Hot News

Straight off the press, folks.

I emailed the Cutty Sark Trust yesterday about my idea for an Observation Platform - and have just received this from Julia Parker, Operations Manager:

"Guess what? We will soon be having a viewing platform!It’s taken us a while to sort out the details, but hopefully we should have it in place within the next month.I’ll send you an update as soon as I have an exact date….."

So - not quite because of me - the idea was in the ether already - but hey - who cares. Beat you to the front of the queue, guys...

Julia's said she'll send me some up to date pics too. Cor...

Yet more filming...

Ross says:

"On my way to work this morning I noticed umpteen lorry loads of filming equipment being unloaded at the top of Point Hill into the small park behind where I live (on your right as you get to the top of Point Hill - the name escapes me having only just moved there recently). I wonder if it's related to the goings on down in the Maritime area?"

The Phantom replies:

Goodness - not again! That will be the Point you're talking about. I have no idea what it's for this time. I walked up to the Point a few days ago only to find, once I'd huffed and puffed my way up there, the whole place overtaken with meeja types in square glasses telling me I couldn't go in, and giant cameras creating 'sun' on what seemed to be a perfectly sunny day. When I had a couple of friends to stay recently we couldn't get into the Painted Hall because they were filming a Japanese biscuit commercial. And that's not even beginning to count biggies like Wolf Man, The Golden Compass and The Duchess. Heavens to Murgatroyd.

Do you think that Greenwich Film Unit aren't charging enough or something? I mean it's nice to see the place being used - but there doesn't seem to be a day in the calendar that somewhere isn't out of bounds. I might as well move to Pinewood...

On a slightly less grumpy note, though, you do get to meet some interesting folk. Here is, for no other reason than he made me smile a lot, a security guard on the set of Wolf Man, giving me his impression of the Hairy One himself.

Uncanny, eh...

Coffee Cellar's Demise?

Anne has pointed out something worrying about the Coffee Cellar:

"I went past today and its no longer there - theres plastic sheeting in the windows and it seems my favourite little piece of Greenwich has gone! Its been shut for the last 2 weeks - the weekend before that the guy who runs it was telling me he was going to have to go into hospital and I'm a bit worried and thought you might know!"

The Phantom replies:

To my great shame, I've hardly been around for the past few weeks and I've clearly been taking my eye off the ball. Rumours have been abounding about the poor guy's health for some time. I had hoped he was getting better. I'm sorry to hear this. Perhaps he's finally retired. I will miss the place.

I guess it's possible it's just being spruced up - but in a way that would sadden me even more. What I love about this place is its shabby, atmospheric 1960s/70s interior, with that fantastic orange mosaic cubby hole at the back and the hip, funky gloom the place exudes. It's a place to cocoon yourself, on a rainy day, when your boyfriend's gone off with your best mate and the dancette's at the mender's. A place to pore over Lambretta maintance manuals with the lads or giggle with your girlfriends about Twiggy's new haircut.

To lose that atmosphere would be to lose something fundamental about the very coffee itself, let alone the cafe. After all, we can buy coffee anywhere (though decent coffee is somewhat harder to find.) What I really love is finding somewhere that gives me that extra something - that je ne sais quoi that feeds the soul as well as the body. If the Coffee Cellar's gone, it will be a sad day indeed.

Change of Guv'nor at the Rose & Crown

P&D tells me that Richard, the manager of the Rose & Crown is leaving - "to join the boys in blue." I hope that whoever replaces him will be able to keep the R&C's atmosphere that happily merges both a gay and straight clientele - something that isn't always easy to do. Richard's leaving do is on 26th April - and, typically, all are welcome.

Ale and Arty.

Blimey - so many posts today...

But three interesting things about beer.

Firstly, Jonathan has been peering through windows at the Duke in Creek Road. I don't know if it's Spring Madness but everyone seems to be looking at plans and meetings today. He has discovered that it's been bought and is being renovated by the same company that refitted The Dolphin in Sydenham and The Dartmouth Arms in Forest Hill. So - high hopes for the Duke. If they don't only take pubs that begin with a D, then maybe I could suggest the Old Friends in Woolwich Road as another boozer highly eligable for making halfway decent.

Secondly, in case you hadn't noticed Sideburns's post on the Old Royal Naval College Brewery topic, check out the feature he's found about it here. An intriguing read indeed.

And thirdly, I picked up a leaflet about stuff going on at The ORNC and noticed a Beer and Jazz festival to be held in July. Only the haziest details so far - but they're clearly going for ale in a big way this year...

The Hoy

Creek Road

Jonathan writes:

I see this has been shut with a sign saying closed until further notice, by order. Any ideas what’s happened? Not somewhere I’d go into but interesting just the same.

The Phantom has no idea. But I bet someone does...

More About The Brewery...

...Not as much as I'd like, just yet, but all fascinating stuff.

Ok, the story as I understand it so far, from what they call in the papers "a reliable source," is that the microbrewery will be part of the whole new "Discovery Centre" project, and it is being handled, at least for now, by the Old Royal Naval College themselves. My source didn't know much more, but speculated that there was a chance Meantime Brewery might get involved at some point. It seems unlikely (from what I have heard) that Greenwich Inc are part of the picture.

The building is indeed the old Brewery - rebuilt in the 1840s after a fire gutted a much older structure.

It was while they were clearing the cellar for the new brewery that they found a mysterious "room full of rubble" (now my imagination's running riot - what other "rooms full of rubble" are there in that place..?) and called in the experts. Underneath the car park there - where the lorries come in and out - they found a 200-foot well. At first sight it seems to be late 18th/turn of the 19th Century, and it looks as though it was animal-powered, pumping up enough water to supply 2,000 pensioners with their daily ration of 2 pints of ale.

There's going to be a full report of what else they've found and more details very soon, I'm told. The next Greenwich Industrial History newsletter will carry some information too. For now that's all I have, but I'll update you as I hear news - especially anything about who will be running this exciting new venture. Wouldn't it be great if they could incorporate some of the original Brewery gear and that well (suitable grilled-over, we wouldn't want any drunken accidents, would we...) into the plans for the new place?

A New Heart for East Greenwich

I have had several enquiries from people who have heard that there are stirrings at the old hospital site. At least one person was reading 'a letter' over someone's shoulder on the bus and asked me if I'd received it. Well, I hadn't. Apparently only selected residences seem to be getting it and mine is not one of them.

But I have now been sent a copy of it by one of you lovely readers, so I thought I'd share it with you:

31st March 2008


Dear Resident,

HEART OF EAST GREENWICH DEVELOPMENT
SUBMISSION OF PLANNING APPLICATION

As you may be aware, First Base is working with English Partnerships on the redevelopment of the former Greenwich District Hospital site. The project will regenerate a large piece of East Greenwich and create a new mixed use neighbourhood, providing new community facilities and high quality housing, with an emphasis on much needed affordable homes for local key workers.

The proposals include a new multi-purpose building, the ‘Greenwich Centre’, comprising a leisure centre and spa, library, council information centre and health centre as well as new public open space. The proposed scheme also includes a range of sustainability initiatives in response to the growing concerns over climate change and the Government’s drive towards low energy homes.
I am writing to inform you that we have now submitted the planning application for the proposed scheme to London Borough of Greenwich and the application documents are available for viewing at the Council’s offices in Woolwich, Peggy Middleton House.
The application submission follows a series of public consultation events held at The Forum in Greenwich which included two informal resident drop-in sessions and two public exhibitions during September and October last year as well as a newsletter which was distributed to local residents and businesses in September summarising the key elements of our proposals. The application submission responds to the comments made at the consultation events as well as discussions with a number of statutory bodies.
You can find an abbreviated version of the planning application on our website (www.firstbase.com/greenwich) which can be viewed and downloaded. Our website also includes the material presented at the various public consultation events held last year.
We would be happy to respond to any queries you may have on the application. I am contactable either by telephone on 020 7851 5515 or by email at rob.clarke@firstbase.com.
Yours sincerely,


Robert Clarke
Development Manager

So. Have they actually taken any notice whatsoever of our concerns? Those traffic issues, for example? Or the fact that they're proposing a whole load of new shops when the ones we have lie empty?

I don't know. But we need to get down to the council offices, see those plans and get talking.

Woolwich Road Post Office

Such a lot of posts today, folks - but so many interesting things to note.

Kirsty is reminding us about the proposed closure of the Woolwich Road Post Office. Normally this would go in the Parish News but since the deadline's close, here goes:

I know you mentioned the consultation process for the PO closure on the site a while back, but I thought you may be interested in reminding anyone who wants to do anything about it that the deadline is Wednesday 2nd April (emails accepted at ‘consultation@postoffice.co.uk’) I’ve been meaning to write for a while, and realised the deadline only when I went in there earlier today… Needless to say, at 3pm on a Monday, there were still four people ahead of me in the queue. For those of us who work from home, it’s definitely a necessity. You know the Trafalgar Road branch doesn’t even open on Thursday afternoons? So no hope of getting packages off in time to make a Friday deadline…

Filming at ORNC

Pat asks:

I walked along a very breezy river front yesterday evening and there appears to be some rather fancy set designing going on in the grounds of the college. I was wondering if you or any of your Phantom phans out there knew what was going on?

The Phantom is happy to hand over to Simon:

Whilst on another walk today I couldn't help but notice that the NavalCollege was full of film trucks, lighting rigs and props (including anentire mobile stables in the car park). I asked the security guard onthe gate what was happening and he said that some scenes from The WolfMan (http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0780653/) are being filmed there tonight.

The Phantom hopes these are one and the same - of course they could just be queuing up to use the Royal Naval College. What I really need is a mole in Greenwich Film Unit. Any offers?

New Micro Brewery

Thanks to Simon for this intriguing snippet:

I was wondering if you've heard anything about a new bar/micro-brewery that's being planned for Cutty Sark Gardens? I noticed a planning application sign when I was out the other day and found the details on the council website (http://tinyurl.com/3bldjs).

Number 2 is the building next to the tourist office, opposite the Cutty Sark.

It'll probably end up being another Greenwich Inc. place but there's always the slim chance that we might be getting a new bar with some decent ales!

The Phantom is intrigued. From the application it would seem that the building is the old brewery of the Royal Naval College - being turned back into one. I like to hope that we'll have some variety in the ownership of things in central Greenwich - maybe The ORNC will run it themselves (preferably not Leiths - they seem to make everything so corporate and - well - 'catering' ) - and I certainly hope you're not right and it's Greenwich Inc, but any interesting independent will do me. I guess we'll just have to find out. They should ahve a ready supply of custom with all those students...

Anyone got any more news on this?

National Maritime Museum Hits Paydirt

Thanks to all of you who sent me the link to the BBC story about Israeli tycoon Sammy Ofer giving £20m to the National Maritime Museum as his way of saying thank you for happy times when he was a jolly tar in the Royal Navy. It seems to be the time of year for bilionaires to bestow gifts on the arts - only yesterday the Bodleian Library received a £5m donation - interesting to us as it was founded on our own Duke Humphrey's 15th Century book collection. Maybe we'll see some more big cash gifts over the next few days as wealthy people see the end of the tax year looming.

And it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The NMM are planning to use the cash to build a new wing. So - a good thing for the museum and a good thing for us, I guess. I'm hoping they have a good plan to ensure we don't lose too much green space around the museum and that it will be a plus for the museum - more temporary exhibition space and more archive areas. A tiny part of me slightly agrees with Shaun, who says

In the larger picture, where is this new wing going to go? I don't want anymore buildings around the NMM, but then I'm picky. Although as a bit of a naval historian wannabe the prospect of more NMM really excites me, I'm worried for the area and how it will turn out.

On the telly at lunchtime, they said it would be in the South West corner - and I can't currently picture what's there already - with a bit of luck that will be because it's boring outbuildings. In the end this can only be a good thing.

You know, though - something about this makes me a little sad for the smaller, less glamorous museums and collections. Wealthy benefactors are a fine thing - and I am absolutely delighted that Sammy Ofer's doing this for us. But whilst no museum is ever going to admit that it's got enough cash, the NMM is not exactly at death's door; and already has an impressive list of donors - not least Peter Harrison, who paid for the the planetarium. I visit little places all the time that are starving for lack of funds - and visitors - less money means shorter opening hours which means fewer visitors. When I am a billionaire, and looking for ways to reduce my tax burden, I will be looking to give a leg up to those quirky individual places that really need the help.

Last-Minute Archaeology

This has just come to my attention - so if you're free today, hop along to Woolwich to see what's going on there. I won't be there myself, so I'd appreciate any feedback or pics.

I'm really hoping that Oxford Archaeology will actually give people more notice in future. I'd have loved to have seen this...

Site Visit Day: `Teardrop Site', Warren Lane, adjacent the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich 28th February 2008 c11.00am - 3.00pm Series of pottery kilns from 14th century to 17th century plus a mysterious massive `ditch'.Please contact Dave Score at Oxford Archaeology d.score@oxfordarch.co.uk if you wish to visit.

Greenwich Shudders - And Yet The Phantom Is Unmoved

Blackheathen writes:

There was just blissful silence in my flat as I lay single in my bed for two (aaahhh!) waiting to drop off when there was the briefest but most palpable of shudders. My very first thought was, that was an earthquake somewhere. Don't be mad, my inner voice said.

So it was no surprise this morning to hear the news. But so far away? Is this a record?

I even heard talk of a row of bicycles falling over in Amsterdam.

The Phantom confesses to having had a blissful night of uninterrupted sleep. But did anyone else witness bumps in the night as the biggest Earthquake to shake Britain in 20 years rippled out our way?

Perhaps now is the appropriate moment to introduce you to a site that a pal of mine has helped create. Did The Earth Move For You? will compute exactly how far the earth moved while you were enjoying your personal moment of perfect bliss. So that's what scientists get up to in their spare time...

Going Postal

I've had a lot of people contact me about this - our own local part of a national story. One by one, our post offices are closing - and the one along Woolwich Road, opposite Glenister Gardens is the latest victim earmarked for closure. It hardly seems yesterday that we lost the one along Station Crescent at Westcombe Park and now they've got it in for the closest one to it.

It's a funny little place - and I've always feared for it - especially when the school went and then the Hospital, and the footfall just - well, fell. But there are still a hell of a lot of people who live round there and need it. I got my hopes up when the (strangely ham-fisted) renovation took place about 18 months ago (I am still cross I didn't get a photo of the original Post Office signage above the shop which became visible again for a while before being covered up again - personally I'd have kept it - but then I wouldn't have done any of it like that...) but that doesn't seem to have done the trick and someone here told me the new guy can't survive on just the PO revenue (why he doesn't get a few more goods in beats me - I love the idea of a standalone PO but if it needs to be a shop too, so be it.)

Luckily for me, Sean did take some pics of the signs from way back in the days of the mysterious Mr Perkins and sent them to me.

Sean was accused of being nerdy for taking them, but I for one am grateful. Anoraks of the world unite. We have nothing to lose but our relationships.

But back to the Post Office. What baffles me is that although the internet age has brought email and thus fewer letters, it has also brought Mail Order and Ebay. People can buy stuff with the press of a button without leaving their seat - but someone has to trudge down to the post office and send the thing. It's the weakest link in the purchase chain now - I'd have thought that that should be the thing the PO concentrate on - and keeping local post offices so folk don't have to carry an entire scalextrix wrapped up in brown paper or a big cardboard box with a matchbox car and large volumes of expanded polystyrene a mile down the road should be an important part of that.

I heard an interesting thing on the radio. A Royal Mail worker was being interviewed about the cuts. The interviewer said "But they've said that there will still be a Post Office within a mile of every house." The worker said that he didn't know why this was a valid point since there used to be one within a QUARTER of a mile.

I don't know of any petitions. But if you want to vent your spleen, here's the address. Otherwise we face yet another dead shop along Woolwich Road (to add to all the new ones they'll be building at the Old District Hospital Site.)

Anita Turner,
Network Development Manager
c/o National Consultation Team
FREEPOST

Consultation Team
email: consultation@postoffice.co.uk

The branch's official address is 8 Woolwich Road, London, SE10 0JU

Greenwich Inc Branches Out

Tom noticed an interesting feature in yesterday's Telegraph. He notes

"Seems Frank is branching out of Greenwich, which is fair enough, he must be competing with himself now..."

Hmm. All we can do is look on...

Goings-on

I notice the grilles have come off The Old Friends. Does this mean it's reopening as a dive - or is someone taking it over? Of course there is the third option that it's being made into luxury flats. I have no idea. Any clues, folks?

I also note that Channers, that oddly ill-conceived coffee shop that opened one day without anyone noticing and never seemed to get off the ground, has gone. It's now labelled "Sonias Deli Cafe," but further than that I know nothing. The shutters were down - maybe it's not open yet.

Katja has just reminded me of something else. She writes:

I walked on Sunday past the premises of now closed "Alamo - Texican restaurant" and noticed that there is few empty deli counters inside, however there was no other indication what is going to happen to the place. Perhaps we are getting new deli?

It could be a new cafe - the kitchens would support coffee, cakes and sandwiches. Let's just hope it's not the same company that's done the last two eateries on that spot...

One more thing. That new layout around the memorials in the front of Devonport House. There's now a pair of (shut) wide vehicle-entry gates at the east end of it, by the bus stop. Am I right in thinking they've removed this:



...to do that? And was that allowed? Or did they just do it? Maybe I'm paranoid - and admittedly I was on the bus at the time and didn't get a good look, but I got the feeling it's not there any more. Can anyone put my mind at ease?

Old Auction Rooms Planning Meeting

Just thought you should know that the council is discussing the plans for the Old Auction Rooms in Lassell St. on the 20th Feb. They want to pull it down and build - guess what - more flats, with 'commercial property' (whatever that is) downstairs.

Ok, it's not going to win any prizes for its staggering beauty, but it is a good, solid building, a part of East Greenwich's past which could surely be adapted to a new purpose rather than just being bulldozed?

If you're interested, you can get details from Daniel.wilkinson@greenwich.gov.uk. I'm told it's the last item on the agenda so it could be any time between 6.30 and midnight.

Art Cuts

Only yesterday, young Joseph was asking about the changes that have taken place in Greenwich since 2000, and it lies heavy upon me to talk about something that I failed to mention in my reply then.

In 2000, whatever we may have made of 'corporate' or 'civic art,' there was, at least, Art. The remains of it lie around the town, usually unsung (though I'm doing my best to trace most of them before they're totally forgotten) but nevertheless there to brighten our day.

What has changed since then is the climate that produced that art; that believed that our cultural welfare was as important as other aspects of our social world. Of course that climate was nothing like the one enjoyed in the 70s and 80s - before the Arts Council's Glory of the Garden. But there was a recognition, both formally and financially, that Art was an important aspect of human existence and of Greenwich itself.

That's no longer so. On Saturday I talked about the withdrawal of funding for the London Bubble Theatre company. Ok, so that's the Arts Council itself, swingeing their way through small companies that aren't 'innovative enough.'

But today, I have to bring you the sad news that Greenwich Council have withdrawn their funding for two other arts organisations - Lotus Arts (about which I concede I know nothing) and Greenwich Mural Workshop. They're also cutting some funding for the other arts groups in the borough. Their excuse is that they're creating a war chest for a "cultural olympiad."

Everything, in virtually every respect, seems to be bowing towards a couple of weeks in 2012. In the meanwhile, we enter a cultural desert and twiddle our collective thumbs. And after 2012? Well, if current rumour is correct and the site at Stratford fails to sell for what the Government predicts for paying back the money they nicked from the Lottery kitty, we had better start learning to appreciate ' Tumbleweed Art.'

I was walking past the Rathbone benches last night, thinking that they needed MORE funding - they're really in a state these days and need urgent remedial work. I find it utterly rich that Greenwich Council urged The Arts Council not to cut funding for Bubble, yet agreed to axe their own responsibilities.

Carol Kenna, Artistic Director of Greenwich Mural Workshopsent out a round-robin, that I had hoped would be on the website so I wouldn't have to reproduce it here. I can't find it, so here it is:

At the Cabinet meeting of Greenwich Council on Wednesday 23rd January the
decision was taken not to renew Service Level Agreements for Greenwich Mural
Workshop and Lotus Arts. The result of this will be to remove funding from
the two organisations from April 1st, but to give interim funding up to
September 30th 2008 at the same rate as 2007, to allow transitional
arrangements to be made.

In addition smaller cuts were made across the other seven arts organisations
in the Borough.

An amendment to this decision has been for the Cabinet to ask for an impact
report of this strategy to be produced by the Chief Executive.

The justification for the strategy is to establish a small fund to develop
BME arts and a £100,000 fund to develop a Cultural Olympiad.

GMW have objected to this strategy of recycling existing funds on two main
points.
Firstly that the assessment of GMW's application is biased and
contradictory, contains inaccurate or totally false statements, accuses GMW
of not providing information that it has, claims we have exaggerated the
effectiveness of our work and denigrates the artistic quality of our work,
the artists and our management structures.
Secondly we contest that the development of the notion of a Cultural
Olympiad has been taken without the involvement of the Cultural sector and
with no clear vision of what this could involve. As a result Greenwich
Council has not behaved in the best interest of the community and has not
taken advantage of the pool of expertise that itself has supported for many
years.
Other representatives of arts organisations have pointed to the fact that by
consistently reducing the level of Council support it forces the sector to
raise funds from other sources thus rendering themselves less able to
respond to the ambitions of the Council in the manner they would wish to.
GMW supports this opinion.

We believe that GMW offers a unique method of working with a variety of
communities, schools and other organisations which could be of value to
delivering the Council's ambition. We support the development of BME arts
and believe we have contributed to this over the years. We have supported
discussions leading up to the development of a Cultural Olympiad and believe
we could give further support and vision.

The impact of this decision upon GMW will be to close the organisation down.
We feel that you may wish to comment upon the impact that any of these
issues may have upon your organisations, schools, communities or individuals
and the cultural health of Greenwich as a whole

If you are able could we ask you to write to
the Chief Executive Mary Ney at mary.ney@greenwich.gov.uk with copies to
the Cabinet.

Cabinet members include:
Chris Roberts Leader of Council
Peter Brooks Deputy Leader Regeneration
John Fahy Culture & Olympics
David Grant Health, Adults and Older people
Denise Hyland Economy and Skills
Maureen O'Mara Neighbourhood Services
Kanta Patel Social Inclusion & Justice
Jagir Sekhon OBE Modernisation
Rajwant Sidhu Greener Greenwich
Jackie Smith Children & Young people's Services

These Councillors can be contacted on their email addresses, by entering
their names as first name.surname@greewich.gov.uk
e.g.: chris.roberts@greenwich,gov.uk

Bad News re. The Clocktower

Warren mailed me yesterday to tell me he'd had a very unsatisfactory conversation with Willow Management who are in charge of the clocktower. He seems to have had a most unpleasant experience, just asking for permission to take a few photos - I can't begin to think they'd entertain all and sundry traipsing up there for Open House Day. I'm not under the illusion that this company are the slightest bit interested in local goodwill or public relations.

I have heard the building is actually empty, which makes me think that at some point it will be up for rent. Maybe we should all go and 'view' the property en masse...

I don't actually go out looking for a hiding for nothing. I'm going to switch my attentions to The Observatory roof and the Power Station. Watch this space...

A Celebration of the Life of Joshua Beasley

I just got this from Josh's family - and thought I'd pass it on.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the people in the local community who helped in the search for Josh by putting up posters, distributing flyers, appealing for information, talking to friends, family, colleagues and others, or simply wishing us well.

There will be an event to celebrate Joshua’s life on Friday 29th February at Blackheath Halls, between 5pm - 7pm. This event is open to anyone who would like to come along and pay his or her respects and celebrate Joshua’s life.

The flowers we have received for Josh are greatly appreciated, however if you would like to make a lasting contribution to Josh’s memory we have chosen two charities and organised for donations to be collected and given in his name. The charities are, The National Youth Theatre and Missing People. Cheques should be made payable to ‘National Youth Theatre’ and / or ‘Missing People’. And should be sent to:

Co-operative Funeralcare
Donation for Joshua Beasley
172 Well Hall Road
Eltham
London SE9 6SR

Co-operative Funeralcare will collect and collate all donations for up to four weeks after the funeral.

With best wishes,

Paul, Ruth and Rowan
http://www.myspace.com/joshbeasleymissing

Flying Duck Flying South for the Summer...

...well, forever, actually.

Folks, it's a lovely sunny Saturday. Wrap up and visit James and Carolyn at Flying Duck while you can. To my great misery they're getting out of Greenwich while they can, and another bit of Greenwich character is leaving us.

I adored Flying Duck; and it's weird to think it soon won't be with us, but I can see what's making them go. That effing-awful Wetherspoons, that tedious, menacing, chain-filled alleyway leading to what has to be one of London's scruffiest DLR stations - and the attendant morons who think it's ok to walk around Flying Duck scoffing chips with sauce and vinegar, fingering vintage merchandise with greasy paws and swearing loudly, which is what I encountered last time I was in there. They got chucked out, and I'm not surprised.

"That's why we're going," sighed the assistant, who got an earful of choice language as she asked them to leave - a brave move in my humble...

Everything in stock is going down in price on a daily basis. Go get yourself a memento of this fab store and wish them luck with their enterprises down in Brighton.

They're going online, too, but I can't see that it will be the same. What I loved about FDE was being able to wander round, looking at piles of stuff and finding something you didn't even know existed, let alone that you needed it.

Apparently they own the place and will rent it out only to another independent. Let's hope they find someone special.

They will be sorely missed.

http://www.flying-duck.com/HTMLs/shop/shoppage.html

Cutty Sark

Great news, folks - The Heritage Lottery Trust has earmarked £10m to conserve the Cutty Sark and bring her back into ship-shape. I am delighted - it was beginning to become a bit of a national disgrace. Now they only have to find another five million - pocket change for some wealthy benefactor, I'm sure. In the meanwhile, they can get on with work after a hiatus for the fire investigation. I understand it all kicks off again in March. You can see pictures from the conservation so far here.

Joshua Beasley

Folks - I have sad news. Josh's body has been found in the river Thames. He appears to have drowned, and there are no obvious signs of foul play.

This is one of the saddest things I have heard in a long time. At just 17, he had his whole life ahead of him. My heart goes out to Ruth and Paul today - and to all Josh's friends who have been searching so hard for him.

Josh Beasley

Today marks a calendar months since Josh's disappearance and his Mum and Dad have asked me to remind you about him. As you know, he left his mates outside Greenwich Ice Rink around 5.00 Dec 24th and hasn't been seen since.

There will be an appeal this evening, between 5pm and 6.15pm at a bus stop on Romney Road, between the junction with King William Walk and the town centre.

This is gaining momentum, as all manner of well-known people have added their voices to the appeal for witnesses - from Benjamin Zephaniah, Michael Rosen and Jools Holland to MPs Bridget Prentice and Nick Raynsford.

Ruth and Paul are keen not to let anyone forget they're still looking for Josh. Any news at all will be gratefully received.

Incident room 020 8721 4868 Missing People on 0500 700700
Crimestoppers 0800 555111.

What's Going On Here?

Anon writes:

Have you heard that the John Roan school headteacher has been removed fromhis post after a vote of no confidence from the board of governors? It wouldbe great to find out why this happened....Local gossip says that the schoolhas been put in special measures.

The Phantom replies:

I haven't heard of any of this - but I confess to being up to my eyes in stuff at the moment. Does anyone else know about this?

Interruptions...

Sorry about the late post today folks - there's fun and games Chez Phantom just now. Expect a few delays here and there for the next few days before things really get back to normal. I'll post when I can...

Chris The Barber

P&D writes:

Just a little note to let you and others know that Chris the Barber (at the top of Blackwall Approach) has closed after 25 years. Admittedly,he did the same haircut whatever the fashion or request but he has served the local area faithfully for all this time. It is somewhat of an enforced retirement for him as the council refused to renew his tenancy. Chris thinks that 'they' have a plan for that area but he doesn't know what.

Well, me for one will wish him a happy retirement and all the best forthe future. Once more little bit of local colour ebbing away.

The Phantom Adds

Am I getting this entirely wrong, or is that the bit up by the Tunnel itself? I vaguely remember a suggestion for a five star hotel being mooted but it all went a bit pear-shaped when the Casino was dropped. Of course I may have completely the wrong place. I'm having trouble placing it in my Monday afternoon head...

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Is it just me, or is the first thing you get when the phrases "Rock & Roll" and "Hall of Fame" are bandied about is a vision of Annie Lennox in a yellow tartan suit, David Bowie in a cape and Thriller-era Michael Jackson covered in pigeon-shit? I have a horrid feeling that the O2 are going to have to work very hard indeed to get the Rock Circus image out of most people's minds with their new 'state-of-the-art' British Music Experience.

I'm not going to forget that place in a hurry - epitomising the word 'seedy' from inception, with its poor plastic models of great pop stars waving mournfully from the balcony of the Trocadero at Piccadilly Circus, gradually turning a white-ish grey from gifts left by the square's feathered inhabitants, attractive only to red-booted foreign teenagers on exchange trips (though of course eclipsed now by the sex 'museum' in the Trocadero's basement. I suspect that the sex museum has a similar target audience.)

On the other hand, I do actually think that if you're going to have a Rock & Roll museum anywhere (which isn't necessarily a given - Rock & Roll is a transient, ephemeral thing - of the moment, almost impossible, it could be argued, to capture,) the O2 is the one place that might just pull it off. It's not a new idea - it was always in the plans (i.e. it's not there instead of the ill-fated casino) and let's face it, the amount of space left in the Dome even after the Arena, Indigo2 and all those eateries would house a hall of fame for every music style going, so it's worth a go, I guess. They will have a ready-made audience in the crowds arriving early in the (probably vain) hope of missing the, well, the crowds, actually, and if they can pull it off it could just work.

Apparently rare items once owned by David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and, ahem, The Arctic Monkeys, will be featured with interactive displays and booths where visitors can record their own songs, opening next February. IMHO the problem is that Rock & Roll is almost inherently grungy and even tacky (which of course is much of its charm) and somewhere as slick and corporate as the O2 getting the balance between edgy-tack and safe-pap will be an interesting challenge. We'll see.

Will I go next February when it opens? Do pigeons crap on Freddie Mercury?

Josh Beasley

I've already posted about Josh Beasley who's been missing since Christmas Eve, but I wanted to remind you folk to keep an eye out for anything that might help his family.

He was last seen leaving Greenwich Ice Rink about 5.15pm on 24th December and what's really concerning his mum and dad is that it's just not like him to have disappeared like this. He's a bright kid - a member of the National Youth Theatre - who's been looking forward to going to university to study drama.

I find it staggering, in this Big Brother world, that with the amount of CCTV we have in Greenwich it can't seem to be used to help a happy 17 year-old who's never gone missing before.

Joshua is 5ft 9in (1.8m), with short, black hair. He was last seen wearing a white cotton shirt, black jeans and black boots.

I included a picture of Josh on my last post about him, but for another angle, I've pinched this pic-



- from his girlfriend Charlotte's appeal - hope you don't mind, Charlotte - you never know who might have seen him. If any of you have, contact the police incident room on 020-8721 4868 or, to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

New Lamps for Old!!

So - it's not quite the end of panto season after all. Wicked Abanazar (well, wicked Uncle Ken, actually) is out peddling his wares at B&Q this weekend, inviting all you Aladdins out there to swap your new lamps for old.

Basically you take two of your old ordinary light bulbs to B&Q(they don't have to be working - but let's face it - who hoards dead light bulbs?) where they exchange them for low-energy versions. I did it this morning, and even though I've been rubbing my new lamps as hard as I can and I still can't make a genie appear, it still seems like a good trade to me.

I'm curious to know what the deal between Ken and B&Q is - presumably not everyone was like me and left with just the light bulbs - it must be quite a money spinner for B&Q.

Oh well - still worth a go. Get on over there - maybe yours will be the lucky lamp and Robin Williams will grant you three wishes...

New Refuse Arrangements

Steve asks

I'm a supporter of the existing refuse collection arrangements and, having a compost bin, have very little in my greentop bin every week. As of next week, we will now have to buy a black plastic sack for those items currently now collected from my bin. How green is that? Extra black sacks to buy and dispose of!

I have just had a baby and don’t want to contribute tons of nappies to landfill. I asked a Council person at Charlton House just before Xmas why they didn’t have an incentive scheme like other Councils, to encourage people to buy washable nappies. I was told that they had no evidence that incentive schemes work. Altho' I have bought washables anyway, the Council will be happy to give me 52 plastic sacks and come and collect those from my door. Crazy.

I think that there will be poor compliance with the new measures which will undermine the whole scheme.

The Phantom replies:

I confess I'm a fan of the new arrangements. A system for collecting organic refuse as well as dry recyclables is a fantastic idea, IMHO. I went to one of the periodic tours around the MRF recycling plant (you can do so too - email recycling@greenwich.gov.uk ) which, frankly, converted me. I am not a massive council supporter, but the guy who runs the MRF plant has his head screwed on and a very pragmatic approach to recycling. His no-nonsense and frank answers to the increasing problem of massive fines if they don't stop using landfill was refreshing to see, and in theory the new system is fantastic.

The ratio of black bin bags to the amount of organic waste saved from landfill would seem to be bearable, since there's very little that won't fit into one of the two bins - basically just polystyrene and waxed juice cartons. The trouble is, that virtually no one knows this, as nobody's been properly told.

Much as I hope against hope, I am not convinced it's going to work. I just don't think we've had enough information about it for it to work smoothly. Due to my visit, I'm pretty clued-up on how it should work but I just can't see that the organic waste green-top-bins are going to remain uncontaminated by wrappers, plastic bags and people-who-can't-be-arsed-to-sort-their-garbage's waste, and the amount of time they'll spend picking out that contamination (now there's a job I'm not volunteering for) will make the whole thing unviable.

We need a MASSIVE publicity campaign to get something like this to work smoothly. People need to be explained-to the way that I was how it's going to work - and why it's important. It shouldn't be down to me to talk about giant vacuum-sealed (to keep-in the pong) compost bins at Thamesmead that rot-down the food waste, so that the methane gas and compost created can be sold to subsidise the system. It shouldn't be down to me to tell people that if you wrap stuff in newspaper or a paper bag it won't make your bin honk to high heaven. And it shouldn't be down to me to mention that the alternative is even higher council tax.

The other major point is that while we are carefully sorting out our chicken bones and tea bags at home, small and medium-sized businesses are not compelled to recycle even one newspaper. Until this anomaly is fixed, recycling is a mere token effort.

Having said that, I embrace the new system with open arms. I am delighted to give it a go. I just hope the council can make everyone understand how the thing works.

On the subject of nappies, there is, of course, an argument that the water, heat and detergent used to wash nappies can create as much environmental damage as cutting down trees to make disposables. I'm not getting into that one as I've never really done any thinking at all about baby-shit. Frankly, as a parent, you're damned if you do, damned if you don't. In the meanwhile, the council will, at least, be providing a separate collection service. Congratulations on your new arrival.

Rococo

George asks:

Any idea what's happened to my favourite Flower Shop Rococo in Greenwich, disappeared without trace over Christmas...not a pound store I hope..

The Phantom replies:

I must be a particularly unobservant Phantom as I hadn't even noticed it was gone - it seemed perfectly healthy last time I passed. It will indeed be a loss - another classy shop gone. Anyone have any information about this?

West Greenwich Gets Even Posher...

...not.

Angie has just told me we will be getting a Pound Shop in the beautiful arcade that houses Somerfield and The Wimpy Bar. Apparently it will be in the old video store.

I just wrote, then deleted, a whole sarcastic passage about how charming it will be and how disappointed I am there isn't a strip club and an amusement arcade to go with it. Actually, it isn't very funny. How come developers are only too happy to tear down old, interesting buildings (for example the Stockwell Street warehouses - ok, not pretty, but fascinating) and yet ignore the one area that could be bulldozed with very few tears shed? A nasty grim, grey concrete monstrosity, which if its grotty old carpark doesn't look like a ghost town out of a western is only because the litter beat the tumbleweed to it, full of abandoned shops and desolate-looking offices, surely it would be in everyone's interests to just buy-out the few remaining tenants and rebuild something worth having?

It's rare you'll ever hear me calling for a demolition - but in this case I would say good riddance. Greenwich deserves better than this apology for a shopping arcade.

Free TV Food in Greenwich Market

Ok, so I spend most of my time trying not to be a parish noticeboard, but this guy asked so nicely and it does involve free food, so I'm doing this just the once...

Ricochet (http://www.ricochet.co.uk/) are a TV company who, it would seem, specialise in lifestyle programmes - you know the sort of thing - reality stuff, property porn - and foodie shows.

They're putting together an "exciting" new one - they're not admitting to the title - part of which will be filmed in Greenwich Market TOMORROW between 10.30am and 4.00pm. They're looking for people to turn up and be 'crowds' in the background and the hook is the 20 chefs who are going to be cooking there and doling out the results of their new recipes.

There's always loads of hanging around at these things so I would recommend that you don't bowl up too early or you'll freeze. But if you wrap up warm and don't expect a banquet it could be fun - if you're not already washing your hair...

Picturehouse Going Downhill?

I am a Grumpy Old Phantom today. Actually, to be more precise, I was a grumpy old Phantom a few days ago, but I didn't want to write cross stuff in the festive season (bad karma, you know...) and even writing about it now brings it all back...

Let me start with re-stating the fact that I adore Greenwich Picturehouse. I have often waxed lyrical about the fantastic facilities, friendly staff and squashy seats. It's even listed as one of my Favourite Haunts. Which is perhaps why I was so very shocked the other night when standards had seriously slipped. I don't know when this happened - it's to do with the Screening Room, which I hadn't visited for a little while, but had always considered to be the very best bit of the whole building.

Just to recap, the Screening Room is (was) the gorgeous little cinema downstairs, cosy and womb-like, with deep red curtains and soft walls, and individual armchairs that not only reclined but gave you a little foot rest - like the Parker-Knoll recliner of your dreams which made you forget that the screen was smaller than you get in some people's homes these days as you luxuriated in the closest equivalent to watching a movie in bed.

So there we were, a little bunch of us, all strangers, of course, waiting patiently for the end of the previous screening outside the curtains in what is now called "Screen Five" (where is Screen Four?) We were all bunched up so inelegantly because there are no numbered seats, and each of us secretly hoped to delicately muscle-in to our fave squashy armchair when we were finally let in. It wasn't ideal, but it was understandable - difficult to number armchairs after all...

The movie finished and the audience filed out. We diligently waited as the music ended. No one arrived, so being jolly British, we all hung around waiting for the usherette to tell us what to do. We waited. And waited. The lights had gone up, and the projectionist was clearly setting up to begin again. No one. Eventually, a brave soul decided to peek around the curtain without the permission of Authority. He disappeared, so the rest of us all piled in.

The shock was audible. The place was carnage. Less tumbleweed blowing around the deserted screen than drinks cartons, glasses, sweetie wrappers and general unidentifiable-but-you-don't-want-to-investigate-too-far kiddie-trash. And popcorn. Popcorn, popcorn everywhere, and believe me, not a piece you'd want to eat.

Ok - so they were short staffed and couldn't find anyone to tear our tickets or clear up. It's not the end of the world. But here's the rub. Brace yourselves, folks.

The squashy armchairs are gone. Gone, I tell you. Replaced with - how can I bring myself to say this - nasty mean, tip-up cinema seats from c.1965. Thin, narrow rows, close together and with not a reclining bit in sight. And to top it all, in this formerly plush, exquisite, coloured coded and designed room, still with its deep red curtains, they are the most disgusting mid-brown vinyl.

Now I'm not a fat Phantom. And these seats did accommodate my backside - but they could well be a bit of a huff and a puff for anyone a bit better padded than these seats are. Even if you're a skinny, if you're not quick enough with getting your elbows onto the thin chair arms and someone else's beat yours to it, they will be pinned into the insides of the seat for the entire movie. Luckily the picture I saw was a kids' film and short, but I won't be going back to that screen for a long, long time.

I might have expected this from another cinema chain. But the Picturehouse? I am seriously disappointed. It's clearly a financial thing - but are things really so tight that they had to do this?

Did you already know about this? Why didn't someone warn me? Please tell me the other screens are still the fabulous experience they were and that it's just this screen. Being the optimist I am, I really hope these seats are temporary while they are ordering new, even lovelier armchairs, but for the moment I seriously recommend you don't visit this screen.

You know what? I'm going to write to the Picturehouse and be a grumpy old Phantom at them too. I'll post any reply I get here...