Soutwark culture - not an oxymoron

Had Southwark Council’s free magazine through the door, and for once I actually bothered flicking through it before popping it in the recycle bin. Turns out the metal bollards I’d admired on Bellenden Road in Peckham recently were created by sculptor Antony Gormley, he of Angel of the North fame (think he’s got a workshop thereabouts too). It’s all part of the renewal scheme for the area, which also includes John Latham’s giant book emerging from the side of a house, and mosaics by Tom Phillips.

Southwark Council is also planning to put up 20 new Blue Plaques to commemorate the people, places and events that have had a big impact on the borough. They’ve drawn up a shortlist of 50 nominees for Blue Plaques, and want people to vote for their favourite (you can vote on their web site). Haven’t quite decided which one will get my vote, but these caught my eye:

• Michael Caine bloody good actor and star of Zulu, Alfie, Escape to Victory, Get Carter etc. (Possible reason for vote: “You’re a big man, but you’re out of shape; with me it’s a full-time job. Now behave yourself.”)
• Charles Dickens, writer and social reformer. (Possible reason for vote: did a lot to improve the conditions of London’s poor, and campaigned against public hanging.)
• William Blake believed in free love, supported revolutions and lay around naked in the garden with his wife. As a school boy he was romping across Peckham Rye when had a vision of angels. He saw them playing in the branches of a tree with an Arcadian sunset bursting behind them. The vision is commemorated in William Blake’s Vision of Angels, painted on a wall behind the playground at Goose Green. (Possible reason for vote: “believed in free love, supported revolutions and lay around naked in the garden with his wife” – need I say more?)
• Edgar Kail played for Dulwich Hamlet FC between 1914 and 1933. With 427 goals for Dulwich, three caps for England under his belt and 21 Amateur caps he is far and away the club’s most successful player ever. He was the last player from an amateur club to represent his country in the full international squad. Although approached by several professional clubs in the top flight he could never be lured away from his beloved Dulwich. (Possible reason for vote: put his loyalty to his local club before his own financial gain.)
• Fred Karno’s Fun Factory workshop in south Camberwell was the stamping ground for such comedy greats as Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel. Originally the actors were part of music hall entrepreneur Fred Karno’s Fun Factory troupe, which travelled across the country with their new brand of slapstick comedy entertaining the masses. (Possible reason for vote: great name.)
• Borough Market has existed in roughly the same location for 1,000 years. It is believed that back in AD 1014 the market sold fish, grain & cattle–as well as vegetables. And because of its central location, merchants from all over Europe would travel from coastal ports to trade. (Possible reason for vote: it’s very old, and sells good food.)

There are quite a lot of other worthy people in the list, including campaigners for women’s rights, and the first black mayor in Britain.

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