This week 10, 20, 30 years ago

1o Years Ago

Tributes were paid to 14-year-old schoolboy Kevin Ssali after he became the latest victim to die as a result of knife crime on South London’s streets.

Flowers and moving messages from friends were left at the scene of the stabbing in Burnt Ash Road, Lee – one of six in the same borough within 24 hours at the weekend.

An RAF veteran lay dead in his council flat for nine years while someone claimed his pension.

His body was finally found under a bush where it had been thrown, an inquest was told.

When Benjamin Benit’s remains were found wrapped in a sheet in undergrowth he was still wearing an England replica shirt from the 2002 World Cup.

His left hand was missing but it was later found in his home.

An unknown fraudster had been collecting Mr Benit’s pension since he died and even after the body was dumped, Southwark Coroner’s Court heard.

Campaigner Doreen Lawrence was given an honorary fellowship at Goldsmiths college in New Cross.

Mrs Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered in Eltham in 1993 in a racist attack, was one of several well-known people being honoured by the college, including politician Tony Benn, author Anne Enright, musician Nitin Sawhney and investigative journalist Nick Davies.

The 59-year-old, who was a 2012 Olympic torchbearer, set up the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, based at the Stephen Lawrence Centre in Deptford, to promote a positive community legacy in memory of her son.

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20 Years Ago

A row erupted over plans to build London’s tallest building at London Bridge.

The London Bridge Tower project, which would see a 1,000ft tower built over the station won the support of London Mayor Ken Livingstone but deputy prime minister John Prescott said the pyramid-shaped tower, which would house offices, luxury flats and offices should be called in for more scrutiny as it would dominate the London skyline.

But Southwark council leader Councillor Nick Stanton said the tower, which has been nicknamed “the shard of glass” would be good for the area.

A congregation managed to raise enough cash in two years to build a community centre in their church’s crypt.

Work was due to begin at St Peter’s Church in Liverpool Grove, Walworth, in November 2002 after church-goers raised £18,000 by holding quiz nights and sponsored events.

In World War II, the crypt had been used as an air raid shelter and several people died when it received a direct hit in 1941.

Money, to help refurbishment came from the National Lottery and the Government.

A street dealer had his collar felt after trying to sell to borough commander Brian Moore.

The top cop was walking home in civilian clothes when the man approached him and offered to sell him cannabis in Brixton Road.

The commander took out his warrant card and told him who he was.

The man, who was later found to have a knife, became aggressive and was arrested.

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30 Years Ago

A quick-thinking security guard was praised after dousing flames after bombs detonated at the Imperial War Museum.

Ken Reed was busy putting out the flames from the 6ins device, planted on a First World War display, when 10 minutes later a second device went off yards away.

Twenty firefighters arrived but Mr Reed already had the fires under control.

The attack bore the hallmarks of an IRA attack, according to a minister arriving at the scene the following day.

About 12,000 commemorative plates were thought to be hidden in South London after they were stolen from a lorry.

The Wedgewood plates were worth £27,000.

The driver of the lorry was told that his consignment had been redirected from central London to a warehouse in Rotherhithe and, after unloading the plates, he drove off unaware that he had been robbed.

The theft was uncovered when Holiday Inn questioned where its consignment had gone.

The driver told police that he couldn’t remember where he had taken the delivery as he did not know the Rotherhithe area.

A fleet of new trains had to lie dormant for weeks while safety checks were carried out, despite being unveiled amid fanfare in 1992.

Network Rail’s Networker trains, which replaced the out-moded “slam door” carriage trains were left parked at Clapham Junction station, while the rail company carried out rigorous tests.

When the trains were put into service, they would be used to speed Channel Tunnel passengers through South London rather than relieve commuter congestion, watchdog Transport 2000 claimed.

The claim that the new trains would be concentrated on the Bromley to Victoria line to ferry international passengers into the heart of London were refuted by Network Rail.

 

Pictured: Doreen Lawrence and her son Stuart attend a memorial service at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London Picture: PA