Author: Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA)

Residents Association covering central and northern Beckenham. Founded in 1939 to protect and promote the interests of residents in matters of local concern

Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team Newsletter – July 2016

Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team (SNT

  • Telephone 0208 721 2772
  • Email: coperscope.snt@met.police.uk
  • http://www.met.police.uk/Team/Bromley/CopersCope
  • Please note these are not monitored 24/7. In an emergency please call 999 or if the matter is non urgent but requires a Police response please dial 101

Copers Cope PCs

  • Police Sergeant Rob Goodwin PS 16 PY
  • Police Constable Fabio Zema PC 318PY
  • Police Community Support Officer Julie Oldfield PCSO 7256PY

The borough priority is to reduce MOPAC 7 Crimes. The MOPAC 7 priority crimes are crimes which have a high impact on victims, they are: burglary, criminal damage, robbery, theft from a motor vehicle, theft from a person, theft of a motor vehicle and violence with injury.

For more information visit:

https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-research/crime

Our Promises to you

We set our promises at our regular Ward Panel Meetings where we meet with representatives from the community to discuss the local priorities. If you would like to take an active role in helping to improve your local community then contact us about joining. We would love to hear from you.

1. Parking around the Citroen garage in Copers Cope Road, we have patrolled the area to check on any vehicles that are parked illegally. We are also in contact with the council parking wardens.

2. Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) in West Gate Road, street drinkers & dog fouling around The Green & St. George’s Church. We patrol areas where this has taken place and use powers available to us to combat these problems.

3. Pubs & Clubs on the weekend, there are on going operations to tackle problems involving rowdy anti social behaviour. We are also in contact with the different bars and cctv so we know where the problems are coming from.

Team News

What has the team been up to?

The team arranged a speeding operation in Copers Cope Road on the 4th June with the Safer Transport Team. Two vehicles were given tickets for speeding. We were also approached by several residents who thanked us for our efforts. If there are any roads you believe we should be checking please contact the team.

We are continuing with our Business Watch scheme to aid local shops in identifying local shoplifting suspects. We will be giving shops pictures of suspects (no names) who are known to frequent the High Street. This will be an ongoing project and hopefully see a reduction in shop lifting offences.

We have finally managed to get a new Copers Cope Ward Panel together and held our first meeting on the 13th June. These meetings are a chance for you to share any issues you have and these refect in our ward promises and priorities. If you wish to join our ward panel please contact the team.

The ward panel has agreed the following promises:

  • Parking problems around the Citroen garage in Copers Cope Road
  • Anti Social Behaviour
  • Problems around pubs and clubs at the weekend
  • The ward priorities are:
  • Burglary
  • Vehicle crime – theft from / theft off vehicles
  • Shop lifting

Upcoming Events

  • Sat 30th July: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 4.00 – 5.00
  • Tues 23rd August: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 12.00 – 1.00
  • Wed 28th September: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 1.00 – 2.00

As well as having drop-in surgeries in Waitrose we will also be arranging dates once a month in Star Bucks. If you fancy a coffee and a chat please come and join us. We will put out dates in future letters.

Bromley Safer Transport team also hold regular cycle marking events across the bromley borough details of future events can be found on: www.metpolice.uk/teams/transportse/bromley/

General Crime Overview

We are always looking for residents to join our Neighbourhood Watch and also for people to act as co-ordinators in their local area. If you are interested in helping to make Beckenham a safer place then please contact us on the details above. You can make a real difference in making Beckenham a safer place.

Our main problem at the moment is shoplifting in the High Street. We are hoping to combat this by means of regular patrols we have also started a business watch scheme where we share images of known suspects with shops and encouraging the use of the shop safe radio that several shops use to contact local Police and Bromley cctv.

Burglary also continues to be a main issue, particularly garage and shed burglaries. These offences have been taken place recently in areas close to The Drive and Rectory Road.

Vehicle crime, theft from motor vehicles, in particular vans where tools have been taken. If you are having any work done at your address please warn the owner to lock their vehicles and to have any valuables hidden from view.

Our locally complied crime statistics can be sent separately if you wish to receive these please contact us on the details above. Please note these are compiled by the local team and may vary slightly from those supplied by others.

Mayor of London Air Pollution Survey – have your say by 29 July 2016

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London has plans to clean up London’s air pollution. You can share what you think of his plans through an online survey and discussion.

This survey is an opportunity to talk about your experience of London’s air quality and to give us your views on what we can do to clean up the city’s air.

For more information and to have your say please click here

This consultation will close on Friday 29 July 2016.

Your feedback will help shape Sadiq’s policies and will inform more detailed consultations in the autumn.

Market On The Green Tomorrow – 10am to 4pm Sat 9 July on Beckenham Green

See you tomorrow on at Market On The Green for local produce and craft stalls, yummy lunch stalls and entertainment.

Proctors Estate Agent have teamed up with Market On The Green to celebrate their 70th Anniversary. They have arranged lots of fun including, free balloon modelling, charity raffle and best of all a micro pig petting farm, those 4 little piggies are sure to be the stars of the day. They will also be hiding 10 Proctor piggy banks on The Green for you to find with special surprises inside each of them.  Clues will be posted on Twitter on the day, so follow Proctors to get involved.

Bottons Family Funfair with new Race-o-Rama ride, face painting by Tiger Dragon Butterfly and free live entertainment. The Gambado’s Tiger will be on the prowl to meet and greet the little ones.  Beckenham’s RBS Bowls clubs is running a ‘Bowling for a Pig’ game and Bromley Road School also have an activity  tent.

Live On Stage

Stalls and hot food

Beckenham Town Centre Improvements Update, including detailed drawings – May to June 2016

The last 2 months have seen significant progress on the detailed design for the multi million Town Centre Improvement Scheme. The scheme is coming together now and work is due to start this summer.

At the last Working Group updated designs were circulated and local people provided feedback. We recommend you read the complete minutes of the meeting at the following link:

Since then detailed construction drawings have been issued, these are not yet in Bromley Councils website, we have uploaded them below.

  1. Beckenham Green and Beckenham Junction
  2. Thornton’s Corner
  3. Bromley Road, High Street Junction (near Lloyds and St Georges Church)
  4. High Street, Fairfield Road junction (near Card Factory)
  5. High Street, Kelsey Lane Junction (near Zizzi’s)
  6. High Street, The Drive Junction (near Sainsbury’s)
  7. War Memorial

At the next working group meeting the construction drawings will be discussed in some detail and we will provide as much clarity as possible.  In the mean time we would appreciate your feedback on the construction drawings to chairman@coperscope.org.uk .We will also be requesting the Council undertake more extensive consultation on these now detailed designs with local people.

 

 

Micro Pig Petting Farm at Market On The Green – 10am to 4pm Sat 9 July 2016

Proctors Estate Agent have teamed up with Market On The Green to celebrate their 70th Anniversary. They have arranged lots of fun including a balloon modelling tiger, charity raffle and best of all a micro pig petting farm – those 4 little piggies are sure to be the stars of the day. They will also be hiding 10 Proctor piggy banks on The Green for you to find with special surprises inside each of them.  Clues will be posted on Twitter on the day, so follow Proctors to get involved.

Of course there will our usual local craft and produce market with some new stalls, including German Sausages and Pimms. Bottons Family Funfair, face painting by Tiger Dragon Butterfly and free live entertainment will also be on offer. We have lots of local performances from our talented young people so please come along and give them your support.

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Copers Cope Police Newsletter June 2016

Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team

Telephone 0208 721 2772
Email: coperscope.snt@met.police.uk
http://www.met.police.uk/Team/Bromley/CopersCope
Please note these are not monitored 24/7. In an emergency please call 999 or if the matter is non urgent but requires a Police response please dial 101

The borough priority is to reduce MOPAC 7 Crimes. The MOPAC 7 priority crimes are crimes which have a high impact on victims, they are: burglary, criminal damage, robbery, theft from a motor vehicle, theft from a person, theft of a motor vehicle and violence with injury.

For more information visit: https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/mayors-office-policing-and-crime-mopac/data-and-research/crime

Our Promises to you

We set our promises at our regular Ward Panel Meetings where we meet with representatives from the community to discuss the local priorities. If you would like to take an active role in helping to improve your local community then contact us about joining. We would love to hear from you.

1. Traffic, We have conducted speed check operations in the Beckenham area.
2. Tackle Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) street drinkers. We patrol areas where this has taken place and use powers available to us to combat this problem.

3. Tackle Shoplifting, we are developing a business watch scheme with local shops and conduct regular High Street patrols.

Team News

What has the team been up to?

The team has contacted Bromley council to trim and tidy up the shrubs and overgrown areas between St. Georges Church and Beckenham Green. This area has been used by some of our street drinkers hiding their alcohol. This area and the High Street is an alcohol exclusion zone and anyone caught drinking alcohol can expect to have their drink taken away and disposed off.

We have begun a Business Watch scheme to aid local shops in identifying local shoplifting suspects. We will be giving shops pictures of suspects (no names) who are known to frequent the High Street. This will be an ongoing project and hopefully see a reduction in shop lifting offences.

We have finally managed to get a new Copers Cope Ward Panel together and will be holding a meeting in the near future. If you wish to join our ward panel please contact the team.

Upcoming Events

  •   Wed 29th June: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 12.00 – 1.00
  •   Sat 30th July: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 4.00 – 5.00
  •   Tues 23rd August: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 12.00 – 1.00
  •   Wed 28th September: Public Surgery at Waitrose Southend Road 1.00 – 2.00

Bromley Safer Transport team also hold regular cycle marking events across the bromley borough details of future events can be found on: http://www.metpolice.uk/teams/transportse/bromley/

Staff / Policing Changes

PC Steve Allen has now retired after 30 years. Steve had spent the last 20 years of his service working on the Bromley borough with the majority of that time serving Beckenham residents. I like to wish him good luck with what he decides to to in the future.

All of Bromley’s Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT’s) now consist of a Dedicated Ward Police Officer, a Dedicated Ward PCSO. They are supported by 5 separate Neighbourhood Tasking Teams that will work alongside the SNT’s across the borough as well as a myriad of other police resources that are able to support us tackle local issues.

Bromley Safer Neighbourhood’s Teams will be managed by Inspector Gary Byfield, with the Copers Cope team and other North West cluster of teams being supervised by Sergeant Rob Goodwin. Inspector Byfield’s profile can be seen below.

Inspector Gary Byfield, Safer Neighbourhoods, Bromley Operational Command Unit

Born in London, a family man and a resident of Bromley. I first started serving Bromley community as a Metropolitan Police Special in 1984 before joining full time in 1987.

I began on Greenwich Borough serving as a front line officer for 12 years. I moved on to the Dog Support Unit as a Dog Handler and instructor for 7 years before transferring on promotion as Sergeant in 2005 to Bromley Borough. I gained experience on Response Team, Custody and Safer Neighbourhoods and In 2009 I joined the Specialist

Firearms Command SC&O19. I served on pan London firearms operations and on the Community & Partnership Unit to improve public confidence and reassurance in armed policing to Lords, MPs and local communities until being promoted to Inspector in January 2015 to Bexley Borough on Response Team. I requested to transfer to Bromley Borough and on 5th February 2016 took on the role of Safer Neighbourhood Inspector.

I am excited about my new role and the challenges it brings. My aim is to provide a visible dedicated professional team of officers engaging with local communities and partners concentrating on reducing crime and increase confidence by dealing with local problems. I look forward to meeting with you all over the coming months.

General Crime Overview

We are always looking for residents to join our Neighbourhood Watch and also for people to act as co-ordinators in their local area. If you are interested in helping to make Beckenham a safer place then please contact us on the details above. You can make a real difference in making Beckenham a safer place.

Our main problem at the moment is shoplifting in the High Street. We are hoping to combat this by means of regular patrols we have also started a business watch scheme where we share images of known suspects with shops and encouraging the use of the shop safe radio that several shops use to contact local Police and Bromley cctv.

Burglary also continues to be a main issue, particulary garage and shed burglaries. These offences have been taken place recently in areas close to The Drive and Rectory Road.

Vehicle crime, theft from motor vehicles, in particular vans where tools have been taken. If you are having any work done at your address please warn the owner to lock their vehicles and to have any valuables hidden from view.

Our locally complied crime statistics can be sent separately if you wish to receive these please contact us on the details above. Please note these are compliled by the local team and may vary slightly from those supplied by others.

Household CCTV systems may need to be registered.

News from Bromley Neighbourhood Watch

Following a ruling by the European Court of Justice, the UK Information Commissioner (ICO) has ruled that household CCTV systems that film beyond the boundary of the property, such as the street, must now be registered?  The ICO has implemented this with an annual fee per household of £35 and details of households that register their systems will appear on a searchable Public Register.  For full details, go to the ICO website at: https://ico.org.uk/for-the-public/cctv

In one London Ward, household CCTV covering the street has been submitted to the Police and has directly led to over 100 arrests for burglary and other serious offences in the past 5 years.  As a result, a group of Neighbourhood Watch Coordinators in Hillingdon have started an on-line petition to encourage the ICO to waive the registration fee.  Neighbourhood & Home Watch Network has taken up the challenge and is inviting Coordinators across England and Wales to sign the petition.  Naturally, Bromley Neighbourhood Watch Association supports this action.  The Petition can be found here:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/122236

Copers Cope Police Newsletter May 2016

Street Surgery

Our next surgeries are on the following dates:

  • Wednesday 25th May between 4 pm & 5 pm Waitrose Southend Road
  • Wednesday 29th June between 12 pm & 1 pm Waitrose Southend Road
  • Saturday 30th July between 4 pm & 5 pm Waitrose Southend Road
    Tuesday 23rd August between 12 pm & 1 pm Waitrose Southend Road
  • Wednesday 28th September between 1 pm & 2 pm Waitrose Southend Road

Come and talk to your local Officers and discuss your concerns and for crime prevention information.

MetTrace

The Met have come up with an operation called MetTrace an initiative to help residents make their homes more secure by providing smartwater forensic marking equipment.
The equipment allows residents to mark valuable property such as jewellery, mobile phones, electrical items and bikes.

The plan is 1 in 7 London homes will have been visited and introduced to MetTrace by 2018 with a planned 440,000 kits to be distributed over the three year project.
100% conviction rate if found with stolen SmartWatered property.

Each kit is unique to your home.
Bromley Police have a team currently visiting homes across the borough and hopefully will be in the Beckenham area in the future.

Crime

Our ward priorities are:

  • Burglary
  • Motor vehicle crime
  • Robbery – personal property

Our promises are:

  • ASB related to alcohol
  • Shoplifting
  • Traffic

Reported Burglary and Motor Vehicle Crimes for April

There has been several residential and non residential burglaries in the Copers Cope ward.

Two residential burglaries occurred in Oakwood Avenue and three non residential burglaries occurred in The Drive.

There has also been a few thefts from motor vehicles, work vehicles again are being targeted by suspects.

Contact

If you need police for an urgent matter where you are in danger or fear always dial 999. If you wish to see a police officer for a non emergency matter, then please dial 101

Copers Cope Safer Neighbourhood Team Telephone 0208 721 2772
E-Mail Coperscope.snt@met.police.uk

Share your views on improving healthcare in Bromley Borough

Over the last year we have been developing plans to improve the way that health and social care is organised and delivered for people in Bromley.   We are doing this for the following reasons: 

  • We want to help you take better care of your health and have the right support to do so. 
  • We want more care to be provided in the community so that you only go into hospital if you really need to be there. 
  • We want to make sure you get high quality care when you need it, from the right service in the right place.
  • We want you to have better joined up care for all your health and social care needs so you don’t have to repeat yourself many times to different people.
  • We want to ensure you have the best experience possible.
  • We need to do this in a way that will make the best use of the money we have to spend on the NHS.

Our plans have been developed with the help of many people including doctors, nurses, health professionals, patients and other staff.   We have come up with a way of providing more joined up care that is focused on the needs of patients and which should help us deliver the improvements required and help people to live longer and healthier lives.  If you want to find out more about these plans, please call 01689 866535 or email Broccg.patientquery@nhs.net .

To help us shape how we deliver these improvements, please help us by completing our survey here.

Dave Moore
Communications and Engagement Manager
Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group

Market On The Green Tomorrow – See You There!

10am to 4pm, Sat 14th May 2016, Beckenham Green

Check out the stalls, food, entertainment and stage line up below. Never miss a market get on the mailing list.

Entertainment

Free have-a-go sports activities for the kids courtesy of TeachSport Bromley, Bottons Family Funfair with new Race-o-Rama ride, face painting by Tiger Dragon Butterfly, Sand Art from KME and pottery painting from the Catford Modellers.

Have-a-go Sports courtesy of TeachSport Bromley

  • 10:00 to 11.30 – multi sports games & obstacle courses 
  • 11.30 to 13:00 –  football games 
  • 13:00 onwards – mixed sport games for adults and children

Live On Stage

  • 11:00 – SuperGirl (look-a-like) dance party by Brilliant Birthdays
  • 11:30 – Penge Certitude Community Choir
  • 12:00 – BREAK
  • 12: 15 – Gary Guitar
  • 12:45 – Taekwondo display from TeachSport Bromley
  • 13:15 – BREAK
  • 13:30 – Donna Jones sings Soul & Mowtown
  • 14:00 – Churchfields Community Choir
  • 14:15 –  BREAK
  • 14:30 – Irish Dancing from Balgowan Primary School
  • 15:00 – Donna Jones sings hits from the shows

Stalls and hot food

The above information correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.

Subscribe to the Market On The Green mailing list.

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Invitation to the public consultation on the proposals for Eden Park High School, Thursday 19 May 2016

We would like to invite local residents, parents, businesses and all other interested parties to attend a follow-up public consultation regarding the proposed plans for the new secondary school in Beckenham, Eden Park High School at Balmoral Avenue.

Date: Thursday 19 May, 6:30pm-8:30pm

Introductions: 6:45pm and 7:45pm

Venue: Beckenham Public Hall, 4 Bromley Road, Beckenham, BR3 5JE

This exhibition, held on behalf of E21C, will provide an update on the planning application process and provide an opportunity to view and comment on the evolved proposals, following the feedback received at the previous exhibition on 9 March. Prior to submission to the London Borough of Bromley.

Members of the Trust and the project team will be on hand to answer any questions on the process at the event. The feedback received on the evening will be highly valued and will help to finalise the plans to be submitted for an outline planning application to the London Borough of Bromley.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Paul Murphy

CEO, E21C

http://www.e21c.co.uk/invitation-to-our-public-consultation-on-the-proposals-for-eden-park-high-school/

 

SuperGirl, Irish Dancing, Taekwondo, live singing talent and have-a-go sports at Market On The Green this Saturday 14 May 2016

An action packed day at Market On The Green this Saturday from 10am to 4pm on Beckenham Green.

Over 45 stalls of local produce and craft (a full list on our Market page) … many of our favourites are back plus a few new stalls to temp you.

There will be lots of entertainment, including free live performances on stage and have-a-go sports activities for the kids. There will also be a kids funfair,  face painting, sand art, and  pottery painting to keep the kids busy.

Hope to see you and the sunshine on Saturday.

Have-a-go Sports courtesy of TeachSport Bromley

  • 10:00 to 11.30 – multi sports games & obstacle courses 
  • 11.30 to 13:00 –  football games 
  • 13:00 onwards – mixed sport games for adults and children

Live On Stage

  • 11:00 – SuperGirl (look-a-like) dance party by Brilliant Birthdays
  • 11:30 – Penge Certitude Community Choir
  • 12:00 – BREAK
  • 12: 15 – Amazing local songtress Bianca Nicholas
  • 12:45 – Taekwondo display from TeachSport Bromley
  • 13:15 – BREAK
  • 13:30 – Donna Jones sings Soul & Mowtown
  • 14:00 – Churchfields Community Choir
  • 14:15 –  BREAK
  • 14:30 – Irish Dancing from Balgowan Primary School
  • 15:00 – Donna Jones sings hits from the shows

The above information correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.

Subscribe to the Market On The Green mailing list.

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Post Office Official ‘Consultation’ Meeting – 4pm to 7pm, Tues 10 May 2016 Beckenham Methodist Church , Bromley Road

Post Office Ltd are undertaking a ‘consultation’ meeting with local people regarding their ‘plans’ for Beckenham Crown Post Office.

Date:  Tuesday 10 May from 4pm to 7pm

Venue: Beckenham Methodist Church , Bromley Road, Beckenham BR3 5JE

We are not sure exactly what the Post Office plan to consult on as they advise that “the decision to change the branch to one that is operated by an agent [ie a franchise] rather than by us directly is not a matter for public consultation” and they have announced a 10 year deal with WH Smith to run Post Offices.

Post Office Ltd have confirmed that WH Smith in Beckenham will offer all the services currently offered by the Crown Post Office including passport and DVLA services.  However we remain opposed to the Crown Post Office on the following basis:

  • Once franchised out Post Office Ltd have limited control. WH Smith can choose to stop providing certain services such as passport and DVLA services.  If WH Smith moves out of the High Street in a few years Beckenham could be left without a Post Office.
  • The Beckenham branch of WH Smith is small and crowded, local people and businesses will likely receive an inferior service with less staff, less counters and less space.
  • Local feedback from Penge and Bromley residents that use franchised Post Offices in their towns have not been favourable, indicating the service in Crown Post Offices with specialised trained staff is better.
  • Beckenham is a busy Post Office with people travelling from far afield to use it, many people travel to Beckenham to use a ‘proper’ Post Office. If Beckenham is closed only one Crown Post Office will be left in the entire Bromley Borough (the Orpington branch).
  • There is concern that closure of a Crown Post Office will have a negative impact on the local economy, local footfall and retail trade falling if the  Crown Post Office is closed.

If the Post Office in Rectory Road is not profitable we urge Post Office Ltd to consider moving to a smaller site (there are empty shops in Beckenham High Street) or co-locating in another store rather than give away the franchise to WH Smith. Why has the option of moving the Crown Post Office to a smaller site not been put out for consultation?

We encourage all local people opposed to the loss of a Crown Post Office in Beckenham to attend. Copers Cope Area Residents Association Committee will be attending the drop-in session at 6.30pm.

Further information about the consultation can be found at this link: Beckenham BR3 1AA – OF Proposal Letter

2 weeks to go until Market On The Green on Sat 14 May 2016

Beckenham’s Market On The Green has over 40 stalls selling local produce and craft and lots of yummy food for lunch –  jerk chicken, gourmet burgers, wood fired pizza, pies, cakes, chocolate, artisan breads, handmade sauces and conserves, hand painted cards, handmade children’s and adult jewellery, Kent apple juice, locally produced fruit gin, plants and seeds, rare breed lamb & pork, free range poultry, fruit and veg, Kent strawberries, handmade fudge, pottery, ceramics, soaps, candles and gifts.

Entertainment

Our special guest this May is Supergirl (lookalike), she will be on stage entertaining the kids with a dance party at 11am. The free live entertainment continues with singers, 2 choirs (Churchfield’s Community Choir and Certitude Penge Community Choir), Irish Dancing from Balgowan Primary School, Taekwondo display by Teachsport Bromley.

Free have-a -go sports sessions will be running all day courtesy of the energetic coaches from Teachsport Bromley, come a long to try out some multi sport games, obstacle course and football games for adults and kids.

There will also be a funfair with new Ride’O’Rama ride for kids and adults by Bottons Family Funfair, face painting by Tiger Dragon Butterfly, Sand Art by KME crafts.

Check out the complete line up for the event at on our website and note that the above information was correct at time of writing but may be subject to change.

See you at the Market.
Copers Cope Area Residents’ Association

If you live in Beckenham become a member of your local residents’ association. It’s just £3 a year, this small subscription fee makes a huge difference to the success of the Association and helps us keep this not for profit market going.  Find out more about the market and us on our website.

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Clock house festival – Saturday, 30th April to 7th May 2016

 

A week of events to celebrate 300 years from Huguenot Mansion to Venue 28 – from Admiral Brett & Lady Byron to Enid & Carey Blyton and David Bowie. The Clock House District, the cultural heart of Beckenham, is centred on Venue 28, formerly the Beckenham Technical Institute where in 1901 “there arrived outside the gates of a new school in Beckenham the glistening horses, the shining harness, the polished coaches, the smart coachmen, bearing the dignified guests dressed in a manner befitting the Edwardians for the official opening ceremony”.  Check out the schedule of events below.

Saturday April 30th

  • Bricklayers Arms   –  3pm: Start point for Procession to Bowie’s Bandstand in Croydon Road Rec.
  • Methodist Chapel, Clock House Road (opposite Railway Station)  5 pm:   ‘Who do you think you are?’ Talk by Roy Hanscombe, from Wakefield, about his grandfather Bert Hanscombe (a dustman from Churchfields Road) who survived the horrors of WW1 and was honoured by unveiling the Beckenham War Memorial in 1921.
  • Methodist Chapel, Clock House Road (opposite Railway Station)  7.45 pm: Magic, Music, and Music Hall An evening with Sarah (Magic Circle), Melanie Jones Soprano & Christian Strover, and the Clock House Wind Ensemble (leader Graham Clayden).    

Monday May 2nd

  • Rare Interiors Gallery 249 Beckenham Road (020 3581 5674), Art Exhibition

Tuesday May 3rd

  • Venue 28   10 am: Walking with the Famous led by historian, Cliff Watkins: Starts at 10am, returning at 12 noon to Venue 28 for light lunch. Walk resumes at 1 pm. Numbers limited.

Wednesday May 4th

  • Beckenham Library 6.30 pm: Talk by local author, Mike Uden

Thursday May 5th      

  • Venue 28 2pm: Cliff hangers! Talk by Lena Kroger about her teaching in Venue 28 when the building was used by Bromley Adult Education.

Friday May 6th

  • Venue 28 2pm:  Balgowan School and Beckenham Baths : Happy Memories. Talk by old boys Jack Hilton and David Johnson
  • Alhambra Project:  2a Balgowan Road Open Days –mornings 10 to 1pm May 6th & 7th.
  • Belleberry Gallery 7pm: Art Exhibition (020 8658 2568)
  • Beckenham Library Exhibition: Carey’s Aunt & Enid’s Nephew               

Saturday May 7th     

  • Baptist Church, Elm Road (opposite the Beckenham Library)  7pm:   Concert by Beckenham Junior Choir & Youth Voices and soloists. It is hoped to display in the Baptist Church, the Clock House District Information Panel, designed by the West Beckenham Residents Association (WBRA), to be located between the Library and Venue 28.

In Beckenham Library all week are two quizzes. One by Graham Clayden, based his original wood engraving limited edition print of the skyline used as the Festival Logo. The other is a set of “Twenty Questions” prepared by Cliff Watkins. The answers to both quizzes will be available in Beckenham Library from May 6th.