This week 10, 20, 30 years ago
10 years ago
Tributes have been paid to an “outstanding” headteacher who became the first Muslim to run a UK school.
Nawazish Bokhari, known as Naz to his friends, died on March 1 aged 73, after a long illness.
He worked in education for 37 years and was awarded an OBE for his services to learning in 2001.
Mr Bokhari was headteacher at Ernest Bevin College in Beechcroft Road, Tooting, from 1985 until his retirement in 2002.
Under his leadership, the number of pupils passing GCSEs at grade C or above improved from 18 per cent to 60 per cent.
Just 17 of 280 charities facing town hall funding cuts have received a share of an emergency cash pot.
Labour-run Southwark is cutting its grants to hundreds of voluntary sector groups in the borough as part of its budget plan to save £34million.
Its funding from central government has been cut by £60million over the next two years.
In November last year, council leader Peter John wrote to charities warning them to expect cuts in council funding of between 10 and 15 per cent from this month.
But in February it emerged the reduction would be as much as 100 per cent at the end of March.
Following a backlash against the cuts, the council put in place a transitional fund of £1.5million to help groups dependent on council funding keep going until other funding could be found.
20 years ago
A popular newsagent in Denmark Hill is retiring at the age of 76, despite pleas from his customers to stay on.
Tony Jaffe had been trading at Tony’s Corner Shop in Denmark Hill for 47 years.
He wrote to each of his customers saying he was retiring “on the instigation of my wife who, after 48 years of marriage, threatened to divorce me if I keep working”.
Mr Jaffe was 28 years old when he took over the shop and used to arrive on a tram from Oval, where he was living at the time.
Charlton Athletic assistant manager Keith Peacock said Chris Powell should not be too disappointed at missing out on a third England cap.
The Addicks left-back had played the previous two internationals, but was replaced in England’s 3-1 win over Albania by Arsenal’s Ashley Cole.
Peacock said: “A few weeks ago Chris would have settled for just being in the England squad.
“He’s done well and is in the right frame of mind.
“He’s got a couple of caps under his belt and not let anyone down – he’s got a lot to be pleased about.”
30 years ago
Millwall striker Teddy Sheringham was not for sale at any price, according to Lions chairman Reg Burr.
He issued the message for the benefit of any First Division manager who was considering a transfer deadline move for the prolific 24-year-old striker.
Burr spoke out after a series of transfer speculation stories that had linked Sheringham with Arsenal and QPR.
He said: “Those stories are ludicrous, utter nonsense.
“We haven’t had any enquiries for Teddy recently and I’m not expecting any before the transfer deadline.”
A top author, who could not be named for confidentiality reasons, left £125,000 in his will to his cancer-stricken chauffeur from South London.
The bequest to martial arts instructor Garry Coles, 29, of Walworth Road, Walworth, came just weeks after doctors told him that he only had 12 months to live.
Mr Coles was fighting to beat the disease and the windfall had allowed him to buy the two-door Mercedes he had always wanted.
The chauffeur said: “Apart from the Mercedes, I don’t know how I will spend the money.”
Black students were to have their own personal advisers in a new mentoring scheme to boost achievement among ethnic minorities.
The £1.6million scheme was proposed by Southwark council for black secondary and college students who were to be assigned a professional person as a role model.
The scheme was attacked by Tory and Lib Dem opposition councillors who accused the council of being divisive.
Tory councillor Stephen Charge said: “This is nothing more than an attempt to achieve Labour party political objectives and is wholly inappropriate.”
Main Pic: Chris Powell misses out on third England cap twenty years ago
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