. A significant amount of planning is undertaken before any works take place on-site and this includes risk assessments for all of the working methods used. The columns have not been moved to prevent damage from vehicles but to ensure they comply with British Standards. One of the reasons why Croydon is installing new street lightings is to increase lighting levels as one element of helping the police and other agencies to reduce crime in the borough. I am pleased that you have contacted the police as they will be pleased to gain your support in encouraging a reduction in crime within the borough. With regards to your comments about the 'negligence of Skanska' you should be aware that they are contracted to Croydon and Lewisham Councils and have specific contractual requirements to meet. In this instance they would have been within their right to build the approved scheme. However, as a company they have been willing to assist when possible and be flexible and accommodating to requests. Finally, Skanska will continue to produce schemes which are compliant with the relevant British Standards and those specified in its contract with Croydon and Lewisham Councils. This does mean that lighting columns will be positioned at the back of the footway as specified wherever possible. The siting of these columns is planned and is not a mistake as your letter suggests. Thank you for taking the time and effort to write to me with your concerns. I am not satisfied with Mr. Algars answer as it does not address the points put to him. Therefore, confident that Councillor Fisher will support my plea, I will be writing again. The story, boring as it may be, continues. Marzia
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NO INCINERATOR NEAR PEOPLE

Shirley Life is delighted to welcome a very informative contribution to the argument against incineration from Chris Sciberras of Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign. We are fully committed to fight incineration anywhere and, in particular, near people. I was shocked to hear the Leader of Croydon Council say, at the MORA AGM on Friday 20 April, that Viridor would build an incinerator in Kingston if Sutton Council rejected the Planning Application for the Beddington incinerator. Passing the buck to another borough is simply not acceptable: other solutions for disposing of waste must be found. First of all, we need to consume less and reuse/recycle more. Shirley Life will join the Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign march from Mayday Hospital to Croydon Town Hall on Sunday May 13 starting at 11am because united we are stronger.

Whats wrong with incineration?

We believe that the health risks from even the most up-to-date facilities are very significant despite the complacent coments of the UKs socalled Health Protection Agency (HPA). Evidence for this is piling up all the time. Two reports which damn incinerators 1 Essential reading is the detailed report by the British Society for Ecological Medicine (Ecomed). They conclude that a policy of building more incinerators and cement kilns will mean that many more lives will be lost unnecessarily from cancer, including those of children, more people will die prematurely from heart disease, there will be an increase in birth defects and health costs will increase. there are far better ways of dealing with waste and these methods would be cheaper, would be safer and would produce more energy.
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The full article can be read at http://www.ecomed.org.uk/content/IncineratorReport_v3.pdf 2 A new (2012) European report raises alarm over nano-particles.The European Respiratory Journal (ERJ), the scientific journal of the European Respiratory Society, is made up of respiratory researchers and medics. Its latest (March 2012) editorial severely criticises the EU commission for choosing the wrong limits for air quality, and discusses the reasons for this. They claim that fine particles (PM 2.5s) and Ozone are the most serious pollutants, and that there is an urgent need to reduce their concentrations significantly. It is generally recognised that effects of ozone and fine particles have a very low [safety] threshold, if indeed there is one. This means that exposure to levels even below the WHO [World Health Organisation] air quality guidelines can still be expected to produce sizeable adverse effects on public health. Reductions of air pollution over the past two decades have been shown to be associated with increases in life expectancy in the USA and improved respiratory health.The article stresses that compliance with current limit values for major air pollutants in Europe confers no protection for public health. In fact, very serious health effects occur at concentrations well below current limit values, especially those for fine particles. Although incinerators are of course far from the only source of fine particles, they will compound the health problems from all sources which are in any case set to rise for example with climate change leading to higher levels of ground level ozone. Nano-particles, so-called PM10s and PM2.5s are linked, among other things, to cardiovascular deaths and higher infant mortality rates. The full article can be read at http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/39/3/525.full.pdf+html Although incinerator fumes pass through expensive filter systems, modern incinerators still emit significant levels of NOx and of ultrafine particles. The latter include nano-particles which are of great concern because they can pass through the lung lining, causing internal inflammation and penetrating to organs (even to the foetus in a pregnant mother). Several recent studies have concluded that air pollution is set to become a bigger global killer than even dirty water. (see for example
29

OECD March 2012: Urban air pollution is set to become the top environmental cause of mortality worldwide by 2050, ahead of dirty water and lack of sanitation. The number of premature deaths from exposure to particulate air pollutants leading to respiratory failure could double from current levels to 3.6 million every year globally). The HPA have failed to monitor health impacts of incinerators. In August 2003, the newly-formed Health Protection Agency promised to examine health data around incinerators and landfill sites due to public concern. But they didn't bother, and were exposed in two Surrey papers on 22 May 2008, Dorking Advertiser and Surrey Mirror. The above articles resulted from a Freedom of Information request to the HPA, asking for a list of incinerators around which they'd examined rates of illness and rates of premature deaths (at all ages) in electoral wards upwind and downwind of incinerators. The HPA admitted that they'd not checked the data around any incinerator and yet they still continued to tell people that there weren't any significant health risks. This has led councillors across the country to accept the HPA's wisdom and give incinerators the green light. Belatedly, the HPA have now announced a new study but this will not report until 2014 and is likely to be another whitewash, given past form. Energy from waste: the big con The industry likes to tell us that modern incinerators are good for the environment as they produce energy (so-called energy recovery facilities, or energy from waste). In fact, time and again, studies have demonstrated that burning waste is a very inefficient way of producing energy. When waste is burnt in an incinerator, heat is produced which can be used to produce electricity. This displaces the need for an equivalent amount of electricity to be generated at a power station, saving the release of some CO2, a greenhouse gas. In Europe, many incinerators capture more energy by providing heating through hot water to nearby offices or homes (combined heat and power or CHP), but this more efficient system is only used in three of the UKs incinerators. Even the South East London Combined Heat and Power (SELCHP) plant in Southwark, opened in 1994, despite its name does not yet produce any heat for heating, as providing district heating proved too expensive! No
30

wonder the Viridor reps at local meetings have been very cagey about the potential to use hot water for district heating locally - it wont happen! Simplistic claims are often made that burning waste in incinerators will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In reality, most incinerators are not very efficient at capturing energy from the waste they burn, due to the fact that they are primarily designed to be a method of reducing the volume of waste, and they have to have a lot of air pollution control equipment. The Government has admitted this shortcoming in the new Waste Strategy for England: Where fossil fuel based products are incinerated (e.g. plastics) they tend to generate energy less efficiently than using fossil fuel directly, hence are associated with an overall carbon cost. This means that incinerators release a large amount of CO2 to produce a small amount of energy. A waste to electricity incinerator actually releases 33 per cent more fossil-fuel derived CO2 per unit energy produced than a gas-fired power station. If heat from the incinerator is used, then performance is similar to a gas-fired power station. For supporting references, see the briefings from Friends of the Earth: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/up_in_smoke.pdf and http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/dirty_truths.pdf which deals with the climate impacts of incineration. Taken together these reports make it clear that there should be no place for incinerators in any long term sustainable waste management strategy. The Beddington incinerator: a white elephant The proposed incinerator is unnecessary and will result in waste being trucked into the area for 25 years. It is being proposed at a time when national waste production is in steady decline by about 3% each year.* and Britain has the potential to go much further: the current average national recycling rate is only 42% (and about 40% in Croydon!); in Wales it is projected to reach 70% by 2025; in San Francisco, USA, they had reached 72% by 2009 and are expecting to be at zero waste by 2020. *2004 372 million tonnes ; 2008 334million tonnes Even our own recycling ministers recent pronouncement makes this incinerator obsolete in policy terms: We are determined to make it as easy as possible for people to do the right thing to achieve our ultimate aim of a zero waste economy. Lord Taylor, Recycling Minister, February 2, 2012
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The capacity of the incinerator is 275,000 tonnes, broken down into 200,000 tonnes domestic with the residue of 75,000 tonnes coming from the Commercial and & Industrial sector BUT the Viridor contract builds in declining rates of household waste being sent, as recycling rates increase. Although Viridor have refused to give us the figures, they have admitted that they will almost certainly be importing waste from outside the South London Waste Plan area. We estimate this may be in the region of 20% of the total waste, and could increase over time, despite assurances in the South London Waste Plan that a key principle is that waste should be dealt with locally. This is to ensure that the incinerator is operating at a commercially viable capacity. What this means in plain English is that Materials will be sucked into the incinerator that could be reclaimed, re-used or recycled. Vehicles will be trucking waste into the area for over two decades. Operators elsewhere have said they could always top up with commercial and industrial (trade) waste to make up for any shortfall, although in practice this has been shown to cause operational efficiency problems, e.g. for Veolias Sheffield incinerator see the article entitled Did McDonalds give Sheffields incinerator indigestion? on the informative ukwin website. The sustainable alternative: why we can do without an incinerator. Studies have clearly shown that incineration is not the best way to divert biodegradable waste from landfill. Food waste, which currently causes serious problems of methane build-up in landfill sites, can be dealt with in anaerobic digestion (AD) plants. See the briefing at http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/anaerobic_digestion.pdf. Pre-treatment of residual waste to remove recyclables and degrade biodegradable materials (mechanical biological treatment or MBT), followed by landfill of the end material, is better for the climate than incineration, with or without recovery of heat. See the briefing at http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/mchnical_biolo_treatmnt.pdf Reducing the waste stream Other countries are way ahead of the UK when it comes to reducing the wastage that ends up in landfill or in incinerators. Although progress is
32

being made, we still need: Better organisation door to door collections, reuse and repair centres, composting, materials recovery facilities, economic incentives. Education, research and design. If we cant re-use it, recycle it or compost it, industry shouldnt be making it. Better industrial design is needed for the 21st century Recycling saves energy Recycling also uses energy, much of it supplied by fossil fuel power generation. But overall it reduces climate emissions, as recycling a material uses far less energy than the extraction and processing of virgin materials. In addition, research shows that recycling is almost invariably better than incineration from a climate point of view. In general, the energy savings from recycling rather than incineration average out at factor of about 4 times. Landfill is a better option than incineration for plastics and some papers (e.g. newspapers) because carbon in the material is trapped in the landfill rather than released into the air. Another study has found that recycling of plastic cups is preferable to incineration in energy terms. What can I do? 1 Carry on reading about the topic. The following websites are good places to start: http://www.slideshare.net/FrankieDolan/incineration-a-poor-solution-forthe-21st-century-by-dr-paul-connett http://ukwin.org.uk/ http://www.stoptheincinerator.co.uk/ 2 Join the Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign march from Mayday Hospital to Croydon Town Hall on Sunday May 13 starting at 11am. Document written by Chris Sciberras of Stop the South London Incinerator Campaign. He can be contacted at chris.sciberras@btinernet.com

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wrinkles merely indicate where the smiles have been.

We always feel youthful inside... at Joliesse, we help you look good on the outside too!
We provide professional mobile hair and beauty services for the care sector, including care, retirement and nursing homes. All our staff are CRB checked and have a real passion and caring nature to work with those who may have special needs.

By our experience our clients are generally much happier and more comfortable in familiar surrounding with their own help and staff on hand. We can provide a tailored service to your home or community in line with the clients needs. We would provide you with a full assessment and would work with the on hand carers to make sure all the clients are well catered for.

Would you like a specialist consultation to tailor services to your residents needs?

t e

020 8123 1653

info@joliesse.co.uk joliesse.co.uk

Contact us today!
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Croydon Neighbourhood Care Association sends out a wealth of information that may benefit senior citizens in our community. When I saw the information about Joliesse, I phoned Hailey straight away and asked her to meet Shirley Life because we are often asked for mobile hair services. It is a very specialised service and it requires experience and dedication. Tom and I went to check her out and were impressed with her commitment to her job. We trust that she will provide excellent service to Shirley residents. From Hayleys website, www.joliesse.co.uk Mobile Hairdressing- We bring the Salon to you. All styles, all services: from classic cuts to the latest trends and from funky highlights to a blue rinse and set. You're always in good hands at Joliesse. Our dedicated and experienced stylists are at your disposal to cater to your every need, whether you prefer the retro or more modern look. We also offer a near full salon range of services and wide range of styling and hair care products in your home. We are fully qualified and insured but above all friendly and professional. Try us for yourself. You won't be disappointed! Joliesse provide a caring retirement home and care home hair & beauty visiting service. Throughout her career, Hayley has hairdressed for the elderly, handicapped and disabled and always found incredible satisfaction in bringing a smile to their faces and instilling that confidence and dignity that feeling good brings. Joliesse also provide Bridal and Weddings packages. You can contact Hayley on 020 8123 1653 or 07956 334930 or even book on line. Editor
35

Nadia Nazir
A freelance website developer available to assist you within your budget. Businesses, Individuals, Students, Non-Profit Contact us now for free enquires nadia@nadianazir.com for any web related service www.nadianazir.com
36

WEBSITE DESIGN

From small to big projects, tailor-made as per your requirements.

(domain, hosting, development, maintenance etc)

Lisa Connolly has recently opened her new shop at 215 Wickham Road in the Shirley Library Parade. For 28 years, she had greeted her customers in the Sainsbury's next to Selhurst Park in Whitehorse Lane and is now looking forward to new beginnings.

www.lisasflorist.co.uk

C&C
P L A N N I N G P A R T N E R S H I P LT D 8 Ash Road, Shirley, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 8HU

P LANS FOR L OFTS , E XTENSIONS , H OUSES , & S TRUCTURAL C ALCULATIONS

FOR COUNCIL APPROVALS

36

YEARS EXPERIENCE

FREE CONSULTATIONS

07796 777700 020 8777 9999 ( OFFICE ) 020 8777 7000 ( OFFICE ) EMAIL : charles@candcplanning.co.uk
TEL : TEL :

MOB :

The Goat
1-3 B RO O M R OA D S H I R L E Y C ROY D O N

Recently refurbished family-run pub offering a wide range of beers, ciders, real ales & wines

38

Do you want to take part in one of the most exciting theatrical events of 2012?
Iranian theatre director Hamid Pourazari is coming to Croydon to create an incredible new show, which will be performed in a central Croydon multi-storey car park this summer . Hamid is looking for Croydon residents who want to get involved as performers, musicians, helpers, stewards, set dressers and tea makers; in fact, anyone who really wants to be part of a fantastic theatrical experience. The event will showcase everything thats amazing about Croydon and the people who live here. Its the opportunity for you to meet other local people and have an experience youll never forget. Hamid and his team would love to meet you... It doesnt matter if you have never acted before, doesnt matter if English isnt your first language or if you dont have any experience working on events - all you need is an open mind and a willingness to take part and well do the rest...

Where & When?

Rehearsals are taking place at Croydon Clocktower ( Katharine Street) starting on on April 2 until June 23. You can come as little or as often as you like. ALL AGES welcome (including families).

Times:

Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm Saturdays 10am to 5pm Please note, its important you are available for ALL the performance dates, which are June 21- & June 28-July 1. 24

For more information and to let us know you are coming please contact Oliver Tipper on 020 8253 1034 or email oliver .tipper@croydon.gov.uk

39

Charity No 1116925

ACTIVITIES at the Centre

Day Monday Tuesday AM FOR HIRE FOR HIRE PM Youth Activities 7.30 - 10pm Zumba with Emma 6 - 7pm Tenshin Tsunami Ryu 7 - 9pm Bible Study Group 7.30 - 8.30pm Racquet Club 4 - 5pm Shirley Table Tennis Club 7.45 - 9.45pm FOR HIRE 2 -3pm Racquet Club 4 - 5pm FOR HIRE 6 - 7pm FOR HIRE 7 - 8pm Road Cycling Club 8 - 10pm GKR Karate 5.30 - 7pm FOR HIRE FOR HIRE

Wednesday FOR HIRE Thursday FOR HIRE

Friday Saturday Sunday

FOR HIRE FOR HIRE SCF

The Committee Room is for hire from Monday to Saturday

Care Direct UK and Living Hope Project are now running activities for Older Adults in the south end part of the Centre each Friday afternoon. Please contact them on 8776 2562 or 07590 202547 for further details.
40

What the Centre offers...

The main hall is complemented by a well equipped kitchen, there are two other rooms, and a separate room suited to smaller committee meetings.

Where to find us...

We are at 28 Shrublands Avenue, Shirley CR0 8JA. These premises are ideally placed in a residential area and are well served by two bus routes, 194 and 198. There is some on-site parking.

Availability...
The Centre is available most mornings, the early part of each afternoon and some evenings. It is also very popular for private parties at weekends. To hire the Centre, please contact 020 8777 4298 from Monday to Friday between 9.30 and 11am or email lettings4scca@hotmail.co.uk. For any other purpose, please email scca-shirley1@hotmail.co.uk. There is also a website, www.shirleycca.com, to keep you abreast of events.

Charges...
Midweek charges are: 10 per hour until 5pm and 12.50 thereafter (40 for a whole morning or afternoon, 50 for a whole evening)

SOS
Private Parties

250 on a Saturday or 350 on a Sunday or Bank Holiday Children Parties on Saturdays 70 + caretakers services The cost of hiring the Committee Room is 5 per hour at any time. It is ideal for small business or committee meetings. The Shirley Community Centre is under used. Consider holding your meetings or activities in the Centre. Come and see us.
41

w w w. s h i r l e y e l e c t r i c a l . c o m

42

St John's Flower Festival & FloFest Concert

St Johns Church and the community of Shirley present the

SHIRLEY FLOWER FESTIVAL

in the picturesque historical Grade II listed church of St. John the Evangelist, Shirley Church Road, Shirley, Croydon, CR0 5EF from 18th to 20th May 2012. FRIDAY 18th May : 10am to 5pm SATURDAY 19th May : 10am to 5pm SUNDAY 20th May : 12noon to 4pm Tickets 2.50 (accompanied children free) First 65 visitors on each day receive a free handcrafted tote bag CRAFT and PLANT STALLS FESTIVAL TEA ROOM every day LIVE MUSIC every hour during the festival including St Johns Primary School, Benson Primary School, Shirley High School, Stagecoach Theatre Art School, Shirley Singers, Steve Lock String Quartet and many more.

Come early and stay all day

FloFest Concert
Saturday 19th May 7pm Tickets 6.00 (including refreshments) available in advance from the Church or contact Janet on 01689 841040 or kenjan@waitrose.com For more information see www.stjohnshirley.org.uk
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Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign

Dear Campaign Member,

Looking back: one year ago... n 21 April 2011, the David Lean Cinema closed following a screening of 'The Last Picture Show'. In response to this sad and depressing loss, steps were taken in early May to launch the Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign, which gained an important early boost due to the well-publicised support of Julian Fellowes, which followed Ronnie Corbett stating during the cinema's penultimate evening that a campaign should be launched. Our petition began on 14 June and there was a remarkably successful public meeting at The Green Dragon on 22 June, which gave an indication that large numbers of people were deeply unhappy about both the loss of the cinema and the way in which it was closed. Since then, we have had various ups and downs. The downs were primarily the negativity of the council, which at times seemed to defy all reason, considering that our petition only modestly requested that the council should "engage with constructive proposals" in relation to the DLC. The ups have included the enthusiasm of the membership (currently around 325, which doesn't include many of our 151 supporters on Facebook and our 182 followers on Twitter); the support of the BFI and the success of our season of David Lean films, which was launched at Clyde Hall on 10 December and continued at The Spreadeagle in January and February.

Although the last year has frequently been extremely frustrating, the most important thing is that we now have much greater cause for hope than we did for most of last year, in view of the willingness indicated by the council at the Clocktower Seminar in February, to accept proposals (in future) from Social Enterprises or other interested parties. We acknowledge that this is a major step forward but it's important that the current sense of momentum is maintained and this entails the council making the Clocktower a high priority. It was clear to us at the Seminar that there are people who are passionate with regard to what can be achieved within a revitalised Clocktower, and eager for it to play a major part in regenerating Croydon. Much as we would welcome the cultural opportunities that a re-opened DLC (and Braithwaite Hall) would provide, there's a wider vision that's also at stake, which all who care about Croydon should support. An effective way in which the Campaign can add to the momentum is of course to hold another film season, bringing people into central Croydon, providing
44

entertainment and creating a growing community of supporters that we hope will be a great asset in making a re-opened DLC a success. So with our May season starting soon, we look forward with optimism, but it's also fitting to mark the first anniversary of the cinema's closure, because we are determined to ensure that we don't have to mark the second anniversary! Council meeting - 6.30pm, Monday 30 April A brief reminder that this is the meeting at which the council's written response to our petition will be available and Cllr. Maggie Mansell will reply. Although this will only be a brief part of the meeting, some members may wish to attend as it's an ideal opportunity for the council to communicate a strong commitment to move forward in relation to the Clocktower. Obviously, past experience indicates that we cannot take this for granted! May Campaign film season at the Spreadeagle This has been in preparation for some time and we are now pleased to announce the programme. As mentioned in our last update, each week will have a theme, with the Wednesday films (2.30pm only) complementing the Tuesday films (2.30pm and 8.00pm). As with all films at the Spreadeagle, admission is free; all you need to do is order drinks/food before taking your seat upstairs. We will have our donations tin for anyone inclined to make a modest contribution towards the Campaign's funds. We feel this is a season very much in the spirit of the DLC and hope you will agree. 'Missed at the David Lean Cinema' Many thanks to the supporters who responded to our request asking for examples of films you have missed being able to see at the DLC over the last year. We didn't receive a large number of replies, which is understandable in view of how important the cinema was in raising awareness of non-mainstream films, but the responses made interesting reading and included a very good selection of films. We were delighted to hear from Christine Sales, who for many years was responsible for the DLC's programming. On the list below, the films that Christine mentioned have been highlighted in blue, so that you can see examples of films that would definitely have been screened at the DLC if it had remained open, although that doesn't necessarily mean that the others would not have been. Two, coincidentally, are included in our May season and others may be considered for future seasons. Note that irrespective of the years of production indicated, all these films were not released in the UK until after the DLC was closed.
45

4 people mentioned: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (France/UK/Germany 2011) 3 mentioned: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (UK 2011) 2 mentioned: The Artist (France 2011) Coriolanus (UK 2011) The Lady (France/UK 2011) The Tree of Life (USA 2011) 1 mentioned: Anonymous (2011 UK/Germany) A Dangerous Method (UK/Germany/Canada/Switzerland 2011) Beginners (Spain 2010) Bullhead (Belgium 2011) Carnage (France/Germany/Poland/Spain 2011) The Deep Blue Sea (US/UK 2011) The Help (USA/India/UAE 2011) Hugo (USA 2011) Incendies (Canada/France 2010) Into the Abyss (USA/UK/Germany) The Iron Lady (UK/France 2011) Khordakovsky (Germany 2011) L'Affaire Farewell (France 2009) Meeks Cutoff (USA 2011) Melancholia (Denmark/Sweden/France/Germany 2011) My Week with Marilyn (UK/USA 2011) Once Upon a Time in Anatolia (Turkey/Bosnia & Herzegovina 2011) One Day (Spain 2011) Project Nim (UK/USA 2011) The Skin I Live In (Spain 2011) Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (USA 2011) Source Code (USA 2011) Tyrannosaur (UK 2011) War Horse (USA 2011) We Need to Talk About Kevin (UK/USA 2011) The Woman In Black (UK 2012) Wuthering Heights (UK 2011)
46

Facebook and Twitter Even if you consider Facebook and/or Twitter to be little more than sources of irritation, you may be pleasantly surprised to find out what they can offer in terms of Campaign-related information. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Save-the-David-LeanCinema-Campaign/235352359813053
@SaveDavidLean

Adrian Winchester

SAVE THE DAVID LEAN CINEMA CAMPAIGN

MAY FILM SEASON AT THE SPREADEAGLE

A mixture of old and new films, especially those which the DLC might have shown in the last year Date Tuesday 1 May Wednesday 2 May Tuesday 8 May Wednesday 9 May Tuesday 15 May Wednesday 16 May Tuesday 22 May Wednesday 23 May Tuesday 29 May Wednesday 30 May Time 2.30 and 8.00 2.30 2.30 and 8.00 2.30 2.30 and 8.00 2.30 2.30 and 8.00 2.30 2.30 and 8.00 2.30 Film My Week with Marilyn The Prince and the Showgirl Like Crazy Before Sunrise Midnight in Paris Before Sunset Las Acacias It Happened One Night The Artist Singin in the Rain Year 2011 1957 2011 1995 2011 2004 2011 1934 2011 1952 Country UK US/UK US US/Austria/Switz. US/Spain US Argentina US France US Dawn of the talkies Odd couples on the road Paris! Long-distance romance Theme of the week Monroe and Olivier

All screenings are FREE, you only have to order drinks/food before taking your seat upstairs No advance booking; seats are first-come, first-served, but we will do our best to accommodate all The Spreadeagle is located next to Croydon Clocktower, on the corner of Katharine Street and the High Street, Croydon, CR0 1NX Telephone enquiries: Save the David Lean Cinema Campaign: 020 8656 0168

47

About Andrew Dunsmore of Picture Partnership, Shirley

APRIL SHOWERS SPRING AND WEDDINGS Picture Partnership cannot control the weather but can give you some tips if attending a wedding with your camera and hoping for an unusual angle that says it all. For the obligatory group shots try something a bit different the group in a semi-circle with the happy couple in the centre, but take it from a higher position looking down with the taller people towards the middle to avoid excessive contrast in height or choose a particularly evocative background of church, but dont let it dominate the picture, or reception or a very pleasant outdoor scene or situation. Be ready also for the unrehearsed moment which displays love and happiness, not just of the bride and groom but also children and maybe involving grandparents, too; and why not the celebrant? Remember - keep your camera ready at all times for instant action, and when an opportunity presents itself dont hesitate or wait for a better pose it may never happen and the chance lost. See the attached photographs. What do they say to you? How would you caption them?

www.picturepartnership.co.uk.
48

27 January 2011

losed but has yet c in library de N www.shirleylife.comcline Now Online at o a serious een ok stock there's b f lost, bo and very soonervice: staf abound. s roblems and p ceive a in print reduced ight to re ice is tory r Our statu ry serv ive libra ens hreat! compreh y under t seriousl

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Y SURGER POLICE rhood r Neighbou hirley Safe rday The S ery on Satu rop-in Surg Teams D SAVE am to 12noon OUR ay from 11 19 M

LIBRARIES

and make your voice heard !!!

May 2012 Teen Reading Group We are planning to start this in the next few months. If you would like to join this fun and exciting group, come in and complete a form to let us know what day and time would be best for you to attend. Monthly Adult Reading Group meets on 2nd or 3rd Monday in the month from 7pm. The group will discuss Deaf Sentence by David Lodge on Monday 14 Mayl Tuesday 17 - This is part of our month of celebrations to celebrate Dickens Bicentenary. This is an adult drop in event. Rhymetime Singing for babies and their parents and carers on Fridays: 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 10am Wiggle and Jiggle stopped and no longer runs Storytime Stories and crafts for 3-7 year olds on Thursdays: 10, 17, 24 and 31 from 2.15 to 2.45pm. Once upon a Rhyme A mix of rhyme, stories and a colouring sheet on Saturday 12 and 26 at 10am Stories and Craft Sessions For 4-9 year olds and their parents and carers on Saturdays: 5 and 19 from 2.30 to 3.30pm Chatterbooks is a fun, monthly reading group for Years 3 to 6. Make new friends and chat about the books you have read as well as taking part in games and quizzes. The theme on Thursday 10 May 4-5pm will be Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Games Club Tuesday 1 and Saturday 12 from 2.30 to 4.30pm. Our games include Scrabble, Monopoly, cards and chess and Battleship. They are kept at the library so come in and play any time! Craft Workshops: Card Making on Tuesday 15 from 2.30 to 4.30pm. Stitch, Knit and Natter Get together with other knitters for a cup of tea and a chat. Beginners welcome. Friday 4 and 18 from 2.30 to 4.30pm Ancestry Library Edition for beginners One off, one to one sessions will be offered on Thursday mornings 9.30-10.30am. Please contact the library to reserve your place. Computer sessions for beginners Learn to set up an email account, use Facebook, shop online, use Word, Excel and Powerpoint or improve your typing skills on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Please contact the library for further details. Free monthly talk Author Monica Carly will give a talk on Tuesday 22nd May from 2.15pm-3.30pm. Please contact the library to reserve your place for this talk. Come and join in our free activities to celebrate Adult Learners Week from Saturday 12 to Friday 18 May
Our display boards are available for use free of charge to advertise your club or society. Please contact Fiona or Irene on 020 8726 6900 or email shirley@croydon.gov.uk
57

Marriage

by Simon Hall

I read Tom Dunsmores article with interest. I want to focus on the substance of what he had to say and share my views. In case this is relevant to the reader, I am gay, atheist, humanist and civil partnered. Oh, and, by the way, we are currently going through the process to adopt. Being gay (I use this for both male and female) is not a lifestyle choice, simply it is the way that some people are. Tom refers to a bygone image of society, but is, I feel, rose-tinted. Please remember the suffering caused by that society. Children (e.g. of unmarried mothers) brought up in an orphanage, rather than by their mother. Womens health damaged through their efforts to terminate unwanted pregnancies. People trapped in unloving often abusive relationships as they could not get a divorce. People forced to suppress or hide what they were. And the list goes on. Many were driven to suicide at worst, or had their quality of life or life chances massively compromised, all in the name of what was right or proper or moral. Back to marriage. Marriage is the ultimate public statement of love, commitment and lasting union for two people. Not that many decades ago, marriage was effectively the acquisition by a male of a female, with the female consenting to the acquisition. A married woman in England could not even open a bank account without her husbands permission! By the way, this inequality was part of the reason the woman was expected to give up her name when getting married and why many women now choose to keep their own name when they marry. Thankfully, we have moved away from this and most people would be horrified by this version of marriage. We have modernised our notions of marriage. I do not believe that this has weakened marriage but rather strengthened it. I believe that allowing same sex couples to marry is the next stage of modernisation which will strengthen marriage by making it more relevant and more inclusive. Marriage is not a Christian invention, nor is it Christian property. As well as other religions and societies, including those that pre-date Christianity,
59

Losing a parent turns any childs world upside down.

But if you dont have life cover, the trauma can go further than you ever imagined.
Children thrive on stability. So at a time of loss, the last thing a family needs is their daily routine to be upset because of nancial worries. If you have life cover it means that youll leave your family with the nancial security to be able to afford all of the everyday things theyre used to. If you dont, your family may end up having to move house, the children could have to change schools, and lose the friendships that supported them. And, if moneys really tight, all the other things that made life special when you were still around the things that could make it easier to bear the loss would be threatened for years to come...

Family holidays

Days out

After school activities

So remember when you take out life cover, its not your life youre protecting, its the lives of the ones you love. Whats next?
Talk to Tercos Financial. We'll help you identify your individual protection needs and guide you through the various types of cover available to make sure you get the right cover at the right price. Call Chris Pinkney on : 020 8760 9920
Tercos Financial 49 Lower Addiscombe Road Croydon Surrey CR0 6PQ chris@tercos.co.uk www.tercos.co.uk

020 8760 9920

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Tercos Financial is an Appointed Representative of Sage Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority PC1885C.1111

having marriage, there is now civil marriage across the world. Indeed, in France, the only recognised marriage is civil marriage and a religious ceremony is something you can choose to have in addition. So, issues around marriage are not about Christianity. There are two separate debates. One is around the definition of marriage in the UK and the other what particular religions do. These are not the same. Just look at the difference on divorce, where some religions do not accept divorce despite it being enshrined in law. I should also mention Spain, where gay marriage is legal, but it nevertheless remains a profoundly Christian country. A change on the definition of marriage would not lead to the issues outlined by Tom. For example, custody would be awarded as it is today, on the basis of the childs best interest, which, in heterosexual couples, can be to the man or the woman. And, after all, the husband of our current Queen is not a King. Equality matters because those that are not treated as equal suffer and, in the end, we are all the losers. It is not about political correctness, it is about right and wrong, dignity and civilisation. Did Christ not preach tolerance and oppose discrimination and prejudice? In terms of homophobia, let me tell you that, with all the progress made, there are still massive issues. Songs with lyrics like kill the batty boy play on radio stations. The word gay is used as a derogatory term, especially by some young people. Murders and assaults still take place. People are still afraid to be open about their sexual orientation. A recent school survey showed that, of gay pupils, 92% reported abuse (including 17% receiving death threats), with 70% saying it affected their school work and 50% skipping school or abandoning studies. I realise that Christian churches need to look at their position on gay people like what is their position on homophobia, why is it alright, in the Church of England, to be a gay vicar but not a gay bishop and what would their attitude be to a change in the definition of marriage. Christianity faces the challenge of how to be relevant in todays society, but outmoded attitudes will not help it to be seen as relevant. If we modernise our definition of marriage to include committed loving gay couples, surely we will be moving forward on the path towards justice and true equality.
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Dolls House Furnishings

Jill Latter
DOLLS HOUSE FURNISHINGS

www.cariaddollshousefurnishings.com

Beginners Level 2

Thursdays 6.45pm - 7.30pm Shirley Methodist Church Eldon Avenue Shirley, Croydon CRO 8SD

Wickham Studio offers professional Hairdressing and Nail services in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. We have a member of the team to suit any individual and welcome all clients from one to one hundred. As well as being passionate about hair and offering honest and professional advice to help you make the best of your locks, we offer BioSculpture gel manicures and mini, classic and luxury manicures. Also on offer is Fake Bake spray tanning only 18.00 the best value for miles around. We are the only local salon to have the wonderful Flabelos exercise machine, the ultimate 10 minute workout. In 2009 Wickham Studio were awarded 4 Stars in the prestigious Good Salon Guide. Please call 020 8777 2714 to book an appointment.

We look forward to welcoming you to our salon.

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