This week 10, 20, 30 years ago
10 years ago
A Cub pack has raised almost £200 to help families in Japan whose lives have been devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.
The six- to 10-year-olds, who are all members of the 25th Lewisham North Cub pack, washed cars and did odd jobs to raise money for the Red Cross Emergency Relief Fund.
Tens of thousands of people lost loved ones and possessions when the tsunami hit on March 11.
The team of Cubs, led by Anna, Glenn Bradford, 21, and John Perry, took on car washing, dog walking and shopping for members of St Swithun’s Church in Hither Green Lane, where the pack meets, as well as gardening and making cakes.
Boxing hero Sir Henry Cooper has died aged 76.
Brought up in Farmstead Road, Bellingham, with brother George, the heavyweight is most famous for knocking down Muhammad Ali, then called Cassius Clay, at Wembley in 1963.
In 1969, he opened the Riverside Youth Club on the Pepys Estate in Deptford and returned there 40 years later to pay tribute to its work.
He was appointed OBE in 1969, knighted in 2000 and twice voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
20 years ago
Hundreds of anti-capitalists descended on the Elephant & Castle in the main May Day demonstration south of the river.
The 300-strong group tried to cross the Thames to join the main event in Oxford Circus but was prevented by police on Westminster and Lambeth Bridges.
A total of 92 arrests were made across the capital and 32 people charged with offences related to the protest.
Several arrests were made at a factory in Great Suffolk Street, Bermondsey, which was being used by protesters as a headquarters.
Southwark council came under fire for destroying the homes of wild birds during the nesting season.
The council was dredging the pond in Southwark Park as part of restoration works. Wildlife experts said the work was disturbing birds’ habitats and interfering with their feeding grounds.
One resident said: “I saw one pair of coots nesting on an island while the water was pumped out around them.
“The male bird was searching desperately for food in the tiny bit of water that is left but soon there will be nothing left at all.”
The council said it stopped the work as soon as it was aware of the disruption it was causing.
Police were hunting a dog-napper after a heavyweight rottweiler was snatched from outside a shop.
The pet, which weighed about 50kg – almost eight stone – was taken when its owner went into West Food And Wine in Gipsy Hill.
The dog’s name was Soloman and cops warned members of the public not to approach it because it “might not be friendly to strangers”.
30 years ago
Young voters in South London were given “trendy” tapes in a Tory bid to gain popularity points in marginal constituencies.
Conservative associations in Battersea, Dulwich and Lewisham were given 150,000 “No Red Tape” tapes to hand out, featuring a question and answer session with Prime Minister and “former Brixton boy” John Major.
It also included music by pop band Expect the Sun and a satirical script by Spitting Image writer Brodie Fry.
Prospective Battersea Labour MP Alf Dubs said it was important to treat young people as political adults – and not “teeny boppers”.
Princess Diana chatted to alcoholics at a recovery centre in Battersea.
The princess looked “calm and relaxed” as she toured the Turning Point charity’s centre in Queenstown Road, Battersea.
Diana “dished out hints on healthy living” to some of the residents during her tour.
A group set up to help the homeless which took over a shop that had been empty for 18 years was evicted by a Conservative council.
The Homeless Emergency for London organisation was set up during a cold snap in the winter of 1991 by Graham Baldwin and Peter Murchie.
In May, it took over an empty shop owned by Wandsworth council in Abercrombie Street, Battersea.
Despite offering to repair it and pay a nominal rent, the council kicked the group out.
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: Boxing legend Sir Henry Cooper died this week ten years ago