This week 10, 20, 30 years ago

10 years ago

A cafe set up in memory of a teenager murdered four years ago has been recognised for its work helping the community.

The Cafe of Good Hope in Hither Green Lane, Hither Green, received a Lewisham council social enterprise award on Monday.

The cafe raises money for the Jimmy Mizen Foundation, named after the 16-year-old killed in Three Cooks Bakery in Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, and run by his family.

His brother, Billy, said: “It’s a form of recognition that we are achieving what we set out to do when we opened the cafe, which was to provide a community hub and spread the message of hope that we can make a change.”

The man behind Microsoft – and one of the world’s most generous philanthropists – was a surprise guest at a secondary school.

Bill Gates visited Deptford Green School in Amersham Vale, New Cross.

He spoke to youngsters for almost two hours about his company, his charity and his hopes for the future.

Pupil Ilir Gashi, 15, said: “I never thought in a million years I would meet and be talking to Bill Gates – it was a real ‘wow’ moment to see him come into the room.

“He talked for nearly two hours and said how impressed he was about the work we are doing at our school.”

20 years ago

An ambitious £11million theatre development for young art-lovers was to be built in Southwark, subject to town hall planners giving it the go-ahead.

The children’s theatre had been proposed for land off Tooley Street, near the river.

The Unicorn Children’s Centre had already started a similar project in Wimbledon, but was keen to make its mark at the prestigious riverside location near Tower Bridge.

The plan was to build a 35-seater theatre for professional performances and a 100-seater rehearsal studio and workshop areas where kids could learn to tread the boards.

Streatham Ice Arena was sold off, raising fears that skating in the suburb would come to an end after decades.

The South London Press discovered Tesco had bought the site for an undisclosed fee.

The firm was planning a new multimillion-pound store, car parking and housing on the site.

Tesco was also insisting its planning application for the site would include a new ice rink, but was not able to confirm the size of any replacement.

Hugh Carnegy, Streatham Ice Skating Action Group spokesman said: “It would be difficult for clubs to stay alive if there was no ice for a period of time.”

A multimillion-pound revamp of Britain’s busiest railway station was put forward by the Strategic Railway Authority (SRA).

With no disabled access, platforms that were open to the elements and poor state of repair, Clapham Junction had long been one of the capital’s worst.

But the SRA pledged to pump millions into the station to create platform lift access, improved shelters, passenger lounges, new exits and more station space.

Battersea MP Martin Linton said: “Clapham Junction is a disgrace at the moment.

If any station needs a makeover, it is Clapham Junction.”

30 years ago

Cash-starved Lambeth council, which had already cut jobs and services by £25million, wanted to make more savings.

Cuts in spending on libraries, advice centres, adult education, bed and breakfast and the closure of public toilets were being proposed to save cash.

Budget documents revealed a £26million reduction in spending was being considered for the next financial year.

Council leader Steve Whaley, faced with a massive overspend, wanted to put an extra £7million into education and social services at the expense of “less vital” services like leisure, recreation and entertainment.

Tenants’ pleas for a Jubilee line extension to be dug away from their homes was rejected.

A House of Lords committee gave the go-ahead for the route under the Canada Estate in Surrey Quays, Rotherhithe, despite “deploring” the condition of the crumbling estate.

Residents feared vibrations from building work and trains could cause two of the tower blocks to topple.

The Lords decision was the latest stage in approval for the scheme which would mean a tunnel from Green Park, under the Thames to Waterloo station and through Southwark.

The extension was due to open in 1996.

Parents and teachers at a primary school were demanding tough new road measures after three children were knocked down and suffered minor injuries in one week.

In a joint campaign, parents, teachers and governors from Perrymount Primary School in Sunderland Road, Forest Hill, were pressing for a lollipop patrol for the busy street.

Lewisham council had proposed speed humps in response to the accidents, but campaigners said the measures would take too long and would still see pupils crossing unattended.

Compiled by alexandra@slpmedia.co.uk

Picture: Jimmy Mizen