Lewisham market entrepreneurs wanted

Here's a smart cool initiative from Lewisham Council to recruit a new generation of market traders for Lewisham, Deptford and Catford:

New traders needed for first ever local markets fortnight Lewisham Council is calling all budding entrepreneurs to trade at its markets during the borough’s first ever local markets fortnight, which is set to run from Saturday 28 April to Saturday 12 May.

Local markets fortnight will celebrate the vibrancy and diversity of markets in Lewisham and local people will be encouraged to support local independent businesses in and around the borough’s three main street markets in Lewisham, Catford and Deptford High Street.

The Council wants to recruit up to 30 new and established traders to sell food, arts, crafts and second hand goods at a revitalised market at Catford Broadway during the weekend of Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 April and at Lewisham on Saturday 12 May. Subsidised stalls will be available, as well as business support and advice on trading.

To register your interest for a stall in Catford Broadway during the 28–29 April or Lewisham Market on 12 May contact 020 8314 2050 or email markets@lewisham.gov.uk by 30 March.

Lewisham Live, March 13th-30th

Lewisham Live is a Council backed three-week festival of music, dance and song performed by the young people of Lewisham at venues across the borough. They say:

Over 1400 performers will make music, sing and dance in various venues across the borough. The festival, now in its third year, showcases the talents of the young people of Lewisham as they present their eclectic mix of genres and styles - from classical to hip hop, samba to swing.

Full programme here. Thanks to Tabitha for the link.

Martial arts for kids

Jerry: Kramer, you're fighting children?! 
Kramer: We're all at the same skill level, Jerry. 
Jerry: He's nine years old! You don't need karate, you can just wring his neck!
- Seinfeld

Mat writes:

I'm looking for a Judo or Karate class for my kids locally. I'm in Crofton Park. They're young. My daughter is 6 and my boy is 4, 5 in September, so I appreciate they may be too small to start classes right now but when they're ready I'd like to get them involved. I was surprised at the lack of classes that come up on Google. Does anyone know of any locally that they could recommend?

The Montague Arms closes

Transpontine reports that one of London's great pubs, the Montague Arms in New Cross, has closed. The pub has been closed since the new year, following the deaths of managers Stan and Bett Pownall.

Click here for the full story.

St John's Baby and Toddler Group, Lewisham Way

Cynthia, Chair of St John's Baby and Toddler Group on Lewisham Way, wants to give us due notice of their nearly new sale on Thursday 22 March between 9.30am and 11am.


As well as the Sale there will be a play area with toys and play equipment to keep the children entertained and a cafe with tea, coffee and cake for sale.

She says:

We are always keen to see new families and carers bring their children along to the Wednesday or Thursday playgroup sessions. It's a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with plenty of dads as well as mums; we start at 10am and have free tea and coffee, with singing and fruit for the children. It's very hands on with parents and carers helping out to make tea, arrange craft activities and tidy up at the end of the session.

If BC readers are having a Spring clean and want to clear out clothes, clean and safe toys, books, coats, jackets, nursery and baby equipment or maternity wear they no longer need why not come and make some money by selling them at our sale - we are opening up our 'sale by ticket' system to non-playgroup members.

There are no tables for hire. Instead anyone wishing to sell can purchase a pack of price tickets, price up their items and bring them along to St John's Hall where they will be displayed together with other items for sale. Tickets are removed at point of sale. Once the Sale is over all the tickets are carefully sorted by seller and totted up. Monies due will then be paid to each seller. Each seller needs to buy a sheet of tickets, which costs £2.50 for 20; you then fill in the tickets and securely attach one to each item. In addition to the £2.50 cost of the tickets, the Playgroup will keep 20% of the amount of takings over £20 for each seller.

Proceeds go to the running of the playgroup.

 For full information and details of how to get hold of tickets, please email: saintjohnsplaygroup@yahoo.co.uk

Wild Egg Hogs

My goodness! My gracious!” they shouted. “My Word! It’s something brand new! It’s an elephant-bird! And it should be, it should be, it should be like that! 
- Horton Hatches the Egg 

Vicky writes:

I'm an illustrator living in Lewisham who painted one of the giant easter eggs that are on display in central London (the Big Egg Hunt).

I just wondered if this was newsworthy at all and whether you are interested in having a feature on the Big Egg Hunt on your blog? [Ed's note: Anything with a Lewisham Egg Hog in it automatically goes to the top of the pile].

The Big Egg Hunt is an interactive art exhibition for all the family with over 200 specially designed giant eggs that have been created by artists, designers, jewellers, architects and a few famous faces. The Big Eggs are hidden all over central London from 21st Feb- 3rd April.

Members of the public are encouraged to download maps and hunt the exclusively designed eggs. The hunt aims to beat the Guiness world record for the biggest Easter Egg hunt and raise funds for the Elephant Family and Action for Children (through the auctioning off of the eggs).

There's also a competition to win a golden egg and a shop full of egg hunt goodies in Selfridges. My design (Egg Hog) is hidden somewhere in the Trafalgar Square map zone.

Missing giant Faberge eggs, scattered about London are, of course, something of a First World Problem. In the time it's taken you to read about the Lewisham Egg Hog, ten Egg Hogs in the developing world have died through your inaction. You sicken us.

Vicky's work is currently on show at the Brockley Mess gallery.

- Full disclosure: London & Partners, is a client of Edelman's (BC's employer) and a partner of the Big Egg Hunt. We look forward to the conspiracy theories for this one.

Light and dark

In real life, it is the hare who wins. Every time. Look around you. And in any case it is my contention that Aesop was writing for the tortoise market. Hares have no time to read. They are too busy winning the game. 
- Anita Brookner 

This morning's March sunshine meant Brockley Central's tail was up as we set off for work. We know it technically isn't the first day of spring, but we'll be blowed if we're going to wait until the Vernal Equinox to celebrate the end of winter. Spring's borders march in lockstep with Brockley's.

So, as a little treat, we allowed ourselves to take the sunnier, slower route to work, via London Bridge. We've been to London Bridge plenty of times since work on the new station began, but never in the sunshine. The new section was lit up like a light box as we walked towards it. Even half-built, the effect of the new, open platforms and glass roof is already glorious.

When the station and surrounding works are finished, this most-important of gateways to the south will no longer serve as a warning to cautious Londoners not to venture any further from north, it will seduce them with whispers of exotica like Herne Hill, Anerley and of course, Brockley.

This photo is supposed to illustrate the difference between London Bridge's dark past and bright future, but doesn't do either half justice.