This week 10, 20, 30 years ago
10 years ago
Campaigners held a rally outside a Government office before marching to Downing Street in a last-ditch plea to save their libraries.
On Wednesday, the South London Press joined protesters at the steps of Number 10 as they called on the Government to move in and save five libraries in Lewisham.
The protesters claim the Labour-run council’s decision to shut them is against the law.
Speaking outside No 10, Peter Richardson, who had met Whitehall officials last month, said: “Following months and months of campaigning to saVe our much-loved libraries, this really is our last hope.
“My question to Ed Vaizey [Libraries Minister] is ‘Ed, are you dead?’ because we haven’t heard anything from him in response.”
Ancient timbers that brought a hospital revamp grinding to a halt have been identified as the remains of a Roman boat.
Last year, the South London Press revealed that builders working on a revamp of the entrance to Guy’s Hospital had found some “well preserved” wood.
The timbers were buried 13ft underground under layers of silt from when Thames channels flowed through London Bridge.
A Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust spokeswoman confirmed the archaeological find on Friday.
She said: “We can confirm the existence of a Roman boat on the Guy’s Hospital site.
“We are assessing the implications for design of our future buildings and are taking advice from English Heritage as part of our site investigation.”
20 years ago
A top cop pleaded for more cash to target the illegal gun trade after four people were shot in four days.
Detective Chief Inspector Duncan Wilson warned the seedy underworld trade of guns meant a hitman could be hired to carry out a killing for £1,000 and a gun could be bought for as little as £300.
The Operation Trident officer called for money to help kick-start undercover operations into the issue.
A 6ft tall oil painting of Adolf Hitler on display at The Right Angle design shop in Tranquil Vale, Blackheath, was pulled off the wall and stamped on during a break-in.
Manager Lee Patrick insisted the painting was a caricature that was supposed to poke fun at the Nazi leader.
Mr Patrick said he suspected the intruders were connected to a far right-wing group and the break-in would scare off new designers from coming to Blackheath.
Bonkers the cat was found by his owner Sara Lazzarini under floorboards at her home in Heyford Avenue, South Lambeth – eight weeks after he went missing.
He was sealed up accidentally by builders who had laid a new floor in the house.
Bonkers, a fat cat when he went underground, was nothing but skin and bones when he was discovered.
30 years ago
Labour Party bosses were accused of bullying councillors into electing Lambeth’s new town hall leader and ousting former leader Joan Twelves.
The move threatened to throw “crisis-torn” Lambeth into a hung council, unable to push through decisions.
Conditions in Southwark’s main police stations – Walworth, Peckham and Southwark – were condemned in an independent probe.
Chief superintendents said officers were not responsible for the dirt and it was detainees’ fault.
The Southwark Lay Inspectors Panel was set up by the Home Office to monitor conditions.
Gun-toting cops hit the streets of South London.
Armed officers were tasked with patrolling in standard police-issue cars.
Inside the boot were three pistols and two rifles for use by officers from The Met’s new armed response unit.
The unit was the Met’s answer to increasing gun crime and the threat of terrorism.
Do you have any memories of stories in the South London Press from the past 10, 20 or 30 years that you would like to see reprinted again? If so, drop Alexandra Warren a line with details.
Email her at alexandra@slpmedia.co.uk
Main pic: This week ten years ago, Roman boat remains were found beneath Guys Hospital
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