Charity Auction: Cataloguing has begun!

Dear Neighbours

We are in the final stages of putting together the catalogue for our Auction. If you are holding items that you would be willing to donate to this worthy cause, please call 020 7091 0841 to arrange access to the storage unit at Red Devil this week. (We can collect.)

Best wishes

Cathy Preece

KA Administrative Assistant

CHARITY AUCTION

Do you have any paintings, prints, drawings or art catalogues you no longer need? If so, we’d very much like to hear from you !

We are keen to collect all forms of art – from works on paper to ceramics, jewellery, and interesting objets d’art for the annual charity action which takes place on Thursday 17^th September 2009 6.30 til 8.30pm at City & Guilds of London Art School, Cleaver Square SE11.

PLEASE CALL 020 7091 0841 IF YOU WOULD LIKE US TO PICK UP ANY DONATIONS FOR THE AUCTION.

A big thank you to all the local artists and students who have donated works for the event so far. We are particularly excited about several original stone carvings – ideal for gardens and patios - which will go under the hammer.

As usual, we will also be auctioning pledges and promises donated by local businesses. The Auction is an ideal marketing platform for local businesses keen to attract new customers who live in the neighbourhood. In a reciprocal arrangement, those who donate a voucher for say, a meal for two, or a hair cut, for the auction, can promote their business free to all KA members. A big thank you to the most recent donations made by Hub Coffee House, Belgrave Hotel, Oval House Theatre, China Walk TRA Hall, Tesco and Cotton Tree Interior Designers.

Each year we raise several thousands of pounds: and every £40 coming from the event buys vouchers for a local family who would otherwise have little to rejoice about at Christmas time. Everyone gives their time freely to help with this important local scheme which assists needy families in the area entirely anonymously.

In the past five years the auction has gone from strength to strength: from a cramped basement in a restaurant at Kennington Cross, to a wonderful venue – the City & Guilds of London Art School - in the heart of Kennington. After three years in the hot seat, Catey is stepping down as coordinator at the end of this year – so we’d love to hear from you if you are organised; enthusiastic; keen to meet new people; and have the time to develop the auction further.

We do hope that you will join us in this Auction. Do tell your friends and neighbours too.

A Business Network for Kennington – tell us your views

Friday 21^st August 2009

Dear Colleague

A Business Network for Kennington – tell us your views

The Kennington Association would like to invite you to attend a meeting at the offices of Rolfe Judd Ltd, Old Church Court, Claylands Road, The Oval, SW8 1NZ at 5:30pm on Tuesday 15^th September to discuss the formation of a business network for the Kennington area.

The desire and need to establish a network has come from your fellow local business people who have approached us for support in its early stages. They believe there are many benefits to forming a network and have asked us to give you this opportunity to tell us your views on the matter.

We are pleased to say that Lambeth Council has committed to supporting a network should the business community want to proceed. Councillor John Kazantzis, Cabinet Member for Employment and Enterprise, and Councillor Sally Prentice, Cabinet Member for Environment, as well as officers from the council will attend this meeting to hear your views and respond to questions.

Other town centres in Lambeth are considering similar networks; indeed some are several stages ahead and are already discovering the benefits of being part of a business network. We hope to be able to hear on the night from business people from other areas to share their experience and ideas.

Representatives from these enthusiastic local businesses met previously and agreed to explore setting up a network: Lambeth Walk Post Office, Amici Restaurants, Manning Photographers, Belgrave Hotel, Winkworth Estate Agents, Indigo Public Affairs, South London Pacific, Lobster Pot Restaurant, Kennington Tandoori and Rolfe Judd Architects.

They discussed many pressing issues that they felt could be considered by a network, including:

Parking

Streetcare

Recycling

Supplying the council
Joint bidding for contracts

Networking

Local trading

Financial support and advice

We hope to discuss all these issues and more at this meeting. If you want to contribute to the discussion, let us know that you can attend by phoning 020 7793 0268 or email KenningtonAssociation@gmail.com.

If, for whatever reason, you do not want to be kept informed of future developments regarding the Kennington Business Network please contact Cathy Preece, Administrative Assistant, as above to be removed from the Kennington Business Network mailing list.

We very much hope to see you and your fellow entrepreneurs on 15^th September.

Yours faithfully

Anna Tapsell Kevin Rimmington

Chairperson Deputy Chairperson

AGENDA

Welcome and Introduction (Anna Tapsell, Chair of Kennington Association)

Why a network is needed and what we can all gain from it (Oladapo Habeeb, KA Committee member – KBN liaison)

Being Open for Business – the council's perspective (Cllr John Kazantzis and Cllr Sally Prentice)

Comments and views from the audience

Informal networking (and vote from the floor to continue a network?)

Kennington on Sat 22nd August and during the Ashes

Dear Neighbours

I have now got some clarity about the cricket issues and the roads leading down to Kennington from the Oval. It would seem that local residents from the estate closest have asked that the roads be closed when there are floodlit matches, ie 20Twenty. These matches, as you know can finish late and the residents object to being disturbed by crowds of pretty noisy and well-oiled people. However, This does not apply to Test Matches...so the roads will be accessible to pedestrians now and during the coming days of the Ashes.

Regarding the notices that have appeared saying that the main roads are closed on 22nd August (this Saturday),this is not the case. There will be traffic delays whilst a march, organised by the Seventh Day Adventists passes through to meet in Kennington Park. What time it actually starts from Whitehall is not clear but it will probably get to Kennington between 12noon and 2pm. The police say that the notices have been wrongly written by the Council and that they shouldn't say that the roads will be closed all day. The police intend that the traffic will be held while the march goes through, which shouldn't take that long. Hopefully the marchers might like to come back for refreshments?!
I am now on to the Council to try and get them to alter these misleading notices but please pass this information around. Many thanks.

Anna
Chair, Kennington Association.

PS I have just heard from the Council that this is a TFL (Transport for London) matter and that TFL have put up the signs. So, I have rung TFL whose customer desk won't let me speak to anyone so the best I could do was get him to forward a message and leave my number. I am copying this in to Caroline Pidgeon the Assembly Member who has, I think, transport issues in her portfolio.

KA Newsletter August 2009

Friday, 14^th August 2009

Dear Neighbours

Kennington Village Fete

The Fete produced significant revenues for the KA funds – over £400 was raised from donations invited for new books (not in perfect condition) towards our Secret Santa scheme. Second-hand books brought in over £130 and Nessie Ramm’s cards raised another £28 for KA funds. Special thanks are due to Marie, Sally, Cathy and Rosemary for staffing the stall and to Kevin and Veronica for shifting the books to and fro. In addition, a very successful raffle was organised by Daniel that raised £550 towards Fete funds for the Tree of Hope lights. The event was opened by Kate Hoey MP; the Mayor of Lambeth was in attendance, members of the KA gave a demonstration of Tai Chi, and members of the newly-opened Kennington ballroom dancing school demonstrated their skills. Special thanks are due to Winkworths Kennington, who sponsored the event and donated so generously to the local Brownies, and to local restaurants – Kennington Tandoori, Amici, The Lobster Pot and Toulouse Lautrec, who not only provided mouth-watering food, but also gave generous donations.

TREE OF HOPE

Fete funds, together with a generous donation from the Ethelred TMO, mean that the Tree of Hope project to light the big tree at Kennington Cross is now complete. There will be a lighting ceremony in the autumn and suggestions are welcome as to who should switch on the lights.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

Tai Chi is going well. Classes are held on Thursdays from 2pm to 3pm (funded by Capital Community Foundation’s Grassroots Grant) and Saturdays from 11am to 12 noon in front of the café in Kennington Park. About twenty people attend each session with new participants joining constantly. Our recent application to Awards for All, for funds to continue the Saturday classes in Kennington Park throughout the summer, has been provisionally confirmed as successful. There is some paperwork to be completed before the money will reach KA’s bank account but it looks very likely that this very popular venture will be able to continue. Sessions are open to all and no previous experience is necessary.

VOLLEYBALL (ECUAVOLLEY): Players are now meeting on Saturdays from 3pm to 9pm and Sundays from 4pm to 8pm. The games go from strength to strength with a European tournament sponsored by the Ecuadorian Movement in the UK (www.movimientoecuador.co.uk)being held at the Old Lilian Baylis School on the weekend of 29^th and 30^th August (from 11am to 9pm each day), with players competing from Italy, England and Scotland. Anyone wanting further details should contact Galo Espin on 07985 603189.

PLANNING

The whole committee has been following proposed developments for managing the Old Lilian Baylis School, with an important intervention by the Chair. In addition a sub-committee under Tim Roe has been tracking what will happen to the old Beaufoy Institute buildings and land, and responding to a number of planning applications for multi-storey developments along the Albert Embankment. A high priority issue will be the plans for 81 Black Prince Road (23 storey building) and the old London Fire Brigade buildings (29 storey building). It has been agreed that the Planning Forum will meet monthly on the first Tuesday in the month. If you are interested in attending and supporting the Forum’s activities please contact Tim at tim.j.roe@mac.com

KA EXECUTIVE Committee

Margarita has resigned as Treasurer, but has agreed to present the Treasurer’s Report at the AGM. We are looking for a new Treasurer and also a Publicity Secretary. If any one wants to volunteer or to recommend someone we can approach, please let us know by e-mail or phone number above.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY

Kennington Business Network

Initial discussions have taken place about the formation of a Kennington Business Network to work for the common good of Kennington businesses, enabling it to speak as one voice to the Council and others and to communicate concerns and issues such as security, waste disposal and rents among members. The idea is to take up any issue that affects one member, so the relevant parties will have to deal with a group on such things as rents rather than individual business owners. So far support has been very good and they are to meet again at 5.30pm on Tuesday 15^th September at the offices of Rolfe Judd Ltd, Old Church Court, Claylands Road, The Oval, SW8 1NZ. The key issues for this first meeting are: street care, refuse and recycling, parking and congestion zone problems, regeneration (with a mind to the state of the unused shop fronts) and improvements to the appearance of Kennington Cross and its surrounding area.

Charity Auction

Every £40 coming from this annual charity auction, which takes place on Thursday 17^th September 6.30 til 8.30pm at City & Guilds of London Art School Cleaver Square SE11, buys ‘Secret Santa’ vouchers for a local family who would otherwise have little to spend on extras at Christmas time. So far the Art School has donated many artworks, including stone carvings that would be ideal for gardens and patios. If any individual has other forms of art, from works on paper to ceramics, jewellery, let us know. If you would like us to pick up your donations, please call 020 7091 0841. We will also be auctioning pledges and promises donated by local businesses. This is an ideal marketing platform for local businesses to attract new customers who live in the neighbourhood. A big thank you to the most recent donations made by Hub Coffee House for lunch for two, Belgrave Hotel has pledged two nights for two bed and breakfast, Oval House Theatre is offering a pair of free theatre tickets and a bottle of wine, and we have a weekday afternoon booking in the China Walk TRA Hall. We are, as ever, very grateful to Red Devil Storage for kindly providing a unit again. The success of previous auctions has owed a great deal to the hard work of Catey Hillier, who will be stepping down as coordinator at the end of this year. We would love to meet someone who is as organised and enthusiastic and who would be willing to take over the auction.

Annual General Meeting

This year’s AGM will take place at 7pm on Monday, 5^th October in The Captain’s Room at Surrey County Cricket Club, which is accessed via the Hobbs Gate, through the main entrance to the lift to the third floor, with fantastic views over the grounds. All KA members are invited.

Bazaar

The regular Bazaars remain one of the main sources of funding for the Association, and the next will take place on Saturday, 7^th November at St Anselm’s Church Hall from 11am to 1pm. As in the past, the kitchen will be open, serving tea and coffee, with cake and sandwiches. Donations of good quality items can be delivered to the hall from 6-8 pm on the evening before or from 9-10 am on the day of the Bazaar, or picked up on Friday evening. If you have items for collection, let us know on kenningtonassociation@gmail.com.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE AUTUMN - CHARITY AUCTION

Dear Neighbours,

RE: LOOKING AHEAD TO THE AUTUMN - CHARITY AUCTION

Behind the scenes we are gearing up for the 5th Kennington Association Charity Auction to raise money for Secret Santa and the Art School Bursary Fund.

If you haven't already added the date to your diary, please do so:

Thursday 17th September 6.30 til 8.30pm

at London City & Guilds School of Art, Cleaver Square SE11

We are also keen to hear from anyone in the area who would like to donate art, china, jewellery and objets d'art for the auction.

To save you the time and trouble of dropping off at Red Devil Storage, we are now able to offer a pick up service. Do be in touch on 020 7091 0841 if you would like us to collect your donated pieces.

Besides a selection of pledges and promises from local busineses, such as pubs, restaurants, cleaners and florists, students and local artists have been extremely generous and donated some wonderful pieces, including fine stone carvings, which we are sure will attract a lot of attention from local gardeners with an eye to adding an original sculpture to their city oasis.

Please be in touch if you would like to participate in any way at the auction.

Best wishes

Catey Hillier/co-ordinator

Kennington Village Fete - Sunday 12th July

Diary Date: Next KA Bazaar: Saturday 7th November

Diary Date: KA Charity Auction @ City & Guilds Art School Thursday 17 September

KA Newsletter May 2009

Friday, 8^th May 2009

Dear Neighbours,

A NEW CHAIR

After many years at the helm, Angus Aagaard has resigned as Chair of the Kennington Association to allow other members to take over the reins. We owe him a vast debt of gratitude for all the hard work that he has put into the role and the network of supporters he has helped us build. He will continue working with us as a member and active volunteer on some projects. The chairmanship has been taken over by Anna Tapsell, our former deputy chair. Anna is known to many from her work on bazaars, fetes, planning and other activities. As a long-standing member of the community, she brings a wealth of experience and history. Kevin Rimmington has become deputy chair. Kevin has been the liaison with our Tai Chi instructor and the Surrey County Cricket Club at the Oval. So, as you can see, the Association remains in good hands.

STEEL PAN BAND INITIATIVE

Angus recently visited Trinidad, with support from KA, to make contact with groups playing steel pans. This form of music, which began in Trinidad & Tobago, is played in several groups and schools in our neighbourhood and has recently become very popular. Last year Archbishop Sumner Primary School steel band played for us at the Fete. In Trinidad each year before the start of Lent a huge steel pan band competition is held. It culminates in Panorama, a battle of the bands that forms part of Carnival. If sufficient funds can be raised, it is hoped that a group of young players from Kennington can go to Trinidad next year for Panorama to visit the roots of music they have come to know and play. The planning for this project is still in the very early stages and one of the first steps, of course, will be to look for some kind of corporate sponsorship or funding. If you would like to support this initiative, please contact Angus on 020 7735 3415 or angus.aagaard@googlemail.com.

TREE OF HOPE

As you may recall, the Fete team has been working for some time to get permission and funding for a permanently-lighted Tree of Hope for local families who have lost loved ones to street violence in the area. Permission from various government bodies has finally been granted to light the main tree at Kennington Cross. A grant from Princes Ward Purse has been awarded to help with funding and, together with the proceeds from the Fete over a number of years, the team will shortly be in a position to install the lights and organise a lighting ceremony. Suggestions as to who should switch on the lights along with suggestions as to what other events might mark this occasion are very welcome and should be sent to margarita@omalleyaldrich.com.

WELCOME PACK

For some time, the KA has been working to develop a Welcome Pack for new residents. To make this project financially feasible, it was decided to have both a hard copy and an on-line version. The hard copy, which will be produced by Diane May of May Creation (www.maycreation.com) and contain photographs by Andra Nelki (www.andranelki.com) who together have produced a beautiful cover design, will focus on essential information such as the location of post offices, free cash points, libraries, vets, pharmacies, local authorities, transportation, and ‘meet and greet’ societies. The number of copies that can be printed and distributed will depend on whether or not a corporate sponsor can be found. The on-line version will also contain brief reviews of shops, restaurants, pubs, etc and will be constantly updated. Please check out the current web-site www.welcometokennington.org.uk and send any additions or deletions to acrayner@yahoo.com.

SPORTS AND FITNESS

TAI CHI: These classes have moved to Kennington Park for the summer. On Thursday the class meets from 2-3pm and is free and open to all thanks to funding from Capital Community Foundation’s ‘Grassroots Fund’ (www.capitalcf.org.uk). Participants should meet near the café in the park, and wear loose clothing and sensible shoes. If it’s raining the class will transfer to Kennington Park Community Centre, Harleyford Street SE11. On Saturday another free Tai Chi class funded by Surrey County Cricket Club (www.britoval.com) is held in the Lambeth Hall, which is part of the new OCS stand at the Vauxhall end of the Oval, from 11am to noon. At the moment the funding for this lasts about 30 weeks; BUT, a funding application has been made to cover the rest of the summer. On days of inclement weather, enquiries about the location and possible cancellation of classes can be made to Michael Jacques on 07956 913437, or by email to christine.eames-jones@ntlworld.com.

VOLLEYBALL (ECUAVOLLEY): Members of the KA have been playing Ecuadorian volleyball (i.e. three-a-side) at the Lilian Baylis Old School for four years now and meet on Saturdays from 4pm until around 8pm. On 9^th May, the old school will serve as the venue for a London selection volleyball tournament sponsored by the Ecuadorian Movement in the UK (www.movimientoecuador.co.uk). We do hope that some of our players are selected. Anyone wanting further details should contact Galo Espin on 07985 603189.

PLANNING

LAMBETH COUNCIL LONG-RANGE PLAN: The KA Planning Sub-group has recently received yet another policy document from Lambeth Council entitled the Lambeth Local Development Framework & Draft Core Strategy on which to comment by 18^th May. This is being studied at the present time and a reply prepared.

81 Black Prince ROAD: The developers of this site are going to Appeal following the rejection of their Planning Application for a 23-storied residential block. KA had previously objected to the scheme and will reiterate our objections formally to Lambeth Planning. The submission has to be in by 18^th May.

Beaufoy Institute: The sub-group has been briefed on proposals for the future of the buildings in Black Prince Road and its vacant space at the rear. It’s clear that Lambeth Council is eager to be relieved of responsibility for this site. The Princes Trust has been involved in connection with a proposed school for Arts & Crafts on the vacant site, with the existing buildings to house workshops, studios and possibly a small museum displaying ceramics which would be supported possibly by a Community Development Trust. Plans are approaching finalisation; however, there is still considerable concern about funding.

OVAL CRICKET GROUND: Subsequent to the Public Enquiry on the planning application, Brit Oval, Surrey County Cricket Club and Aurora Hotels, the KA sub-group has been informed that the Secretary of State will give the decision on the Inspector’s Report on 4^th June.

UPCOMING EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY

BAZAAR: The quarterly Bazaar remains one of the main sources of funding for the Association. The first one of the new financial year will take place on 16^th May at St Anselm’s church hall from 11am to 1pm. The kitchen will be open serving tea and coffee, with cake and sandwiches. There will also be a fun tombola with discount vouchers donated by Oval Tandoori (www.ovaltandoori.co.uk), and Kentish white wine! Donations of good quality items can be delivered to the hall from 6-8 pm on the evening before or from 9-10 am on the day of the Bazaar. We also hope to be able to offer a pick up service on the Friday afternoon / evening. Please contact KenningtonAssociation@gmail.com if you have donations to be collected.

FETE: The 5^th annual Fete will be held in Cleaver Square on Sunday 12^th July. There will be a good mix of stalls run by local people selling gifts, soft furnishings, jewellery, books and bric-a-brac. Local restaurants will be showcasing their food, and there will be a raffle and tombola. Activities for children will include magic shows, face painting and Punch & Judy. We already have several prizes for the raffle: from The Kennington Bookshop, Exstatic Hair Design, Vergie’s Café, The White Hart PH (www.thewhitehartpub.co.uk), St Aubyns Holistic Centre (www.staubynsholistic.com), Windmill Fish Bar, Prince of Wales PH and Gallagher & Lockhart. Heartfelt thanks to all these businesses. To book a table or get more information, contact margarita@omalleyaldrich.com.

AUCTION: The annual charity Auction takes place on Thursday 17^th September at the City & Guilds Art School (www.cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk) on Kennington Park Road / Cleaver Square. The proceeds from this go towards funding the ‘Secret Santa’ gifts to needy families as chosen by Ethelred Nursery School’s network. Work by a student, Jane Hayes, has been selected to promote the event on posters and postcards. Jane is the first artist to donate work for the 2009 auction. We are extremely grateful for the first pledges: from Colette Ozanne of Arabesque - a whole party worth of face painting, and vouchers for the London Eye (www.londoneye.com), Ascot Dry Cleaners, and Tomorrow’s People (www.tomorrows-people.co.uk). We’ve also received the first ‘Secret Santa’ donation from White Hall Clothiers of Camberwell (www.whccamberwell.co.uk). More items are needed to make the Auction another success. Last year we raised nearly £3,000, which provided fifty-five vouchers for local disadvantaged families, and a bursary for the Art School. Paintings, pottery, porcelain, objets d’art, plus pledges of services (large and small) are very welcome. Once again, Red Devil Storage (www.reddevilstorage.co.uk) has kindly provided a unit, and we can even pick up smaller items. Please phone 020 7091 0841 to make the arrangements.

KA Bazaar: Saturday 16th May 11am-1pm