This week 10, 20, 30 years ago

10 Years Ago

A vision of London’s future gave a clear timetable for the construction of several of South London’s most eagerly awaited projects.

Thousands of new jobs, Tube and tram line extensions, new tunnels, station transformations and homes were promised in an 84-page document penned by then London Mayor, Boris Johnson himself.

Out of 19 opportunity areas listed in the document, eight were in South London: Woolwich, Greenwich Peninsula, Canada Water, London Bridge and Borough, Elephant and Castle, Waterloo, Nine Elms and Croydon.

People were being urged to respond to consultation on the future of the capital’s fire service.

Under plans put forward by London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson, 12 stations across London were at risk of closing including Clapham, New Cross, Downham and Woolwich.

The cuts aimed to save the brigade £45million over two years but they also meant the loss of 520 jobs and 18 fire engines, including one at Peckham.

Skateboarders stepped up their campaign to stop an arts centre from forcing them out of their much loved skate park.

The Southbank Centre wanted to move the skaters from the area known as the undercroft in Queen’s Walk.

It wanted to transform the South Bank as part of its multi million-pound Festival Wing redevelopment.

Skaters who had used the space for more than 40 years launched a petition against the proposals which had gathered more than 40,000 signatures.

They also held a weekend of action to protest the plans.

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20 Years Ago

A wildlife park based in the Home Counties offered a glimmer of hope to campaigners hoping to save a children’s zoo in Battersea Park.

Wandsworth council closed the zoo because it said it could no longer afford to keep it open.

But the owners of the Paradise Wildlife Park in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire announced plans to rehome 200 animals at the Battersea Park Zoo.

Brothers Steve and Peter Sampson entered talks with the council after expressing an interest in the South London attraction.

Surrey County Cricket Club was given the green light to build a controversial £21million stand at the Oval.

Angry residents complained that the new 26.5m tall stand would tower over their homes and block out the sunlight.

The club proposed building a “living Screen” with plants growing from its outer wall to give local people a better view from their windows, but residents were not convinced about the design and lodged complaints during the planning application.

A model railway club faced closure in June unless its members managed to find a new meeting place.

The Southwark Model Railway Club, which had been running for 17 years, had just one month to find a new home.

A temporary space had been provided in Lewisham and the club’s members said they would consider a permanent move to either Greenwich or Lewisham to keep the club alive.

Club members said they urgently needed to find a warehouse or a workshop and appealed to South London Press readers for help.

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30 Years Ago

A young fencer was stunned after managing to win a national competition.

Camille Datoo beat competitors to win gold at the National Age Group Championships.

The 12-year-old member of the Salle Joseph Fencing Club based at St Joseph’s College in Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, had only been fencing for two years when she took the title at the event, which was held in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

Camile, a student At Charles de Gaulle school in South Kensington, said she was surprised at the win but her coach Brian Ergis was delighted after she saw off competition from 50 other youngsters.

A have-a-go hero lambasted passers-by for ignoring the screams of a woman who was being beaten up.

Karate expert Paul Lynch, 33, from Balham, ran to help the woman when he heard her chilling pleas in the early hours one Saturday.

He fought off two men who were kicking the helpless woman in Culverden Road, Balham.

The woman was able to escape but more thugs piled in to turn on Mr Lynch, who was left with a black eye and a gash on his forehead.

His actions were commended by Tooting police, whose chief said he wanted to put him up for a bravery medal.

Murder squad police hunting the killer of Rachel Nickell appealed for help after a man tried to drag a second woman from her horse.

The man twice tried to drag the 18-year-old from her horse as she rode on Wimbledon Common, close to where Rachel’s body was found a year earlier.

The rider had reached a clearing in the dense woods, known as the Arena, when the attacker pounced.

But she managed to escape and rode back to Wimbledon Village Stables.

 

 

Picture: Pixabay/philm1310