This week, 10, 20, 30 years ago

10 Years Ago

A war of words broke out over the replacement of one of the capital’s last bendy-bus routes.

The 436 from Lewisham Shopping Centre to Paddington, ended on Saturday.

Transport for London (TfL) has replaced it with a double-decker.

Lib Dem London Assembly transport spokeswoman Caroline Pidgeon said capacity had been cut back.

She said: “The key issue is not whether bendy buses are good or bad, but simply whether people can get on a bus.”

But TfL has said a higher frequency will be on offer during the busiest times.

London Buses network planning manager Bob Blitz said: “At the busiest times buses will operate at a higher frequency than now and will run to at least the same frequency as now at all other times.”

Tributes were paid to a well known and much-loved arts teacher.

David Noble was a popular figure at Lambeth College where he worked for more than two decades.

He died peacefully on November 4 in hospital in Narbonne, France, after a dignified battle with cancer, aged 61.

His daughter Jodie and partner Stephanie were by his side.

David, who was born in Sheffield, studied sculpture at Bristol.

He moved to London in the 1970s, drawn to the capital by his love of the arts and music.

His creative talents saw him land an unexpected job in television, making models for the children’s show The Flumps.

As a David Bowie devotee, he became a well-known face on the glam rock music scene, running several bars.

He also ran a stall in the famous Antiquarius Market in King’s Road, Chelsea, befriending many of the musicians and artists of the era.

David settled in East Dulwich after spending several years in Florida, and began working at Lambeth College, where his talent and enthusiasm would see him rise to its head of creative studies until his retirement to France in 2006.

---

20 Years Ago

A man who found new love at the age of 86 celebrated his centenary milestone.

Stephan Boxall had lived through two world wars, watched man land on the moon and seen huge advances in healthcare and technology.

Born in 1901, Mr Boxall celebrated his 100th birthday at Mary Holben House in Thrale Road, Streatham, with his 94-year-old wife Dorothy.

The celebration was attended by more than 50 people, including his 75-year-old daughter Brenda Twiss.

A man jailed for his part in the £26million Brink’s-Mat gold bullion robbery was shot dead by a masked gunman.

Ex-con Brian Perry, 63, was gunned down as he got out of his car on his way to work at Bermondsey minicab firm.

Mr Perry was jailed for nine years in the early 1990s after being found guilty of laundering the profits from the 1983 robbery, in which 6,800 gold ingots were stolen from a warehouse near Heathrow airport.

Police said the shooting had all the hallmarks of a well-planned attack.

A Stone carver from Streatham landed a prized scholarship to learn more about her craft.

Marcia Bennett Male, 36, of Lewin Road, had spent the previous three years working as a freelance architectural stone carver and letter cutter.

She also worked on a foundation stone of the Dulwich Picture Gallery at her workshop in Peckham.

Marcia landed a £7,300 Queen Elizabeth Scholarship, which had been set up to advance education and crafts.

She planned to spend the cash of a one-year course in advanced stone masonry at the Building Crafts College.

---

30 Years Ago

The nation was rejoicing following the release of Terry Waite after 1,763 days of captivity in Lebanon.

Friends and relatives of the 52-year-old church envoy had waited nearly five years for the “gentle giant” to be released by his Islamic Jihad captors.

It was only on the release of hostage Brian Keenan in August the previous year that they learned Mr Waite was alive.

Nowhere was the sense of jubilation at his release more keenly felt than in Blackheath Village, where he lived.

A thanksgiving service was planned for the evening when official confirmation of his freedom came through.

The days of the caretaker’s trusty broom were said to be numbered with the arrival of a new motorised street cleaning machine.

Three of the garbage guzzlers were being introduced for use on the Pepys Estate in Deptford by Lewisham council.

The machines could suck up anything from tin cans to dog mess and then follow up with a damp sweep to clean.

Councillor Ron Stockbridge, housing committee chairman, oversaw the handover of the sweepers which the council was also considering introducing elsewhere.

Compiled by alexandra@slpmedia.co.uk

Photo: Terry Waite was released from captivity this week, 30 years ago.